Whatever your writing goals are, you’ll find a range of opportunities in our round-up of literary prizes, competitions, fellowships, calls for submissions and more below.
Writing prizes are a great way to give yourself a deadline, build your publication credits, as well offering a potential financial incentive at any stage of your writing career.
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.
Grants
Entries close
2 Mar 2027
Creative Australia: Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Funding of between $10,000 and $50,000 for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across the following art forms and arts practice areas: First Nations Arts and Culture, Community Arts and Cultural Development, Emerging and Experimental Arts, Multi-Arts, Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts and Literature. Supported activities must take place between 9 June 2026 and June 2028. Funded activities may include: professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies, the creation of new work, practice based research, creative development, experimentation, collaborations and exchanges, touring, festivals, productions, exhibitions, performances, publishing, recording, promotion and marketing, market development activity, and activities that creatively engage communities.
Entries close
8 Feb 2027
CreateSA – Grants for Individuals, Groups, Organisations
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.
Currently closed
Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund
Through its Create Grants, the Fund provides a living allowance for Australian writers and visual artists at key stages of their career. Creative writers who have published one full-length creative work in Australia can apply to write their second book in the following literary genres: fiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, picture book illustration, graphic novels, playwriting, literary non-fiction and writing for performance (plays only).
Currently closed
Next round closes
Mar 2027
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.
Fellowships & Scholarships
Currently Closed
Copyright Agency’s Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing
The Copyright Agency’s Fellowship for Non-Fiction Writing will support an Australian author to create a significant new work of literary non-fiction.
Applications close
Currently Closed
Copyright Agency’s Author Fellowship
The Copyright Agency’s Author Fellowship will support an established Australian author to create a new work for publication or performance and is open to novelists, playwrights, poets, children’s and young adult writers, picture book illustrators and journalists.
Applications close
27 September 2026
The Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship
The Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship (IWMF) was created by the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust (MGCLT) to honour their founding Chair, the late Honourable Ian Wilson AM. Ian was a Federal Government Minister and an avid reader, and fostering high quality literature for Australian children and young people became a key commitment of his later life.
The Trust’s mission is to support the creativity and careers of contemporary Australian children’s writers and illustrators by providing Residential Fellowships. The IWMF is offered annually and supports an emerging author or illustrator with creative time and professional development.
The Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship was established to support emerging children’s authors and/or illustrators who explore Australian voices and themes. The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust provides the successful applicant with travel to Adelaide, accommodation free of charge, a living allowance, and local support, facilitating creative time away from home for 21 nights in March 2027.
The successful applicant will be able to gain opportunities to grow their creative practice through this inspiring residency. They will have the opportunity to concentrate intensively on the development of new work, and participate in networking opportunities and professional development with the support from a vibrant community of children’s literature creators.
Proposals must be for work in development that reflects Australian voices or themes, from emerging authors or illustrators whose work is unpublished or self-published, or whose work has been published only as an educational resource, and must be for children or young people up to the age of 18 years.
October
Closes 1 Oct
Competition
Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards
Early-Bird Deadline: September 1, 2026
Deadline: October 1, 2026
We’re looking for personal essays! Think you can write a winning essay in 2,000 words or fewer? Enter the Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards for your chance to win $2,500 in cash, get published in Writer’s Digest magazine, a coveted pitch opportunity with one-on-one attention from editors or agents, and a paid trip to our ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference!
An entry fee applies.
Read more here
Closes 14 Oct
Competition
2027 Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Celebrating twenty-three years of world poetry, Australian Book Review welcomes entries to the 2027 Peter Porter Poetry Prize, one of Australia’s most lucrative and respected poetry awards. The prize – worth a total of AU$10,000 – is open to all living poets writing in English. The winner will receive $6,000, with the four other shortlisted poets receiving $1,000 each.
Entries must be an original and unpublished single-authored poem of not more than 60 lines. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January–February 2027 issue of ABR and the winner will be announced at a ceremony later that month.
This year’s judges are Mindy Gill, Nam Le, and Felicity Plunkett.
An entry fee applies.
Read more here
Closes 31 Oct
Competition
The Hope Prize
Early bird deadline: 31 July 2026
Final deadline: 31 October 2026
The Hope Prize is a global short story competition open to writers from anywhere in the world. They accept prose short stories only – either fiction or narrative nonfiction (including memoir). They do not accept poetry, essays, or academic writing.
The total prize pool for The Hope Prize is $13,000 AUD, with winning entries and selected highly commended stories published in an anthology by Simon & Schuster Australia.
Genre, style, and subject matter are open (they encourage bold self expression and boundary pushing). They are looking for thoughtful engagement with the themes of hope, courage, or resilience. Stories that help us to understand the human experience in all its forms; love, daily grit, small wins, massive triumphs and living through what life throws at us.
They passionately welcome writers at all stages of their journey. The best way to understand what the judges are looking for is to buy a copy of the 2024 Hope Prize Anthology, Tomorrow There Will Be Sun. 100% of royalties from the sale of this book go to mental health charity Beyond Blue.
Read more here
Closes 31 Oct
Competition
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. There is no limit to entries per person. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.
It is not a requirement, but is advisable to refer to Anthology magazine or purchase a copy before submitting your work.
Prizes
FIRST: The winner will receive a €1,000 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology.
SECOND: €250
THIRD: €150
Anthology has partnered with Reedsy Learning to provide the following prizes:
Winner: one-year Reedsy Learning membership (including all masterclasses and conferences)
Shortlist: one live craft masterclass of choice
All entrants: exclusive 10% membership discount
An entry fee applies.
Read more here
November
Closes 10 Nov
Competition
Aurealis Awards
The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier literary prizes for speculative fiction. They recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements of Australian creators working in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. From epic world-building to spine-chilling suspense, these awards honour the absolute best of our nation’s imagination.
Any work of speculative fiction – science fiction, fantasy and horror – written by an Australian citizen or permanent resident and published for the first time in English between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2026 is eligible to be entered. Traditionally published, independently published and self-published works (including works published on online platforms), whether available via purchase or freely available, are eligible. Unpublished work is not eligible.
Awards are presented across 16 distinct categories. Shortlisted entrants will be publicly announced in the Pen & Pixel email newsletter and online. Winners will be announced at GenreCon in Brisbane in February 2027 and publicly announced shortly thereafter.
Entry fees apply, with discounted rates available to all members of the National Writers Centre Network (which includes Writers SA).
Read more here
Closes 30 Nov
Competition
The KYD Creative Non-Fiction Prize
The KYD Creative Non-Fiction Prize celebrates experimentation in essay writing, encouraging writers to push the boundaries of the form with imagination and intellectual rigour.
We’re seeking creative non-fiction essays between 2500 and 3500 words, on any subject and in any style (such as memoir, commentary, cultural criticism, reportage, etc.). The winner will receive a prize of $2500, with two runner-ups winning prizes of $1000 each. All essays will be published by KYD.
The prize will open for submissions in late 2026. You must be a KYD Member to enter.
Read more here
December
And Beyond…
Closes 18 Mar
2027
Competition
The Portal Prize
The Portal Prize is a (new) national short story prize celebrating fantasy fiction by Australian writers.
The prize is intended to celebrate Australian fantasy writers and writing, and embed professional development and conversation with the Riverland community into the prize through a regional creative micro-residency.
The prize is seeking fantasy short stories of all sub-genres, including (but not limited to) Portal fantasy, Mythic or folkloric fantasy, Contemporary or literary fantasy, and Regional or place-based fantasy. They are especially excited by stories grounded in Australian landscapes, voice, themes, and flavour, and would love to hear from First Nations and Global Majority writers, and emerging voices.
Open to Australian writers, defined as anyone currently living in Australia, regardless of citizenship or residency status. The adult prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older at the time of submission. The youth prize is open to anyone aged 17 or under at the time of submission.
Stories must be original, unpublished, a maximum of 3500words, and written without the use of generative AI. There is no entry fee, with one entry permitted per writer.
The inaugural Portal Prize is now open, with entries closing Thursday 18th March 2027. Winners will be announced Monday 21st June 2027.
Read more here
Monthly and Ongoing Opportunities
Entries close
monthly
Submissions
Short Australian Fiction
KYD now accepts short fiction submissions from members year-round, with a minimum payment of $1000. (Writers who aren’t yet KYD members are welcome to join here and submit.)
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 monthly
Submissions
Cult Following Magazine
Get published in a monthly non-profit arts magazine promoting solidarity, kindness and respect over toxic competitiveness and corporate values. We publish most forms of creative writing (3000 words max) and do not charge for submissions.
Entries close quarterly
Competition
Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction
Choose a team and write a 500-word story based on your team’s 3 prompts to compete for thousands of dollars in cash prizes & print publication. Then stick around for the podcast afterparty where your judges will unpack the competition stats and celebrate the top stories!
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.
Ongoing
Submissions open
Social Alternatives
Social Alternatives is an independent, not-for-profit peer-reviewed journal publishing practical and theoretical articles on relevant topics, as well as reviews, short stories, poems, graphics, commentaries and critiques.
Authors are invited to submit short stories with no particular theme. The collective firmly recognises the ability for literature to comment on range of social issues and act as vehicle for social change. Fiction is by definition transformative, allowing us to reveal and re-imagine ourselves.
Short stories can be up to 1000 words.
Ongoing
Competition
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, & Books
The Letter Review Prize is an internationally celebrated event, offered every four months in the categories of Short Fiction, Poetry, and Books. The Letter Review publish winners, maintain shortlists, submit to The Pushcart, and award over $16,000 USD annually to writers, meaning the prize is among the highest paying literary prizes administered by a literary journal in the world.
Open to anyone in the world with no genre or theme restrictions. Seeking entries of prose of up to 5000 words or poetry up to 70 lines, or excerpts (fiction and nonfiction: the first 5000 words, poetry: the first 15 pages) of book-length new works including novels, novellas, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections, which are unpublished, self-published, or indie-published.
An entry fee applies.
Entries close monthly
Writing challenges
Monthly Poet
The Monthly Poet was built for anyone who believes that acts of creativity still matter and that sharing them matters even more.
Each month four words are released and anyone can write a 16-line poem using them. There is no competition or judging panel, and every poem is published. Writers can participate from anywhere in the world.
It doesn’t have to be perfect; it doesn’t have to rhyme; it just has to be yours.
The four words for October 2026 are:
Scent – Trunk – Pitch – Skate
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.
Ongoing
Submissions open
34thParallel Magazine
34thParallel Magazine was launched in 2007 by Martin Chipperfield in Adelaide and Tracey Swan in Los Angeles (34th parallel north and south) and is seeking submissions of “Good Stories”.
Fiction or not, short or long, unAI essay or artisanal journalism, free verse versus autocratic slop. Purchase of the magazine is required to submit.
View sample pieces here
Submit here
Ongoing
Competition
Bath Flash Fiction Award
An international flash fiction writing competition with three rounds held per year: March to June, July to October, and November to February. There is a 300 word limit, with cash prizes for winners. Winners and 50 longlisted entrants are offered publication in the end-of-year print and digital anthology. Entry fees apply.
Submit here
Ongoing
Submissions open
Disapoetry
Disapoetry is a project designed to give voice to the disabled community and their carers by showcasing their original poems and celebrating their unique talent.
As the project expands, the creator hopes to publish an original poetry collection (potentially in collaboration with disabled illustrators) and award prizes to disabled poets/carers for their creative talent. Currently, all submissions and work towards this project must be done for free.
Submissions are open with successful pieces published on the website. The site will feature a Poet of the Month from September onwards.
Submit here
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!
