The Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Open to: Citizen of a Commonwealth country and 18 years or over
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,000- 5,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: £5,000, Regional winners: £2,500
 

F(r)iction Competition - Fall
US COMPETITION
Open to: All over 13
*
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,001 to 7,500 words
Entry Fee: $US 15
Prizes: First: $US 1,000 & publication, 5 x finalists: professional edit & consideration for publication
*
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 1,000 words per piece
Entry Fee: $US 10, $US12 for 3
Prizes: First: $US 300 & publication, 5 x finalists: professional edit & consideration for publication
*
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: Three pages per poem
Entry Fee: $US 10, $US12 for 3
Prizes: First: $US 300 & publication, 5 x finalists: professional edit & consideration for publication
 

Open to: Year 9 & 10 students
Theme: Commemoration of the Anzac tradition has widespread support in Australia despite different historical interpretations and debates about the nature and significance of the Anzac legend. To what extent does your own research support this view?
Accepts: Essay
Size: 1,200- 1,500 words (body of essay)
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: Not specified

Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project - Essay Contest
Open to: Australian School Students
Theme: See website for essay questions and source material
*
Accepts: Group A - Essay - Years 5 to 8
Size: 2 - 3 pages
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $500, Second: $200, Third: $100, Honorable Mentions: $50
*
Accepts: Group B - Essay - Years 9 - 12
Size: 2 - 3 pages
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $500, Second: $200, Third: $100, Honorable Mentions: $50

Judith Wright Poetry Prize
Open to: Emerging poets from Australia and New Zealand
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 80 lines
Entry Fee: $20 ($12 for subscribers)
Prizes: First: $6,000 and publication, Second: $2,000 and publication, Third: $1,000 and publication
 

Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize
Open to: All
Theme: Travel
Accepts: Short Fiction
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: $20 ($12 for subscribers)
Prizes: First: $5,000 and publication, 2 x Runner-ups: $750 and publication
 

The Ethics Centre Young Writers' Competition
Open to: Australian residents aged 13 to 30 as at closing date
Theme: Choice of essay topics on website
*
Accepts: Essay - 13 to 18 year old
Size: 800 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $250, $250 Gleebooks voucher, digital publication, invitation to pitch up to three additional articles as a paid contributor, Runners-up x 2: digital publication, invitation to pitch up to three additional articles as a paid contributor
*
Accepts: Essay - 19 to 30 years old
Size: 1,200 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $250, $250 Gleebooks voucher, digital publication, invitation to pitch up to three additional articles as a paid contributor, Runners-up x 2: digital publication, invitation to pitch up to three additional articles as a paid contributor
 

The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest
US COMPETITION
Open to: Emerging writers
Theme: None
Accepts: Excerpt from unpublished novel
Size: 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20
Prizes: First: $US 3,000 and consultation with an agent Second: $US 300 and agent feedback, Third: $US 200 and agent feedback
 

Brimbank Libraries' Youth Microfiction Competition
Open to: Writer who lives, works, studies or plays in Brimbank, aged 10 to 18
Theme: Sunshine in the Future
*
Accepts: Microfiction - 10 - 13 years old
Size: 200 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $100 voucher, Second: $50 voucher
*
Accepts: Microfiction - 14 - 18 years old
Size: 200 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $100 voucher, Second: $50 voucher
 

Patrick White Playwrights Award
Open to: Australian playwrights over the age of 18
Theme: None
Accepts: Full length play
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:  $7,500
 

Shore Scripts Development Fund
US COMPETITION
REGULAR: 16/10/2023
FINAL: 15/11/2023
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Scripts in development
Size: First 10 pages of scripts and treatments up to 10 pages
Entry Fee: REGULAR: $30, FINAL: $40
Prizes: First: $USD 2,000, 1 year script development with Shore Scripts, Access to private alumni Facebook group, Screenwriting book from Michael Wiese Books, 4 months membership to Inktip Pro, 1 year Pro Raindance membership, Second: $USD 1,000, 1 year script development with Shore Scripts, Access to private alumni Facebook group, Screenwriting book from Michael Wiese Books, 4 months membership to Inktip Pro, 1 year Pro Raindance membership, Top 5: Script coverage, Access to private alumni Facebook group,6 months access to Stage 32's Writers' Room
 

The Marj Wilke Short Story Award
Open to: Australian women over the age of 18 years
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: $15 ($40 for 3)  (Financial members can submit 1 free entry)
Prizes: First: $350, Runner-up: $150, The Lauren Elise Daniels Encouragement Award: $50
 

Catchment - Poetry of Place
Open to: Australian Residents aged 18 or over
Theme: Set within Australia or, if offshore, seen through eyes of a poet still resident in Australia
Accepts: Poetry & Tanka
Size: Poetry: 30 lines, Tanka: 5 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: Publication in Anthology
 

Anthology Travel Writing Competition
IRISH COMPETITION
  EARLY BIRD: 30/06/2023
  STANDARD: 30/11/2023
Open to: All
Theme: Authentic Travel Experience
Accepts: Article
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: €10, REGULAR: €15
Prize: €500
 

Anthology Short Story Award
IRISH COMPETITION
Closing Date: 
VERY EARLY BIRD: 30/11/2023
EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2024
REGULAR: 31/07/2024
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €15,  REGULAR: €18
Prizes: First: €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, Second: €250, Third: €150

Blackened Billy Verse Competition
Open to: All
Theme: Relevant to Australia or Australians
Accepts: Bush Verse
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: $10, 3 for $25, Optional Feedback: $10
Prizes: First: $1,000 plus trophy and certificate, Second: $250 plus certificate, Third: $150 plus certificate, Highly Commended x 5: $50 plus certificate, Commended x 5: Certificate

NOTE: Chance to win a $300 Akubra voucher if enter by 14/11/2023
 

Jackie's Spring Competition
Open to: Adults who write for kids
Theme: Open
Accepts: Verse Story
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: First: $100, Second: $50, Third: $25, Other prizes include: picture books, subscription to the kidlit ezine “Pass it On”, 3 hours of editing service, sign up to Metre Matters Course, read by publishers
*
Accepts: Rhyming poem
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: First: $100, Second: $50, Third: $25, Other prizes include: picture books, subscription to the kidlit ezine “Pass it On”, 3 hours of editing service, sign up to Metre Matters Course, read by publishers
 

Positive Words Mini-Competition
Open to: All
Theme: Contains the word: Fireworks
Accepts: Short Story or Poetry
Size: 100 words or 10 lines
Entry Fee: $2.40 in unused stamps
Prize: Six months subscription to Positive Words
 

The Bath Children's Novel Award
UK COMPETITION
Open to: International writers yet to be traditionally published
Theme: Open
Accepts: YA novels, novels for teens, children’s novels, early readers, chapter books and the text of picture book
Size: First 5,000 words plus one page synopsis (see website for length of full manuscript)
Entry Fee: £29 with some sponsored places available for writers on low income
Prizes: First: £3,000, Most promising Longlisted Novel: Edit Your Novel the Professional Way on-line course
 

The Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition
IRISH COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 40 lines
Entry Fee: €7, 5 for €30
Prizes: First: €2,000, Featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (with four-night hotel stay and full board), featured on podcast, publication, Second: €500, publication, Third: €250, publication, 10 x runners-up: €50, publication
 

The Somerset National Poetry Prize
Open to: All current secondary school students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attending school or receiving home schooling in Australia under 19 years of age at close of entries
Theme: None
*
Accepts: Junior Secondary - Years 7 to 9
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $300 plus opportunity to attend the Somerset Storyfest and be billeted with members of the Somerset Wordsmiths’ Club
*
Accepts: Senior Secondary - Years 10 to 12
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $300 plus opportunity to attend the Somerset Storyfest and be billeted with members of the Somerset Wordsmiths’ Club
 

The Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition
Open to: All current secondary school students attending school or receiving home schooling in Australia under 19 years of age at close of entries
Theme: None
Accepts: Novella
Size: 8,000 - 20,000 words
Entry Fee: $20
Prizes: National winner: $500, Finalists x 3: $100 plus plus opportunity to attend the Somerset Storyfest and be billeted with members of the Somerset Wordsmiths’ Club
 

Free Spirits Writing Competition
PROCEEDS DONATED TO HEADSPACE GRIFFITH AND WELLWAYS GRIFFITH
Open to: Australian citizens
Theme: A Friend in Need
*
Accepts: Flash Fiction - Adult
Size: 800 words
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: First: $250, Second: $100, Third: $75
*
Accepts: Flash Fiction - Junior (10 - 17 years)
Size: 800 words
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $150, Second: $50, Third: $25
*
Accepts: Poetry - Adult
Size: 24 lines
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: First: $250, Second: $100, Third: $75
*
Accepts: Poetry - Junior (10 - 17 years)
Size: 24 lines
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $150, Second: $50, Third: $25
 

Scenes from the Sage Age
Open to: Aged 60 and over, Permanent resident of Australia or an Australian living abroad, not a professional writer/actor/director
Theme: None
Accepts: Play, no moe than 5 characters
Size: 15 - 20 minutes
Entry Fee: $36
Prize: Selected plays showcased and filmed
 

The Masters Review Chapbook Award for Emerging Writers
US COMPETITION
Open to: Emerging writers
Theme: None
Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction prose
Size: 25 – 40 pages
Entry Fee: $US 25
Prize: $US 3,000 + publication + 75 contributor copies
 

The Blake Poetry Prize
Open to: All
Theme: Engage with the theme of religion, spirituality and/or belief
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 100 lines
Entry Fee: $30
Prize: $5,000
 

Audio Arcadia's Short Story Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to: Aged 18 plus
Theme: General and LGBTQI+
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $USD 8.45
Prize: Percentage of royalties
 

Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize
SPANISH COMPETITION
Open to: All (in any official language)
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry collection
Size: 500 - 800 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: Translation in another European language, publication of the collection as a bilingual edition, 50 copies of the book, royalties and subsidiary rights, Finalists: Publication of the collection (Spanish edition), 10 copies of the book, royalties and subsidiary rights
 

Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize
Open to: 18 years and over
Theme: None
Accepts: Manuscript - see website for more information
Size: 80,000 words
Entry Fee: $45
Prize: Author Coaching, Structural Edit and Line edit (Value $2500)
 

Melbourne Poets Union International Poetry Competition
Open to: All
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: $15 for first entry, $10 thereafter, Overseas entrants: $US 20
Prizes: First (Leon Shann Award): $1,700. Second : $700, Third: $500, Fourth (Wendy Fleming Urban Realist Award): $100, Highly commended & commended: Certificates
 

Positive Words Mini-Competition
Open to: All
Theme: Contains the word: Chimney
Accepts: Short Story or Poetry
Size: 100 words or 10 lines
Entry Fee: $2.40 in unused stamps
Prize: Six months subscription to Positive Words
 

The Moth Poetry Prize
IRISH COMPETITION
Open to: All over 16
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: No Limit
Entry Fee: €15
Prizes: First: €6,000, Runners-up x 3: €1,000, Commended x 8: €250
 

VIII International Playwriting Contest
SPANISH COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None – for young audiences (not children or adults), not musicals
*
Accepts: Category A - Play
Size: 60 minutes - 2 hours
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: €2,400 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €4,800), Short list: Consideration for publication
*
Accepts: Category B - Play
Size: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: €1,000 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €3,200), Short list: Consideration for publication
*
Accepts: Category C - Play
Size: 10 – 30 minutes
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: €400 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €2,000), Short list: Consideration for publication
 

Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: Nature Unbound
*
Accepts: Poetry - 18 years and over
Size: 30 lines
Entry Fee: £4
Prize: £300
*
Accepts: Poetry - 12 to 17 years
Size: 30 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: £100
*
Accepts: Poetry - Up to 11 years
Size: 30 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: £50
 

Calibre Essay Prize
Theme: None
Open to: All
Accepts: Non-fiction essay
Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $30 (or $20 for ABR subscribers)
Prizes: First: $5,000, Runner-up: $3,000, Second Runner-Up: $2,000
 

Local Word Writing Prize
Open to: Australian residents over 16 years
Theme: None
Accepts: Prose fiction and creative nonfiction
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $2,000 & one hour mentoring session with a Deakin University writing practitioner, Commended: $250
 

The Plaza Crime: First Chapters Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: Crime/Mystery Thriller
Accepts: Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis
Size: 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words)
Entry Fee: £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,500 plus online publication, one-to-one tutorial and detailed feedback, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Memoir: First Chapters Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: Memoir
Accepts: Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis
Size: 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words)
Entry Fee: £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,500 plus online publication, one-to-one tutorial and detailed feedback, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

Forty South Publishing Tasmanian Writers' Prize
Open to: Citizens of Australia and New Zealand or Australian permanent residents
Theme: Island or Island-resonant
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: $500 plus publication, Finalists: Publication
 

Flash 500 Short Story Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: £7, £12 for 2, £16 for 3, £20 for 4 (optional critique: £30)
Prizes: First: £500, Second: £200, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Poetry Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 60 lines
Entry Fee: £12 (£6 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

Calanthe Collective Prize for Unpublished Poetry
Open to: All
Theme: None
*
UNDER 18, RESTRICTED TO HIGH SCHOOL AGED PEOPLE
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: First: $250, Highly Commended x 2: $100
*
OPEN, POETS WHO ARE YET TO HAVE A BOOK OR CHAPBOOK PUBLISHED
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: $10
Prize: First: $1,000, Highly Commended x 3: $250

Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Award for Short Stories
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 4,000 words
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: First: $400, Second: $200, Third: $100
 

FAW Tasmania Nairda Lyne Award
Open to: All
Theme: Suitable for children aged 8-12 years
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: $100 & winner's name inscribed on a plaque in the State Library Launceston Branch, Best Tasmanian Entry: Hobart Bookshop voucher
 

Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition
Open to: All
Theme: Light and Shadow (Read T&Cs for more details)
Accepts: Poetry, Short Stories, scripts and Micro/Flash Fiction
Size: 2,500 words
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $500, Second: $400, Third: $300, Fourth: $200, 5 x Commended: $100, 10 further entries: Small gift featuring the Minds Shine Bright logo
 

The Plaza Flash Fiction Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: £11 (£5.50 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Microfiction Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Microfiction
Size: 300 words
Entry Fee: £9 (£4.50 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £500, Second: £150, Third: £50
 

The Plaza Prose Poetry Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: £11 (£5.50 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £750, Second: £200, Third: £50
 

The Plaza Short Story Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Stories
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: £15 (£7.50 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Poetry Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 40 lines
Entry Fee: £11 (£5.50 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100

Henry Savery National Short Story Award
Open to: Australian residents
Theme: Open
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,500 words
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $400, Second: $100
 

FAW Tasmania Beatrice Clarke Award
Open to: Poets aged 14 and under
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 40 lines
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $100, Second: $50, Encouragement Prize x 2: $25
 

FAW Tasmania Poetry Prize
Open to: Residents of Australia
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 60 lines
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: First: $150, Runner-up: $50