AUSTRALIAN WRITERS' RESOURCE
COMPETITIONS
UPDATED 05/01/2021
The following information has been extracted from other websites and no assurance can be given as its correctness.
Give your hard work the best chance to win, make sure that you follow the entry requirements!
If the entry conditions don't specify it, then generally you can submit the same entry to different competitions at the same time - but if your entry places in one then you should inform the organisers of the other competitions. It is then up to them whether your entry is disqualified or not.
Allow for time to post and double-check closing dates, particularly if the organiser is in another time zone. This is becoming more important to check as we are being more frequently approached by international competitions to be included on our list.
NEW LISTINGS THIS MONTH
Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition
Boree Log Award for Bush Verse
Eastwood/Hills FAW Literary Competition
Forty South Publishing Tasmanian Writers' Prize
Furphy Literary Award
Future Leaders Writing Prize
Griffin Award
Mary River Press Services Short Story Competition
Microflix Writing Award
Peter Carey Short Story Award
Questions Writing Prize
SAETA Young Writers Award
Shore Scripts Podcast Contest
The Nature Conservancy Nature Writing Prize
Opens: 5pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) on the first Friday of every month
Closes: 55 hours later
Open to: 17 years and older
Theme: Story prompt provided
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: $500
Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition
Closing Date: Quarterly competitions - see website
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
The Writing Quarter Competition
Closing Date: Last day of the month
Open to: Aged 18 or over
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:$30 via Paypal
Write from the Heart Microfiction
Closing Date: End of Month at midnight
Open to: All
Theme: As chosen by prior winner
Accepts: Microfiction
Size: 100 words
Entry fee: $2 entry fee plus 50 cents to cover Paypal charge (or Nil entry fee but prize rolled over to next month)
Prize: Nominated charity: 50% of entry fees, First: 28% of entry fees, choose next charity and theme, Second: 8% of entry fees, Third: 4% of entry fees
THROUGH THE YEAR
JANUARY 2021 | |
01/01/2021 |
black&write! Writing Fellowships Open to: Writers (published and unpublished) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent currently living in Australia Theme: None * Accepts: Adult Fiction and Short Story collections Size: Minimum 50,000 words Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Young Adult Fiction Size: Minimum 40,000 words Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Poetry Size: Minimum 30 poems Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Children's book Size: No word count requirement Entry Fee: Nil * Prizes: Two winners will each receive: $10,000, manuscript development with black&write! and publication opportunity with Hachette Australia |
06/01/2021
|
The Henshaw Short Story Competition |
07/01/2021 NEW LISTING |
Griffin Award 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 Prizes: First: $10,000, Runners-up x 4: $1,000 |
13/01/2021 |
The Mogford Food & Drink Short Story Prize UK COMPETITION Open to: All over 18 Theme: Food and Drink must be at the heart of the tale Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,500 words Entry Fee: £15 Prizes: First: £10,000, an inscribed award, read by an actor and uploaded, 3 x Runners up: £250 |
15/01/2021 |
Calibre Essay Prize Theme: None Open to: All Accepts: Non-fiction essay Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $25 (or $15 for ABR subscribers) Prizes: First: $5,000, Second: $2,500 |
18/01/2021 EXTENDED DATE |
Kuracca Prize for Australian Literature Open to: person of Australian residence, nationality, birth or cultural relation (including entrants who are seeking asylum) Theme: None Accepts: See below Size: Fiction, Essay, Memoir, Creative Non-fiction: 3,000 words Poetry: 88 lines Cartoon, Graphic Story: 1800mm wide by 255 mm high Digital or audio: 5 minutes Entry Fee: $20, $12 for Overland subscribers, Nil for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrants Prizes: First: $5,000, Runners-up x 2: $1,000 |
21/01/2021 NEW LISTING |
Shore Scripts Podcast Competition UK COMPETITION |
22/01/2021 NEW LISTING |
Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition Open to: All Theme: Flight Accepts: Flash Fiction Size: 100 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: Publication on website and social media, copy of "Throat" by Ellen Van Neerven, plus copy Aniko Press Magazine, Second: Publication on website, plus copy Aniko Press Magazine |
31/01/2021 |
Stringybark Open Short Story Competition Theme: Have a link to Australia, suitable for audience aged 16 and above Open to: All Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $14, $26 for 2, $36 for 3 Prizes: First: $350, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $400), Second: $250, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $300), Third: $125, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $175), Highly Commended x 30: Publication, ebook (Value $5) |
31/01/2021 |
The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers US COMPETITION |
FEBRUARY 2021 | |
01/02/2021 | The Cloncurry Prize - The Spirit of Cloncurry Open to: Australian citizens, permanent residents or Australian passport holders living in Australia, over 18 years Theme: Spirit of the Outback Accepts: Poetry Size: No more than 2 pages Entry Fee: $25 Prizes: First: $10,000, Runner-up: $1,000, People's Choice Award |
02/02/2021 | Clearway 2021: Entanglement Open to: Women writers residing in Australia, over 16 Theme: Entanglement Accepts: Short works in the first person as a woman Size: 800 words (3 minutes reading) Entry Fee: $15.00 Prizes: 12 - 15 monologues: $100, performed |
07/02/2021 |
Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award Open to: Australian resident or Australia living overseas, and over 18 Theme: None Accepts: Collection of short prose, may contain audio-visual content & hyperlinks, may contain some previously published work Size: 30,000 words Entry Fee: $25 (Students/Concession: $20) Prizes: First: $3,000 & offered a digital publication agreement, Runner-up x 2: $1,000 & offered a digital publication agreement |
09/02/2021 NEW LISTING |
The Nature Conservancy Nature Writing Prize Open To: Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia over age of 18 Theme: Writing of Place. Setting of an Australian landscape Accepts: Essay Size: 3,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $25 Prize: First: $7,500, Highly Commended (The Rosina Buckman Award): Two week self-catered writing retreat residency at Life at Springfield in the Southern Highlands of NSW |
16/02/2021 NEW LISTING |
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 |
21/02/2021 NEW LISTING |
Microflix Writing Award Open to: Anyone living in Australia and Australians living overseas Theme: Inspiring to a filmmaker to adapt to the screen Accepts: Short Prose Size: 400 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $500, small fee if adapted into film |
26/02/2021 | Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize Open to: Australian and New Zealand residents Theme: Crime or Thriller Accepts: Manuscript Size: 70,000 - 100,000 words Entry Fee: Nil (check) Prize:First: Publishing contract with advance against royalties of $25,000 |
28/02/2021 | Flash 500 Short Story Competition Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 - 3,000 words Entry Fee: £7, £12 for 2, £16 for 3, £20 for 4 Prize:First: £500, Second: £200, Third: £100 |
MARCH 2021 | |
18/03/2021 NEW LISTING |
Closing Date: 18/03/2021 |
28/03/2021 |
KSP Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition Open to: Western Australian residents Theme: Voices * Accepts: Youth (under 18) - Short Story Size: 500 words Entry Fee: $5 Prizes: First: $100 & certificate, Second: $25 & certificate * Accepts: Adult - Short Story Size: 1,200 words Entry Fee: $10 Prizes: First: $100 & certificate & goody bag, Second: $50 & certificate |
30/03/2021 |
British Theatre Challenge UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Play Size: One Act, running time 5 - 30 minutes, more than one actor Entry Fee: £16 Prize: First: 5 plays selected: Given a full performance at a London theatre - developed by professional directors - performed by professional actors - given written assessments by theatre professionals - considered for publication - filmed in performance by Mini Mammoth Films, Public Choice Award |
31/03/2021 |
Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize Open to: 18 years and over and who live in the state of Victoria Theme: Biographical Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 - 3,000 words Entry Fee: $15 Prize: First: $500 |
31/03/2021 |
Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize Open to: 18 years and over and who live in the state of Victoria Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 30 lines Entry Fee: $15 for 2 poems Prize: First: $500 |
31/03/2021 |
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 Prize: $100 & winner's name inscribed on a plaque in the State Library Launceston Branch, Best Tasmanian Entry: Hobart Bookshop voucher |
31/03/2021 |
TCK Publishing Poetry Awards US COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: Up to 5 poems totalling no more than 500 words Entry Fee: US$ 5 Prize: US$ 1,000 |
31/03/2021 |
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize IRISH COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: Poetry written by an adult for children (aged 7-11) Accepts: Poetry Size: 150 lines Entry Fee: €14 Prize: €1,000 |
31/03/2021 |
W B Yeats Poetry Prize Closing Date: 31/03/2021 Open to: Australian residents Theme: Open Accepts: Poetry Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: $10 for first entry ($4 each entry thereafter) Prizes: First: $600, 2 x Second: $100, Commendation: Certificate |
31/03/2021 |
Young Adas Short Story Prize Open to: aged between 14 - 18 years and who live or work in the western suburbs of Melbourne Theme: About something that matters to the writer Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: $250 |
APRIL 2021 | |
01/04/2021 NEW LISTING |
Mary River Press Services Short Story Competition Open to: 16 years and over Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $5, Pensioner/Student: $3 Prize: First: $100, Second: $30, Third: $10 |
14/04/2021 |
Newcastle Short Story Award Open to: Australians living here or abroad, over 18 years Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: $16.50 Prize: First: $3,000, Second: $1,500, Third: $1,000, 2 x Highly Commended: Value $250 to $500, 3 x Commended: Value $100 to $200 3 x Hunter Region Writers Awards: Value $100 to $250 |
18/04/2021 |
The Fogarty Literary Award Open to: Western Australian authors aged between 18 and 35 Theme: None Accepts: Adult Fiction, Narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction Size: 50,000 - 120,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: $20,000 and publishing contract with Freemantle Press |
25/04/2021 |
The Valerie Parv Award |
30/04/2021 | Bronze Swagman Award Open to: All Theme: Australian Accepts: Bush Poetry Size: No limit Entry Fee: $25 per entry form, up to 3 poems per form Prizes: First: $500 & Bronze statuette of the Swagman, Runner-up: $200 & trophy, Highly Commended: Certificate |
30/04/2021 NEW LISTING |
Furphy Literary Award Open to: Australian residents, 18 years and over Theme: Australian Life in all it's diversity Accepts: Fiction or Narrative non-fiction Size: 5.000 word Entry Fee: Not mentioned Prizes: First: $15,000. Second: $3,000, Third: $2,000 |
MAY 2021 | |
01/05/2021 NEW LISTING |
Questions Writing Prize Open to: Australian, 18 - 30 years Theme: None Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction Size: 1,500 - 2,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: $2,000 |
05/05/2021 |
Bristol Short Story Prize UK COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: Open Accepts: Short Story Size: 4,000 words Entry Fee: £9 Prizes: First: £1000, Second: £500, Third: £250, Shortlisted x 17: £100, The Sansom Award (Bristol Writer): £100 |
07/05/2021 |
Theme: None |
15/05/2021 NEW LISTING |
Boree Log Award for Bush Verse Open to: All Theme: Australian Bush Theme Accepts: Bush Verse Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: $8 Prize: $100 plus trophy and certificate |
21/05/2021 NEW LISTING |
SAETA Young Writers Award Closing Date: 21/05/2021 * Open to: South Australian Students: Reception to Yr 1 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 2 & Yr 3 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 4 to Yr 6 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 7 & Yr 8 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 9 & Yr 10 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 11 & Yr 12 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified |
15/05/2021 NEW LISTING |
Eastwood/Hills FAW Literary Competition Open to: All Theme: None * Accepts: Category 1: Flash Fiction Size: 500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: First: $150, Second: $50 * Accepts: Category 2: Phillippa Holland Award for Poetry Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: First: $150, Second: $50 * Accepts: Category 3: Alan Russell Award for Memoir Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: First: $150, Second: $50 * Accepts: Category 4: Pauline Walsh for Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: First: $150, Second: $50 |
31/05/2021 NEW LISTING |
Future Leaders Writing Prize Open to: Year 11 & 12 students in Australian Secondary Schools Theme: None Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction Size: 800 - 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: $1,000 |
31/05/2021 |
The Bath Novel Award UK COMPETITION Open to: International writers yet to be traditionally published Theme: None Accepts: Unsigned novel written for adults or young adults Size: First 5,000 words plus one page synopsis (Full novel must be at least 50,000 words) Entry Fee: £28 (sponsored places available for writers on low income) Prizes: First: £3,000, Most promising Longlisted novel: Online professional editing course worth £1,800, Short listed: manuscript feedback & literary agent introductions |
JUNE 2021 | |
30/06/2021 |
Henry Savery National Short Story Award |
AUGUST 2021 | |
31/08/2021 |
FAW Tasmania Poetry Prize |