Whatever your writing goals for 2024, you’ll find a range of opportunities in our round-up of literary prizes, competitions, fellowships, calls for submissions and more below—updated weekly!
Writing prizes are a great way to give yourself a deadline, build your publication credits, as well offering a financial incentive at any stage of your writing career. Keep an eye on our program of workshops to get you ready to enter your best work.
Please note that inclusion on this page is not an endorsement. Writers should always carefully check terms and conditions for information on fees, rights, and eligibility.
DEEP CREEK RESIDENCY FELLOWSHIP
Entries close
1 April
Fellowship
Matilda Bookshop, in partnership with Writers SA, and in association with Ultimo Press, offers an annual residency fellowship to a South Australian writer. The fellowship provides support (time, writing space and mentoring) to work on a writing project of literary merit. Applications will be assessed by Writers SA staff, with the shortlist judged by Writers SA and Matilda Bookshop. Ultimo Press will provide consultation and manuscript assessment to the recipient.
Grants
Entries close
1 Jul 2025
Entries close
7 Oct 2025
Entries close
2 Feb 2026
Arts SA – Independent Artists and Groups
This grant supports the development, production and presentation of new works by independent artists and groups across all art forms.
Funded activity may include playwriting, dramaturgy, creative development, manuscript draft and development and making work in the studio.
Literature applications for the preparation of work for self-publishing will be accepted where a compelling case for self-publishing can be made. This would include a strong track record of published work and a viable marketing/distribution plan.
Entries close
Various
City of Adelaide Arts & Cultural Grants
The Arts and Cultural Grants Program provides funding to the community to deliver fun, lively, and interesting arts and cultural experiences with presentation outcomes in the city that enable a vibrant, connected and inclusive community in line with the City of Adelaide Strategic Plan 2024-2028.
These grants enable a diverse year-round program that attracts visitors and connect the community to the city.
Entries close
Various
Country Arts SA Grants
Country Arts SA have a range of grants to support arts and cultural activities in regional South Australia. View the grants page for those currently open.
Entries close
6 Apr
Carclew Project and Development Grants
This program is designed to support and encourage the growth and development of young talent in the South Australian arts community.
Age limit for applicants
- Up to 26 years
- First Nations applicants up to 30 years
Entries close
1 May
Independent Arts Foundation
IAF Small Grants for Young and/or Emerging Artists (individual and group) All art forms are eligible including (but not limited to): Creative Writing (fiction, non-fiction, screen plays, poetry), Music (composition, performance, recording & production), Performing Arts (acting, directing, circus, dance), Visual Arts (all media), Film & New Media, Multi Arts.
June
Closes
30 June
Prize
Bundyi Writing Prize
We are on the lookout for creative, compelling and original works of adult fiction that celebrate First Nations voices. Enter below for a chance to win The Bundyi Writing Prize. This Prize is awarded to an outstanding unpublished manuscript by an emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer (a writer who maybe have appeared in anthologies and literary journals but is yet to have a full length manuscript published).
Closes
30 June
Prize
Heroines Anthology
Heroines Anthology – Volume 6: Call For Submissions
Submissions are open for the 6th Heroines Anthology and the 2025 Heroines Women’s writing prize. Volume 6 is a special witchcraft-themed edition. We are accepting poems and short fiction from women across the globe. Submissions close 30 June 2025
Closes
30 June
Prize
Moth Short Story Prize
The Moth Short Story Prize is an international prize, open to anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as their story is original and previously unpublished. The winners are chosen by a single judge each year, who reads the stories anonymously.
July
Closes
2 July
Competition
Write Around the Murray Short Story Competition 2025
The annual Write Around the Murray Short Story Competition (formerly known as the AlburyCity Short Story Award) is now open and welcomes entrants from anywhere in Australia.
Judged by award-winning author Margaret Hickey, there is a $1000 cash prize for stories up to 3000 words. The winner will be announced at Write Around the Murray festival launch on 10 September.
Closes
31 July
Competition
Anthology Short Story Competition 2025
Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
August
Closes
24 Aug
Competition
Not Quite Write – FLESH Fiction
This spicy 1,500-word competition is now wide open, and we’re ready and waiting for you to submit. The competition is free to enter, offering 6 cash prizes totalling AU$1,000 plus an ever-expanding prize pool thanks to our generous sponsors. If you’re 18 or over, no matter where you are in the world, it’s time to lay your words bare for a chance to reap the rewards.
Closes
24 Aug
Competition
Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition
Theme 1: Migration and Diaspora
We’re interested in stories that examine identity, belonging, community, and the bridges—or divides—between cultures; stories that engage, entertain and enlighten the reader to new and fresh perspectives.
Theme 2: Breakthroughs in history
Stories that feature people, events, technologies and breakthroughs that have shaped our modern history and could include topics of war or the Great Depression.
September
Closes
Sept-Oct 2025
Festival
Sketch and Scribe Festival
Do you have a children’s story or illustration you’d like to workshop or pitch to publishers and agents? Then this new children’s lit festival is for you!
The Sketch and Scribe Festival is for children’s illustrators and writers wanting to connect and learn from publishers and published experts.
Events include;
*Workshops with publishers and published experts in a Coaching Camp
*Professional developmental days filled with panels, workshops and tech talks with publishers and award winning authors and illustrators.
*A digital illustration exhibition and gallery showcase
*Pitch sessions with a huge list of publishers and agents seeking everything from picture books to YA.
*Writing competition of your first pages in four categories.
*Networking parties with publishers.
On-line Pitch Sessions 1-19th September, 2025
In-person weekend Surf Coast, Vic 11-12th October, 2025
On-line weekend 18-19th October, 2025
In-person Coach Camp tickets with the publishers available from May 1
Hybrid (in-person plus online) and on-line tickets available from 1 June
And Beyond…
Closes
29 Sep
Submission
Story Unlikely Magazine Submission
Submission period runs from February 2nd through September 29th (October 14th for Members) No restrictions on genre (seeking all types of stories; fiction and creative nonfiction) 3,500k word limit (12,500k for Members) All stories featured are professionally illustrated no submission fee
Monthly and Ongoing Opportunities
Entries close
monthly
Submissions
Aniko Press Guest book reviews
Aniko will be accepting one to two guest book reviews per month that fit with the tone and style of Aniko Press. Book reviews should be between 600-900 words, and contain a mix of literary criticism and personal opinion. Each published review is paid $50.00.
Entries close monthly
Writing challenges
Furious Fiction
On the first Friday of the month, you are invited to submit a short story up to 500 words, referencing the monthly theme, with only 55 hours to write.
Entries close quarterly
Competition
Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
Four times a year, the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenges writers to break the writing “rules”.The competition is open to writers of all levels of experience worldwide.
Entries close monthly
Competition
Right Left Write
QLD Writers Centre’s monthly short fiction competition Right Left Write is a great opportunity to get your writing published. Winning entries are published in the newsletter, on their website, and in an annual print anthology edition.
Entries close monthly
Competition
The Wakefield Weekly Writing Competition
An exciting monthly challenge for authors Australia-wide. Each month, Wakefield Press release a new prompt for authors to respond to. The prize includes gift vouchers and the publication of winning entries on the Wakefield Press blog.
Ongoing
Submissions open
InReview
Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.
Free download: writing submission tracker
As a writer, spreadsheets are your friend. No really. They’re the perfect way keep track of your writing, whether it’s a catalogue of your pitches to literary journals or publications, queries to agents and publishers, or competition submissions.
If you’d rather spend your time writing than in Excel, we’re here for you.
We’ve designed the ultimate spreadsheet submission/ story/ pitch tracker template, so you can get organised and focus on the words. Whether you’re a freelancer, poet, novelist, creative or non-fiction writer, it will help you to manage deadlines, track your submissions, keep a record of your stories and more.
Why keep track of your submissions?
- Get organised. What are my best opportunities for submission right now? What open calls am I interested in? What stories are pending and when will I likely hear back? Which of my stories are available for publication? Keep notes on different journals, competitions, and deadlines all in one place.
- First impressions count. Don’t send out the same pitch or story to the same place twice. You’ll have a one-stop record of all of your past submissions.
- Manage your budget. How much are you spending on entering competitions or residencies? Manage it all in one place.
- Understand your confidence level. How often are you sending your work out there? Do you need to focus on submitting more frequently, or is it time for revising, editing, or creating the work?
- Refine your skills and get your words out there. You’ve written the story – now get it out there! A systematic approach to publishing will not only help you think of yourself as a professional writer, it can also help you to focus on making sure your words find the right home before you move onto your next idea. You can also see quickly and easily what worked – and what didn’t – to help refine your future approach.
*To save to your Google Docs: select File, and then Make a Copy and hit OK
*To download it to your computer: select File and then Download As and select Microsoft Excel.
We’ve created a blank template for you to change to edit to suit your specific needs. Happy writing!
