AWC Furious Fiction
Opens: 5pm (Sydney/Melbourne time)
Closes: 55 hours later
Open to: 17 years and older
Theme: Story prompt provided
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: Not mentioned
 

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
 

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 College
*
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 College
 

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 College
 

Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize
Open to: Aged 18 plus
Theme: None
Accepts: Commercial fiction or non-fiction
Size: 80,000 words (submit 300 word synopsis and first 30 pages with a one page plan)
Entry Fee: $45
Prize: Author Coaching, Structural Edit and Line Edit (Value $3,500)
 

Little Pip's Children's Written Competition for Bush Poetry
Open to: Australian school students
Theme: Optional: Watermelon
*
Accepts: Bush Poetry - Primary School Students
Size: 4 - 20 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: Trophies for first and second. Special award for Watermelon themed poem
*
Accepts: Bush Poetry - Secondary School Students
Size: 12 - 40 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: Trophies for first and second. Special award for Watermelon themed poem
 

The Masters Review Chapbook Award for Emerging Writers
US COMPETITION
Open to: Emerging writers
Theme: None
Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction prose
Size: 25 – 45 pages
Entry Fee: $US 25
Prize: $US 3,000 + publication + 50 contributor copies
 

The Bethamy Nader Short Story Prize
Closing: EARLY BIRD: 19/12/2024, REGULAR: 19/01/2025
Open to: Australian writers
Theme: Write through the eyes of a mythical creature
*
Accepts: Short Story - 11 - 17 years old
Size: 400- 440 words
Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: $5, REGULAR: $7
Prizes: First: $75, Second: $50, Third: $25
*
Accepts: Short Story - 18 years and over
Size: 400- 440 words
Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: $10, REGULAR: $15
Prizes: First: $300, Second: $150, Third: $100
 

Little Stories, Big Ideas
Closing Date: Quarterly competitions - see website
Open to: Australian Secondary School Students
Theme: War
*
Accepts: Any literary style - Year 10 - 12
Size: 100 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: VentralIP Hosting and Domain Name Package (value $140), Second: Express Media membership and latest issue of Voiceworks magazine
*
Accepts: Any literary style - Year 7 - 9
Size: 100 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: StoryCraft Writing Mentorship
 

Newcastle Short Story Award
Open to: Australian citizen or resident, 18 years and over
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,000 words
Entry Fee: $16.50 ($14.85 for members)
Prize: First: $3,000, Second: $1,500, Third: $500, Highly Commended: $200,  Hunter Writers’ Centre Member Prize: $500
 

FFF Competition Twenty-Five
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 100 - 300 words
Entry Fee: £3.95
Prizes: First: £150 & publication, Highly Commended: £60, Shortlisted: £50
 

Audio Arcadia's Short Story Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to: Aged 18 plus
Theme: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Adventure and Travel
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $USD 8.45
Prize: Percentage of royalties
 

Do Wha(TS) Write
CANADIAN COMPETITION
CONTEST PROCEEDS DONATED TO TOURETTE CANADA
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash fiction or short story
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: $3 CAD
Prize: First: $200 CAD
 

Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition

Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories
Prize:First: £300, Second: £200, Third: £100
 

Griffin Award
NOTE: T&Cs on website were for 2024 competition at time of listing
Open to: Citizen or permanent resident of Australia
Theme: Display an authentic inventive and contemporary Australian voice
Accepts: Play (unproduced and unpublished)
Size: At least 60 minutes
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: $17,400 and dramaturgical support to develop their play
 

Positive Words Mini-Competition
Open to: All
Theme: Contains the word: Twelve
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 Henshaw Short Story Competition
UK COMPETITION
ALL PROFITS EACH YEAR WILL GO TO BOOKS FOR A CHOSEN SCHOOL
Open to: All over 16
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,000 words
Entry Fee: £6, Optional Feedback: £14
Prizes: First: £200, Second: £100, Third: £50
16 Years and under may enter to recieve a free critique
 

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
 

The Letter Review Prize
US COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
*
Accepts: Short Fiction
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20
Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool
*
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 70 lines
Entry Fee: $US 15
Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool
*
Accepts: Essays & Nonfiction
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20
Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool
*
Accepts: Unpublished Book
Size: Prose: First 5,000 words, Poetry: First 15 pages, Total size: Novels: minimum 45,000 words, Novellas: 25,000 – 45,000 words, Short Story Collections: minimum 25,000 words, Nonfiction: minimum 40,000 words. Poetry: minimum 20 pages (with some flexibility)
Entry Fee: $US 25
Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool
 

Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: Treasures of Nature
*
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
 

King's Shorts Festival of Ten Minute Plays
CANADIAN COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Play
Size: 10 minutes, characters: 1 to 6
Entry Fee: $CAD 15
Prizes: First: $CAD 400, Second: $CAD 200, People's Choice Award
 

Hektoen Nurse Essay Contest
US COMPETITION
Closing Date: 15/01/2025
Theme: Medicine
Open to: Nurses, Nurses’ aides and Nursing students
Accepts: Essay
Size: 500-1,600 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $US 3,000, Second: $US 2,000
 

Bournemouth Writing Prize
UK COMPETITION
SUPPORTING THE OUTSIDER’S PROJECT
Open to: All
Theme: None
*
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: £10
Prizes: £500, hour consultation with judge, 2 tickets to Bourn Jammy event, 10-minute open mic slot, 2 tickets to any talk or workshop at the Pavilion Dance
*
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 30 lines
Entry Fee: £10 for up to three poems
Prizes: £500, hour consultation with judges, 2 tickets to Bourn Jammy event, 10-minute open mic slot, 2 tickets to any talk or workshop at the Pavilion Dance
 

CRAFT Memoir Except & Essay Contest
US COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Creative nonfiction and essays
Size: 1,001 - 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20 (some free entries available)
Prizes: 3 x First: $US 1,000, publication, six titles of Graywolf's The Art Of series, 2 x Editors' Choice: $US 200 and publication
 

Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry collection
Size: 500 - 800 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: Translation to another European language, Publication of the collection (bilingual), 50 copies, royalties, Finalists: Publication (Spanish edition), 10 copies, royalties
 

The Sheila Malady Short Story Competition
Open to: All
Theme: "The Dark Side"
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,000 words
Entry Fee: $10 for adults, $5 for young writers (under 18)
Prizes: First: $300, 2 tickets to the Community Play performance, a handcrafted timber quill, “Winning Short Story Competitions” by L.E. Daniels and C. Sawyer & 60 minutes coaching/mentoring session with Carolyn Martinez via Zoom, Local prize: Collins Bookstore voucher, 2 tickets to the Community Play performance & “Winning Short Story Competitions” by L.E. Daniels and C. Sawyer, Young writer under 18: Collins Bookstore voucher
 

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
 

Local Word Poetry Prize
Open to: Living in Australia, over 16 years old
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 75 lines
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: First: $2,000 & one-hour mentoring session, Second: $250
 

Not Quite Write Prize
NOTE: Prompts are emailed out at midday 24/01/2025 with competition closing at midnight 26/01/2025
Open to: All
Theme: 3 prompts will be emailed consisting of a word prompt, an action prompt and an anti-prompt
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: $28 until 30/11/2025, $35 thereafter ($100 for 2025 annual pass)
Prizes: First: $1,500, Second: $1000, Third: $500, Fourth: $350, Fifth: $250, Sixth: $200, Wildcard x 2: $50
 

Calibre Essay Prize

Open to: All
Theme: None
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
 

The Louie Award
Open to: Australians who are members of the Australian Crime Writers Association
Theme: The Photograph
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: $5 for members. Currently $30 for lifetime membership
Prizes: First: $500, Highly Commended x 2: $125
 

Anthology Short Story Award
IRISH COMPETITION
Closing Date: 
VERY EARLY BIRD: 31/10/2024
EARLY BIRD: 31/01/2025
REGULAR: 31/07/2025
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €12, EARLY BIRD: €15,  REGULAR: €18
Prizes: First: €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, Second: €250, Third: €150
 

Bristol Short Story Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All over 16 years old
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 4,000 words
Entry Fee: £12 (limited numbers of free entries available on application if the fee is a barrier to entry)
Prize: First: £1,000, Second: £500, Third: £250, Short-listed x 12: £100
 

Fiction Factory First Chapter & Synopsis Competition
UK COMPETITION
Open to:  All aged 18 and over
Theme:  None
Accepts: First Chapter of a novel
Size: 5,000 words of First Chapter
Entry Fee: £18 (additional £20 for an appraisal)
Prizes: First : £500 and appraisal, Short-listed: Appraisal 
 

Gippsland Writers Network Summer Writing Competition
Open to: Citizens and residents of Australia
Theme: Storm
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: $10 ($5 for GWN members)
Prizes: First: $200, Second: $150 Writers Victoria online course, Third: $50 book voucher, Gippsland Writer Prize: two-year Writers Victoria Regional membership
 

Brimbank Writers & Readers Festival Microfiction Competition
Open to: Writers who live, work, study or play in Brimbank, aged 10 and over
Theme: No-one chooses for us
*
Accepts: Microfiction - Youth - aged 10 - 18
Size: 200 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $250 worth of books, Second: $150 worth of books, Third: $100 worth of books
*
Accepts: Microfiction - Youth - 19 years and over
Size: 200 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: First: $250 worth of books, Second: $150 worth of books, Third: $100 worth of books
*
Vision impaired entrants can submit via audio recording
 

The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers
US COMPETITION
Open to: Emerging writers
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $US 20
Prizes: First: $US 3,000, online publication and agency review, Second: $US 300, online publication and agency review, Third: $US 200, online publication and agency review
 

The 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
 

Anthology Nature Writing Prize
IRISH COMPETITION
Closing Date: 
VERY EARLY BIRD: 30/11/2024
EARLY BIRD: 28/02/2025
REGULAR: 31/08/2025
Open to: All
Theme: Nature Writing
Accepts: Essay
Size: 1,500 words
Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15
Prizes: First: €500
 

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
 

Stories by Digital Children
Open to: Children Living in Australia aged 5 to 12
Theme: Getting the Balance Right: You decide what you share
*
Accepts: Story idea: 5 - 6 year old (writing for 3-4 year olds)
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: Workshop with Kim Maslin to develop the story idea into a book with illustrations, copy of the book, a soft toy version of the main character
*
Accepts: Story idea: 7 - 8 year old (writing for 5-6 year olds)
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: Workshop with Kim Maslin to develop the story idea into a book with illustrations, copy of the book, a soft toy version of the main character
*
Accepts: Story idea: 9 - 12 year old (writing for 7-8 year olds)
Size: Not mentioned
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: Workshop with Kim Maslin to develop the story idea into a book with illustrations, copy of the book, a soft toy version of the main character
*
Individual, group and class entries welcome

The Plaza Audio Story Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 1,000 words/7 minutes
Entry Fee: £12 (£9 for subsequent entries)
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, 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)
Prizes: First: £4,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

Victorian Bush Poetry Championships - Written
Open to: All
Theme: None
*
Accepts: Silver Brumby Poetry Award - Serious
Size: 120 lines
Entry Fee: $10 (plus $10 for critique)
Prizes: First: $150 & trophy, Second: $70, Third: $30
*
Accepts: Corryong Larrikin Award - Humorous
Size: 120 lines
Entry Fee: $10 (plus $10 for critique)
Prizes: First: $150 & trophy, Second: $70, Third: $30
*
VBPMA Overall Written Champion: $1,000
VBPMA Novice Written Champion: $50
 

Sorrento Creative Writing Prize
Open to: Australian citizens and residents aged 18 and over who have not had their work published by a commercial publisher
Theme: None
Accepts: Creative writing
Size: 2,500 - 3,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize: $5,000
 

SCWC Poetry Award
Open to: Living in Australia over the age of 18
Theme: Shapeshifter
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 50 lines
Entry Fee: $15 ($10 for SCWC members)
Prizes: First: $1,000, Second: $100, Ron Pretty SCWC Member award: $100, Wollongong Art Gallery Special Award: $100 voucher
 

Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award
Open to: Australian Writers
Theme: Disability in an Australian Setting
Accepts: Fiction or Nonfiction
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $500
 

Little Black Dress Spooky and Horror Story Competition
Open to: Australian residents
Theme: The Call
*
Accepts: Youth (12 and under) – Spooky Short Story
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: WA First: $25 & certificate & copy of anthology, WA Second: Certificate & copy of anthology, Interstate award: $25 & certificate & copy of anthology, Shire of Mundaring resident encouragement award: $25 & certificate & copy of anthology
*
Accepts: Teens (13 to 17 years old) – Spooky Short Story
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prizes: WA First: $50 & certificate & copy of anthology, WA Second: Certificate & copy of anthology, Interstate award: $50 & certificate & copy of anthology, Shire of Mundaring resident encouragement award: $25 & certificate & copy of anthology
*
Accepts: Adult – Horror Short Story
Size: 2,500 words
Entry Fee: $15
Prizes: First: $100 & certificate & copy of anthology, Second: $50 & certificate & copy of anthology
 

Anthology Travel Writing Competition
IRISH COMPETITION
  VERY EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2024
  EARLY BIRD: 30/06/2024
  STANDARD: 30/11/2024
Open to: All
Theme: Authentic Travel Experience
Accepts: Article
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15
Prize: €500
 

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
 

The Plaza Flash Fiction Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: £10 (£7.50 for subsequent entries)
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Prose Poetry Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 60 lines
Entry Fee: £10 (£7.50 for subsequent entries)
Prizes: First: £750, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

To Hull and Back Competition
UK COMPETITION
Closing Date: 
EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2025
REGULAR: 30/06/2025
Open to: All
Theme: Humorous
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 2,500 words
Entry Fee:
    EARLY BIRD: £10, £17 for 2, £20 for 3
    REGULAR: £12, £20 for 2, £24 for 3
Prize: First: £1,000, your face on the cover of the anthology,  a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson if they wish, Second: £200, Third: £100,  3 x Highly Commended: £70, 14 x Shortlisted: £35
 

The Plaza Short Story Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Stories
Size: 5,000 words
Entry Fee: £15 (£22.50 for 3 entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £4,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
 

The Plaza Poetry Prize (40 lines)
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 40 lines
Entry Fee: £11 (£9 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
 

Heroines Women's Writing Prize
Open to: Women writers
Theme: Witchcraft (Focus on lost women's history, untold stories and reimagined myths, fairy tales, folklore or legends, or speculative fiction)
Accepts: Poetry & Short Fictions
Size: Poetry: 3 pages, Fiction: 2,500 words
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $500
 

TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest
US COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: US$ 5
Prize: US$ 1,000
 

The Plaza Audio Poetry Prize
UK COMPETITION
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Poetry
Size: 4 minutes
Entry Fee: £12 (£9 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme
Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100