Writing competitions can be a great way to get your writing out in the world. They can be a crucial stepping stone in your writing career, bringing of recognition, some money to buy writing or editing time, publication deals or the possibility of securing an agent. Check out our range of workshops to ready yourself for submission.
We recommend writers look very carefully at the competition guidelines, terms and conditions. Some require an entry fee or reading fee. In some circumstances, this goes towards payment for the judges time (we believe that all literary prize judges should be paid).
In some cases, however, ‘literary competitions’ are just money making ventures. In other cases, by entering the competition you may be automatically signing over the rights to your work (your copyright), or agreeing to a publication arrangement.
A number of competitions are listed here, but please note that this is NOT an endorsement. Writers are individually responsible for carefully reviewing all the terms and conditions of each competition.
2019 Mulga Bill Writing Award
Closing date: 4th March 2019
Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival
Genres: Poetry, Short story,
We are now calling for entries from writers across the country. We hope the theme, and the competition, inspires a host of creative works, which we look forward to reading over the coming months. Keep reading…
Website | mulgabill2019@ outlook.com
2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Award
Closing date: 11th March 2019
Woollahra Municipal Council
Genres: Blogging, Essay, Poetry, Prose,
Are you a writer publishing in digital form? The 2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Award is now open for entries.
Now in its third year, the Woollahra Digital Literary Award is a national literary award supporting innovation in Australian literature and publishing, encouraging writers producing work in a digital medium. Prizes total $7000.
Website | dla@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
Copper Triangle Writers Competition: “Days Gone By”
Closing date: 15th March 2019
Copper Triangle Writers Group, Inc.
Genres: Poetry, Short story,
COPPER TRIANGLE WRITERS GROUP Inc.
in association with The Kernewek Lowender Festival
2019 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
Closing date: 15th April 2019
Australian Book Review
Genres: Short story,
Australian Book Review welcomes entries in the 2019 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for an original short story. The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is worth a total of $12,500. Entry is open to anyone in the world who is writing in English. Entries must be a single story of 2,000 to 5,000 words in length. Keep reading…
Bristol Short Story Prize 2019
Closing date: 1st May 2019
Bristol Short Story Prize
Genres: Short story,
20 stories will be shortlisted and published in Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 12. The winner and 2 runners up will be selected from the shortlist and announced at an awards ceremony in October 2019.
1st prize is £1,000 (about AUD 1,800), 2nd prize is £500 (about AUD 900), 3rd prize is £250 (about AUD 450). 17 further prizes of £100 (about AUD 180) will be presented to the remaining shortlisted writers.
Website | enquiries@bristolprize.co.uk
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize
Closing date: 30th June 2019
University of Canberra
Genres: Poetry,
The 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize is now open for entries until 30 June 2019.
The winner will receive AUD$15,000.
The runner-up (second-placed poem) will receive AUD$5,000.
Four additional poems will be short-listed. Keep reading…
Website | vcpoetryprize@canberra.edu.au
Moth Short Story Prize 2019
Closing date: 30th June 2019
The Moth Magazine
Genres: Short story,
The Moth Short Story Prize is an important date on the literary calendar. Every year, a single judge is asked to choose three winning stories to feature on the autumn issue of The Moth. Keep reading…
ADELAIDE PLAINS POETS Inc. POETRY COMPETITION 2019
Closing date: 5th July 2019
Adelaide Plains Poets Inc.
Genres: Poetry, Youth,
1st, 2nd & 3rd cash prizes, plus Highly Commended & Commended certificates as awarded by judge. Total prize pool over $700
ENTRY GUIDELINES
Work entered in this competition must be original, in English, unpublished and not have won a prize in any other competition. Authors retain copyright.
Theme ‘Location’ – Poems entered must in some way refer to the theme Keep reading…
Website | kittycordo@gmail.com
ELYNE MITCHELL WRITING AWARDS 2019 “New Beginnings”
Closing date: 22nd August 2019
The Elyne Mitchell Writing Award
Genres: Fiction, Non fiction, Short story,
“New Beginnings” – with a strong flavour of the rural experience
We invite all eager writers across Australia and New Zealand, to enter our 2019 short story competition. We chose this theme for its appealing familiarity, and I am sure that you’ve all encountered new beginnings. These can be joyous memories or unwanted upheavals. Keep reading…
Website | gemma@corryongnc.org
Audrey Daybook 2019 Short Story Prize
Closing date: 31st August 2019
Audrey Daybook
Genres: Short story,
2019 marks the launch of the inaugural Audrey Daybook Short Story Prize competition, where we will publish a different reader’s short story in each issue. We invite Audrey‘s community of amateur, aspiring and accomplished writers to enter. Keep reading…
Website | submissions@audreydaybook.com
Furious Fiction
Closing date: 31st December 2019
Australian Writers' Centre
Genres: Short story,
On the first weekend of every month, you are invited to put your storytelling skills to the test in the ultimate writer-takes-all short story competition. Armed only with our simple brief, your job is to race the clock to come up with your best 500 words-or-fewer story and be in to win a tasty $500 – every single month. Keep reading…
