COMPETITIONS

UPDATED 02/12/2022

The following information has been extracted from other websites and no assurance can be given as its correctness.

Give your hard work the best chance to win, make sure that you follow the entry requirements!

If the entry conditions don't specify it, then generally you can submit the same entry to different competitions at the same time - but if your entry places in one then you should inform the organisers of the other competitions. It is then up to them whether your entry is disqualified or not.

Allow for time to post and double-check closing dates, particularly if the organiser is in another time zone.

NEW LISTINGS THIS MONTH
Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize
Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize
Anthology Poetry Award
Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize
Griffin Award
Growing Up Indian in Australia
Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award
King's Shorts Festival of Ten Minute Plays
Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition
Mulga Bill Awards
Northern Beaches Writers' Competition : Art & Words Project
Oodgeroo Noonuccal Indigenous Poetry Prize
Periscope Open Fiction Award
Stringybark Open Short Story Competition
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize
The Louie Award
The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers
The Plaza Prizes: Crime: First Chapters
The Plaza Prizes: Literary: First Chapters
The Plaza Prizes: Memoir: First Chapters
The Plaza Prizes: Poetry
The Plaza Prizes: Prose Poetry
Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize
Under the Silver Tree Short Story Competition
Val Vallis Award for unpublished Poetry
W B Yeats Poetry Prize
XYZ Award for Innovation in Spoken Word
Young Adas

AWC Furious Fiction

Opens: 5pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) quarterly
Closes: 55 hours later
Open to: 17 years and older
Theme: Story prompt provided
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: $500

Flash 500 Flash Fiction Competition

Closing Date: Quarterly competitions - see website
Open to: All
Theme: None
Accepts: Flash Fiction
Size: 500 words
Entry Fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories
Prize:First: £300, Second: £200, Third: £100

Little Stories, Big Ideas
Closing Date: Quarterly competitions - see website
Open to: Australian Secondary School Students
Theme: See website
*
Accepts: Any literary style - Year 10 - 12
Size: 100 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: VentralIP Hosting and Domain Name Package (value $140), Second: Express Media membership and latest issue of Voiceworks magazine, Third: $50 voucher from Readings Bookstore
*
Accepts: Any literary style - Year 7 - 9
Size: 100 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:First: $50 voucher from Readings Bookstore, Second: StoryCraft Writing Mentorship

THROUGH THE YEAR

DECEMBER 2022
01/12/2022	The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest US COMPETITION Open to: Emerging writers Theme: None Accepts: Excerpt from unpublished novel Size: 6,000 words Entry Fee: $US 20 Prizes: *First:* $US 3,000 and consultation with an agent *Second:* $US 300 and agent feedback, *Third:* $US 200 and agent feedback
02/12/2022	Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia Open to: Writers of Torres Strait Islander descent (see website) Theme: Growing Up Torres Strait Islander in Australia, lived experience Accepts: Non-fiction Size: 1,000 - 4,000 words Entry fee: Nil Prize: Publication
02/12/2022	The Somerset National Poetry Prize Open to: All current secondary school students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attending school or receiving home schooling in Australia under 19 years of age at close of entries Theme: None * Accepts: Junior Secondary - Years 7 to 9 Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: $15 Prize: $300 plus flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast, Tickets to Somerset Storyfest, Access to meet with authors and publicists * Accepts: Senior Secondary - Years 10 to 12 Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: $15 Prize: $300 flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast, Tickets to Somerset Storyfest, Access to meet with authors and publicists
02/12/2022	The Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition Open to: All current secondary school students attending school or receiving home schooling in Australia under 19 years of age at close of entries Theme: None Accepts: Novella Size: 8,000 - 20,000 words Entry Fee: $20 Prizes: *National winner:* $2,500, *State Winners:* Unspecified cash prize, flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast, Tickets to Somerset Storyfest, Access to meet with authors and publicists
16/12/2022	Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize Open to: 18 years and over Theme: None Accepts: Manuscript - see website for more information Size: 80,000 words Entry Fee: $45 Prize: Author Coaching, Structural Edit and Line edit (Value $2500)
20/12/2022 NEW LISTING	Periscope Open Fiction Award UK COMPETITION Open to: 18 years and over Theme: Infinity Accepts: Fiction Size: 1,000 – 2,000 words Entry Fee: £9 or £15 with feedback, Students £6 or £12 with feedback Prize: £1,500
21/12/2022	The Deidre Penhall Memorial Poetry Prize Open to: Women aged 18 to 30 years on 31 December 2022 AND residing within a 200 km radius of Orange, NSW and west of Pentrit, NSW Theme: None Accepts: Bush Poetry Size: No limit Entry Fee: $10 Prize: First: $300, Second: $200, Third: $100
30/12/2022	Calibre Essay Prize Theme: None Open to: All Accepts: Non-fiction essay Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $30 (or $20 for ABR subscribers) Prizes: *First:* $5,000, *Second*: $2,500
31/12/2022	Anthology Short Story Award IRISH COMPETITION Closing Date: VERY EARLY BIRD: 31/12/2022 EARLY BIRD: 30/04/2023 REGULAR: 31/08/2023 Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €18 Prizes: *First:* €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, *Second:* €250, *Third:* €150
31/12/2022	Audioarcadia.com's Short Story Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: Aged 18 plus Theme: Science Fiction/Fantasy/paranormal Accepts: Short Story Size: 5,000 words Entry Fee: $USD 8.45 Prize: 8 winners: Percentage of royalties
31/12/2022	Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Contest US COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: Not mentioned Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First: $350 USD, Second:* $200 USD, *Third:* $100 USD
31/12/2022 NEW LISTING	Griffin Award Open to: Citizen or permanent resident of Australia Theme: Display and authentic inventive and contemporary Australian voice Accepts: Play (unproduced and unpublished) Size: At least 60 minutes Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First: $10,000, Runner-up x 4:* $1,000
31/12/2022	Positive Words Mini Competition Open to: All Theme: Contains the word: Curry Accepts: Short Story or Poetry Size: 100 words or 10 lines Entry Fee: $2.20 in unused stamps Prize: Six months subscription to Positive Words
31/12/2022	TCK Publishing Nonfiction Writing Contest US COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Nonfiction Size: 8,000 words Entry Fee: US$ 12 Prize: US$ 1,000
30/12/2022 NEW LISTING	The Louie Award Open to: Australians who are members of the Australian Crime Writers Association Theme: Locked, Crime Accepts: Short Story Size: 500 words Entry Fee: $5 for members. Currently $20 for lifetime membership Prize: $750
31/12/2022	The Masters Review Chapbook Award for Emerging Writers US COMPETITION Open to: Emerging writers Theme: None Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction prose Size: 25 – 40 pages Entry Fee: $US 25 Prizes: First: $US 3,000 + publication + 75 contributor copies
31/12/2022	The Moth Poetry Prize IRISH COMPETITION Open to: All over 16 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: No Limit Entry Fee: €15 Prizes: *First:* €6,000, *Runners-up x 3: €1,000, Commended x 8*: €250
31/12/2022 NEW LISTING	The Plaza Prizes: Crime: First Chapters UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: Crime / Mystery Thriller Accepts: Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis Size: 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words) Entry Fee: £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme Prizes: First: £1,500 plus online publication, one-to-one tutorial and detailed feedback, Second: £300, Third: £100
JANUARY 2023
03/01/2023	Orna Ross Green Stories Novel Prize UK COMPETITON Open to: 18 years and over Theme: Illustrating the difference between simply raising awareness of green issues and embedding green solutions (TBC by July) Accepts: Novel Size: 3 chapters: 4,000 - 10,000 words (First chapter, selected chapter that showcases how the theme is addressed, one further chapter), Synopsis: 500 - 1,000 words, final work to be 50,000 - 100,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: £1,000, Runner up: £500
06/01/2023	The Henshaw Short Story Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: All over 16 (However, younger writers may submit a story to receive a free critique) Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: £6, Optional Feedback: £14 Prizes: *First:* £200, *Second:* £100, *Third:* £50
08/01/2023	Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: Let Nature Thrive * Accepts: Poetry - 18 years and over Size: 30 lines Entry Fee: £4 Prize: *First:* £200, *Second:* £70, *Third:* £50 * Accepts: Poetry - 12 to 17 years Size: 30 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First:* £100, *Second:* £40, *Third:* £30 * Accepts: Poetry - Up to 11 years Size: 30 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First:* £50, *Second:* £20, *Third:* £15
16/01/2023 NEW LISTING	Kings Shorts Festival of Ten Minute Plays CANADIAN COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Play Size: 10 minutes, characters: 1 to 6 Entry Fee: Not specified, was $CAD 15 last time Prize: First: $CAD 300, Second: $CAD 150, People's Choice Award
31/01/2023 NEW LISTING	Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize SPANISH COMPETITION Open to: All (in any official language) Theme: None Accepts: Poetry collection Size: 500 - 800 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: Translation in another European language, publication of the collection as a bilingual edition, 50 copies of the book, royalties and subsidiary rights, Finalists: Publiction of the collection (Spanish edition), 10 copeis of the book, royalties and subsidiary rights
31/01/2023 NEW LISTING	The Caterpillar Poetry Prize IRISH COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: Poetry written by an adult for children (aged 7-11) Accepts: Poetry Size: No limit Entry Fee: €15 Prizes: First: €1,000 plus a week at Circle of Misse in France, Second: €500, Third: €250
31/01/2023 NEW LISTING	The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers US COMPETITION Open to: Emerging writers Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 6,000 words Entry Fee: $US 20 Prizes: First: $US 3,000, Second: $US 300, Third: $US 200
31/01/2023 NEW LISTING	The Plaza Prizes: Memoir: Opening Chapters UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: Memoir Accepts: Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis Size: 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words) Entry Fee: £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme Prizes: First: £1,500 plus online publication, one-to-one tutorial and detailed feedback, Second: £300, Third: £100
31/01/2023	VII International Playwriting Contest SPANISH COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None – for young audiences (not children or adults), not musicals * Accepts: Category A - Play Size: 60 minutes - 2 hours Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: *First:* €2,400 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €4,800), *Short list:* Consideration for publication * Accepts: Category B - Play Size: 30 minutes - 1 hour Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: €1,000 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €3,200), *Short list:* Consideration for publication * Accepts: Category C - Play Size: 10 – 30 minutes Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: €400 for the writer, translation to another European language, publication and public reading, plus economic aid for performances within two years after publication (Value: €3,200), *Short list:* Consideration for publication
FEBRUARY 2023
12/02/2023 NEW LISTING	Stringybark Open Short Story Competition Theme: Have a link to Australia, suitable for audience aged 16 and above Open to: All Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $15, $28 for 2, $39 for 3 Prizes: First: $500, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $560), Second: $300, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $360), Third: $150, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $210), Fourth: $50, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $110), Highly Commended x 25: Publication, ebook (Value $5)
14/02/2023	Forty South Publishing Tasmanian Writers' Prize Open to: Citizens of Australia and New Zealand or Australian permanent residents Theme: Island or Island-resonant Accepts: Short Story Size: 3,000 words Entry Fee: $20 Prize: $500 plus publication, Finalists: Publication
19/02/2023	Voices of Women - Embellishment Open to: Women writers from Australia and the United States Theme: Embellishment Accepts: Short works in the first person as a woman Size: 800 words (3-4 minutes reading) Entry Fee: $20.00 Prizes: *Each selected monologues:* $100, performed
26/02/2023 NEW LISTING	Oodgeroo Noonuccal Indigenous Poetry Prize Open to: Residents of Australia & an Indigenous Writer Theme: Open Accepts: Poetry Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: $2,000 & publication, Highest Quandamooka entry and short listed: Publication
26/02/2023 NEW LISTING	Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize Open to: Queensland residents for past 2 years who haven't previously published a book of poetry Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: Manuscript of 48 - 100 pages Entry Fee: $30, $20 Concession Prize: First: $2,000 & a publishing contract with UQP, Runner Up: Chapbook publication with Queensland Poetry
26/02/2023 NEW LISTING	Val Vallis Award for Unpublished Poetry Open to: Australian residents Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: $15, $10 concession Prize: First: $1,000 & publication, Runner Up: $500 & publication, Highest QLD entry: Paid performance opportunity & publication
26/02/2023 NEW LISTING	XYZ Award for Innovation in Spoken Word Open to: Australian residents and aged 18+, must be able to participate in the residency and performance final Theme: None Accepts: Recorded Poetry Size: Maximum of 5 minutes per poem Entry Fee: $15, $12 Concession Prize: First: $1,000 and publication, Highest QLD entry: Paid performance opportunity & publication, Shortlisted x 4: chosen to participate in Artist Residency Program
28/02/2023 NEW LISTING EARLY BIRD	Anthology Poetry Award IRISH COMPETITION Closing Date: VERY EARLY BIRD: 28/02/2023 EARLY BIRD: 30/06/2023 REGULAR: 31/10/2023 Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 40 lines Entry Fee: VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €18 Prizes: First: €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, Second: €250, Third: €150
28/02/2023	Flash 500 Short Story Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 - 3,000 words Entry Fee: £7, £12 for 2, £16 for 3, £20 for 4 (optional critique: £25) Prize:*First:* £500, *Second:* £200, *Third:* £100
28/02/2023 NEW LISTING	Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition Open to: All Theme: Confidence Accepts: Poetry, Short Stories, Short scripts and Flash Fiction Size: Poetry: 260 lines, Short Story: 1,000 – 5,000 words, Short Script: 5,000 words, Flash fiction: 1,000 words Entry Fee: $5 Prizes: Overall winner: $1,600, *Category winner x 4:* $800, Commended: $175, 15 further entries: Small gift
28/02/2023 NEW LISTING	The Plaza Prizes: Poetry UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: £14 (£7 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme Prizes: First: £1,000, Second: £300, Third: £100
MARCH 2023
01/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Growing Up Indian in Australia Open to: Writers of Indian descent (see website) Theme: Growing Up Indian in Australia, lived experience Accepts: Non-fiction Size: 1,000 - 4,000 words Entry fee: Nil Prize: Publication
03/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Mulga Bill Awards Open to: All Theme: Gold * Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: $5 Prizes: First: $500, Second: $150 * Accepts: Poetry Size: 25 lines Entry Fee: $5 Prizes: *First:* $200, Second: $50
10/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize Open to: 18 years and over and who live in the state of Victoria Theme: Biographical Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 - 3,000 words Entry Fee: $15 Prize: $500
10/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize Open to: 18 years and over and who live in the state of Victoria Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 30 lines Entry Fee: $15 Prize: $500
10/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award Open to: Australian Writers Theme: Disability in an Australian Setting Accepts: Fiction or Nonfiction Size: 3,000 words Entry Fee: $15 Prize: $500
10/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Young Adas Open to: Aged between 14 - 18 years and who live or work in the western suburbs of Melbourne Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $250
15/03/2023	KSP Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition Open to: Youth: Australian Residents. Adults: Western Australian residents Theme: After Midnight * Accepts: Youth (under 18) - Short Story Size: 500 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: *WA First:* $100 & certificate & copy of anthology, WA *Second:* $25 & certificate & copy of anthology, *Interstate award:* $50 & certificate & copy of anthology, *Shire of Mundaring resident encouragement award:* $25 & certificate & copy of anthology * Accepts: Adult - Short Story Size: 1,200 words Entry Fee: $10 Prizes: *First:* $100 & certificate & copy of anthology, *Second:* $50 & certificate & copy of anthology, *Shire of Mundaring resident encouragement award:* $25 & certificate & copy of anthology
31/03/2023 NEW LISTING	Northern Beaches Writers' Competition : Art & Words Project Open to: Australian citizen or resident, over 18 Theme: Rain Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction Size: 2,500 words (plus at least one copyright-free image) Entry Fee: $15 Prizes: First: $250 & online publication, Second: $100 & online publication, Northern Beaches Commendation Award: $100 & online publication
31/03/2023 NEW LISTING	The Plaza Prizes: Literary: First Chapters UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: Open Accepts: Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis Size: 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words) Entry Fee: £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme Prizes: First: £1,500 plus online publication, one-to-one tutorial and detailed feedback, Second: £300, Third: £100
31/03/2023 NEW LISTING	The Plaza Prizes: Prose Poetry UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: £10 (£5 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme Prizes: First: £500, Second: £200, Third: £50
31/03/2023	To Hull and Back Competition UK COMPETITION Closing Date: EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2023 REGULAR: 30/06/2023 Open to: All Theme: Humorous Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,500 words Entry Fee: EARLY BIRD: £13, £21 for 2, £26 for 3 REGULAR: £15, £24 for 2, £30 for 3 Prize: *First:* £1,200, your face on the cover of the anthology, a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson, *Second:* £600, *Third:* £300, *3 x Highly Commended:* £150, *14 x Shortlisted:* £50, *20 x Longlisted:* Free early bird entry for next competition
31/03/2023 NEW LISTING	W B Yeats Poetry Prize Open to: Australian residents Theme: Open Accepts: Poetry Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: $11 for first entry ($3 each entry thereafter) Prize: $1,000
APRIL 2023
12/04/2023 NEW LISTING	Under the Silver Tree Short Story Competition Open to: All Theme: Underground Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: $10 Prize: First: $1,000, Highly Commended: $100, West Darling Arts Award to a writer from Western Region: $500, *Totally Addicted to Hair Award for a writer under 26:* $100
MAY 2023
31/05/2023	Diverging Worlds Short Story Competition Open to: Australian or New Zealand author Theme: Distopian or Steam Punk, suitable for 12+ to read Accepts: Short Story Size: Not mentioned, check website Entry Fee: $16.50, Seniors/students: $11,. School Entry: $44 Prize: $100 voucher and copy of the publication
JUNE 2023
30/06/2023	TCK Publishing Flash Fiction Contest US COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Flash Fiction Size: 500 words Entry Fee: US$ 10 Prize: US$ 1,000
30/06/2023	TCK Publishing Poetry Awards US COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: Up to 5 poems totalling no more than 500 words Entry Fee: US$ 5 Prize: US$ 1,000
AUGUST 2023
01/08/2023	Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Writing Competition Open to: All Theme: Detour/s Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: $15 Prize: *First:* $250 Hawkeye Publishing Gift Voucher & anthology cover art based on story, Top 40 published