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.
“Grey” International Call
Closing date: 28th February 2020
Art Ascent
Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non fiction, Poetry, Short story,
| Theme:
Gray surrounds us, sometimes in surprising ways. In beach pebbles, a pair of smiling eyes, a kitten’s fur, and the cold embers of a fireplace. This neutral colour is cool, calming and timeless. But, it can also feel dull, drained, and emotionless. Grey can make other colours stand out. Grey can hide a story. Share your shades of GREY with words or imagery. Keep reading…
2020 Woollahra Digital Literary Award
Closing date: 9th March 2020
Woollahra Libraries
Genres: Fiction, Non fiction, Poetry,
Are you a writer publishing in digital form? The 2020 Woollahra Digital Literary Award is now open for entries.
Now in its fourth 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. There are three categories of Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry with prizes totalling $7,000. Keep reading…
Website | dla@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
2020 Peter Carey Award
Closing date: 19th March 2020
Moorabool Shire Council
Genres: Short story,
The Peter Carey Short Story Award returns for 2020, opening for entries on February 3 and closing at 6pm AEDT March 19. Organised by the Moorabool Shire Council, the award is for short stories between 2000 – 3000 words, and is open to all Australian residents.
Entry is $10 per story. The winning entry receives $1000, while the runner-up wins $500. First and second prized stories will also be published in the Spring 2020 issue of Meanjin. Longlisted entries will be judged by Elizabeth Tan, author of Rubik and the forthcoming Smart Ovens for Lonely People. Keep reading…
Website | info@moorabool.vic.gov.au
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2020
Closing date: 31st March 2020
The Caterpillar Magazine
Genres: Children, Poetry,
If you have written a poem you think would appeal to 7–11-year olds, then why not enter the The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2020? The prize is open to anyone over 16, and the poem can be on any subject.
A prize of €1,000 is given to the best poem, chosen by our judge Roger McGough. The winning poem will feature in the summer 2020 issue of The Caterpillar. Keep reading…
Website | enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com
Australian Shadows Awards
Closing date: 31st March 2020
Australasian Horror Writers Association
Genres: Horror,
Submissions for the 2019 Australian Shadows Awards are now open until March 31 2020!
AWARD CATEGORIES
Works of horror or dark fiction may be entered into the following categories:
- Short Fiction: works up to 7,500 words.
- Long Fiction: works between 7,501 to 39,999 words (novelette or novella).
- Novel: works of at least 40,000 words.
Website | australianshadowsawards@gmail.com
The UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing
Closing date: 31st March 2020
NewSouth Publishing
Genres: Non fiction, Science,
First prize is $7000. Two runners-up will each receive a prize of $1500.
From the furthest reaches of the universe to the microscopic world of our genes, science offers writers the kind of scope other subjects simply can’t match. Good writing about science can be moving, funny, exhilarating or poetic, but it will always be honest and rigorous about the research that underlies it.
Website | scienceprize@newsouthpublishing.com
2020 Women’s Writing Prize
Closing date: 20th April 2020
Heroine's Anthology
Genres: Poetry, Short story,
1st prize Short Fiction $1000 & 1st prize Poetry $500
The 2020 Heroines Women’s Writing Prize & Anthology is now open for submissions of short fiction and poetry. The Heroines Anthology is a collection of stories of women written by women. Works with a particular focus on telling lost women’s history, untold stories, and reimagined myths, fairy tales, folklore or legends, or speculative fiction, are particularly encouraged. Keep reading…
Website | heroinesrpize@gmail.com
Daisy Utemorrah Award
Closing date: 30th April 2020
Magabala Books
Genres: Indigenous, Young Adult, Youth,
The 2020 Daisy Utemorrah Award is now open for entries!
The Daisy Utemorrah Award is for an unpublished manuscript of junior or YA fiction. The Award is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples currently living in Australia. Generously supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and the State Government of Western Australia, the winner of the award receives $15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books.
Published and unpublished Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers of all ages are eligible to enter with works of junior or YA fiction.
For award details and to apply, please download the Guidelines and Entry Form
Website | projects@magabla.com
Bristol Short Story Prize
Closing date: 30th April 2020
Bristol Short Story Prize
Genres: Children, crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Horror, Romance, Short story,
Welcome to the Bristol Short Story Prize – an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers.
The 2020 Bristol Short Story Prize is open for entries. Closing date is midnight (BST) on April 30th, 2020.
- 1st prize is £1,000
- 2nd prize is £500
- 3rd prize is £250.
17 further prizes of £100 will be presented to the remaining shortlisted writers.
The maximum length of submissions is 4,000 words (does not include title), there is no minimum length.
Website | enquiries@bristolprize.co.uk
NATURE AND PLACE POETRY COMPETITION 2020
Closing date: 1st May 2020
RSPB, The Rialto
The RSPB and The Rialto are additionally working with BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. There’s a fantastic range of prizes on offer and prizewinners will be invited to read their poems at an event with Pascale Petit at CCI in September 2020.
The closing date for entries is midnight on 1st May 2020.
Website | matt.howard@therialto.co.uk
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award
Closing date: 31st May 2020
Allen & Unwin
Genres: Fiction, Non fiction, Novel, Novella,
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award is one of Australia’s richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. Offering prize money of $20,000 plus publication by Allen & Unwin with an advance against royalties, The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most successful writers, including Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Gillian Mears, Brian Castro, Mandy Sayer and Andrew McGahan. Keep reading…
Website | vogel@allenandunwin.com
Audrey Daybook 2020 Short Story Prize
Closing date: 5th August 2020
Audrey Daybook
Genres: Short story,
Throughout 2020, four stories will be shortlisted and published in Audrey, beginning from our March issue through to September, with the semi-finalists receiving a 12 month subscription to the Lovatts Media title of their choice. At the end of the year we’ll announce our 2020 Audrey Short Story Prize winner who will receive a $1,000 cash prize! Keep reading…
