Closes
1 July

Prizes

Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award

With a major prize of $40,000, this award is Waverley Council’s annual celebration of the best in Australian research-based literature. Literary works of any genre first published between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 are eligible for submission.

Closes
1 July

Fellowships

2024 ABR Inglis Fellowship

The recipient of this fellowship will contribute three review essays and/or commentaries in the field of Australia history and culture, which the Australian Book Review will publish in print and online. The Fellow will receive a total of $5000, in three instalments, and will work closely with ABR Editor Peter Rose. Any writer aged thirty-five and under is eligible to apply: scholars, academics, journalists, commentators, creative writers, etc. 1 July.

Closes
1 July

Prizes

Kate Challis RAKA Award

The Kate Challis RAKA Award is now open for applications from Indigenous screenwriters working in film and television. In 2024, the $25,000 award supports an Indigenous screenwriter who has the best script for film or television performed in the past five years.

Closes
1 July

Prizes

Wasafiri Queen Mary New Writing Prize

The prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background.
Categories: Fiction, Life Writing and Poetry. Word Count: Max 3,000 words. Entry: £12 for a single entry, £16 for a double entry, and £6 for a single subsidised entry. Winners: £1,000 cash prize (for each category) and publication in Wasafiri’s print magazine. Deadline: 5pm BST on 1 July.

Closes
7 July

Prizes

The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers

Entries are now open for unpublished writers of adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. The Prize will be judged on the first three chapters of the submitted work, along with a synopsis and detail about how the author’s writing career would benefit from winning the Prize. The winner will receive $10,000 in prize money and a year’s mentoring with one of Hachette Australia’s publishers.

Closes
12 July

Fellowship

Imago Fellowship

$50,000 – For creative writing – fiction or non-fiction, across any genre – utilising the collections of the State Library of NSW.

Closes
14 July

Fellowships

Carclew Fellowships

Carclew Fellowships offer financial support up to $10,000 to young artists and arts workers, across a variety of mediums including the written word. Age limit: up to 26 years; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants up to 30 years.

Closes
17 July

Program

Australian Publishers Association (APA) – Children’s Editorial Program

APA’s new Children Editorial Program makes training available for editorial staff working in children’s publishing. A two-day picture book editing Intensive will take place at RMIT in Melbourne in October for successful applicants.

Closes
21 + 28 July

Open for submissions

Voiceworks – submissions

Non-fiction pitches close: 21 July. Fiction & poetry submissions close: 28 July. Voiceworks publishes works by writers and artists under the age of 25. Submit fiction up to 3,000 words, poetry up to 100 lines, and pitches for non-fiction, for consideration for publication in upcoming issue Loaf.

Closes
21 July

Prizes

July Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Calling writers of all ages and levels of ability to create an original piece of flash fiction of 500 words or less based on two typical writing prompts plus one “anti-prompt”. Compete for A$2,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and 2 ‘wildcard’ prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice

Closes
27 July

Prizes

The 2024 Nakata Brophy Short Fiction and Poetry Prize for Young Indigenous Writers

The Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, established in 2014 and now in its ninth year, recognises the talent of young Indigenous writers across Australia. In 2024, first prize will be awarded to the best poem up to 88 lines by an Indigenous writer who is 35 years or younger at the closing date of the competition. A runner-up prize may also be awarded. Entries close 27 July 2024 at 11:59pm AEST.

Closes
22 July

Call for submissions

Splinter Journal

We are thrilled to announce that our new literary journal, Splinter, has opened submissions for its inaugural issue. We warmly invite writers to send us writing across various fiction, non-fiction and poetic forms.

Closes
22 July

Prize

mindshare Awards

A poetry and creative writing competition open to South Australians with lived experience of mental health challenges. Categories include Unpublished Emerging Poets, Unpublished Emerging Writers, Published Established Poets, Published Established Writers. Prizes for shortlisted writers and winner.

Closes
31 July

Prizes

The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers

Open to Australian secondary school-aged students; recognises writing excellence in three categories: Poetry (up to 100 lines), Fiction and Creative Nonfiction (up to 3,000 words). Prize winners in each category receive $500 and publication online with Express Media. 15 shortlisted writers participate in a writing masterclass.

Closes
31 July

Prizes

Anthology Short Story Competition

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. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.

Closes
31 July

Prizes

Port Writers Open Writing Competition 2024

Entries invited in 2 categories – Short Story (to 2500 words), Poetry (to 32 lines). Prizes in each category – 1st $200, 2nd $50, Hastings Award (local writers) $50. Entry Fee $10 (limit in 3 entries per category).

Closes
31 July

Competition

New Writers Poetry Competition 2024

The New Writers Poetry Competition 2024 is open for entries of poems (42 lines max) on any theme and from anywhere in the world. The winner will receive £1,000 (with £300 for second place and £200 for third). The three winning poems will be published on the site and in a future New Writers Anthology. £1.00 from each entry will be donated to First Story, a creative writing charity for young people.

Closes
31 July

Competition

Flying Islands Poetry Manuscript Competition

Prize for a full length poetry manuscript (between 60-90 A4 pages); entries open to poets who have not yet published a full-length poetry collection. Winner receives $1,000 cash, publication Flying Island Pocket Poets Series, and consideration for a Arbaro Writers and Artists Residency. Other finalists may also be offered publication.

Closes
31 July

Competition

The Society of Women Writers Tasmania – Rose Frankcombe Short Story Award

Open to all Australian writers. Submit short fiction up to 1,500 words on the theme of Blue. First prize $200, second prize $50.

Closes
31 July

Awards

Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (ANZSI) Indexing Awards and John Simkin Medal 2024

Nominations are now open for the above awards. The ANZSI John Simkin Medal recognises an outstanding book index or periodical index compiled in Australia or New Zealand. ‘Highly Commended’ certificates may also be awarded.

Indexes may be nominated by authors, editors, indexers, publishers or readers.

Nomination forms, assessment criteria and lists of previous winners are available at the website.

Closes
31 July

Awards

The Ampersand Prize for Debut Manuscript

Awarded biennially to an extraordinary debut manuscript for children or young adults, with the winning author receiving a publishing contract with an advance against royalties, as well as editorial development to prepare the book for market.

Closes
31 July

Open for submissions

UWA Publishing – submissions

University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP) is now accepting general submissions of adult fiction and poetry manuscripts. UWAP now also accepts submissions of scholarly and non-fiction manuscripts year-round.

Opens
July

Fellowships

Writers SA Varuna Fellowship

Each year we team up with Varuna, the National Writers’ House, to offer writing residency and development fellowships for South Australian writers working in any genre or form. The fellowships provide time, writing space, and consultation to work on your writing in a dedicated writers’ retreat in the beautiful Country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples in the Blue Mountains. Opens for applications in July.

First Friday
of each month

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 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. 

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. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. 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
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
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. Monthly.

Entries close
4 August

Prize

The 2024 Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Prize

In 2016 at the age of 93, the poet and activist Venie Holmgren passed away. To honour his mother, David Holmgren, permaculture co-originator established the Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Prize. *Fee

Entries close
11 August

Prize

SA Literary Fellowships 2025

Writers SA and State Library of South Australia have partnered to offer the SA Literary Fellowships program to support emerging, established, and First Nations writers. This program will offer five annual creative writing fellowships with a cash component, desk space, and access to the Library’s collections. It is open to all writers living in South Australia to encourage the original and imaginative use of the Library’s spaces and collections to develop new literary works.

Entries close
12 August

Prize

The Best Australian Yarn

The West Australian is calling all writers – published or unpublished – from every corner of Australia to get creative and submit their short story of up to 2,500 words. Whether you’re an accomplished author, a budding writer or a complete newcomer to creative writing, submissions from everyone 12 years and over are welcome. The prize pool is $80,000 across 18 prizes with the winning entry receiving a $50,000 cash prize.

Entries close
12 August

Prize

Peter Blazey Fellowship

$17,000 award intended to further a work in progress from writers in the non-fiction fields of biography, autobiography and life writing.

Entries close
12 August

Award

The Hage Award for First Nations Writers

Over a period of 12 months, two First Nations writers will be awarded financial and in-kind support to develop a debut manuscript (fiction and/or nonfiction).

Entries close
15 August

Prize

Screen Australia/SBS/NITV Digital Originals Program

Calling all emerging SA writers. This program is aimed at developing exciting and innovative online scripted series, with applicant teams from around the country chosen to develop and produce bold and original series of 6 x 10 minute episodes for broadcast on SBS and NITV.

Entries close
25 August

Prize

2025 Varuna Fellowships

The Writers SA Varuna Fellowship is open to all writers living in South Australia who are current Writers SA members. The fellowship provides time, writing space, and consultation to work on your writing in a dedicated writers’ retreat in the beautiful Country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples in the Blue Mountains.

Entries close
26 August

Award

ASLA DANZ Children’s Book Award

Open to nominations for published works (2022, 2023 or 2024) of young adult fiction, non-fiction, ​graphic novels and poetry that ‘pushes boundaries, challenges stereotypes, and celebrates diverse and marginalised people and communities’.

Entries close
30 August

Open for submissions

Deaf Writing Commission 2024

With generous funding from the Copyright Agency and Arts SA, Writers SA will commission 6 Deaf* writers to create pieces of work to be published in our new literary journal – Splinter. Each writer will have a piece of up to 1,000 words published in English and recorded in Auslan, and will receive a $1,000 payment.

Entries close
31 August

Award

Olga Masters Short Story Award

Accepts entries of short stories (2,000–4,000 words) on the theme of life in rural Australia. Main Prize of $1,500 plus publication in Island magazine; $500 for runner-up.

Entries close
31 August

Award

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

An international literary prize that is a hotbed for new talent in poetry and short fiction. Each winner is awarded with £2,500 as well as publication.

Entries close
31 August

Award

BREW Poetry Award

The BREW Poetry Award honours the profound beauty and transformative impact of verse, recognising poets who skillfully weave language to evoke emotions and imagery. Awards include Judges’ Pick and Community’s Pick, with winners receiving a badge, digital certificate, and potential feature in an anthology or in a The World’s Best Magazine print edition. Entry is free.

Entries close
31 August

Award

Anthology Personal Memoir Competition

Everyone has a story to tell. What’s yours? Authors are invited to share a unique life experience. Whether your memoir recounts a transformative journey, a poignant moment, or a life-altering event, we welcome your story. The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is open to original and previously unpublished memoirs in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.
The winner will receive €500 and publication.

Entries close
31 August

Prize

NSW Poetry Prize

Open to Australian and international residents aged 17 years and over. Submissions up to 50 lines (excluding line spaces) are accepted. The theme is courage. The top 3 winning entries will receive cash prizes. For full terms and conditions and entry form please visit our website.

Entries close
August

Awards

Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards

The most valuable literary prize in the country, with prizes for Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Award for Indigenous Writing and Writing for Young Adults – each receive $25,000. The winner of the Award for an Unpublished Manuscript receives $15,000. The winners of the six main suite categories go on to contest the overall Victorian Prize for Literature, worth an additional $100,000. Usually closes August.

Entries close
August

Awards

Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards

Cash prizes for the best crime short stories by Australian women. Maximum length: 5000 words.  $12,365 in prizes on offer. The awards usually close August.

First Friday
of each month

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 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. 

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. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. 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
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
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. Monthly.

Opens
1 September

Prizes

Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country who is aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words). Regional winners each receive £2,500 and the opportunity to be published online by Granta magazine, and the overall winner receives £5,000. A free prize for unpublished short fiction, open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country. Translations or entries in languages other than English are also accepted. The 2025 prize will open for submissions on 1 September 2024.

Opens
6 September

Prizes

ESU – Roly Sussex Short Story Competition

Literary award that fosters original creative writing, including ‘experimental, challenging or thought-provoking work’. Submit writing up to 3,000 words. First-place winners’ travel to attend the awards ceremony covered up to $500. All stories submitted will be considered for publication by ESU.

Closes
8 September

Prizes

Carclew Project and Development Grants

Project and Development Grants are now open for Round 1 2025. This program is designed to support and encourage the growth and development of young talent in the South Australian arts community. Receive a grant up to $10,000 to fund development and/or presentation of new or existing work, and/or projects which enable participation in the arts for children and young people.

Closes
15 September

Prizes

Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund

Round 12 is now open for the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund which recognises the unique value of travel in the development of writing and literary careers. Applicants can apply for grants between $2,000 and $10,000. These grants support professional development through travel. Travel activities are to take place between: 11 November 2024 – 11 November 2025 (inclusive).

Entries close
23 September

Prize

2024 Illustration Prize for Children’s Picture Book Publishing

This annual, nationally recognised prize garners a great deal of interest from the industry and several of our winners have been awarded contracts with major publishers.

Closing
29 September

Open submissions

Story Unlikely

Story Unlikely is seeking short stories. Submission period runs from February 2nd through September 29th. No restrictions on genre (seeking all types of stories; fiction and creative nonfiction). 10k word limit (15k for Members). 8 cents a word, reprints are 1 cent a word (we cap payment at $200, or $400 for Members). All published stories are illustrated. No submission fee.

Closing
September

EOIs

Saddleworthy Book & Art Event

An artist and author event to be held in the Saddleworth Institute on 28th September 2024. This is an opportunity to showcase your talent and is open to everyone. EOIs are open now.

Closing
27 September

Prize

The Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing

The Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing is open to writers from all over Australia, for unpublished works in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry categories. Visit the New England Writers’ Centre (NEWC) website for information and guidelines. Entry fee is $10 for adults, and $5 for writers under-18 years. Submission window closes at the end of September, and winners announced in November. The entries are all judged anonymously by industry professionals.

Entries close
30 September

Competition

Campbelltown Writers’ Competition

Writers from across SA are invited to submit their original stories inspired by the theme of “Journey”. Open to all genres and formats, including short stories, factual articles, memoirs and poetry to 2,500 words, and must have a link to the Campbelltown or resident. 30 September.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

The Letter Review Prize

For short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and unpublished books. Winners share in the $4000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Shortlisted in each category. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

Woorilla Poetry Prize

Be part of a highly recognised poetry competition that has assisted poets for over 30 years. Enjoy the opportunity to win cash prizes and have your work published in multiple categories. Closes 30th September 2024.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

The Moth Nature Writing Prize

The Prize will be awarded to three unpublished pieces of prose (word limit 4000) or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writer’s relationship with the natural world. 1st prize €1,000 plus a week at Circle of Misse in France, 2nd prize €500, 3rd prize €250. Open to anyone (over 16). There is an entry fee of €15. This year’s judge is award-winning nature writer Cal Flyn.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

Port Stephens Literature Award

The award is for short stories of up to 2000 words on any topic and must be original. $1100 in prize money.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

Anthology Flash Fiction Competition

Established to inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story.
The winner will receive a €300 cash prize.

Entries close
30 September

Prizes

Anthology Nature Writing Competition

The Anthology Nature Writing Competition is created to celebrate the beauty of the natural world, inspire literary excellence and encourage Anthology’s readers to explore the great outdoors. Whether it’s the wonder of life right in your own garden, an encounter with wildlife, the serenity of a forest, a reflection on environmental challenges, or the healing power of nature, we welcome your stories.
The winner will receive €500.

First Friday
of each month

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 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. 

Applications close
March & Sept

Grants

Carclew’s Project & Development grants for individuals

Carclew offers grants to early career artists aged 26 years or under, for arts projects with a tangible outcome and/or skills and career development. Project & Development grants for individuals provide up to $10,000 and are offered twice per year for activity occurring in the following six months. Closing March and September.

Entries usually close
September

Fellowship

Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli Fellowship for Writers

Open to mid-career writers, this $13,500 fellowship is awarded to someone in recognition of their literary achievements and commitment to humanity and social justice issues. Applicants must be under the age of 40 and identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, living with a disability, or culturally and linguistically diverse. Usually closes September each year.

Entries usually close
September

Fellowships

May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship

Apply for this “gift of time and support”, which includes accommodation, local support, and travel to Adelaide providing creative time away from home.

Entries close
September

Prizes

POEM FOREST

A free nature writing prize that breathes life back into the natural world that sustains us. Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, POEM FOREST invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal habitats. All POEM FOREST Prize entries are published in a digital library and have the chance to win $5,000 in prizes. Usually closes September.

Entries open
September

Fellowship | Scholarship

Magabala Books Fellowship and Scholarship

The Fellowship, worth $10,000 is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers is intended to provide valuable time for a mid-career author to work on a current manuscript. The scholarships support professional development relating to writing, illustration and storytelling, and are open to both emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, artists, illustrators and storytellers. Applications usually open in September.

Entries close
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
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. Monthly.

Closes
7 October

Prize

2025 Peter Porter Poetry Prize

Australian Book Review welcomes entries for the twenty-first Peter Porter Poetry Prize, which is open to all international poets from 1 July 2024 until midnight 7 October 2024. First prize is worth $6,000. Entries must be an original single-authored poem of not more than 60 lines written in English. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January–February 2025 issue and the winner will be announced at a ceremony later that month.

Closes
20 October

Prize

October Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Calling writers of all ages and levels of ability to create an original piece of flash fiction of 500 words or less based on two typical writing prompts plus one “anti-prompt”. Compete for A$2,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and 2 ‘wildcard’ prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice.

Closes
30 October

Prize

Anthology Photography Competition

Open to photographers working at any level, the Anthology Photography Competition celebrates outstanding standalone images. It also provides a platform for photographers to showcase their work through publication. Images submitted must be on the theme of ‘Everyday Wonders’. Submissions will be judged on quality, creativity, originality, and visual/emotional impact. The winner will receive a €500 cash prize.

Closes
30 October

Prize

Anthology Travel Writing Competition

Established for writers who like to share authentic travel experiences and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that captures the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. FIRST: €500

Closes
31 October

Prize

Anthology Poetry Competition

Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines. FIRST: €1,000 cash prize and publication

Closes
31 October

Prize

Anthology Art Competition

The Anthology Art Competition is established to foster and support both established and emerging visual artists and provide a platform for publication. The competition is open to multiple genres including painting, printmaking, mixed media, photography and digital media.
The winner will receive €500 and editorial coverage in a future issue of Anthology.

First Friday
of each month

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 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. 

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. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. 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
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
October

Competitions

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards

The annual awards are the richest and longest running state-based literary awards in Australia, covering all genres of writing. entries usually close in October.

Closes
October

Prizes

The Stella Prize

The Stella Prize awards the best book by an Australian woman, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry with $50,000. Nominations usually close October.

Closes
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. Monthly.

First Friday
of each month

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
8 November

Award

The 2024 Marj Wilke Short Story Award

This competition is open to Australian Women Writers over the age of 18 years. Calling for short stories, any genre and up to 1500 words, not including title. Entry Fee is $15 or $40 for three. First prize $350, runner-up $150, and an encouragement award $75, plus certificates.

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. 

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. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. 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
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
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. Monthly.

Closes
November

Residencies and Fellowships

Writers SA Varuna Fellowships

Each year we team up with Varuna, the National Writers’ House, to offer two new writing residency and development fellowships for SA writers working in any genre or form. The fellowships provide time, writing space, and consultation to work on your writing in a dedicated writers’ retreat in the Blue Mountains. Usually closes November.

Closes
November

Competitions

Miles Franklin Literary Award

One of Australia’s most prestigious literature prizes, the Miles Franklin accepts applications from publishers usually until November.

Closing
November

Competition

CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Awards for published Australian books for readers under the age of eighteen. Six categories including Book of the Year for Older Readers, Younger Readers, and Early Childhood Readers; Picture Book of the Year, Eve Pownall Award and Award for New Illustrator. Entries open March-November.

Entries close
November 30

Prize

Residency at Lighthouse Arts Newcastle

Immerse. Focus. Create. Applications for Lighthouse Arts residencies are now open for August to December 2024. Open to writers and creatives of all backgrounds, disciplines, and stages, our residency rounds cater to both local and visiting artists.

Closing
31 December

Seeking submissions

Sojournal: One Image One Story

Sojournal is a non-profit labour of love and at present we cannot offer payment to contributors. We will not be running any advertisements on our site so the only income we might achieve is through donations.
Sojournal exists to support you in your story telling because we love great travel stories. If you are published by Sojournal we will spread your work as widely as possible.

First Friday
of each month

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 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. 

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. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. 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
Various

Grants

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.

Closes
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. Monthly.