COMPETITIONS

UPDATED 05/01/2021

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. This is becoming more important to check as we are being more frequently approached by international competitions to be included on our list.

NEW LISTINGS THIS MONTH

Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition
Boree Log Award for Bush Verse
Eastwood/Hills FAW Literary Competition
Forty South Publishing Tasmanian Writers' Prize
Furphy Literary Award
Future Leaders Writing Prize
Griffin Award
Mary River Press Services Short Story Competition
Microflix Writing Award
Peter Carey Short Story Award
Questions Writing Prize
SAETA Young Writers Award
Shore Scripts Podcast Contest
The Nature Conservancy Nature Writing Prize

AWC Furious Fiction

Opens: 5pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) on the first Friday of every month
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

The Writing Quarter Competition

Closing Date: Last day of the month
Open to: Aged 18 or over
Theme: None
Accepts: Short Story
Size: 3,000 words
Entry Fee: Nil
Prize:$30 via Paypal

Write from the Heart Microfiction
Closing Date: End of Month at midnight
Open to: All
Theme: As chosen by prior winner
Accepts: Microfiction
Size: 100 words
Entry fee: $2 entry fee plus 50 cents to cover Paypal charge (or Nil entry fee but prize rolled over to next month)
Prize: Nominated charity: 50% of entry fees, First: 28% of entry fees, choose next charity and theme, Second: 8% of entry fees, Third: 4% of entry fees

THROUGH THE YEAR

JANUARY 2021
01/01/2021	black&write! Writing Fellowships Open to: Writers (published and unpublished) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent currently living in Australia Theme: None * Accepts: Adult Fiction and Short Story collections Size: Minimum 50,000 words Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Young Adult Fiction Size: Minimum 40,000 words Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Poetry Size: Minimum 30 poems Entry Fee: Nil * Accepts: Children's book Size: No word count requirement Entry Fee: Nil * Prizes: Two winners will each receive: $10,000, manuscript development with black&write! and publication opportunity with Hachette Australia
06/01/2021	The Henshaw Short Story Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: All over 16 Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: £6, Optional Feedback: £12 Prizes: *First:* £200, *Second:* £100, *Third:* £50
07/01/2021 NEW LISTING	Griffin Award Open to: Citizen or permanent resident of Australia Theme: Display an authentic inventive and contemporary Australian voice Accepts: Play (unproduced and unpublished) Size: At least 60 minutes Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: *First:* $10,000, *Runners-up x* 4: $1,000
13/01/2021	The Mogford Food & Drink Short Story Prize UK COMPETITION Open to: All over 18 Theme: Food and Drink must be at the heart of the tale Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,500 words Entry Fee: £15 Prizes: *First:* £10,000, an inscribed award, read by an actor and uploaded, 3 *x Runners* *up:* £250
15/01/2021	Calibre Essay Prize Theme: None Open to: All Accepts: Non-fiction essay Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $25 (or $15 for ABR subscribers) Prizes: *First:* $5,000, *Second*: $2,500
18/01/2021 EXTENDED DATE	Kuracca Prize for Australian Literature Open to: person of Australian residence, nationality, birth or cultural relation (including entrants who are seeking asylum) Theme: None Accepts: See below Size: Fiction, Essay, Memoir, Creative Non-fiction: 3,000 words Poetry: 88 lines Cartoon, Graphic Story: 1800mm wide by 255 mm high Digital or audio: 5 minutes Entry Fee: $20, $12 for Overland subscribers, Nil for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrants Prizes: *First:* $5,000, *Runners-up x 2:* $1,000
21/01/2021 NEW LISTING	Shore Scripts Podcast Competition UK COMPETITION Open to: All where each writer, or writing team, may not have earned more than $US 30,000 in writing fees. Theme: Works as a serialised episodic show Accepts: Podcast script (fiction) Size: 10-40 pages (additional fee if over this length) Entry Fee: $55 Prize: *First x 2:* $US 1,000, Scripts produced into a pilot podcast episode with budget of $5,000
22/01/2021 NEW LISTING	Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition Open to: All Theme: Flight Accepts: Flash Fiction Size: 100 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First:* Publication on website and social media, copy of "Throat" by Ellen Van Neerven, plus copy Aniko Press Magazine, *Second:* Publication on website, plus copy Aniko Press Magazine
31/01/2021	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: $14, $26 for 2, $36 for 3 Prizes: *First:* $350, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $400), *Second: $250, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $300), Third:* $125, publication, ebook, paperback, choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (Value $175), Highly Commended x 30: Publication, ebook (Value $5)
31/01/2021	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

FEBRUARY 2021
01/02/2021	The Cloncurry Prize - The Spirit of Cloncurry Open to: Australian citizens, permanent residents or Australian passport holders living in Australia, over 18 years Theme: Spirit of the Outback Accepts: Poetry Size: No more than 2 pages Entry Fee: $25 Prizes: First: $10,000, Runner-up: $1,000, People's Choice Award
02/02/2021	Clearway 2021: Entanglement Open to: Women writers residing in Australia, over 16 Theme: Entanglement Accepts: Short works in the first person as a woman Size: 800 words (3 minutes reading) Entry Fee: $15.00 Prizes: *12 - 15 monologues:* $100, performed
07/02/2021	Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award Open to: Australian resident or Australia living overseas, and over 18 Theme: None Accepts: Collection of short prose, may contain audio-visual content & hyperlinks, may contain some previously published work Size: 30,000 words Entry Fee: $25 (Students/Concession: $20) Prizes: *First:* $3,000 & offered a digital publication agreement, *Runner-up x 2:* $1,000 & offered a digital publication agreement
09/02/2021 NEW LISTING	The Nature Conservancy Nature Writing Prize Open To: Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia over age of 18 Theme: Writing of Place. Setting of an Australian landscape Accepts: Essay Size: 3,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $25 Prize: *First:* $7,500, *Highly Commended (The Rosina Buckman Award):* Two week self-catered writing retreat residency at Life at Springfield in the Southern Highlands of NSW
16/02/2021 NEW LISTING	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
21/02/2021 NEW LISTING	Microflix Writing Award Open to: Anyone living in Australia and Australians living overseas Theme: Inspiring to a filmmaker to adapt to the screen Accepts: Short Prose Size: 400 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $500, small fee if adapted into film
26/02/2021	Allen & Unwin Crime Fiction Prize Open to: Australian and New Zealand residents Theme: Crime or Thriller Accepts: Manuscript Size: 70,000 - 100,000 words Entry Fee: Nil (check) Prize:*First:* Publishing contract with advance against royalties of $25,000
28/02/2021	Flash 500 Short Story 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 Prize:*First:* £500, *Second:* £200, *Third:* £100

MARCH 2021
18/03/2021 NEW LISTING	Peter Carey Short Story Award Closing Date: 18/03/2021 Open to: Australian residents 18 years and over Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 - 3,000 words Entry Fee: $15 Prize: *First:* $2,000, *Runner-up:* $1,000, *Best Local Entry:* $500
28/03/2021	KSP Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition Open to: Western Australian residents Theme: Voices * Accepts: Youth (under 18) - Short Story Size: 500 words Entry Fee: $5 Prizes: *First:* $100 & certificate, *Second:* $25 & certificate * Accepts: Adult - Short Story Size: 1,200 words Entry Fee: $10 Prizes: *First:* $100 & certificate & goody bag, *Second:* $50 & certificate
30/03/2021	British Theatre Challenge UK COMPETITION Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Play Size: One Act, running time 5 - 30 minutes, more than one actor Entry Fee: £16 Prize: *First:* 5 plays selected: Given a full performance at a London theatre - developed by professional directors - performed by professional actors - given written assessments by theatre professionals - considered for publication - filmed in performance by Mini Mammoth Films, Public Choice Award
31/03/2021	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: *First:* $500
31/03/2021	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 for 2 poems Prize: *First:* $500
31/03/2021	FAW Tasmania Nairda Lyne Award Open to: All Theme: Suitable for children aged 8-12 years Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: $5 Prize: $100 & winner's name inscribed on a plaque in the State Library Launceston Branch, *Best Tasmanian Entry*: Hobart Bookshop voucher
31/03/2021	TCK Publishing Poetry Awards US COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: Up to 5 poems totalling no more than 500 words Entry Fee: US$ 5 Prize: US$ 1,000
31/03/2021	The Caterpillar Poetry Prize IRISH COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: Poetry written by an adult for children (aged 7-11) Accepts: Poetry Size: 150 lines Entry Fee: €14 Prize: €1,000
31/03/2021	W B Yeats Poetry Prize Closing Date: 31/03/2021 Open to: Australian residents Theme: Open Accepts: Poetry Size: 50 lines Entry Fee: $10 for first entry ($4 each entry thereafter) Prizes: *First:* $600, *2 x Second:* $100, *Commendation:* Certificate
31/03/2021	Young Adas Short Story Prize Open to: aged between 14 - 18 years and who live or work in the western suburbs of Melbourne Theme: About something that matters to the writer Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First:* $250

APRIL 2021
01/04/2021 NEW LISTING	Mary River Press Services Short Story Competition Open to: 16 years and over Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 - 5,000 words Entry Fee: $5, Pensioner/Student: $3 Prize: *First:* $100, *Second:* $30, *Third*: $10
14/04/2021	Newcastle Short Story Award Open to: Australians living here or abroad, over 18 years Theme: None Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,000 words Entry Fee: $16.50 Prize: First: $3,000, Second: $1,500, Third: $1,000, 2 x Highly Commended: Value $250 to $500, 3 x Commended: Value $100 to $200 3 x Hunter Region Writers Awards: Value $100 to $250
18/04/2021	The Fogarty Literary Award Open to: Western Australian authors aged between 18 and 35 Theme: None Accepts: Adult Fiction, Narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction Size: 50,000 - 120,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: First: $20,000 and publishing contract with Freemantle Press
25/04/2021	The Valerie Parv Award Open to: Aspiring or Emerging writers - check website for full definition Theme: Romance/Romantic elements Accepts: Novels Size: 10,000 plus 1,000 word synopsis Entry Fee: $110, $44 for RWA members Prizes: First: 1 year mentorship with Valerie Parv
30/04/2021	Bronze Swagman Award Open to: All Theme: Australian Accepts: Bush Poetry Size: No limit Entry Fee: $25 per entry form, up to 3 poems per form Prizes: *First:* $500 & Bronze statuette of the Swagman, *Runner-up:* $200 & trophy, *Highly Commended:* Certificate
30/04/2021 NEW LISTING	Furphy Literary Award Open to: Australian residents, 18 years and over Theme: Australian Life in all it's diversity Accepts: Fiction or Narrative non-fiction Size: 5.000 word Entry Fee: Not mentioned Prizes: First: $15,000. Second: $3,000, Third: $2,000

MAY 2021
01/05/2021 NEW LISTING	Questions Writing Prize Open to: Australian, 18 - 30 years Theme: None Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction Size: 1,500 - 2,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: *First:* $2,000
05/05/2021	Bristol Short Story Prize UK COMPETITION Open to: Over 16 Theme: Open Accepts: Short Story Size: 4,000 words Entry Fee: £9 Prizes: *First:* £1000, *Second:* £500, *Third:* £250, *Shortlisted x 17:* £100, *The Sansom Award (Bristol Writer):* £100
07/05/2021	Laura Literary Awards Theme: None * PROSE AWARDS * SECTION 1 - OPEN Open to: All Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $10 Prize: $200 * SECTION 2 - YOUNG ADULT Open to: 13 - 18 years Accepts: Short Story Size: 1,200 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $50 * SECTION 3 - JUNIOR Open to: 9 - 12 years Accepts: Short Story Size: 800 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $25 * SECTION 4 - JUNIOR PRIMARY Open to: 5 - 8 years Accepts: Short Story Size: 500 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $15 * THE CJ DENNIS POETRY AWARDS * SECTION 5 - OPEN Open to: All Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: $10 Prize: $200 * SECTION 6 - OPEN BUSH POETRY Open to: All Accepts: Bush Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: $10 Prize: $200 * SECTION 7 - YOUNG ADULT Open to: 13 - 18 years Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $50 * SECTION 8 - JUNIOR Open to: 9 - 12 years Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $25 * SECTION 9 - JUNIOR PRIMARY Open to: 5 - 8 years Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: Nil Prize: $15
15/05/2021 NEW LISTING	Boree Log Award for Bush Verse Open to: All Theme: Australian Bush Theme Accepts: Bush Verse Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: $8 Prize: $100 plus trophy and certificate
21/05/2021 NEW LISTING	SAETA Young Writers Award Closing Date: 21/05/2021 * Open to: South Australian Students: Reception to Yr 1 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 2 & Yr 3 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 4 to Yr 6 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 7 & Yr 8 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 9 & Yr 10 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified * Open to: South Australian Students: Yr 11 & Yr 12 Theme: None Accepts: Poetry or Prose Size: 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prizes: Not specified
15/05/2021 NEW LISTING	Eastwood/Hills FAW Literary Competition Open to: All Theme: None * Accepts: Category 1: Flash Fiction Size: 500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: *First:* $150, *Second:* $50 * Accepts: Category 2: Phillippa Holland Award for Poetry Size: 80 lines Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: *First:* $150, *Second:* $50 * Accepts: Category 3: Alan Russell Award for Memoir Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: *First:* $150, *Second:* $50 * Accepts: Category 4: Pauline Walsh for Short Story Size: 1,500 words Entry Fee: $8 or $30 for 4 Prize: *First:* $150, *Second:* $50
31/05/2021 NEW LISTING	Future Leaders Writing Prize Open to: Year 11 & 12 students in Australian Secondary Schools Theme: None Accepts: Fiction or Non-fiction Size: 800 - 1,000 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize: First: $1,000
31/05/2021	The Bath Novel Award UK COMPETITION Open to: International writers yet to be traditionally published Theme: None Accepts: Unsigned novel written for adults or young adults Size: First 5,000 words plus one page synopsis (Full novel must be at least 50,000 words) Entry Fee: £28 (sponsored places available for writers on low income) Prizes: First: £3,000, Most promising Longlisted novel: Online professional editing course worth £1,800, *Short listed:* manuscript feedback & literary agent introductions

JUNE 2021
30/06/2021	Henry Savery National Short Story Award Open to: Australian residents Theme: Open Accepts: Short Story Size: 2,500 words Entry Fee: $5 Prize: First: $400, Second: $100

AUGUST 2021
31/08/2021	FAW Tasmania Poetry Prize Open to: All Theme: None Accepts: Poetry Size: 60 lines Entry Fee: $5 Prize:*First:* $150, *Runner-up:* $50