creative writing competitions nz 2023

How to & FAQ
Ask a librarian form
Live Online
Mobile Printing
Log In / Register
My Library Dashboard
My Borrowing
Checked Out
Borrowing History
ILL Requests
My Collections
For Later Shelf
Completed Shelf
In Progress Shelf
My Settings

Getting published: Writing competitions for teens

One way of getting published is to enter your work into writing competitions. Winning an award is the way many top New Zealand poets and writers have started their careers.

New Zealand writing competitions

Rainbow storytelling competition.

As part of the Out of the Shelves campaign in June each year, InsideOUT Kōaro runs a national rainbow storytelling competition to celebrate and encourage budding rainbow, takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ storytellers to share their work. There are two age categories – under 16 and 16 – 24. For each age category there are two storytelling categories – open and poetry. Rainbow Māori and Pasifika writers may also opt to have their work considered for the Māori and Pasifika award categories.

The competition will open at the end of May 2024 .

Find out more: Rainbow Storytelling Competition

Sargeson Prize - short story competition

The Sargeson Prize is New Zealand's richest short story prize, sponsored by the University of Waikato. Named for celebrated New Zealand writer Frank Sargeson, the Prize was conceived by writer Catherine Chidgey, who also lectures in Writing Studies at the University. Entries open on 1 April for the Sargeson Prize and close at 11.59pm (NZST) on 30 June 2024 . There is no entry fee, and entries are limited to one per writer, per division. The Open Division is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents aged 16 and over who are writing in English. Published and unpublished writers are welcome to enter. Entries must be single stories of no more than 5000 words. They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.

First Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $500

The winning stories will be published by Newsroom in its literary section ReadingRoom , opens a new window .

The Secondary Schools Division is open to students enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school, or home-schooled students, who are aged between 16 and 18 years on the date that competition entries close. Entries must be single stories of no more than 3000 words. They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.

First Prize: $2,000

The winning story will be published by Newsroom in its literary section ReadingRoom , opens a new window . The winner of the Secondary Schools Division will also be offered a one-week summer residency at the University of Waikato, to be taken up in January or February of the following year. The residency will include accommodation and meals at one of the University of Waikato Halls of Residence, a writing space in the School of Arts, and mentoring from postgraduate students and/or academic staff in the Writing Studies programme. If the winner is under 18 years of age, parental consent will be required.

Find out more: Sargeson Prize

Takahē runs annual poetry and short story competitions. The Takahē Collective Trust is a non-profit organisation that aims to support emerging and published writers, poets, artists and cultural commentators.

The Matariki Short Short Story Celebration 2024 is open from 1st May to 15th June. We’re looking for your best stories of no more than 500 words. Open theme. Selected stories will be published in the August issue and receive $150.

The Monica Taylor Poetry Prize is open from 1st June to 30th September. Judge Renee Liang will read every entry, and the winning poem receives $300.

Find out more: Takahē

Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook Student Poetry Competition

Entries are now open for the Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook student poetry competition. Entries will be judged by Yearbook editor Tracey Slaughter and the winning poems from each year group will be published in the 2025 edition of the Yearbook . There is a monetary prize for the first, second and third prize winners of each year group, thanks to the University of Waikato: $500 (first place), $300 (second place) and $100 (third place). Each winning poet and their school will also receive a copy of the book.

Entries close 5 July 2024

Find out more: Poetry New Zealand Yearbook student poetry competition

National Schools Poetry Award

The National Schools Poetry Award is held annually. It is free to enter and open to Year 12 and 13 students across New Zealand. Entries are now open for the National Schools Poetry Award. Entry deadline: 8 July 2024 .

The winner and nine finalists will win cash and prizes for their poems, plus an invitation to attend an exclusive masterclass with leading New Zealand poets at the IIML on Wellington's Victoria University campus.

Find out more: National Schools Poetry Award

Ōtautahi is Flash WORD Christchurch competition

WORD is seeking a series of micro pieces of writing, from all ages, to be featured at The Crossing between August and October 2024 and it is part of WORD Christchurch Festival 2024 programme, from 27 August – 1 September.

What to submit : a memory, a scene, a moment in Ōtautahi

● Up to 100 words ● it could be microfiction, a prose poem or creative non-fiction ● tall tales, true stories or poetic moments about Ōtautahi/Christchurch ● in English and/ or te reo Māori

Entries close Monday 15 July

Find out more: Ōtautahi is Flash WORD Christchurch competition

This project is a collaboration between WORD Christchurch and At The Bay , opens a new window , with the support of The Crossing, , opens a new window the Mātātuhi Foundation and Christchurch City Council , opens a new window .

Re-Draft is a nationally acclaimed collection of teenagers' writing, published each year by Clerestory Press. Any New Zealand teenager can enter their work. Entries can be any creative writing genre and will be judged by award winning New Zealand writers.

Entries close 23 August 2024

Find out more:

Entry guidelines

More awards

Pikihuia awards.

The Pikihuia Awards (formerly the Huia Short Story Awards) is a biennial competition that started in 1995 to discover and recognise Māori writers. The awards encourage diverse Māori viewpoints and writing in both te reo Māori and English. Each award category is open to adults and school students. Find out more .

International writing competition

Foyle young poets of the year award.

For poems written by any young poet aged 11 to 17. Each year 100 winners (85 commendations and 15 overall winners) are selected by a team of high profile judges. Free entry. Find out more: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award .

Other publications to submit your work to

Starling - new writing from young new zealanders.

Starling considers work from New Zealand writers under 25 years old at time of submission. Starling is published twice yearly in January and July. Submissions may be made at any time to be considered for the next issue, so the best time to send your work is when you feel it is ready. The editors will read and respond to all submissions as soon as possible, and in any event no later than 8 weeks following the deadline. The editors are unable to enter into correspondence regarding individual submissions or their selections.

The deadlines for work to be considered for each issue are 20 April for the Winter issue and 20 October for the Summer issue.

Poetry: send up to six poems.
Prose: Send up to two pieces, each up to a 5,000 word maximum. Prose may include short stories, creative non-fiction, personal essays or anything else you can surprise them with.

Find out more: Starling submissions .

fingers commas toes

fingers comma toes is an online journal for children and young adults created by Lola Elvy and Tristan Deeley in October, 2015, in Nosy Be, a small island to the west of mainland Madagascar.

Find out more: fingers commas toes submissions .

These awards are now closed, but will be back later this year or next year.

Write On School for Young Writers - Write On Competition

Write On The School for Young Writers runs competitions. Entries closed 26 April 2024 .

Competitions
Write On School for Young Writers
Write On Magazine

Sunday Star-Times Short Story awards

This annual competition includes a secondary category. Entries close 12 November 2023

Find out more: Sunday Star-Times Short Story Awards

The Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition

The Cambridge Autumn Festival’s Short Story Competition is now closed. First prize is $1000, second prize $500, third prize $250. There is no entry fee and no age limit. The word limit is 1500 words. Entries closed 31 January 2024.

Find out more: The Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition

2024 Landfall Young Writers' Essay Competition

The competition is open to anyone in Aotearoa aged 16-25. The winners will receive $500 and a year's subscription to Landfall. They will also have their essay published in Landfall 247, coming out in May 2024. Entries close 31 March 2024 .

Find out more: Landfall Young Writers' Essay Competition

National Flash Fiction Day Youth Competition

Submit your short story/prose up to 300 words. The NFFD Youth Competition was on 18 March to 30 April 2024 Long lists announced in mid-May , shortlists in late May , winners on National Flash Fiction Day, June 22. Winners and short-listed work will be published in a special edition of fingers comma toes

Find out more: NFFD Youth Competition .

The Elsie Locke Writing Prize

An opportunity for young writers ages 5-13 to develop an original piece of writing for publication inspired by New Zealand history and Elsie's work for peace, the environment, women’s issues, and our community. Submissions can be any writing on a topic - past, present or future - that you think would have been of interest to Elsie. For example: personal narratives, poems, articles, essays, speeches or plays.

‍ The winner will receive $250 and their story will be published in Toitoi. They will also receive a copy of Toitoi’s Jillion 2 , opens a new window . Winners will be announced in Term 4.

Find out more: The Elsie Locke Writing Prize

Related Information

BiblioWeb: webapp03 Version 4.20.0 Last updated 2024/06/12 09:19

+64 (0)9 550 4635

THE WRITERS COLLEGE Short Story Competition

Proudly supporting emerging writers, the annual writers college short story competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form. the competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. scroll down to see the prizes, theme, judges, rules and entry requirements., theme for 2024, it didn't have to be this way, it didn't have to be this way, the longlist finalists.

Congratulations to the top 20 entrants in the 2023 Writers College Short Story Competition—a truly enormous achievement!

This year marks a significant milestone as we have united the NZ Writers College and SA Writers College short story competitions into a global contest. From all around the world, we received over 800 entries—an exhilarating showcase of diverse cultures and talent. To each writer who participated, a big well done for your remarkable contribution.

Mark your calendars for 18 August, when we unveil the winners. Plus, we reveal the names of the top 60 writers who secured places in the prestigious Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention, and ‘More Stories We Loved’ categories.

In no particular order, here are our top 20 stories:

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane ‘Return to Court’ – by Taki Scordis ‘End of’– by Rosalind Adler ‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin ‘The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming ‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi ‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle ‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim ‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong ‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest ‘The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’ – by Travis Inglis ‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon ‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis ‘Plain Signs’ – by Taryn Hochstrasser ‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop ‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann ‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes ‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming ‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski ‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

THE WINNERS

Hearty congratulations to the 800+ participants who took part in our inaugural global short story competition. This event marked a significant milestone: for the first time, we united the forces of the SA Writers College and NZ Writers College competitions, inviting voices not only from South Africa and New Zealand but reaching out to beginner creative writers worldwide.

The result was a captivating cultural tapestry, proving that our backgrounds may vary, but the essence of a well-told tale resonates universally.

It is with great pride that we introduce our top-placed writers for 2023. These winners skilfully navigate the complexities of human relationships; their narratives serve as mirrors to our human experiences. Their ability to blend vivid imagery, compelling characters, and thought-provoking narrative arcs has made them triumph in this writing contest.

FIRST PLACE:

‘return to court ’ – by taki scordis, ‘the people of colour’ – by ross fleming, third place:, ‘the time love was good to me, or: how i came to grow apples’ – by travis inglis, in fourth place is ‘plain signs’, written by taryn hochstrasser, and in fifth place is ‘end of’, written by rosalind adler.

Read the judges’ comments, as well as the top three stories, below the Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention and ‘More Stories We Loved’ results lists.

HIGHEST HONOURS

In this category, the judges were looking for unparalleled creativity, narrative depth and emotional resonance. Entries exhibited masterful storytelling techniques, innovative plot development and character exploration, captivating the readers from start to finish.

In no particular order:

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane

‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin

‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi

‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle

‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim

‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong

‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest

‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon

‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop

‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis

‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann

‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes

The Song Thrush – by Gerrie van der Zanden

‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski

‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

These stories displayed well-crafted narratives with strong coherence, engaging sub-themes, and skilful execution of the theme ‘Words Have Consequences’. The stories effectively drew in readers through their clear prose, compelling characters and evident command of literary techniques.

In no particular order:

‘The Price of a Loose Tongue’ – by Lauren Roode

‘Tuesday is Bin Day’ – by Hilary Hughes

‘The Words That Mattered’ – by Wandile Kumako

‘All That is Unsaid’ – by Amalie Rupasinghe

‘Quick and Deadly, or Harmless’ – by Mattea Orr

‘Stills’ – by Ruby Vincent

‘Star-Crossed to Oblivion’ – by Findlay Donnan

‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming

‘Monster Upon Dana’ – by Immaculate Halla

‘All She Talks About Is Heroin’ – by Adam Graham

HONOURABLE MENTION

Honourable Mention recognizes stories that exhibited potential, displaying elements of promise in terms of imagination, character dynamics, and thematic exploration.

‘Butterfly Wings and Unkept Promises’ – by Zoe Ramasawmy

‘Battleground’ – by Adele Anderson

‘Sorry Kiri’ – by Leanne Jepson

‘Forever Sleep’ – by Zulaiga Mohamed Hoosain

‘Exhaustion Lit by Fury’ – by Alane Delano Obeso

‘Four Summers Down’ – by Claire de Wet

‘What Does Zack Fox Say?’ – by Clement Spocter

‘Triple Word Score’ – by Nadia Cassim

‘The Silence Within’ – by Lasheena Khan

‘The First Time’ – by J F Dangarembizi

The judges’ ratings and comments for the top three stories

A huge thank you to our judges this year: Lorraine Forrest-Turner, Karen Jeynes and Andrew Salomon.

First Place

'Return to Court' by Taki Scordis

Readability: Does it hold your attention? 13/15
Originality 12/15
Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 13/15
Characterization 11/15
Imagery and use of language 12/15
Overall gut response to story 13/15
TOTAL 74/90

Judges’ comments

A fabulous tale that races along at a pace I could barely keep up with. I was torn between wanting to slow my reading down to enjoy the slick writing and get to the next paragraph fast enough to satisfy my burning curiosity. To say I was totally hooked from start to finish is a gross understatement. Like all great twists, the ending makes total sense. You go back in your mind and think ‘of course, it was so obvious’. Except it wasn’t. This story is a great example of where excellent use of characterisation and language is not compromised by a brilliant plot. We often read beautifully written stories that have little or no plot. This writer combines both arts perfectly. Lorraine
An entertaining tale, characterised by well-timed humour. Andrew
A sharp, well written story, which manages a number of twists and turns, before a satisfying ending. The characters are interesting and unexpected. There are great layers of meaning and metaphor. Karen

The Runner-up

'The People of Colour' by Ross Fleming

Readability: Does it hold your attention? 9/15
Originality 13/15
Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 10/15
Characterization 14/15
Imagery and use of language 13/15
Overall gut response to story 12/15
TOTAL 71/90
An exceptional piece of poetic writing that deserves time to savour each word, phrase, sentence and paragraph. Unfamiliar with much of the language, I had to go back and read it several times to appreciate the full beauty and nuances of the writing. This is a story I would love to hear read out loud by a native speaker. I loved the originality of the language and characterisation. Lorraine
Smart and effective use of onomatopoeia, to lend a poignant side to this story that takes an unflinching look at the grim physical and mental effects of poverty and marginalisation. Andrew
A fascinating, flowing piece, almost meditative, that plays with sense of space and time. There’s an interesting approach to language and wordplay, and a sense that the writer is playing with their craft. Karen

Third Place

'The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I came to Grow Apples ' by Travis Inglis

Readability: Does it hold your attention? 11/15
Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 12/15
Overall gut response to story 10/15
TOTAL 68/90
This is a beautifully written love story with a simple plot that flows along charmingly. The first person narrative uses dialogue well to portray the love interest’s thoughts without needing to explain them. I particularly like the opening lines. ‘I lied at parties. It was an attempt to be anonymous, or perhaps interesting.’ These lines had me hooked right away. As the story unfolds and the lie about the orchard comes true, there’s a gentleness in the writing that befits the pace the trees and apples grow. The ending is a little ambiguous – but appropriate. Lorraine
A touching exploration of the push and pull between recriminations and desire when an old flame that was never really extinguished can flare up again. And of how quickly time passes between youth and middle age. Andrew
An intricately woven story, with excellent use of imagery. A strong central character, and a well-crafted story that offers the reader enough, without trying to resolve everything too neatly. It contains a kind of magic. Karen

Closing date:

30 september 2024, longlist announced:, 31 october 2024, winners announced:, 15 november 2024.

Submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer:

[email protected]

PRIZES FOR 2024

Second prize, and publication in an anthology of winning stories, first prize, third prize, the top three winners receive editorial comments on their submitted works., the basics of creative writing course, competition rules:.

We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: [email protected]
The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
The 2024 theme is ‘It didn’t have to be this way’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘It didn’t have to be this way’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
Only one story per entrant is allowed.
We only accept entries written in English.
The competition closes at midnight on 30 September 2024. The longlist will be published by 31 October 2024, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on 15 November 2024.
Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.

ENTRY FORMAT:

Only e-mail submissions are acceptable. Stories must be copied and pasted into the body of the email, AND sent as a Word document attachment. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: The 2024 Writers College Short Story Competition.
Each story must have a unique title. Do not use the theme as your title.
Your email must state the title of your story, as well as your name. E.g. ‘Once Upon a Time’ – by John Smith
Your email must include the declaration: ‘I declare that this is my own work, 100% unassisted by generative AI (such as ChatGPT etc.), and I have been published in a mainstream print or online publication fewer than four times.’
Winners will be asked to show a valid proof of identity.
State your word count in your email.
Do not include your name on any page of your story. All entries will be judged blind.
Use a font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 or more. Use 1.5 or double spacing between lines. We prefer a clear line between paragraphs rather than indenting.
Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”, or on our webzine. Read these:

THE JUDGES:

Tania Hutley

Tania Hutley started her literary career by writing short stories and has been a runner up in New Zealand’s two most prestigious short story competitions, the Katherine Mansfield Awards and the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition. In 2010 she won the Page and Blackmore National Short Story Award.

After branching out into novel writing, she published two middle-grade chapter books for children. Then she wrote the Skin Hunter science fiction trilogy, and co-wrote The Trouble With Witches urban fantasy series. Under the pen name Talia Hunter, she has also published eleven contemporary romance and romantic comedy novels and even made the USA Today Bestsellers List.

Though Tania started off with traditional publishers, she’s now enthusiastic about self-publishing and the control it gives to authors.

She was born in New Zealand, but has recently moved to Australia where she’s constantly amazed and not at all freaked out by the weird and wonderful critters. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her with a glass of wine, a good book, and a jumbo-sized can of bug spray.

Sonny Whitelaw

Sonny Whitelaw has enjoyed a successful career as a writer for over 30 years. Her work as a photojournalist has appeared in dozens of international magazines, including National Geographic .

She won a Draco Award for her first novel, The Rhesus Factor , and all eight of her novels, including five based on the television series Stargate , have been international bestsellers.

A qualified adult educator with an MA in Creative Writing, Sonny taught writing courses to adults and teenagers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In 2008, she moved with her teenage son to a small lifestyle property in Oxford, Canterbury.

When she’s not having an enormous amount of fun exploring the South Island, Sonny splits her time between researching and writing scientific reports, editing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, and working on her own exciting young adult science fantasy series called The Runes of Creation . Find out more about this series on her website.

Sonny tutors the Write a Novel Course, the Literary Short and Flash Fiction Course and the Advanced Novel Writing Course.

Creative Writing Course tutor at NZ Writers College Andrew Salmon

Andrew Salomon

Andrew Salomon is an award-winning author. His debut novel Tokoloshe Song was shortlisted for the Terry Pratchett First Novel Award.

Additionally, his short fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He has also received the PEN Literary Award for African Fiction and the Short.Sharp.Stories Award.

Andrew is the author of the young adult thrillers The Chrysalis and Wonderbear . His latest novel is the dark fantasy thriller The Equilibrist . He completed an MA at the Institute for Archaeology at University College London. Some of his most memorable experiences have been at rock painting and engraving sites in subterranean caves and shelters across the world. These often find their way into his fiction.

Andrew tutors several courses at The Writers College, including the Write a Novel Course, the Advanced Novel Writing Course and the Advanced Short Story Writing Course.

Alex Smith is the award-winning author of five novels: Algeria’s Way , Drinking from the Dragon’s Well , Four Drunk Beauties, Devilskein & Dearlove (published by Random House/Umuzi) and Agency Blue (published by Tafelberg).

Her work has received widespread acclaim. Drinking from the Dragon’s Well was longlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and Devilskein & Dearlove was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal in the UK. Agency Blue won a Sanlam Youth Literature Award, while Four Drunk Beauties won the Nielsen Booksellers’ Choice Award.

Alex tutors the Novel Writing Course, the Advanced Novel Writing Course, the Advanced Short Story Writing Course and the Grammar Skills Course, sharing her knowledge and expertise with students of all skill levels.

Karen Jeynes

Karen has won numerous awards and nominations for her co-writing of TV series, including two Emmy nominations for Best TV Comedy. Currently, she is the head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing ZANews: Puppet Nation (winner of 22 South African Film and Television Awards and two Writer’s Guild of South Africa Awards for Best TV Comedy), as well as Point of Order (SAFTA winner for Best Game Show in 2017), Comedy Central News and Parlement Parlement .

Lorraine Forrest-Turner

Lorraine Forrest-Turner has been writing professionally for over 30 years. As well as writing PR and marketing content for business, she also writes short stories and stage plays.

Two of her plays ( Seven Stages of an Affair and To Have and to Hold ) are published by Samuel French and three ( Dear Lily , Bank Holiday Mondays and Other Ways to Kill a Marriage and Three’s Company ) are published by Lazy Bee Scripts.

Many of her short stories have been published in fiction and women’s magazines. These include Planting Primroses in Potholes in Yours Fiction, Getting on with Freya in Take a Moment, and First Dance in Royal Marsden Hospital Magazine.

Her stage plays have won numerous awards and have been performed throughout the UK. These include Sparks at the Cockpit Theatre, London, Isosceles at the ABC Theatre in Cambridge, and Spin at the Kenton Theatre in Henley.

Lorraine has recently rewritten her stage play To Have and to Hold as a film script. It is currently in production. Her book of short stories 13:22 and other stories is published on Amazon.

The Short story Writing Course

Download our free anthologies.

Click on a cover to download our free anthologies that showcase the winning stories from past competitions in South Africa and New Zealand (+/- 1MB). Since 2023, the competition has opened to international entries.

The NZ Writers College Short Story Anthology Vol 1

Past Winners of the NZ Writers College Short Story Competition

We would like to acknowledge the past winners of our Short Story Competitions.

First Place: ‘ Return to Court ’ – by Taki Scordis

Runner-up: ‘’ The People of Colou r ’ – by Ross Fleming

Third place: ‘ The Time Love Was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples ’– by Travis Inglis

First Place: ‘The Trolley Ladies’ by Jess Aitken

Runner-up: ‘The Bridge’ by John Tipper

Third place: ‘With Love: From Me to You’ by Christopher Reed

First Place: ‘Drainpipe’ by Akshata Rao

Runner-up: ‘let it be. waiho’ by Christopher Reed

Third place: ‘Paper Planes’ by Hannah Woolhouse

First Place: ‘Meat’ by Nicky Taylor

Runner-up: ‘The Long White Cloud’ by Toakahu Pere

Third place: ‘Truth-Telling’ by Nicola Bentley

First Place: ‘Crabs’ by Moira Lomas

Runner-up: ‘Golden’ by R. L. Jeffs

Third place: ‘Thunderstorm’ by Mary Francis

First Place: ‘White Boy Wonder’ by Victoria Louise Lawrence

Runner-up: ‘The Hole’ by Regan Drew Barsdell

Third place: ‘Alan Matsumoto’ by Paul M. Clark

First Place: ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ by Suzanne Main

Runner-up: ‘Moving Patterns’ by Nicholas Buck

Third place: ‘A Handful of Dust’ by Madeline Dew

First Place: ‘Aroha’ by Jeff Taylor

Runner-up: ‘Out to Sea’ by James MacTaggart

Third place: ‘Contractual Remedies’ by Barnaby McIntosh

First Place: ‘Norman’s Letter’ by Lizzie Nelson

Runner-up: ‘Being a Ghost’ by Abby Jackson

Third place: ‘Other People’s Lives’ by Ruth L. Jeffs

First Place: ‘The President, the Ski-Instructor and the Watermelon’ by Jade du Preez

Runner-up: ‘The Invisible Woman’ by Lizzie Nelson

Third place: ‘Not My Daughter’ by Monique Reymer

First Place: ‘The Barrier’ by Timothy McGiven

Runner-up: ‘A Certain Hardness’ by Collin Minnaar

Third place: ‘Gravity’ by Andy Evans

First Place: ‘Regrets’ by Aaron Ure

Runner-up: ‘The Effects of Cancellation’ by Sacha Norrie

Joint Third place: ‘Careless Driving’ by Stephanie Attwood , and ‘Milk and Two Sugars’ by David Hamilton

First Place: ‘Tell Me About the Love of Your Life’ by Feby Idrus

Runner-up: ‘Expunge’ by John Drennan

Third place: ‘The Bridge’ by Tony Wi

JOURNALISM COURSES

Writing articles for websites and blogs, freelance journalism for magazines and webzines, advanced freelance journalism, travel writing, write a non-fiction book, creative writing courses, basics of creative writing, advanced creative writing, short story writing course, advanced short story writing, write a novel, write a romance novel, advanced novel writing, writing science fiction and fantasy, an introduction to poetry, advanced poetry, scriptwriting, advanced scriptwriting, writing for video games, writing books for children | part one, writing books for children | part two, write your memoir, advanced memoir writing.

The Writers' Marketing and Publishing Toolkit

BUSINESS & GRAMMAR

Advanced english grammar, english grammar for beginners, business writing toolkit, writing coach course, mastering punctuation, report writing and presentation, write better newsletters, specialist courses, copy-editing and proofreading, press release and media writing, copywriting, writing seo copy for websites, self-publish your e-book, writing intensives, self-guided 14-day creative writing intensive, self-guided 14-day story-building intensive, free 5-day creative writing challenge, buy a gift voucher, writing services, writers and editors for hire, how we train, terms and conditions, privacy policy, connect with us, © 2005 - 2024 the writers college all rights reserved, +64 (0) 9 550 4635, [email protected], our refund policy.

If within seven days of starting your course you are not happy on your course, we can either transfer you to a different course or provide a full refund.

If you request a refund after seven days and before 30 days we will charge a 5% administrative fee, as well as any bank fees and tutor fees already incurred.

We do not offer a refund after 30 days on the course.

Competitions

Kindle Storyteller Awards

If you use KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) there is a new competition located in the Bookshelf. It is located underneath the keywords section when you are uploading the details for your new book.

Closes on 31st August 2024

2024 Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing – entries are now open. Crime Fiction (1st Prize: $500); The New England Award ($250); Prize for Crime Non-fiction (1st Prize: $500); Emerging Authors Award (over 18 years) ($250); Poetry (1st Prize: $500); Youth ($150). Entry fee $10 for (18 years +); $5 (under 18 years). Closes Friday 27 September. Enter here. https://buff.ly/3XANqvyPosted by Carmel Shute

Closes 27th Sept 2024

DANZ Boldly Launches Into Its Second Year!

The ASLA Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Book Award is back for 2025 to celebrate and spotlight even more underrepresented children’s book creators!

Following a hugely successful first year, The ASLA DANZ Award, previously The DANZ Award, is returning bigger and better in its quest to reward and celebrate diverse and ground-breaking children’s literature. In 2025, there will be a focus on a greater range of books that push boundaries and challenge stereotypes, created by authors and illustrators from Australia and New Zealand. New and exciting partnerships with dynamic market leaders and changemakers will also be announced in the coming months as the award looks set to become a respected and well-known brand as well as a go-to resource.

In 2023, more than 120 books were nominated by a variety of publishers, both big and small, or by the creators themselves, and then a group of over fifty enthusiastic young judges aged between six and sixteen from across both countries read and chose their favourites. Twenty-six of these titles made the inaugural longlist and from that, nine incredible books were shortlisted.

The winners all received a monetary payment, a trophy, and a guaranteed spot presenting at a future Somerset Storyfest event.

Martha Itzcovitz, the president of ASLA (Australian School Library Association) says: “Though packaged as an award, DANZ is really about curating a valuable resource for teachers and librarians, booksellers and guardians: a comprehensive print and digital brochure listing details of the longlisted books – books that not only have sensitive and accurate representation of marginalised people and groups, but most importantly given a seal of approval by children themselves.”

Children are now invited to apply to be a 2025 judge via a simple sign-up form that can be found on the website. The nomination period for the 2025 award is also now open. We are accepting books traditionally or self-published in Australia and/or New Zealand in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and fall into one of the following four categories: Young Adult; Non-Fiction; Graphic Novels; Poetry and Other . If there are few nominations in any one particular category, however, the award committee reserves the right to merge categories. Once again, there will be no entry fee for books, which is in line with the committee’s commitment to make the award accessible for each and every creator.

The ASLA DANZ Award seeks books which push boundaries, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate diversity, including disability, culture, class, LGBTQI, race, and religion. The diversity portrayed in the book and under which the book is nominated must be relevant, obvious, and important to the story, but the story must be more than the diversity portrayed. The submitted work must be sensitively and authentically written without using offensive, inaccurate, harmful, and insensitive tropes and representation. The judging process will be thorough and critical in this regard.

Visit www.thedanzchildrensbookaward.com to learn more, review the criteria and FAQs, and to access the book nomination and judge application forms. Any queries or concerns can be directed to the DANZ committee at [email protected]

Since the award is not charging an entry fee, support in all forms, from financial sponsorship to the sharing of services and networks, is welcomed and encouraged to help grow the award and cement its place in the children’s literature landscapes of Australia and New Zealand. Please look out for details of the upcoming fundraising day and reach out to Kate Foster at [email protected] or Martha Itzcovitz at [email protected] to discuss how you can help us make a difference.

For more information visit thedanzchildrensbookaward.com and asla.org or contact Kate at [email protected] or Martha at [email protected]

2025 AWARD KEY DATES (subject to change) Judge applications ARE NOW OPEN and close on 26 August 2024 Book nominations ARE NOW OPEN and close on 26 August 2024 Judging will run from September to November 2024 Longlist will be announced in January 2025 Shortlist will be announced in March 2025 Winners will be crowned at the ASLA Conference in May 2025

The Ampersand Prize for Debut Children’s and Young Adult Novels

Created by Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing in 2012, the Ampersand Prize is awarded biennially to an extraordinary debut manuscript for children or young adults. The Ampersand Prize will open again on 1 July 2024 for submissions from unpublished authors in Australia and New Zealand.

The winning author will receive a publishing contract with an advance against royalties, and rigorous editorial development to bring their book to market.

You can find our full submission guidelines here

Submissions open: 1-31 July 2024
Shortlist announced: October 2024
Winner announced: November 2024

Bookness Creative Writing Awards 2024

Entry Fee: $5.50 per poem or short story.

Poems must be at least 16 lines in length and no longer than 50 lines. Short Stories must be a maximum of 500 words.

Participants may submit more than one poem or short story, but each new entry must have a separate entry form and is $5.50 for each entry .

Entries should comprise of 2 documents: The Entry Form and a separate word document with the poem / short story. Only emailed submissions accepted. The poem / short story document must not show the participant’s name, just the Title and the word length .

ALL submissions must include a completed entry form and are to be emailed to: [email protected] with the subject line as: ‘Attention Dr Michael Brohier’ by 4pm on Wednesday 31st July 2024.

Click HERE for more information.

For More Competitions from August to December Click HERE

Closes 7 July

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

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 21 July

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

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 31 July

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cambridge Australia Scholarships – First Nations Writer-in-Residence

Opportunity for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer/storyteller working in any form (poetry, fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, criticism, etc) to take residency at the University of Cambridge (UK). Fellowship available for the 8 Oct – 6 Dec 2024 term.

Closes Monthly

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 monthly

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.

First Friday of each month

OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

2024 slinkies under 30s call out.

Slinkies is looking for writing that is under 10,000 words of any genre or style to publish in their annual anthology.

Annual Novel Opening Competition

Genres: Fiction and Novel

We are looking for an opening chapter up to 3,000 words, plus a one page synopsis outlining the balance of your story of any genre, so long as it’s unpublished.

Additional prizes:

2nd Place: £200

💰 Entry fee: $13

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2024

The Restless Books Prize For New Immigrant Writing

Restless Books

Genres: Fiction and Non-fiction

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing was created in 2016 to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarded for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. The winner receives $10,000 and publication by Restless Books.

Publication by Restless Books

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2025

Flash Fiction Competition 2024

Write the World

Genres: Flash Fiction

“There was more room to think,” wrote novelist David Gaffney on becoming a flash fiction convert, “more space for the original idea to resonate, fewer unnecessary words to wade through.” This month, gather your briefest bits of story, your flashes in a pan, your poetic impulses, and give us a story in 100 words or fewer.

Best Entry: $100

Runner up: $50, Best Peer Review: $50

📅 Deadline: August 26, 2024

Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest

Arizona Mystery Writers

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, and Short Story

Every year the Arizona Mystery Writers hosts the Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest. Naturally, since we’re the Arizona Mystery Writers, we want a mystery story, but we’re flexible about the boundaries of that category, and we also accept thrillers and suspense stories. It doesn’t matter if your story’s characters are in outer space, riding horses, or living underground. Costumes and settings don’t matter as long as the story is a mystery, thriller, or suspense tale as described.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $75

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: August 01, 2024

Rhyming Poetry Contest

FanStory.com Inc.

Genres: Poetry

Write a poem of any type that has a rhyme scheme.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: August 12, 2024

3 Line Poetry Contest

Fanstory.com Inc.

Write a poem that has a syllable count of either 5-7-5 or 5-7-7. It does not rhyme. But the poem must address a loved one.

📅 Deadline: August 30, 2024

3-6-9 Poetry Contest

This poem has three stanzas. Each stanza has three lines that follows the 3-6-9 syllable count. The first line has 3 syllables, the second line has 6 syllables and the last line 9 syllables. The subject can be anything.

📅 Deadline: November 15, 2024

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children’s, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what’s possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Anthology Personal Memoir Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

Genres: Memoir

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.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024

Share Your Story

Genres: Essay and Memoir

Write about an event in your life. Everyone has a memoir. Not an autobiography. Too much concern about fact and convention. A memoir gives us the ability to write about our life with the option to create and fabricate and to make sense of a life, or part of that life.

📅 Deadline: August 13, 2024

Winchester Poetry Prize

Winchester Poetry Festival

Winchester Poetry Prize is our globally popular, annual poetry competition, which began in 2016. The competition attracts entries from all over the world and is judged blind. It opens in April, and closes in July.

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024

MoonLit Getaway Grand Opening Contest

MoonLit Getaway

Genres: Flash Fiction and Poetry

This contest is intended to promote our website’s September 23, 2024 launch, while providing opportunities for fiction writers, poets, and visual artists.

Publication for runners up

2024 International Literary Prize

Hammond House Publishing

Genres: Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

Our Annual Literary Prize is back again for 2024, with bigger cash prizes, publication for all shortlisted entries in our annual anthologies, a televised award ceremony, and an inspiring new theme.

Worldwide publication for all shortlisted entries

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

The Raven Short Story Contest

Pulp Literature Press

Genres: Fiction

This contest is for previously unpublished short fiction between 250 and 2500 words in length. Multiple entries welcome. Total entries limited to 300. Show us your most scintillating treasures in the form of short fiction up to 2500 words in length and you could be the one bringing home $300 CAD to line your nest!

Publication in Pulp Literature

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2024

Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition

Every Tuesday at 12pm (Irish time) from 9th April 2024 – 28th January 2025, five words will be posted on this competition page. Entrants will have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week. The winners & shortlist are announced around the first week of March.

Publication in Five Words Vol XVIII

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025

Surrey International Writers ‘ Conference Writing Contest

Genres: Short Story

Open to all writers except SiWC paid staff, board members, and immediate families. Young writers are welcome to enter, but must be aware that their work will be judged blind among submissions made by adult writers. Please read the contest rules below before entering.

📅 Deadline: September 15, 2024

Write One. Read Ten. Win Thousands.

The peer-powered short story competition where everyone receives oodles of feedback.

Every quarter a new battle begins!

Closes 2nd August 2024 and Second Battle Closes 20th October 2024

2 DAYS ONLY 19-21 July 2024

Four times a year, the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenges writers to create an original piece of flash fiction based on two typical writing prompts plus one anti-prompt.

What’s an anti-prompt? It’s a call to break a specific rule of writing. You know, those things you must never do if you hope to be a successful writer? Well, this is your chance to prove ‘em wrong.

Participants will compete for AU$2,000 in cash prizes, including AU$1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and two bonus ‘wildcard’ prizes.

When the competition kicks-off, the prompts will be announced by email. Entrants will receive details about how and where to submit their entry when the competition opens.

The competition is open to all ages and levels of ability all over the world. Parents and guardians should note, however, that entries are not censored, and young entrants may be exposed to themes and language inappropriate for their age.

Click Here for more details

Write for KYD – Kill Your Darlings.

Kill Your Darlings pays all contributors. Our minimum standard pay rate is $300 for an article of 1000-1500 words, and $100 for a book review of between 400-500 words.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia

Established in 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia ( CBCA ) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards to Australian books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children’s literature.

Entries open 1st April

Click Here for FAQ’s and more information

Closes 30th November 2024

#GWstorieseverywhere

Each month we invite you to post a story on X (formerly known as Twitter) using #GWstorieseverywhere for a chance to win a free class. Your story must be no longer than 25 words, with a max of 280 characters, including spaces and the hashtag #GWstorieseverywhere. Your stories (which can be true or made up) will be inspired by what you see, know, or do, and they should relate in some way to these monthly “themes”:

June : Make a wish!

Click HERE for more information

Monthly Deadlines see more information.

$2,500 Awaits Winners of Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition 2024

Writers of short fiction may now enter the 2024 Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. The competition has a forty-three year history of literary excellence, and Lorian Hemingway and her small judging panel are dedicated to enthusiastically supporting the efforts and talent of writers of short fiction whose voices have yet to be heard. Lorian Hemingway , a granddaughter of Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway, is the author of three critically acclaimed books: Walking into the River , Walk on Water , and A World Turned Over .

Ms. Hemingway is the competition’s final judge.

Click HERE for more Information

Closes 1 September 2024

Prizes and competitions to enter in 2024

A go-to list of prizes and competitions across the visual arts, performing arts, and writing and publishing in the second half of 2024.

CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK®, 2024

With our 2024 Children’s Book Week theme; Reading is Magic, we’re celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the “tricks” and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building.

2024 THEME AND DATES

Saturday, 17 August to Friday, 23 August 2024

Reading is Magic!

Feature Artist: Jess Racklyeft

Join the conversation and share the joy: #CBCA2024 #ReadingIsMagic

CLICK HERE for more information

Fellowship of Australian Writers Tasmania Poetry Prize

Submissions close: 31 August 2024

Prize: $150

Entry Fee: $5

The competition accepts poetry of up to 60 lines.

Values listed above are in $AUD unless otherwise specified.

CLICK HERE for a list and more information

Our 2024 PureTravel Writing Competition will open again in a few weeks – bookmark this page to get full details when it goes live with all the details .

Closes 30th September 2024

AUSTRALIAN WRITERS’ RESOURCE

COMPETITIONS

A comprehensive list of competitions

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.

Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition 2024

Writers of short fiction are invited to enter the Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition.

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, it 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. Writers can submit as many entries as they wish.

Winners will receive a €1,000 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology. The winner will also receive a one year subscription to Anthology Magazine.

Entries are open until 31 July 2024.

Find out more and enter here .

Various free Poetry Competitions. Limited Entries.

American Writing Awards are open for submissions in various genres.

Last deadline is 3 November 2024

Rochelle Stephens to find out more

Middle Fiction, Young Adult and New Adult Fiction can be submitted by pitch only.

If we are interested we will ask for the manuscript within 4-6 weeks.

Pitch Form Available here .

We are also interested in stories for middle and YA for reluctant readers.

Varuna Residential Fellowships

Varuna Residential Fellowships offer two to three weeks of full board and accommodation at Varuna including a prepared evening meal, uninterrupted time to write in your own private studio, the companionship of your fellow writers and a one-hour Varuna Conversation with a Varuna consultant.

In 2025, Varuna will offer 29 Varuna Residential Fellowships, including our prestigious Flagship Fellowships .

Applications open: 17 June 2024

Closing date: 30 July 2024

Date of residency: Between January and August 2025

Ray Koppe ASA Young Writers Fellowship

Each year, the Australian Society of Authors awards a two-week residential fellowship to an aspiring or emerging writer under the age of 35.

The residency has been established by the Koppe family as a tribute to their mother, Ray Koppe. Ray, who for many years managed the business affairs of the ASA, was always passionately interested in, and supportive of, young writers.

HOW TO APPLY

Please note that there is no separate application process for the Ray Koppe ASA Fellowship, but instead the successful recipient will be chosen from the shortlist from our Varuna Residential Fellowship applications.

For more information and to apply, visit the flagship Varuna Residential Fellowships page.

Closes 30 July 2024

Henry Handel Richardson Fellowship – Short Story Writings

Offered in partnership with the Henry Handel Richardson Society , this award promotes the life and legacy of Henry Handel Richardson as a significant Australian author and encourages excellence in Australian short story writing. This award is offered every second year and will next be offered in the 2025 program (with the callout happening in 2024).

This award includes two weeks’ residency at Varuna and a contribution towards travel expenses.

This flagship fellowship is part of the Varuna Residential Fellowships program.

The 2024 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition will open 1st January, 2024

2024 Theme: The look that said it all

Closes 6PM Tuesday 1st August 202 4

For more information click HERE

The Top Poems Will Be Considered for Publishing All writers are invited to submit one poem for our review. Poems may be of any genre and written in any style.

All poems must written entirely in the English language All poems submitted must be 100% original. Offensive language is not permitted to any degree.

Writing Competitions for Kids – Don’t forget your Grandkids…

Calling all writers and artists! Here is a list of competitions for writing and illustrating open to children aged 12 and under. The list will be updated as often as we can. (Note: most of these competitions will be open to Australian residents only.)

More Information can be found HERE

Last Deadline is 31 August 2024

The annual Best Indie Book Award is an international literary award contest recognizing outstanding achievement by independent authors. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.

For More Information Click HERE

Closes 15 August 2024

Seasons writing competition

The Storm Anthology, featuring the winning and commended entries from the first Seasons writing competition is being launched across Australia and internationally. The theme for Seasons 2023/24 is light and shadow .

The Seasons writing competition has themes that relate to the external world, and imagined worlds. This competition has smaller prizes, smaller word limits and focuses on a smaller set of writers.

For more information look HERE .

Our next Seasons Writing Competition Light and Shadow is now open and closes on 31 March 2024.

Submissions

We run open calls for submissions throughout the year:

Non-fiction call-outs are open four times a year and invite full submissions in response to a loose edition theme.
Fiction call-outs are open four times a year and invite full submissions for short fiction on any subject (short fiction doesn’t need to align with edition themes).
Poetry call-outs are open four times a year and invite full submissions for poetry on any subject (poetry doesn’t need to align with edition themes).
We occasionally open callouts for specific projects such as the Griffith Review Emerging Voices competition.

Griffith Review in 2024

Griffith Review 85: Status Anxiety (August): exploring the fallout of our status anxiety.
Griffith Review 86: Leaps of Faith (November): examining the many faces of faith and belief and how they shape us.

Learn more HERE

The Short Story Challenge 2024

The Short Story Challenge 2024 is open for registration! The 18th annual competition kicks off on January 19th and will challenge writers worldwide to create short stories based on genre, subject, and character assignments in as little as 24 hours. Feedback from the judges is provided for every submission, writers keep all the rights to the stories they create, and there are thousands in cash and prizes for the winners. Learn more, register, and read previous winning stories at https://www.nycmidnight.com/ssc . Good luck, writers!

Final Challenge closes on 12 July 2024

Calling All Writers: The School Magazine is open to submissions

The School Magazine is the longest-running literary publication for children in the world.

It’s also a great way for both emerging and established writers to get their work into the hands of kids all over Australia.

Did you know you can write for kids and get paid?

The details

We’re seeking quality children’s literature for ages 7-12+ in the following text types: stories, plays, articles, persuasive texts, and poetry.
We welcome ALL VOICES to submit manuscripts.
Work is paid on publication (you can find rate details on our website).
We aim to get back to each submission within 30 days.
Upon selection, we work with incredibly talented artists to visually bring your writing to life.
Be part of a 100+ year legacy!

Ready to submit?

Find submission guidelines and sample magazines. Submit your work at: https://theschoolmagazine.com.au/contribute

Competitions throughout the year.

AWC Furious Fiction

Opens: 5 pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) Monthly Closes: 55 hours later Open to :17 years and older Theme: Story prompt provided Accepts: Flash Fiction Size: 500 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize : Not mentioned

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: £10

The Best Writing Contests of 2024. Writing competitions curated by Reedsy. Read more about Reedsy…

Manuscript Monday

Welcome to Manuscript Monday, a new initiative that is part of Pan Macmillan, Australia’s manuscript submission process. If you’ve ever dreamed of getting published, and have a story you’d like to pitch, here’s your chance to have it read by a publisher. No more navigating the slush pile! On the first Monday of every month, we will accept submissions between 10 am and 4 pm that are sent electronically and comply with the guidelines set out below.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Commercial fiction – women’s fiction, thriller, crime, historical, humour, paranormal, fantasy; a story can have romantic elements but romance will not be assessed

Literary fiction and non-fiction – novels, short stories, and narrative non-fiction only

Children’s books and young adult – junior and middle-grade fiction, young adult/crossover fiction; we are not accepting picture book submissions

Commercial non-fiction – history, memoir, mind, body spirit, travel, health, diet, biography

Please familiarise yourself with what we publish at www.panmacmillan.com.au . We do not publish scripts, plays, poetry, or romance and will not assess them . Academic submissions are not accepted during Manuscript Monday. Please see www.macmillan.com.au for submission guidelines for academic publications to Macmillan Education.

When entering competitions or submitting to a publication, remember to always read the fine print . Sticking to the rules is always a factor considered by the judges and editors.

Website Disclaimer

https://goldcoastwriters.org/ website-disclaimer /

Comments Policy

https://goldcoastwriters.org/gcwa-comments-policy/

Grievance Procedure

https://goldcoastwriters.org/grievance-procedure/

Previous Student Writing Competitions

Suraya Dewing

After achieving her Master of Creative Writing (Auckland University) in 2009, Suraya established an international writers’ network, The Story Mint. At the same time she created Stylefit, an interactive tool that gives feedback so writers can edit in real time. After winning a story competition with a collaboratively written short story set on the Silk Road in the 15th century, Suraya and co-author, Hemali Ajmera, were offered a publishing contract, from which came the novel The Trader.

Chris is an incredible fictional writer, whose novels are known for their contemporary insight into the mind. His key writing elements are wit, style and dramatic spontaneity. Chris has worked in teaching, bookselling and data-processing. He is presently a literary agent, technical writing consultant, and co-runs an editorial agency.

Tessa Duder

Tessa is an immensely successful NZ author with more than 50 books published for both young and adult readers. She has consistently advocated for children’s literature and was awarded an OBE in 1994 for this. She has also edited and published anthologies. In 2020 she received the Companion of New Zealand Merit (CNZM) and later that same year she received the Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement in fiction.

Bronwyn Elsmore

Bronwyn Elsmore BA (Hons), MPhil, PhD, has written over an impressive variety of genres within the non-fiction and fiction world. She has authored large number of published works that span short stories, articles, and books. Over the years, Bronwyn has won the Playwrights Association of New Zealand’s playwriting competition three times, various short story competitions, as well as other awards. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, she is a full-time writer, presently concentrating on fiction and plays.

Robyn Pearce

Robyn Pearce is an international speaker, educator and author. She specialises in time management and productivity and is in demand here and Australia. She has several best-selling titles on productivity-related topics mostly published by Reed Publishing. In 2019 & 2020 she updated all of them. They are now available on Amazon and IngramSpark. She published her first historical novel, in May 2020, ‘It Happened On Fifth Street: A tale of forgotten heroes’ and is now working on the next two fiction titles in The Freedom Series.

Our Prize Sponsors

We had some incredible prizes lined up for the best writers in each category of the competition. Have a look below at the wonderful organisations that sponsored this writing competition!

Books sponsored by Matakana Village Books

This wonderful boutique bookshop reflects owner Mary-Liz’s passion for books.

She has generously donated a book for each place getter in each section of the writing competition. She is personally selecting each book once we’ve got our winners.

Virtual Reality Experience

Place getters who get a ticket to VR Voom Virtual Reality experience will have a blast when they leave this world behind and enter the wild world of the imagination. These writers will discover the limitless possibilities of creative storytelling combined with innovation. Learning is best when we play.

Free Stylefit Subscription for 1 Year

Use our specially developed writing tool to help you with your creative writing, essays, study reports and anything else! You’ll get immediate feedback on your work and learn how using your Parts of Speech influences your writing style.

NZ Geographic Subscription

New Zealand Geographic is an iconic magazine that features stories about our country. It comes out every two months and is full of award winning photography and in-depth articles. This year, NZ Geographic has donated a year’s subscription for one of our winning writers.

MOTAT Passes

At the Museum of Transport and Technology you can magically travel through time by riding on trams, then exploring scientific innovations. We thank MOTAT for sponsoring a prize in each competition category. This entails complimentary passes for two adults and four children for a single visit.

Win a Noel Leeming Android Tablet!

A few talented writers will be in the running for our Android Tablets, sponsored kindly by Noel Leeming!

PaperPlus Richmond Goodies

We have amazing stationery packs to give away to a place getter in each category! Thank you, PaperPlus Richmond!

Judges’ Signed Novels

Our wonderful judges are offering a couple of their signed books as part of the prizes for our place getters! Thank you very much to our amazing judges!

New Zealand Book Awards Trust

Competition Calendar

WELCOME TO THE 2024 PHANTOM BILLSTICKERS NATIONAL POETRY DAY COMPETITION CALENDAR

Get ready for an exciting year of poetry! Here you'll find all the details for our 2024 competitions - regional, nationwide, and online, for both children and adults. Get ready to unleash your creativity and share your poetry with the world!

These are the competitions open so far, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Bell Hill Apartments Dunedin 2024 Poetry Competition

This year’s theme is “WILD WEATHER AT BELL HILL”. $200 prize, sponsored by www.bellhillapartments.co.nz & www.newheritage.co

Entry Details: Free entry. Poem to be 150 words maximum , A4 page, double line spacing. Open to people residing in New Zealand. Submit one original entry only. Entries will be blind judged by 2019-2022 NZ Poet Laureate David Eggleton. Judge’s decision is final, no further correspondence entered into.

Include: Title, poet name, email address, phone number, word count on same page – NB: these will not be included in poem word count. Winning entry will be added to the Bell Hill Apartments Welcome Book with poet acknowledged. Winning poem to be announced National Poetry Day, 23 August 2024.

Submission Dates: Open from 1 July 2024 – closing 5pm, 29 July 2024.

Contact Details: Email entry as PDF to: [email protected]

Further Info: Promoted on Twitter @newheritage.co and @LiteratureAlive

Leap Poetry for Children Competition

In the lead-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2024, The Poets XYZ are running a nationwide competition for adults who write poetry for children.

Theme: “Leap” – to be interpreted as widely and wildly as entrants like.

First Prize: $50 and your poem made into a digital printable poster designed by award winning illustrator Vasanti Unka. Second Prize: $35 book voucher. Third Prize: $20 book voucher. The competition is run by The Poets XYZ —a trio of New Zealand writers, Elena de Roo, Kathryn Dove, and Melinda Szymanik, who are keen to see poetry for children flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand and to develop a network of children’s poets. Judge: Renowned children’s writer and poet, Bill Nagelkerke.

The winning poem will be announced on Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day, Friday 23rd August 2024.

Entry Details: Entry is free and open to anyone in New Zealand aged 18 years and over. Send in up to three poems aimed at 5–12 year olds. There is a 25-line limit per poem and poems should be previously unpublished (including not on private blogs, websites, social media). Poems should be all your own work and not have any AI generated content. Any poems found to have AI generated content will be disqualified. Poems should be written in English. Previous winners are welcome to enter

Submission Dates : Opens 29 th June 2024, closes midnight Friday 2 nd August.

Contact Details: email [email protected] with ‘Leap Poetry Competition Entry' in the subject line.

Further Info: visit the Poets XYZ

Events / Tickets
SHORT STORY COMPETITION
PHOTO COMPETITION
Main Street Carnival Mask Competition 2024
Photo Gallery
Open Studios

Short Story

Cambridge autumn festival 2024 short story competition thank you to all entrants for your stories. announcement of the winners…, _________________________________________________________________________.

The Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition 2024 is sponsored by our amazing sponsor Cooney Insurance Maurice Trapp Group .

This year, the story theme was “The Dilemma”. First prize is $1000, second prize $500 and third prize $250. Entries closed 5.00pm 31 January 2024. Word limit was 1500 words. The competition was open to all ages and was free to enter.

Here are the winners, their winning stories and their biographies. To read the stories, click on the story names.

First Prize	Jan Mackenzie
Second Prize	Deryn Pittar
Third Prize	Tristan Whitfield

BIOGRAPHIES:

First Prize Winner – Jan Mackenzie I’ve been writing for a long time, had a few successes to keep me trying. Most times it’s a story that needs telling for my own good…I disappear into the story and it writes itself, but by the time I’ve proof-read it over and over, it seems like something that happened to someone else and it’s lost its power to hurt. Having said that, I’m proficient with a pick and shovel and I’ve been in a flood or two, but I’ve never killed a wife-beater, nor buried one under a bathtub.

Second Prize Winner – Deryn Pittar Playing with words has been a past time since my early twenties. I entered this competition because the premise of ‘an ethical dilemma,’ fitted a piece I wrote a year ago. Based on the emotions I experienced when my father was dying, I turned them to good use by slipping them, here and there, into the story, (not that this story is at all true). I write over a range of genre, including fantasy, sci.fi., flash and short fiction, romance and contemporary fiction, plus an occasional poem. I love the challenge of creating a short story: saying a lot in a few words. It really hones my writing skills.

Third Prize Winner -Tristan Whitfield Tristan Whitfield has had an interest in writing since he was a child, but since 2020, has pursued this interest more seriously, beginning with multiple attempted novels (half-finished to this day) before experimenting with shorter form content. With the support of his fellow literature club members, who he would like to thank here for their continued encouragement and enthusiasm for the craft, he began entering his work into national competitions. The aspect of writing Tristan relishes most is in the exploration of ideas. He never knows quite where a story will end up until it’s finished, but he always hopes it arrives at a more nuanced place with the power to impact a reader. Tristan aspires to one day publish a novel, provided of course, he ever gets to finishing one.

Short Story Competition Privacy Policy Short Story Privacy Policy

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is an international competition open to entrants worldwide from January 30th, 2024!

The deadline for receipt of all entries is 11.59pm(NZST) on April 30, 2024.

Entries will only be accepted through Duosuma.

Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre.

Entry fee: $9 per entry. You can submit multiple entries as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.

The winner will receive $1,000. Two runner-up prizes – $200 each. The winner and runners-up will also receive a free online course and publication on our site.

All entries are judged anonymously. Please do not include your name, address, phone number, email, website, social media details , etc. on the short story document or in the file name as this will result in disqualification.

Format the short story as per the following instructions:

Your story must be written in English.
A maximum of 3,000 words (no minimum).
Title not included in the word count.
Please submit a typed story in Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black. Double spaced.
Include a front page which details the title of story and the word count ONLY. The author’s name should not be included anywhere in the document or the file name.
No illustrations.
Save as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx). We also accept file types .rtf, .pdf, with the Short Story title as the file name.
Please do not include the author’s name in the file name or it will be disqualified.

Final Judge: Lucie Brownlee

Dr Lucie Brownlee is an award-winning writer, researcher, and creative writing tutor. Her Sunday Times best-seller Life After You was chosen for the Richard and Judy Bookclub and adapted for television. Her novel The Mother made the final four in Mslexia’s Novel Competition 2020 and she is a Northern Writers’ Award for Fiction winner for her novel The Song of Annie Chapman. Her short stories have been shortlisted in two international competitions and she has published many articles, including for the Independent and the Telegraph. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Newcastle University.

The winner will be announced by June 30th, 2024.

Full Terms & Conditions here

Entries will be accepted through Duosuma only. If you have questions about Duosuma or are having technical difficulties submitting your work, please contact Duosuma Customer Support at https://duotrope.com/duosuma/help.aspx

COMPETITIONS

WRITERS' GROUPS
OTHER INTERESTING SITES

AUSTRALIAN WRITERS' RESOURCE

[email protected]

UPDATED 01/07/2024

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

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

CRAFT First Chapters Contest Craig Silvey Award for Young Writers Ernestine Hill Memorial Award FFF Competition Twenty-Three Fisher's Ghost Writing Prize F(r)iction Contest - Fall KSP Poetry Competition KSP Short Fiction Competition MiNDFOOD Poetry Competition MiNDFOOD Short Story Competition NWF/Joanne Burns Microlit Award Outstanding Short Story Competition Patrick White Writing Competition Rae Alison Cerhan Australian Ballad

S. D. Harvey Short Crime Story Award

The Ampersand Prize for Debut Children's and Young Adult Novels

The Australian Fiction Prize The Marj Wilke Short Story Award The Masters Review Summer Short Story Award for New Writers Wildlife Fiction Short Story Competition

AWC Furious Fiction

Opens: 5pm (Sydney/Melbourne time) Monthly Closes: 55 hours later Open to: 17 years and older Theme: Story prompt provided Accepts: Flash Fiction Size: 500 words Entry Fee: Nil Prize : Not mentioned

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

The Letter Review Prize US COMPETITION Closing date: Every second month Open to: All Theme: None * Accepts: Short Fiction Size: 5,000 words Entry Fee: Nil for first, $US 5 thereafter Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool * Accepts: Poetry Size: 70 lines Entry Fee: Nil for first, $US 5 thereafter Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool * Accepts: Nonfiction Size: 5,000 words Entry Fee: $US 2 for first, $US 5 thereafter Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool * Accepts: Unpublished Book Size: Prose: First 5,000 words, Poetry: First 15 pages, Total size: Novels: minimum 45,000 words, Novellas: 25,000 – 45,000 words, Short Story Collections: minimum 25,000 words, Nonfiction: minimum 40,000 words. Poetry: minimum 20 pages (with some flexibility) Entry Fee: Nil for first, $US 5 thereafter Prize: $US 1,000 Prize pool

THROUGH THE YEAR


01/07/2024	Living in Australia, over 16 years old None Poetry 75 lines Nil $2,000 & one-hour mentoring session, $250
01/07/2024	People who live, work or study in the City of Glen Eira None * Short Story - Open 3,000 words Nil : $1,000, : $600, : $400 * Short Story – Senior Secondary (Years 10 – 12) 1,000 words Nil : $500 gift voucher * Short Story – Junior Secondary (Years 7 – 9) 500 words Nil : $400 gift voucher * Short Story – Senior Primary (Years 4 – 6) 500 words Nil : $300 gift voucher * Short Story – Junior Primary (Foundation – Year 3) 500 words Nil : $200 gift voucher * Poetry - Open 60 lines Nil : $1,000, : $600, : $400 * Poetry – Senior Secondary (Years 10 – 12) 30 lines Nil : $500 gift voucher * Poetry – Junior Secondary (Years 7 – 9) 10 lines Nil : $400 gift voucher * Poetry – Senior Primary (Years 4 – 6) 10 lines Nil : $300 gift voucher * Poetry – Junior Primary (Foundation – Year 3) 10 lines Nil : $200 gift voucher
01/07/2024	Students in years 3 - 12 studying in the Midwest Rand Gascoyne Regions, Western Australia : None * Lower Primary - Year 3 & 4 - Prose 1,200 words Nil Not mentioned * Lower Primary - Year 3 & 4 - Poetry No limit Nil Not mentioned * Upper Primary - Year 5 & 6 - Prose 1,200 words Nil Not mentioned * Upper Primary - Year 5 & 6 - Poetry No limit Nil Not mentioned * Lower Secondary - Year 7 & 8 - Prose 1,500 words Nil Not mentioned * Lower Secondary - Year 7 & 8 - Poetry No limit Nil Not mentioned * Middle Secondary - Year 9 & 10 - Prose 1,500 words Nil Not mentioned * Middle Secondary - Year 9 & 10 - Poetry No limit Nil Not mentioned * Upper Secondary - Year 11 & 12 - Prose 2,000 words Nil Not mentioned * Upper Secondary - Year 11 & 12 - Poetry No limit Nil Not mentioned
01/07/2024	New Writing Prize UK COMPETITION Writers who have not published a book-length work of fiction, life-writing or poetry (excluding self-published works or poetry chapbooks) None * Poetry (up to 3 poems = a single entry) 3,000 words £12, £16 for 2, £6 for a subsidised entry £1,000 & publication, publication * Fiction 3,000 words £12, £16 for 2, £6 for a subsidised entry £1,000 & publication, publication * Life Writing 3,000 words £12, £16 for 2, £6 for a subsidised entry £1,000 & publication, publication * All winners and shortlisted writers will be offered mentoring (dependent on eligibility)
02/07/2024	Australian residents. Any International student currently studying at an Australian University may also enter Faith Poetry 60 lines $25 $10,000, $5,000, $3,000
05/07/2024	Years 8 to 10 students attending a South Australian government school "How can music make the world a better and happier place?” Essay 600 - 800 words Nil $1,250, $750, $500
07/07/2024	Unpublished Australian citizens, permanent residents or on long-term visas for study or work – must be able to undertake the 12 month residency in Australia Adult Fiction and Adult narrative non-fiction Fiction and narrative non-fiction First three chapters (Max 20,000 words), 1 page synopsis, chapter breakdown (no more than 2 pages), author’s statement (750 words) Nil $10,000 and Hachette Australia’s 12 month mentorship program
08/07/2024	UK COMPETITION All aged 18 years and over None Poetry 40 lines £6 £1,000 & a week’s poetry course, £500, £250
12/07/2024	Live, work or study in the City of Melton or be a Melton City library member None * Short Story - Adult (18 years and over) 3,000 words Nil $750, $500, $250 * Short Story - Teenage (Year 7 to Year 12) 1,500 words (or, for other story formats, something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience) Nil $300, $200, $100 * Short Story - Junior B (Year 4 to Year 6) 1,500 words (or, for other story formats, something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience) Nil $300, $200, $100 * Short Story - Junior A (Prep to Year 3) 1,500 words (or, for other story formats, something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience) Nil $300, $200, $100
14/07/2024	18 years and over Open Poetry 60 lines and no more than 1,000 words in total $25 for first entry and $20 thereafter. Concession: $15 for first entry and $10 thereafter. Fees for submission before 30 April are reduced to $22 and $12 respectively. $15,000, $5,000, $5,000
15/07/2024	residents of Australia, over 18 years of age Family history/genealogy theme Short Story 1,500 - 2,000 words $30 ($20 for members) $1,000, $500, $100 FHACT voucher
19/07/2024	All Rural Australia, its people, animals, way of life and values Bush Poetry 100 lines $5 (additional $5 for critique) Bronze Spur Trophy & $350, $200, $100
19/07/2024 REGISTRATION	NOTE: Prompts are emailed out at midday 19/07/2024 with competition closing at midnight 21/07/2024 All 3 prompts will be emailed consisting of a word prompt, an action prompt and an anti-prompt Flash Fiction 500 words $25 $1,000, $500, $200, $100, $50, $50
25/07/2024	All None Short Story 3,000 words $10 $1,000, $200 book voucher, $100 book voucher
26/07/2024	Tasmanian students enrolled in Year 7 to 12 at schools that are current members of TATE or who are home schooled * Incorporate three of the following elements: 1. A line from an Australian text. 2. A world leader (past or present). 3. Reference to a place in Tasmania. 4. A recurring line or phrase. 5. An object that is passed between characters. Year 10 - 12: Short Fiction 800 - 1,500 words $8 $300 & publication with School receiving 12 months subscriptions to magazine, $30 Fullers Bookshop voucher. Jane Franklin Prose Award: $200 Using your own words, choose one of the following prompts to begin your story: 1. The sight of a mountain. 2. The sound of running water. 3. The smell of mud. 4. The feel of feathers. 5. The taste of salt Year 7 - 9: Short Fiction 700 - 1,000 words $8 $300 & publication with School receiving 12 months subscriptions to magazine, $30 Fullers Bookshop voucher, $100
27/07/2024	Indigenous writers who are 35 years or younger who are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident of Australia None Poetry 88 lines Nil : $5,000, publication and offered a place as Writer-in-Residence at Trinity College. May be awarded
28/07/2024	Reside, work or study in the City of Monash, or be a member of the Monash Public Library Service None * Category A: 12 - 14 years: Short Story 500 words Nil $300, $150, $100 * Category B: 15 - 17 years: Short Story 1,000 words Nil $500, $250, $150 * Category C: Adult: Short Story 2,000 words Nil $700, $350, $250
31/07/2024 NEW LISTING	Unpublished authors in the young adult, middle-grade or graphic novel genres from Australia and New Zealand None Manuscript Minimum 20,000 words for completed manuscript (see website for further details), Synopsis: one page, Explanation for why the book was written: 100 words Nil Publishing contract with advance against royalties, editorial development
31/07/2024	IRISH COMPETITION VERY EARLY BIRD: 30/11/2023 EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2024 REGULAR: 31/07/2024 All None Short Story 1,500 words VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €15, REGULAR: €18 €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, €250, €150
31/07/2024	Students must reside within a 150k radius of Albury/Wodonga Magic * Short Story - Students: Years 3 - 4 500 words Nil $50 & $300 for school library, $25 book voucher * Short Story - Students: Years 5 - 6 1,000 words Nil $50 & $300 for school library, $25 book voucher * Short Story - Students: Years 7 - 8 1,000 words Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher * Short Story - Students: Years 9 - 10 1,500 words Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher * Short Story - Students: Years 11 - 12 1,500 words Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher * Poetry - Students: Years 3 - 4 No limit Nil $50 & $300 for school library, $25 book voucher * Poetry - Students: Years 5 - 6 No limit Nil $50 & $300 for school library, $25 book voucher * Poetry - Students: Years 7 - 8 No limit Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher * Poetry - Students: Years 9 - 10 No limit Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher * Poetry - Students: Years 11 - 12 No limit Nil $100 & $300 for school library, $50 book voucher
31/07/2024	UK COMPETITION All aged 16 and over None Short Story 3,000 words £7 (£13 for 2, £18 for 3) (Optional critique: £30) £500
31/07/2024	Australian secondary school-aged students (12 - 18) None * Fiction 3,000 words Nil : $500, online publication, Writing masterclass, Q&A with Jane Godwin, Book pack * Creative Non-fiction 3,000 words Nil : $500, online publication, Writing masterclass, Q&A with Jane Godwin, Book pack * Poetry 100 lines Nil : $500, online publication, Writing masterclass, Q&A with Jane Godwin, Book pack
31/07/2024	Australian residents, over 18 years old None * Short Fiction 2,500 words $10 $200, $50 * Poetry 32 lines $10 $200, $50 * $50
31/07/2024	All Contains the word: Blanket Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words
31/07/2024	Australian Writers Blue Short Story 1,500 words $10 for up to 2 entries $200, $50
31/07/2024	IRISH COMPETITION : All None Short Story 3,000 words €19 €2,000, featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival (with 4-night hotel stay and full board), publication, €500, publication, €250, publication
31/07/2024	US COMPETITION EARLY BIRD: 24/06/2024 REGULAR: 31/07/2024 FINAL: 30/08/2024 All Scripts 80 - 120 pages EARLY BIRD: $USD 55, REGULAR: $USD 65, FINAL: $USD 75 $USD 5,000, Mentorship, Industry meetings, call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community, Enrolment in a screenwriting course at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, 6 months access to Stage 32 Writer’s Room program, $USD 1,000, Industry meetings, call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community, 6 months access to Stage 32 Writer’s Room program, $USD 500, Industry meetings, call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community, 6 months access to Stage 32 Writer’s Room program, Industry meetings, call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community, 6 months access to Stage 32 Writer’s Room program, Industry meetings, call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community, 6 months access to Stage 32 Writer’s Room program, Call with Shore Scripts development team, Script sent to industry roster, membership to private Facebook community
31/07/2024	Not mentioned Autobiographical or biographical, about an aspect of Christian faith * Short Story - Open 500 words $10, Nil for under 18 $300, $100 Omega Writers voucher & one-year Omega Writers membership, $200 & one-year Omega Writers membership, $100 & $50 Omega discount coupon, Youth Award: $100 * Short Story - Open 1,500 words $10, Nil for under 18 $300, $100 Omega Writers voucher & one-year Omega Writers membership, $200 & one-year Omega Writers membership, $100 & $50 Omega discount coupon, $100
31/07/2024	Australian Year 12 students Prompt relating to 'Atlas Shrugged' Essay 800 - 1,600 words Nil $5,000, $1,000, $500
31/07/2024	UK COMPETITION All Open Opening chapters plus Plot synopsis 5,000 words (Synopsis: 300 words) £20 (£10 for subsequent entries) - can apply for free entry under Bursary Scheme £1,500 and one hour Zoom tutorial with the judge, £300, £100
31/07/2024	Residents of NSW or ACT, over the age of 18 as of 1 Jan 204 Plays with a purpose Play at least 60 minutes Nil $5,000, $2,000 shared
31/07/2024	* Victorian Residents over the age of 18 years None Short story 1,000 words Nil $500 * Victorian Residents over the age of 18 years None Poetry 40 lines Nil $500 * Students aged 5 to 8 who live or go to school in Stonnington None Short story 300 - 500 words Nil $100 book voucher * Students aged 9 to 12 who live or go to school in Stonnington None Short story 500 - 750 words Nil $200 book voucher * Students aged 13 to 17 who live or go to school in Stonnington None Short story 750 - 900 words Nil $300 book voucher
31/07/2024	All Humorous Fiction, nonfiction or poetry 200 - 1,000 words $US 5 : $US 250, $US 100, $US 50 Noting prizes may be adjusted if number of entries exceed 80 in total

01/08/2024	All The look that said it all Short Story 1,000 words $16.50 : Ticket to Children and Young Adult Conference (value $410), year membership to Queensland Writers Centre ($79), Anthology cover based on winning story, year membership to Queensland Writers Centre ($79)
02/08/2024 NEW LISTING	Fiction Prize Warning: competition may be closed. The website has a different closing date in the T&Cs to that in the FAQs Australian residents Adult fiction (Check T&Cs for genre exclusions) Manuscript 75,000 - 100,000 words, pitch of one to three sentences, Synopsis of 500 words, Your biography of 200 words Nil $20,000 plus the right to negotiate a publishing contract with advance against royalties of $15,000
04/08/2024 NEW LISTING	US COMPETITION All None First chapter/s of unpublished novels/novellas, completed or in progress 5,000 words $USD 20 (Nil for up to 50 writers from historically marginalized groups) $USD 2,000, critique of first 100K words, & agent query workshop, $USD 500 & agent query workshop, $USD 300 & agent query workshop
04/08/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian citizens or residing in Australia, and over 18 Ricochet Microfiction or prose poems 200 words $15, Hunter Category: Nil $300, $300
04/08/2024	Citizens of Australia or have permanent resident status in Australia Environmental Poetry 80 lines $10 $1,000
12/08/2024 NEW LISTING	Western Australian students in Years 1 to 12 None * Short Story - Lower Primary - Years 1 & 2 2,000 words Nil First, Second and Third awarded in gifts and vouchers from sponsors * Short Story - Middle Primary - Years 3 & 4 2,000 words Nil First, Second and Third awarded in gifts and vouchers from sponsors * Short Story - Upper Primary - Years 5 & 6 2,000 words Nil First, Second and Third awarded in gifts and vouchers from sponsors * Short Story - Lower Secondary - Years 7 to 9 2,000 words Nil First, Second and Third awarded in gifts and vouchers from sponsors * Short Story - Upper Secondary - Years 10 & 12 2,000 words Nil First, Second and Third awarded in gifts and vouchers from sponsors
12/08/2024	Australian residents with a publishing record None Biography, Autobiography and Life Writing Curriculum vitae of two pages, synopsis of one page and 5,000 word extract of a work in progress Nil $15,000 & access to support and facilities from The University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Arts
20/08/2024	US COMPETITION PRE-REGISTER: 10/01/2024 SPECIAL ENTRY: 20/03/2024 EARLY: 24/05/2024 REGULAR: 20/08/2024 18 years and over None Literary, Mystery/Horror/Thriller, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, General Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Non-Fiction & Memoir, Comics & Graphic Novels Fiction & Memoirs: first 5,000 words and 1-3 page synopsis, Picture books: full manuscript and 1 page synopsis, Non-Fiction: At least a proposal (Memoirs as fiction). Comics & Graphic Novels: 20-28 pages, 1-3 page synopsis PRE-REGISTER: $US 20, SPECIAL ENTRY: $US 30, EARLY: $US 40, REGULAR: $US 50 $US 2,500, direct circulation , consideration from producers, additional long-time review & access to exclusive writers events, Direct circulation , consideration from producers, additional long-time review & access to exclusive writers events
23/08/2024 NEW LISTING	UK COMPETITION All None Flash Fiction 100 - 300 words £3.95 £150 & publication, £50, £40
23/08/2024	Students enrolled in an undergraduate or post graduate speech pathology degree program in Australia in the 2024 year Describe the role and use of social media in speech pathology and outline the benefits and ethical challenges it brings to both the speech pathologist and the sevice user. Essay 2,500 words Nil Publication in the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
25/08/2024 NEW LISTING	US COMPETITION Emerging writers None Fiction or Nonfiction 6,000 words $US 20 (Nil for up to 50 writers from historically marginalize or underrepresented groups) $US 3,000, $US 300, $US 200
26/08/2024	Western Australian Students, years 4 to 12 Rebels & Dreamers * Senior Category - High school students year 9 - 12 : Any format eg Poetry, prose, comics 2,000 words or six A$ pages Nil $500, $100 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival, $100 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival * Middle Category - High school students year 7 - 8 : Any format eg Poetry, prose, comics 2,000 words or six A$ pages Nil $500, $100 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival, $100 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival * Junior Category - Primary school students year 4 - 6 : Any format eg Poetry, prose, comics 2,000 words or six A$ pages Nil $200, $50 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival, $50 Book voucher, free ticket to a workshop that the Family Festival, VIP Pass to the Family Festival * Classroom entries of 5 or more submissions go in the draw to win up to 30 tickets for their class to come to a Schools Program Session
31/08/2024	All Milestones * Category A: Poetry 50 lines $15 : $300 & Certificate, $150 & Certificate, $50 & Certificate * Category B: Short Story 2,500 words $15 : $300 & Certificate, $150 & Certificate, $50 & Certificate
31/08/2024	IRISH COMPETITION VERY EARLY BIRD: 31/01/2024 EARLY BIRD: 30/04/2024 REGULAR: 31/08/2024 All Personal unique life experience Memoir 1,500 words VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15 €500
31/08/2024	Poets aged 14 and under None Poetry 40 lines $5 $100, $50, $25
31/08/2024	Residents of Australia None Poetry 60 lines $5 $150, $50
31/08/2024	IRISH COMPETITION All None Poetry collection 16 - 24 pages €25 €1000, publication and 25 copies, €500, publication and 25 copies In addition, the winning poets will also be offered a reading and three nights' accommodation at the Cork International Poetry Festival.
31/08/2024	Australian School Children Open * Section 1 - Poetry - Yrs 10, 11 & 12 60 lines $5 : $125 * Section 2 - Poetry - Yrs 7, 8 & 9 40 lines $5 : $90 * Section 3 - Poetry - Yrs 5 & 6 40 lines $35 : $65 * Section 4 - Poetry - Yrs 4 and under 20 lines $5 : $50
31/08/2024	Australian Residents None Poetry 60 lines $15 : $500
31/08/2024	Australian Residents Life in rural Australia Short Story 2,000 - 4,000 words $25, Members concession:$20 $1,500, $500, Supplementary prizes at the discretion of the organisers
31/08/2024 NEW LISTING	Writers based in Australia and New Zealand, 16 years and older “Mysterious” and have relevance to the LGBTQIA+ community Short Story 750 words Nil $1,000, other prize details TBA
31/08/2024	All Contains the word: Keepsake Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words
31/08/2024	All Music Short Story 5,000 words, shorter is encouraged $10 $200 & copy of anthology, $100 & copy of anthology, $50 & copy of anthology, $20 & copy of anthology
31/08/2024	All Australian * Open - Australian Bush Verse Not mentioned $15 (2 poems) The 'Betty Olle' Poetry Award & $500, Certificate & $200, Certificate * Junior (12 years and under) - Australian Bush Verse Not mentioned Nil The 'Betty Olle' Junior Poetry Award & $100, Certificate & $50, Certificate
31/08/2024 NEW LISTING	All a native Australian species - shedding light on the challenges they face in a modern world * Short Story - Junior - aged 8 to 17 years old 500 - 1,000 words Nil $250 * Short Story - Senior - aged 18 and over 500 - 1,000 words Nil $750

01/09/2024	Australian Residents aged 16-22 and not living in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth or Sydney True story about an aspect of your life outside the major cities Audio, Video, Photos or Text Video & Audio: 2 - 4 minutes, Photos: 10 images, Text: around 400 words Nil Opportunity for story to be produced for ABC and a trip to the Heywire Regional Youth Summit in Canberra (details on website). Networking and communications training, invitation to the Heywire Gala Dinner
06/09/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian residents None * Short Fiction - Open 2,500 words $10 $300, plus one weeks' residency at KSP Writers' Centre & certificate, $150 & certificate, Certificate * Short Fiction - Youth (up to 17 years of age) 1,000 words Nil $100 & certificate, $50 & certificate, Certificate, $25 * Members to KSP Writers’ Centre
06/09/2024	Australian Citizens or Residents None * Short Story - Open 3,000 words $50 $7,500, $1,500, * Short Story - Secondary School 3,000 words $30 $1,000, $500,
09/09/2024 NEW LISTING	Live, work or attends school/TAFE/University in the Campbelltown Local Government area …connecting… * Adult Short stories/narrative non-fiction/memoirs: 500 words, Poetry: 25 lines Nil $300, $100 * Years 4 - 6 Short stories/narrative non-fiction/memoirs: 500 words, Poetry: 25 lines Nil $100, $50 * Years 7 - 9 Short stories/narrative non-fiction/memoirs: 500 words, Poetry: 25 lines Nil $100, $50 * Years 10 -12 Short stories/narrative non-fiction/memoirs: 500 words, Poetry: 25 lines Nil $100, $50
24/09/2024	Local entrants eligible for a free seedling. A native tree will be planted on Dharawal Country for every entry received Australian student or young person (aged 18 and under) or an accredited teacher The natural environment * Lower primary ( F - Year 3) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * Upper primary ( Years 4 - 6) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * Lower secondary (Years 7 - 9) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * Upper secondary (Years 10 - 12) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * Threatened species (F - Year 12) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * Accepts: Accredited Teacher (All ages) - Poetry 20 lines Nil $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, book prize * $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate, $50 Wollongong Botanic Garden’s Greenplan Nursery voucher, Excursion for up to 30 students, 30 plants $500, book packs ($100), ‘Wild Things’ poster, Poetry journal, certificate , Family tour
25/09/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian residents Open * Poetry – Open (18 years plus) 50 lines $10 $300, one weeks' residency at KSP Writers' Centre & certificate, $150 & certificate, Certificate * Poetry - Youth (10 to 17 years) 50 lines Nil $100 & certificate, $50 & certificate, Certificate, $25 * Annette Cameron Encouragement award for an unpublished WA poet Poetry - (Over age of 18) 50 lines $10 $150
27/09/2024	Australian Resident Crime * The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Fiction 2,500 words $10, $5 for youth entries (Under 18) $500 * The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Non-Fiction 2,500 words $10, $5 for youth entries (Under 18) $500 * The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Poetry 60 lines $10, $5 for youth entries (Under 18) $500 OTHER PRIZES THE NEW ENGLAND AWARD: $250 EMERGING AUTHORS AWARD (Over 18): $250 YOUTH AWARD: $150
30/09/2024	IRISH COMPETITION EARLY BIRD: 31/05/2024 STANDARD: 30/09/2024 All None Flash Fiction 250 words EARLY BIRD: €10, REGULAR: €12 €300
30/09/2024	IRISH COMPETITION VERY EARLY BIRD: 29/02/2024 EARLY BIRD: 31/05/2024 REGULAR: 30/09/2024 All Nature Writing Essay 1,500 words VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15 €500
30/09/2024	UK COMPETITION 16 and over None Memoir Initially: 5,000 - 8,000 words of total work plus 300 word overview, If Long-listed: 15,000 words, If Short-listed: 30,000 words £24 £1,500, a year of mentoring, consultation with a literary agent, Opportunity to discuss with University of Exeter’s Creative Writing Department, £750, feedback, Opportunity to discuss with University of Exeter’s Creative Writing Department, £150, manuscript appraisal, invitation to an industry day, Opportunity to discuss with University of Exeter’s Creative Writing Department
30/09/2024	UK COMPETITION All Time * Lyrics or Performed Song Not mentioned £10, £5 for members, optional feedback: £10 £100 * Short Story 1,000 - 5,000 words £10, £5 for members, optional feedback: £10 £1,000, Second: £100, Third: £50 * Poetry 40 lines £10, £5 for members, optional feedback: £10 £1,000, Second: £100, Third: £50 * Script 10 pages £10, £5 for members, optional feedback: £10 £500
30/09/2024	All Contains the word: Clever Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words
30/09/2024 NEW LISTING	All Crime Fiction or Non-Fiction 2,000 - 5,000 words $25 $1,000
30/09/2024	IRISH COMPETITION Over 16 Nature writing Prose and Poetry 4,000 words €15 €1,000 and a week-long writing retreat at Circle of Misse in France, €500, €250
30/09/2024	All None * JUDITH RODRIGUEZ OPEN SECTION Poetry 50 lines $20 $3,000, $500 * LOUISE ROCKNE YOUTH SECTION (12 - 18 years old) Poetry 50 lines Nil for first 4 entries, $5 each thereafter $300, $100 * YOUTH CALD Sub-category (12 - 18 years old, spoken English for 5 years or less) Poetry 50 lines Nil for first 4 entries, $5 each thereafter $300, $100

01/10/2021	All Australian * Open Serious No limit $10 Not mentioned * Open Humorous No limit $10 Not mentioned * Novice No limit $10 Not mentioned * Junior (under 18 years) No limit Nil Not mentioned * Local (Avon Valley) No limit $10 Not mentioned
14/10/2024	Australian citizens or Permanent Residents of Australia None Poetry 50 lines $8 $3,000, $500
18/10/2024	Deaf or hard of hearing students (Prep to Year 12) and Australian citizens or residents Select from two prompts: 1. Imagine you’re a deaf person playing the park, and guess what? You find a shiny gold envelope! What do you think happens next in this exciting adventure? 2.Wow! One day, you become the very first Deaf Prime Minister of Australia. What awesome things would you want to do after getting this super cool job? * Short Story – Prep/Kindy 1,000 words Nil Cash prizes not specified Short Story – Year 1 – Year 3 1,000 words Nil Cash prizes not specified * * Short Story - Year 4 - Year 6 1,000 words Nil Cash prizes not specified * Short Story - Year 7 - Year 9 1,000 words Nil Cash prizes not specified * Short Story - Year 10 - Year 12 1,000 words Nil Cash prizes not specified
18/10/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian and New Zealand residents None Poetry 100 - 400 words Nil : $1,000, NZ$1,000
18/10/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian and New Zealand residents None Short Story Approximately 2,000 words (about 100 words either side is fine) Nil $1,000, NZ$1,000
26/10/2024	To be performed on stage by entrant at Bijou Theatre Hall, Beechworth, on 26/10/2024 Australian or New Zealand citizen or resident Horror Short Story No more than 15 minutes performance Nil $100 & Trophy, $50, $25
31/10/2024	IRISH COMPETITION VERY EARLY BIRD: 29/02/2024 EARLY BIRD: 30/06/2024 REGULAR: 31/10/2024 All None Poetry 40 lines VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €15, REGULAR: €18 €1,000 & one year subscription to Anthology Magazine, €250, €150
31/10/2024 NEW LISTING	Permanent residents of Australia Australian Country Short Story 4,000 words $20 $1,000
31/10/2024	UK COMPETITION All None Opening Chapter of a Novel with Synopsis Opening chapter up to 3,000 plus one page synopsis (750 words) £10, £18 for 2, £26 for 3 (£35 for optional critique) £500, £200
31/10/2024 NEW LISTING	Indigenous Australian students (Kindergarten to Year 12) studying in NSW “No”, “When tomorrow comes”, “Ruler of the World” Short Story, Play, Poem. Group work accepted for Year K-3 1,500 words Nil Prizes from $50 up to $500 and Encouragement Awards from $20 up to $250 will be awarded to students from Kindergarten to Year 12 for Poetry and Short Story or Play. Prizes of up to $250 will be awarded for Kindergarten to Year 3 Group work
31/10/2024	All Contains the word: Wrinkle Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words
31/10/2024 NEW LISTING	Permanent residents of Australia None Ballad 100 lines $18 $600, $200 $100,
31/10/2024	UK COMPETITION 17 years and over None * Short Story 3,000 words £8.50, three for £17 (Full time students: £6, three for £12) £1,500, £300, £200, £100 £200 * Poetry 40 lines £8.50, three for £17 (Full time students: £6, three for £12) £1,500, £300, £200, £100 £200

01/11/2024 NEW LISTING	US COMPETITION All over 13 * None Short Story 1,001 to 7,500 words $US 15 $US 1,000 & publication, : professional edit & consideration for publication * None Flash Fiction 1,000 words per piece $US 10, $US12 for 3 $US 300 & publication, professional edit & consideration for publication * None Poetry Three pages per poem $US 10, $US12 for 3 $US 300 & publication, professional edit & consideration for publication
04/11/2024	Year 9 & 10 students ‘Australia’s relationship with Great Britain explains why Australia and individual Australians went to war.’ Discuss the accuracy of this statement with reference to either World War one OR World War Two. Essay 1,200- 1,500 words (body of essay) Nil Winners and runners-up from each state and territory participate in a 3-day study program in Canberra. The eight winners travel overseas for an extensive study tour culminating in Anzac Day ceremonies in that location
08/11/2024 NEW LISTING	Australian women over the age of 18 years None Short Story 1,500 words $15 ($40 for 3) (Financial members can submit 1 free entry) $350, $150, $50
22/11/2024	May be done individually or as a group/class Australian resident students in Year 3 to 9 studying in an Australian school or registered homeschool Something factual that happened, or is about to happen, in your school or local community * Primary School Years 3 - 6 News story Not mentioned Nil $350 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins * Primary School Years 3 - 6 Sports story Not mentioned Nil $350 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins * Secondary School Years 7 - 9 News story Not mentioned Nil $350 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins * Secondary School Years 7 - 9 Sports story Not mentioned Nil $350 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins * Junior Journalist of the Year (Years 3 – 6): $750 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins Junior Journalist of the Year (Years 7 – 9): $1,000 gift card, $100 book pack from Harper Collins GRAND PRIZE (1 primary school winner, 1 high school winner): guest appearance on The Morning Show and newsroom/studio tour
30/11/2024	IRISH COMPETITION VERY EARLY BIRD: 31/03/2024 EARLY BIRD: 30/06/2024 STANDARD: 30/11/2024 All Authentic Travel Experience Article 1,000 words VERY EARLY BIRD: €10, EARLY BIRD: €12, REGULAR: €15 €500
30/11/2024	All Contains the word: Skip Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words
30/11/2024	UK COMPETITION International writers yet to be traditionally published Open YA novels, novels for teens, children’s novels, early readers, chapter books and the text of picture books First 5,000 words plus one page synopsis (see website for length of full manuscript) £29.99 with some sponsored places available for writers on low income £5,000, Edit Your Novel the Professional Way on-line course

13/12/2024	Aged 18 plus None Commericial fiction or non-fiction 80,000 words (submit 300 word synopsis and first 30 pages with a one page plan) $45 Author Coaching, Structural Edit and Line Edit (Value $3,500)
31/12/2024	UK COMPETITION Aged 18 plus Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Adventure and Travel Short Story 5,000 words $USD 8.45 Percentage of royalties
31/12/2024	All Contains the word: Twelve Short Story or Poetry 100 words or 10 lines $2.40 in unused stamps Six months subscription to Positive Words

30/06/2025	Australian residents Open Short Story 2,500 words $5 $400, $100

Website Created & Hosted with Doteasy Web Hosting Canada

Writing Competitions

National Poetry Competition 2024

Willow Run Poetry Book Award

The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2024

2024 Wild Atlantic Words Short Story Competition

SaveAs Writers’ International Writing Competition 2024

Letterkenny Literary Festival Flash Fiction Competition

Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2024

FFF Competition Twenty Two

The Moth Short Story Prize 2024

Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year

The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024

Write by the Sea 2024

Anthology Magazine Competitions

External Competition Listings

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2023

Beagle North Short Story Competition

Anansi Archive Writing Awards

Cranked Anvil Flash Fiction Competition

« All Writing Competitions

This competition has passed.

Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024

30 september 2023.

Deadline: 11.59 pm (NZST) on 30 April 2024
Entry Fee: $9
Prizes: 1st Place: $1,000 plus online publication and an online creative writing course; two runners-up prizes of $200 each
Word Limit: 3,000 words
Judge: Dr Lucie Brownlee (award-winning writer, researcher and creative writing tutor)
Category: Short Story Competitions
Competition Website: creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition/

If you are seeking a well-run and trusted short story competition with a tasty £1,000 top prize (plus a free creative writing course), the Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition could be just the ticket. With two runners-up prizes of £200 and a reasonable entry fee of £9, this theme-free competition always proves popular. They use Submittable.com for all entries, which can be both reassuring and generally hassle-free.

The judge is award-winning writer, researcher and creative writing tutor Dr Lucie Brownlee who is a Northern Writers’ Award for Fiction winner for her novel The Song of Annie Chapman and holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Newcastle University. The results will be announced on 15th November 2023.

Google Calendar
Outlook 365
Outlook Live

All Ireland Scholarships Alumni Association

2023 winners & runners up.

All short stories submitted to the 2023 AISAA Creative Writing Competition have now been read and assessed and a shortlist of six Scholars has been devised.

Each of the six selected have distinguished themselves in terms of the quality of writing, the structure of story and the originality of voice.

The general standard of the longlist of entries was wonderfully high. The judges were impressed with the diversity of subjects and styles that this third year of the Competition has uncovered.

Once again, we have noted that there are some incredibly talented, creative writers among our All-Ireland Scholarship winners – with stories full of honesty, compassion and intelligence.

Their entries strike at the heart of what it is to be human, they reveal a depth of perception and insight that is simply breath-taking, and a real inventiveness of approach and language that is hugely impressive and exciting.

Below (in alphabetical order) is the shortlist of six Scholars, whose entries will be reviewed by our award-winning judging panel of acclaimed authors, with the overall winner set to be announced on Monday 10th of April.

The Finalists

Emma corcoran - winner.

A Little Bird

He walks down his favourite street.

To the unaware observer, there is nothing about this street that makes it stand out from any other street in any small suburban town. But to him, this street represents his past, present, and, if he can help it, his future. This street is the twine that binds the major and minor events of his life and anchors them onto a mere one-kilometre-long assembly of paved road and path, buildings of various design and function, intermittent but carefully planned hedges, shrubs and trees, unimposing street lamps and litter bins. Certainly, he has traversed many more countless streets than the one on which he now stands, from streets within the same town he has lived since he was born, to streets in nearby towns and further afield cities; cities within his native country and cities abroad, separated by vast swathes of ocean and land. The appearance of these streets varied greatly; they could be uneven cobblestone or smooth, painted asphalt; they could be lined with beautiful classical architecture or imposing skyscrapers; they could be dotted with flourishing deciduous trees or meaningful sculptures. Though they were often beautiful, they were not his own.

This was a street that had been his community since the day his mother carried him across the threshold into the small two-up, two-down red bricked house where his father before him was born. It was the street where he took some of his first steps; where he and his friends would play until the call for supper, before meeting each other the next morning to walk to school. It was at the bus stop on this street he would wait for the bus to take him to his first job in a bigger town, or for a lift to the dance where he would meet his future wife. It was this street he took to the corner shop for bread and milk; the path he walked to mass every Sunday; the road he cycled to a club match at the local GAA pitch. It was a house on this street he decided to buy as a newlywed and make his home, where he raised his children until they were grown, and where he helped to care for his ill wife, before she was carried back to the same church in which they had promised their lives to one another.

Although he now lived on his own, he rarely felt alone. He knew everyone’s name, origin, association; the information they were happy to share. But he knew the secrets of people, too; he was hungry for them – those tales told in faith, until you told the wrong person, or the right person, depending on which side of the secret you were on. And sometimes it was those stories that travelled the fastest, like the rush of blood through a vein. But wasn’t that just a part of it, what was to be expected when you lived in a little place like this? The smallest of places can have the loudest heartbeat, if you only knew how to find its pulse.

There is a breeze, now, as he walks down the street, and he can feel the crisp January air cutting across his face, numbing his toes and fingers. He curses himself for not wearing his thick socks or gloves but forgives himself for thinking to wear a wool hat. The streets are quiet save for the low howl of the wind and the odd rumble of a passing car. He sees a figure jogging towards him, and hears the pounding of the figure’s feet as they hit the pavement. As the figure looms closer he sees it is a neighbour from the other side of town, who he last saw in the pub on Stephen’s night, five pints and two bags of salt and vinegar crisps in, and not the better for it. He was telling a tale, of a doctor who had offered that he should perhaps think about cutting back on alcohol and getting some exercise to help his heart. Says I, doctor, my heart is already broken listening to the missus telling me the same thing. He had his head thrown back in laughter at his own tragedy. Now his head hangs forward as he gasps for air.

Further up the street he sees a woman leaving the newsagents. She is pushing a buggy carrying a small child. The child is wrapped in a blanket and does not appear to be too happy about the fact he is being subjected to the unforgiving winter air. He is wailing and fighting against the straps that are holding him in, whilst the woman tries to soothe him, promising him they are almost home and will be warm soon. The child has flame red hair; it is a lightning strike across an overcast sky. He does not know the woman very well, but he knows from the whispers that she is not this child’s mother, and that his mother is away, fighting her own demons, against the straps that are holding her down, and no one knows when she will return.

He carries on down the street, and it is devoid of anyone else that might cause him to recount the story he knows of them. Instead, he calls to mind all the tales, told and untold, contained within the buildings he passes. There is the newsagent’s run by a widow whose husband had a fondness for the drink and for raising his fists; the pub owned by a man who moved from the city to escape the fists raised at him; the parochial house that stands empty but that no one cares all that much about; the Garda station that is also empty but about which everyone cares a lot; the primary school whose principal regularly darkens the door of a bookie’s two towns over. He knows so much about this street, and he is proud of that fact. No-one knows as much as him. The things the little birds can tell you, and that you can hear, if you only open one ear.

He gets to the end of the street, to the crossroads. Left for the main road to the next town; right to the woods, his usual route. Both directions away from the street. He turns right and sets off down the familiar curved path.

A short while later, in the woods, he sees a small dog on the path between the trees. The dog is looking in to the depths of the overgrowth, and he thinks he recognises the dog from the red collar tied around its neck. It is the terrier belonging to the banker’s wife, who lives outside the town, in a big house surrounded by a tall evergreen hedge. He does not know the story of this woman, only that she has no children, is only seen occasionally on the street when walking her dog, and tends not to mingle with others. The stories that he holds dear do not seem to concern her; she has no care for the narratives of others. It would seem her community is in the confines of her comfortable home. She is in a way a symbol of that which is the opposite of him.

The little dog sees him but does not move from his post, instead turning his head back towards the trees. Following the dog’s line of sight, into the growth, he sees what has captured the dog’s attention. It is the stooped figure of the banker’s wife, wearing a fine wool coat and gloves, with a coal bucket in her left hand. Her right hand is picking up bits of fallen branches from the ground and putting them into the bucket. She must have sensed his presence, because she stands up straight and turns toward him. She addresses him without any hint of surprise or shock at being discovered doing something that is so at odds with what would be assumed of her. He does not ask her she is doing; nevertheless, she explains that she is just gathering some firewood. She says she has been doing this for years. She can usually gather enough to light a fire to warm herself for a few hours in the winter. She used to be more careful about people seeing her, but now she couldn’t care less. She is eager to tell him this, the words tumble from her mouth, anxious to be heard. She surprises him by asking him to confirm her recollection that he lives on main street. The wood and the damp earth absorb the soft vibrations of her voice. He did not know before that she knew who he was. He does not say anything, and she does not lose his gaze. She wants him to respond, to ask her how she came to be in this place, to share her secrets.

It is as though all that he does not know has been presented before him, but through a fogged window. His vision is obscured, and so he cannot full appreciate what he sees, and he cannot understand its meaning. He does not realise that all he must do is take the edge of his sleeve and wipe the condensation away. Then he would see that her fine wool coat is now well worn, a memory of its former luxury, and hangs loosely from her frame. He would see that her once carefully maintained hair is greying at the roots, and that her boots are scuffed. He would see inside her house, and find that the contents of the fridge and cupboards are sparse, the rooms are cold, and that it is a long time since the woman’s husband had sat in his place at the top of the table. All this he would see if he could only open his mouth. But he does not, because he knows he will be the one expected to respond, to empathise, to care, to offer help. And he knows, within him, that he is not capable of doing this; and perhaps, even deeper within him, that he does not want to. He can listen to and recount the story of the hero, but he cannot wear the cape. He can only be a gatekeeper to this woman’s story, and he is choosing to keep the gate closed.

He bids farewell to the woman, and her unspoken words, and turns back towards his street, his sanctuary, leaving her alone with her little dog in the depths of the woods.

Sinead Greenan - Runner-Up

On Neurotypicals

A sentence that appeared when researching the term neurotypical: neurotypicals often assume that their experience of the world is either the only one, or the only correct one.

In the neurotypical world, one must instinctively know about unwritten rules. About things not said but which must be assumed. About lying to spare someone’s feelings on an honest opinion that they themselves asked for. About smiling and saying kind words that are dropped the instant a back is turned.

One must know that ‘on the dot’ doesn’t mean look for the dot, that ‘around 7pm’ could mean any time in the hour before or after 7pm. Or that ‘see you later’ could mean they have no intention of seeing you later. They might intend to, you don’t know (but you should).

In a neurotypical’s world, hidden meanings are written between lines, behind texts, under breath. Conflict, arguments, battles are generated from this.

Damaged toes squashed into heels, scratchy jumpers forced on schoolkids, stiff shirts and ties on men in certain professions. Everyone expected to adhere to a start time of 9am and finish time after 4pm, with a half hour for lunch.

One is expected to turn up to work, school, meetings, regardless of energy level, emotional status, or physical capability that day. To sacrifice oneself for appearance. Resulting in unwarranted tempers towards others. A decline in health. Deterioration in relationships. One is supposed to answer phone or house calls without warning, without context, without knowing the person even. Draining the battery and running on auto. Calling in sick or resigning from work without being able to tell the truth as to why, because everyone should be capable of coping with the exact same pressures.

What if neurodivergent’s experiences were the correct ones?

Rules written down are abided by. Isn’t that what rules are for? Words have legitimate meaning. Things are spelled out as they are. Nothing is said behind anyone’s back. Rather, opinions are given directly, honestly and without malice or intent to harm. Neurotypicals have the biggest issue with this, even when they’ve asked for it.

Time can be strictly kept to or wildly defied, depending on the neurodivergence and state of mind in that moment. Often, the anxiety of leaving the house can make us overreach or completely freeze

There is a deep understanding amongst fellow neurodivergents. Not of each other’s exact experiences, as that completely goes against the point of the word divergent. But of each other’s experience trying to exist in the majority’s world. This creates a fellowship of a kind not seen in the neurotypical realm. No, we do not have to stare at each other over a coffee table once a week. Or talk on the phone for hours. Or chat about the weather, kids, or the bad news story of the day to make small talk seem like deep friendship. We can co-exist in silence whilst knowing there is a level of respect and connection there, that someone understands. A little thread to somebody like us, outside the busy skein of our mind. When overwhelmed with the demands of work, home, lights, noises, people, we would love to collapse under a weighted blanket and shut the world out. Recharge the power and go again when full. This is what some of us do, if we can. Some work places and home companions understand and allow for this. A select few I suspect. Most expect us to trudge along like the neurotypicals do, everyone jammed together on the hamster wheel of life.

We can have intense focus on a topic of our interest. A lot of us create a career around this. Sometimes it might be the only means to getting and keeping a job. Until the burnout comes, that is. We may be extremely successful and productive in our work projects, but lunch times and social gatherings drain our spirit. The intensity of our focus also speeds up the emptying process. Burnout literally feels like a spent body battery, like the juice has poured down to your feet and out the bottom. The energy normally used for getting dressed, brushing teeth, washing hair is gone. Let alone that which is reserved for getting to work, saying hello to colleagues, phone calls, completing tasks. It can lead to a deep melancholy. Devoid of capacity for productivity, joy, even eating.

It is a difficult way to be, neurodivergent, but only because one must live in a neurotypical world. If only we were allowed to express ourselves how we wish, speak to those we want to and when we want, state our truth, rest when we need, spend time with our animals and special things, sleep when our bodies desire. Be accepted for who we are and our needs. Surely neurotypicals desire some of these things too? Neurodivergence is classed as a disability, but disabilities are only so because the world makes them that way. Lack of accessibility, accommodations, and understanding dis-ables people. If we were en-abled to live how we need to, there would be no disability.

I do not wish to be neurotypical. Quite the opposite. I love how I experience pure joy from the simple things. Turning my face up to see candyfloss clouds hang in the sky, being hypnotised by a fire crackling in the stove, having my dog twitch in her sleep beside me and imagining what her dreams are made of. My intense curiosity and focus have allowed me to learn so much about so many things, read hundreds of books, and build a successful career. My strong sense of justice has enabled me to speak up about things that are wrong and given me robust moral values.

What we need more in the world is a profound improvement in the acceptance of difference. Respect towards each and every person, animal, thing, and our environment. I don’t have high hopes that the world at large can change. But if somebody reads this and sees someone struggling in the future, neurodivergent or not, they might have a bit more compassion for their experience. Just because a certain behaviour might be deemed socially inappropriate (by neurotypical standards), that doesn’t need to be judged.

Typing this, autocorrect doesn’t recognise the plural of neurodivergent, but ‘neurotypicals’ is accepted. That red squiggly line seems to follow us around wherever we go. A mark that highlights our un-belonging in the crowd. That pretty much sums it up.

Noreen Lenihan - Runner-Up

Letters of Complaint

I wanted to write to inform you of the ill-will I have been harbouring towards you lately. Indeed, I feel as though I have been shorted a most rudimentary and minimal preparation as to my expectations of the opposite sex. Rather, I have been groomed for a reality that is conspicuously not the one I am grounded in today. Another lonely disappointment yesterday evening during my Skype call with my significant other. On outlining in some detail my journey on the emotional spectrum since I got here, from isolation and fear to intense anxiety and boredom, I gained little comfort to learn that he was uninterested - nay, downright unwilling - to book a flight to try to ease my suffering. You can imagine how this compounded my distress, and I, already on thin emotional ice. I know that if it was you I was calling, video enabled to showcase my growing divergence with sanity, you would have booked the next flight to Seoul. You would go to the moon and back for me, as you have done many times before. Like the time you rang the hair salon to see if they could rescue my dignity after a botched carrot-hue colour job by a trainee the week before the Debs. Or just about any of the nights you would collect us at 3 A.M. outside the chipper after nights out, with never a murmur of complaint. Thus, I am writing to convey my most grave disillusionment tonight with the emotional austerity of my romantic counterpart. It doesn’t seem he is of the same mould. Perhaps though, Dad, you have set me up for bitter disappointment in these stakes.

Yours, Lonely in Incheon

Sadly, you have left me despairing. I knew that I would need to attend my new office for the first day of my new job despite being ill-equipped to transport myself there. Living in the sticks now, and without having ‘adulted’ sufficiently to acquire a full driving license, I only had a few options. Bussing it did not work out due to Bus Eireann’s lack of vision or ambition. Equally, no offers to drive me there realised. It made me ponder again - I never had to ask you twice for a favour like this. In fact, I never had to ask at all. You always intuited the need before it became one. I remember the day you dropped everything to drive up to Galway to chauffeur me around to various medical outlets to help me collect research questionnaires for some underwhelming summer study. So trivial a chore to travel six hours for, but you knew I was hopeless without you. I feel alone now and as if the whole world ceases to care or want to pre-empt my anxieties like you did. Like sourcing a drive to your anniversary Mass, I came up short again. It had a distinct poignancy about it this time. This predicament applies to many things (did you know it is completely uncommon for a partner to help with suitcases or bringing in the shopping bags without an explicit request for help in these times?). I’m not sure, being in my present state, it was a good idea to shelter me so lovingly from real-world dilemmas.

Yours, Stranded in The Back of Beyonds

All those years, I was insulated in your walled garden of love and safety and home. Out here, there are no more simple and genuine ‘I love you’s’. All those ‘love you’s’ to the sound of a closing car door, at the end of the phone call, as you turned out the hall light - the sound of pure, unconditional love - they don’t come as easily anymore. It has been awhile since I heard the phrase delivered. I had no conception of the possible scarcity of the emotion and its assertion (at least, it is in dire supply by men native to these shores anyway). All these nutrients you provided so naturally and abundantly are so foreign outside your garden…

Yours, Loveless in Dublin

You led me to believe that my worthiness was not based on grades, money, beauty, the lot. This, I can confirm, is not a philosophy embraced by the world outside. I have lost respect, friendships and general interest since I did not claim New Fancy Job. People seem much more interested in being associated with me when I had the Big-Job-in-London going on. You always said to pursue something ‘only s’long as you’re happy’. Well, that’s no easy feat in its own right, but it seems others have attached hidden conditions to their love and friendship. I must be losing my ambition because I am rather happy in the ‘steerage’ of life. I have no great desire to climb the corporate ladder to nowhere. Like Top Gun’s ‘Maverick’, ‘I am where I belong’ , though others do not vie for the same contentment. Another lesson I am learning to harden me up for this life.

Yours, Snubbed in Soho

You certainly made this one look easy. Again, can reliably confirm the lack of feasibility to implement in real-life situations. I am still at a loss to understand how you managed to never criticise other people over such a long time period. Perhaps, it was just out of my earshot. I cannot comprehend the restraint it must have involved to see and meet people ‘where they are at’. This is well beyond my capabilities. Your faith must have created some kind of divine weather-clad shield of peace within you…is my current theory. Bully for you, but again, another impossible-to-reproduce item for me, the mere mortal.

Yours, Starless in The Gutter

Re: Life Now

You can probably deduce by now my advanced anhedonia and exhaustion with the world around me. By contrast, I remain humbled by the memory of your daily actions and words. Grief is my constant plus-one; he does not take a day off and accompanies me to all of life’s invitations, great and small. Friend or foe, he reminds me of the magnitude of my love for you, such is the emptiness your absence has created. I yearn to believe that you are, in fact, next to me, behind some kind of multi-dimensional veil, in the spirit world. But I am not there yet. At the same time, I am trying not to indulge myself in my rather enlarged misery streak, but as ever, I am a work in progress.

They say the greatest gift is that you can say you were beloved in our time here, Earthside. Yes, beloved, a gift. I get it, but it is so very hard. Send me messages through a random kind act from another or a rendition of ‘Sally Gardens’ on Marty In the Morning . But I know you will say, I have it the other way around; I need to be kind to others. I know, I know, you are right and my gut agrees. I will try to carry on as you did - kind, graceful and decent.

I am a mother now, to little Timmy. Myself and himself are managing his induction to the household well although we, at times, hold each other psychological hostage in matters of sleep, nappy changes and dishes. It is a new and vital kind of love that makes me smile from my core even when the tiredness has penetrated my bones. It makes me wonder about you first becoming a father, how you must have beamed and never stopped.

‘’Tis the good that suffer’, I remember you telling a neighbour after Mass whilst in the labyrinths of your illness. You suffered, but I hope you are soaring high now.

You leave us in your dust always.

Chat soon, New & In Love Baby Momma at Home

Shane Brennan - Finalist

Blunders Of A Rambling Commuter

Violent and urgent vibrations rip me from my sleep. My mind flounders, grasping for coherent thoughts like a drowning man flailing for flotation. I wrench myself around, arm reaching through the darkness. The fickle warmth created under the thin duvet through the night abandons me. Tongues of cold air lick my skin, as my fingers stumble across the bedside table.

Cable…table.. — BUZZ — ..book.. — BUZZ — ..table…glasses-Shit!

I feel the lens and frame flee my groping and fly with a soft clatter onto the laminate floor. The vibrations continue to blare as the soft tinkling of my alarm tone, “Forest Melody”, begins. I swing my legs out of bed and the chill embraces me. I blearily fumble at my phone while “Forest Melody” crescendos wildly. I slice it into silence with a swipe of my finger. A dreary sigh gushes out of me, replacing my usual contented yawn.

Jaysus why can’t I have the alarm without the vibrations?

Now — I’m standing in front of the mirror while my razor whizzes across my chin, dismissing the stubble of the bank holiday weekend. Autopilot is the offspring of routine. The chalking off of Monday the 4th of February has begun. Thankfully St. Brigid got rid of last Friday for me!

I choke down my smoothie while I scroll aimlessly at the kitchen table, looking for anything to ignite my day.

With a jolt, I remember.

I must check in with Philomena first thing.

3 missed calls from the principal on Friday morning. She usually only contacts on a day off if it’s important… To her!

Ah I’m there long enough, a day off is a day off. It's probably only something about my permanent contract and shur it's not as if the department was open over the weekend either.

Missed calls are never a nice thing to wake up to after a few pints.

Is ten a few? A couple is probably closer… God I'm going to bed early tonight, I’m still fair shook. Will I skip the gym? Yeah fuck it, I need the rest more.

After stealthily readying myself in the fragile quiet and pre-dawn gloom, I stand at the door, about to twist the handle.

But first, my mantra.

I’ve had it since I was in primary school, I can’t settle myself to leave before I say it.

Dressed, washed, breakfast, lunch.

I firmly push down the door and slip out quietly. I fire my bag into the boot with the confidence of a man who thinks he knows what he’s doing.

Those first few minutes can be raw, but I love the early starts. Those crisp, clear frosty mornings where I watch the sun come up as I crest the hill coming into Geashill. The pinks and oranges unfolding to push away the blacks, blues and purples. That day’s first rays spinning, running and bouncing their way across fields of glittering white. The windmills of Mount Lucas lazily waving at me across the moor.

But this morning it’s pissing rain and I’m stuck behind some bollox of a Scania spraying muck and shite all over the car.

How come there’s only ever cars coming towards me when the bloody road is straight.

Hmmm there’s no long vehicle sticker on the back of it.

Is that a broken line yet?

I know full well it’s not but I know the road and there are no headlights oncoming. I’m doing 75 in 5th, but I drop it into 4th anyway. I careen out from behind it and put the boot to the headlamp. It’s all over in seconds but my white knuckles suggest it was longer.

Jesus I hate doing that.

The car settles into 100 in 6th but I don’t and won't for another few minutes. Mammy would kill me, but she would’ve done it as well.

Ah, only for her!

The 3 other brood rats are probably getting up now. Eileen off to teach, Ciaran to create and Claire to study. Mammy is off to run the school from the typist’s chair in her secretarial office. It’s been nice having all 5 of us back in the same house again. Then again I am the only child that doesn’t have to share a room.

As my heart rate eventually gets down to normal, the sprawling metropolis of Portarlington opens up before me. I keep an eye out for the speed van. The breakfast smoothie has been churning in my stomach. I remember back to the pub on Saturday night. My throat strangling itself in its haste to get the porter into me. My lips sucking at the end of a dirty cigarette while I cough and shout over the music in The Brewery Tap.

Yeah, this is definitely a 2-day hangover.

I never know which is worse, the emptiness of my limbs while my body tries to deal with the last clinging vestiges of the alcohol. Or the stones rattling around my mind as my brain deals with poisons, real and imagined. I reach out to pause the song and the phone flashes red. 10%remaining. I groan as I realise I’ve left my charger in the bag I so confidently threw into the boot.

Right, I'll need something funny before it dies on me.

Tommy, Hector and Laurita keep me going along the meandering stretches, only to depart, so suddenly, outside Monasterevin.

The steady tapping of my feet and smooth sliding of my hands across the scarred steering wheel lead my mind down winding roads. Metaphorically and physically. My best ideas come when I'm in the car. This morning it’s a rhyme about how I'm feeling. It appears in my mind like a torch exploding with a click in a dark room.

Drip-drip. Stones-clack.

Cracking skull is bubbling black.

Seeking. Leaking, wreaking sludge.

Drowning-drowning. Will not budge.

My imagination is always roiling, like a pot of stew coming to a heaving boil. Ideas and thoughts float to the top to mate and breed, only to be whipped away before completion by the moving current. I spend most of my days chasing down half formed thoughts, only to have them slip away into sleep. It’s the curse of almost being very intelligent. I’m in a constant state of anxiety, knowing I’ve definitely forgotten something important.

There are guilty thoughts there too. Wrongs I’ve done and rights I haven’t. Favours not returned and the constant ghostly presence of the hands that have helped me up since childhood. Most of the thoughts are totally irrational. But a weekend of drink is not conducive to cold or logical thought.

And I begin to fester.

The fermentation of alcohol only really begins in the days after its consumption.

I often forget that the hands that got me to adulthood were mostly my own. Every favour as a young man felt like another brick in my bag. The weight of it made me strong. Its constant presence jades me.

But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned to juggle bricks. The bag has lightened. As long as I can keep 2 in my hands and the rest in the air, I’ll be fine.

Breathe out.

I briefly glide down the tributary of the M7 at Junction 14. The peace of the morning is pierced by flashing indicators, sudden brake lights and wailing horns. Each four-wheeled beast pursuing its prey with fierce intent. More road. I pass through the noble Curragh before the traffic begins to stiffen at Newbridge. The rain is still falling.

Not doing great for time now, I hope this gets going.

I approach two trucks, one trying to overtake another. It's like watching two prop forwards race to the sideline. A contest where the loser is whoever gives up first and the prize is getting to be first to give up. Suddenly behind them, a red mist ascends.

Those tapping feet turn into boots of cement as I ram down on the middle pedal.

Not two trucks overtaking.

Two trucks trying not to crash into each other as they grind to a halt.

Rubbernecking fools!

There's been an accident on the other side of the barrier which has caused the traffic jam of voyeurs on my own side.

I jolt to a deadly stop in the fast lane. My chest heaves like the bellows of a Paolo Soprani and I feel my limbs become light and weak.

The ticking and blinking of the automatic hazards confirm I'm still living.

Not worth it. Slower next time.

My knees unlock as the truck in front of me lurches forward and hisses to the left. I lightly press on the accelerator, my left hand trembling as I wrestle the gear stick into submission. As the cars roll forwards, I get my breathing under control and check the time.

Under pressure now.

This has been a rough morning.

The 2 lanes become 3 and I drive like a pinball in a machine until my exit.

Jesus I better not be late this morning after the missed calls.

My palms begin to sweat and my tongue dries as I leave the motorway.

What was she ringing for?

I barely notice how the countryside has begun to prickle with colour again. There are budding ash trees and gently blooming snowdrops in the meadows. All I see are the stone walls suffocated by moss and the greasy grey water on the tarmac.

I cruise around the final bend with 2 sighs. One, of relief that I got here. One, of disappointment that I’ve arrived. Like a steely hand waving at me, I see the gates of the school rise to beckon me in.

Wait… Gates…. Why are they closed?

An uneasy feeling sets in as my car crawls up to the end of the short driveway. I peer over my dragging wipers and see the car park is empty.

Was my clock wrong?

After a few minutes of losing numerous arguments in my head I decide to take out my charger from the boot.

Jesus did I reset the time on my phone Saturday night?

Ah at least I'll be able to get in early and get a head start on the week.

My phone twinkles to life and I quickly punch in the caretaker’s initials to see his number pop up.

I hesitantly push the call button. Hang up. Then ring again.

"What are you ringing me for at this hour?" Mark huffs.

"Well Mark. Jaysus I'm awful sorry but I must've reset the time on the phone and I'm here mad early. What time will you be in at?" I chuckle to mask my anxiety.

"Man what are you talking about? I thought you were meant to be sick," he barks at me.

Confusion and anxiety knock each other over the head in my brain trying to gain dominance.

"Lad, it's a bank holiday. Don’t ya know it's a day off for caretakers as well!" he sneers down the phone. "You're lucky the good wife had me painting or I'd have reddened ya for waking me. You better not ring Philomena to let you in either. She won't be happy after you not letting her know you weren't coming in Friday!"

My heart sinks down to the headlamps.

My throat constricts. "What do you mean, shur were we not off Friday?" I stammer.

Mark roars with laughter down the line. "Ya durty eegit, I knew ya had it wrong when I seen your Snapchats from the weekend. We have today off, not actual Brigid's Day." He guffaws heartily as I palpitate. "Mark… wait…. Wha… Bu….." I gurgle.

I've never missed a day of work yet.

"Listen, I'm off to paint here. You stew on that and I'll chat you tomorrow."

The line cuts out.

My eyes pinch back tears of frustration.

I swing the car around to stew on the reverse journey home.

Another blunder for the rambling commuter.

Eoin Corcoran - Finalist

Mannachán Marin lived happily below the southern footpath of Union Square, in the city’s first northern district, a short walk from the central promenade and two good stone’s throws from the river. It was not a bad area, certainly primed for improvement, but at present still better suited to the optimist’s eye. His flat, set below the 49th building of Union Square was, in fact, quite nice. It was much nicer than anyone would expect, being a basement, but Mannachán had learned from some years of invitations that people grew weary of being convinced of the place’s redeeming qualities. For in the end, it was, indeed, a basement.

The living quarters were spacious, with ample room for two couches and a 6-seater dining table, and furnished with a colourful, eclectic collection of books, an artificial stove and a knock-off oriental rug that really gave the place some personality. The living room led onto a long, staggered hall, off which sat three generous bedrooms, a closet, and a utilitarian bathroom. The apartment, however, had one inexorable flaw, that being the entrance porch; a small room between the front and living room doors, that served as a visitor’s first impression. This room, being the only part of the flat quite literally under the footpath of Union Square, was cold and damp, and had been left in this naturally decrepit state so long that the plasterboard walls had softened and were in danger of rotting away to the old stone walls beneath, a ruse the building could only entertain for so much longer. The entrance hall, the flat’s introduction to the world outside, being naturally cold and damp, was prone to a persistent black mould, that almost entirely surrounded the front door, and climbed from the skirting boards up the arching walls overhead. The mould’s presence, alive and unwell in the porch, gave a distinctly dishevelled impression of the apartment it guarded, and thereby the same of its inhabitants. Luckily, few visitors ever came to see the apartment, and those that did never mentioned this.

Being in his seventh year in the apartment, Mannachán had often noted the presence of the mould in the porch and had lamented its repulsive effects on his friends and family if they ever saw it. It had been there since the day he first received the keys to the place, and he had noted it then too, but it had received a pass at the time commensurate with the optimism that comes with a change of scenery. It was in this same vein of confidence that he was able to overlook the basement line of the address, and the less than sufficiently secured back door, for there would be ample time to fix these shortcomings; or at least two of them. Yes, his optimism, and his relief in the face of such low rent in the rapidly diminishing housing market, were enough to seal his fate, happily, in the Basement Flat, 49, Union Square South. Not a bad deal, he thought, all things considered.

It is, at this point, worth noting that Mannachán did not live alone. Over the years there had always been a host of flatmates. The basement foray at varying times consisted of strangers, girlfriends, friends, and friends of friends. All had come, usually for a year or so, and all in turn had moved on. Barring the furniture, its origins unknown, Mannachán was the longest standing and most constant fixture of Basement, 49, Union Square; or the longest standing animate fixture, with the exception, only, of the persistent black mould.

As the years passed, Mannachán found himself increasingly discontented with the mould’s presence in the porch. Aesthetically, it disgusted him every time he passed under it through the front door, to climb the steps and face the world. More and more, he couldn’t escape the feeling that it reflected something about himself. Mannachán had grown up with mould in his childhood home, but growing older he had come to learn how unacceptable that is to some. You can tell a lot about a person, he thought, by their relationship with mould. Some people accept it as a fact of life, whereas others may well consider it cause for demolition. He recalled a wealthy friend’s horror as they recounted an apartment viewing where the prospective landlord had glossed over the mould in the top corner of a utility room. “Imagine trying to market a rental with literal mould growing on the ceiling. That’s a health hazard. I think I should report him”. As he disingenuously agreed unreservedly, he was struck by this party’s aversion to such a common thing as mould; doesn’t every home have some such thing to a greater or lesser extent? Pondering this difference of opinion for some time, he decided to enquire into the dangers of his cohabitant. And all he researched seemed to affirm this girl’s disgust with the landlord. Study after study all corroborated the notion that mould was a leading cause of a host of deadly diseases, from pneumonia to lung cancer. How could it be that no one had told him this? It seemed to be the best kept secret among the peasants, as he knew well he was not alone in his ambivalence. His horror turned to resolve, and it became clear to Mannachán that no self-respecting social climber could do with living alongside black mould.

So began the mission to rid the basement of 49, Union Square, of its persistent black mould. The household essentials aisle of all the supermarkets seemed to predict his quest, offering up whole shelves of solutions. After studying the ingredients, he discovered that virtually all brands were using the same ingredients, a 2.5% solution of sodium hypochlorite, and some with 5% non-ionic surfactants. Going against his usual bent for thrift, he opted for the top-shelf product; just to be safe, he thought.

The instructions were clear; ‘Leave for 15 minutes to fully remove stains’. Taking the advice, the next morning he sprayed the porch in its entirety, top to bottom, applying a thick coat of the pungent foam to the porch walls. Erring on the side of caution, he let it soak for an hour before wiping away the residue. And to his amazement, it had worked. The porch walls, once shadowed in a greyish overtone, now gleamed with the original white paint, and though in his scepticism he scoured the surfaces for any remaining black stains, none could he find. Overly contented with his work, he beamed with pride to his girlfriend, Lasairfhíona, that evening, showcasing the pristine walls of the porch. ‘Las’ was duly impressed, and but for the nauseating effects of the lingering bleach odour, she was similarly pleased. Mannachán too noted the odour, but took little heed of it. A small price to pay, he thought, for such a result.

With his health hazard competently mitigated, Mannachán found himself to be more productive in the ensuing weeks. The obstacle that had stood for so long in his beloved apartment was no more, and in some strange way it seemed to bolster his confidence. In fact, the success of the first mission motivated him to remedy the second of the three ailments he had first identified, and brought him to improve the back door locks, affixing a new Yale lock in place of the old simple bolts.

Some weeks later still, coming in the door from work, he noticed a small black spot in the top corner of the doorframe. Keeping his initial discontent curtailed, he surveyed the rest of the porch for any siblings, and sure enough found multiple colonies in each corner of the room. It seemed that he had slipped in his determination to live free of his old flatmate, and hadn’t been checking for any regrowth since the first extermination. Not to worry, he thought, ‘I know the drill’. He once again got out his Mould Killer and generously disinfected the whole porch, but decided to double down on his previous efforts and so performed the operation twice in succession. He reasoned that his initial effort, while seemingly effective, must not have totally destroyed the root cause, and gave respite to a few stubborn colonies deep in the crevices of the walls. Lasairfhíona, this time, found it hard to be in the adjoining living room under the smell of the stuff, but the problem was once again contained.

Months continued to pass, but out of an abundance caution Mannachán chose to perform the disinfection routine weekly as a preventative measure, as he was determined to never again live with the persistent black mould. The maintenance schedule proved fruitful and his inspections always returned a clean bill of porch health. Aside from his girlfriend’s complaints about the near constant smell of bleach, all was well in the basement of 49, Union Square.

The following spring, after a bitterly cold and wet winter, Mannachán fell ill with acute flu symptoms, unlike anything he had suffered before. He and Lasairfhíona treated it in their normal way, with plenty of rest and fluids, but for all of their efforts, things were not improving. After five long bed-ridden days, upon Lasairfhíona’s pleas, it was decided that he must go to the hospital. Lacking both a GP and any form of health insurance, they presented to the A&E late that evening, and endured a seemingly never ending wait. Though the triage nurse had written it off as trivial, Mannachán deteriorated significantly with each passing hour. His breathing became shallower and weaker with each cycle, until Las’s urgent pleas for a doctor were met. Immediately, the doctor became very concerned and ordered that he be brought to ICU. At speed, his trolley was rushed down the halls through the ICU doors. Mannachán was placed on ventilation in ICU, and spent the night in that state, monitored closely by a host of doctors and nurses. Having stabilised by the next morning, he was abruptly awoken.

Through the harsh white lights, he could discern two figures, both handling him aggressively as they painfully removed the long tube from his throat.

“You’re a lucky man, Mr Marin”, proclaimed the doctor, with an air of accusation. “Another couple of hours and it may have been too late”.

“Too late…ehhem…Too late for what?”, said Mannachán weakly, still loosening his vocal chords.

“Too late to save you, sir. You were just about breathing, and your organs weren’t getting enough oxygen, much longer like that and you would have been dead”.

“Dead?! I came in with a flu?”, said Mannachán, his confusion growing.

“We’ve identified that you had a bacterial infection, which is what has had you sick this past week, but it developed into Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome or ARDS. It’s very serious, often fatal”, said the doctor, maintaining his accusatory tone. “Though very unusual in someone so young”. At this point the doctor paused, “I must ask, do you take any drugs?”

“No!”, exclaimed Mannachán.

“Smoker?”, the doctor continued, but Mannachán again refuted.

“Do you work with chemicals at all?”

Mannachán paused. “Well, no, but I do use a lot of bleach at home”.

“That would probably be it. Overexposure even to household bleach is very damaging to the sensitive tissues of the lungs. It’s almost certainly what allowed your infection to develop into ARDS. Anyway, your age is on your side. Your lungs should mostly recover, and we’ll prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection. You should be ok within a week or so. But do stay away from the bleach in future”.

Mannachán felt relieved at the prognosis, but felt an odd sense of guilt, that this must have been his own doing.

“Are you allergic to any medicines? Penicillin?”, asked the doctor, brightly, to which Mannachán replied, “No”.

“Very good, it’s terrific stuff, really. It’s saved countless lives over the years. And first discovered serendipitously, imagine, from as unlikely a thing as mould”.

Claire O’Brien - Finalist

Searching For A Home

I gave my partner a heavy cast iron tea pot for Christmas five or six years ago. He said he will use it when we have our own place. We have still not used it. There is an alcove at the back of our bedroom stuffed with things we have no space for. Prints and posters we have gifted each other that have yet to hang on a wall. I forget I have them, and then feel sad when I look at them again. One of my best friends gave me an image of a woman blissfully floating in the blue sea. I love it but have nowhere to put it. My collection of shells, pebbles and other curious things found on beaches is wrapped up in tissue paper, inside a box within that pile somewhere. My piano is sitting in my partner’s mom’s shed, right below where the swallows nest.

We first notice the swallows building their nest in late April and we watch them, mesmerized. We try to keep our distance after they have laid their eggs in May. I creep in one day out of hungry curiosity but quickly retreat when the chicks mistake me for the return of their mom and start to cheap loudly. I leave, but not before catching a glimpse of the bright yellow inside of their beaks, eager for food. We excitedly laugh when we see the baby birds learning how to fly. Fledging in August. Then one day in September, we don’t see them, another and another Autumn Day passes by without sight of them. We realise they have left, gone to the other side of the world, where their home will be for the next season.

I wonder if the next season will bring us to our home. It seems very unlikely we will find our own place, at least in Ireland. There is an ongoing housing crisis, and I am hugely grateful for what we do have. Among the population of this country, we are the lucky ones. The Department of Housing reports as of November 2022, the number of people accessing state-funded emergency accommodation is 11,542. This does not include people sleeping rough, homeless people in hospitals and prisons and those in Domestic Violence refuges. As of June 2022, there are a further 11,600 people living in direct provision centres across Ireland. As well as those acute cases, there are thousands who cannot afford to leave home, despite them being ready to and needing to. Families of grown adults living together and imploding through sheer stress and lack of space. But we are lucky we are together, many people are separated from their partners, their children, their lives.

It is not essential to own your own place but, it is essential to have a safe place to live and to feel certain that it is your home. I wonder where that place will be for us. My mom and Dad did not own our house growing up but at least they knew we would not be kicked out, or our rent would not go up year on year. They joined the social housing list and were given a house to rent, to call their own, in which to rear their family. That list is no longer a lifeline for people, illustrated by the fact that in March 2022 the Irish government reported that over 59,000 households were waiting to receive housing support. Many people wait years and years before they are offered housing. Housing is not something you can wait years and years for.

To me, my nana's house in Tipp and Grandad’s house in Kerry were the places I felt most at home. I knew that people in my family owned them and that my family had grown up in them. They had so much space around them, situated as they were in south Tipperary and north Kerry, respectively. And when I stayed at Grandad’s I could even sometimes have my own bedroom. The freedom of being so near to the sea and the fact that it had been Mom’s home too made me feel safe and happy. And in Tipp, Nana’s house was where Dad grew up. I had a strong feeling that I belonged in both places.

That is why now, as an adult searching for earth to root myself in, I keep dreaming of Grandad’s house and Nana’s house. Those people and those places are my roots but there is nowhere on this island that I can find to plant myself. There is no place where my partner and I can call our own, or even temporarily call our own. No place where we can hang our prints and play our instruments.

It makes me anxious where our home will be. What houses will our children dream of, after they are grown? Overcrowded ones, inhospitable and damp ones, imaginary ones, rooms that are built and designed for temporary stays. Will our children have anywhere to dream of where they felt safe and at home? Where they felt rooted and felt they belonged?

It is not about owning a place. It is about stability, and, as a child, as a person having some place you revisit over and over, where your family is, where your friends are. Without that rootedness what can we ask of people?

IMAGES

Competitions
Competitions
Competitions
Competitions
Competitions
Creative Writing Competition 2023

COMMENTS

Competitions
Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 Runner-Up Find Out More. The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 ... Competition Listings Find Out More. Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2023 Find Out More. Storylines Trust Awards Find Out More. 1 2 3 Next. Recent Posts. Creating Plot Twists June 28, 2024; Writing for Impact June ...
Short Story Writing Competitions
Weekly Writing Competitions. The Telegraph Travel Writing Competition. The Long and Short of it - Unity Books Short Story Competition. For a bit of lighthearted fun, Reedsy runs weekly short story competitions in response to a writing prompt. Winners get $50 and publication on the Reedsy blog.
Getting published: Writing competitions for teens
Re-Draft is a nationally acclaimed collection of teenagers' writing, published each year by Clerestory Press. Any New Zealand teenager can enter their work. Entries can be any creative writing genre and will be judged by award winning New Zealand writers. Entries close 23 August 2024. Find out more: Re-Draft; Entry guidelines
The NZWC Short Story Writing Competition
Proudly Supporting Emerging Writers. The annual Writers College Short Story Competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form. The competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. Scroll down to see the prizes, theme, judges, rules and entry requirements.
Get Published in Re-Draft
An annual creative writing competition for teenagers. Any New Zealand teenager can enter using the online entry form or using the form found in the back of the current edition of Re-Draft. Entries can be any creative writing genre and will be judged by award winning New Zealand writers. "Entering Re-Draft is definitely helpful because you learn ...
Competitions
We are accepting books traditionally or self-published in Australia and/or New Zealand in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and fall into one of the following four categories: Young Adult; ... Bookness Creative Writing Awards 2024. Entry Fee: $5.50 per poem or short story. ... The Seasons writing competition has themes that relate to the external world, and ...
Creative Writing Ink Poetry Prize 2023
The Creative Writing Ink Poetry Prize 2023 is open to writers across the globe, until May 31st 2023 at 4pm (GMT). Poems do not need to follow any particular theme or genre, but must be written in English. Poetry should not exceed 42 lines. 1st prize: €1000, plus a free creative writing course of the winner's choice and publication on our ...
Young Authors Challenge 2024
Entries open: Tuesday 14 May 2024. Entries close: Friday 2 August 2024. Winners will be announced the week of 26 August 2024 with a special presentation to be held in Term Four 2024. The winners and their schools will be contacted directly. Submit your entry through the provided Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge 2024 form with your ...
Previous Student Writing Competitions
We are excited to announce our finalists for Stylefit's 2023 Student Writing Competition held this winter! Having worked our way through over 4000 submissions across 400 entering schools, we would like to thank each and every one of you (students, teachers and parents!) for participating, and our incredible judges for taking the time to determine our ultimate place getters.
2023 Awards
2023 Awards. The $64,000 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction will be judged by bestselling author, critic and creative writing teacher Stephanie Johnson (convenor); editor and literature assessor John Huria (Ngāi Tahu, Muaūpoko, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Rangi); and Wellington bookseller Jemma Morrison. They will be joined in ...
Competition Calendar
Second Prize: $35 book voucher. Third Prize: $20 book voucher. The competition is run by The Poets XYZ —a trio of New Zealand writers, Elena de Roo, Kathryn Dove, and Melinda Szymanik, who are keen to see poetry for children flourish in Aotearoa New Zealand and to develop a network of children's poets. Judge: Renowned children's writer ...
Short Story
The Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition 2024 is sponsored by our amazing sponsor Cooney Insurance Maurice Trapp Group. This year, the story theme was "The Dilemma". First prize is $1000, second prize $500 and third prize $250. Entries closed 5.00pm 31 January 2024. Word limit was 1500 words.
The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024
The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024. The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 is an international competition open to entrants worldwide from January 30th, 2024!. The deadline for receipt of all entries is 11.59pm(NZST) on April 30, 2024.. Entries will only be accepted through Duosuma.. Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre.. Entry fee: $9 per entry.
Writer 2023
ICYMI, entries for the Writer 2023 creative writing competition are now open! Keen to get into it but not sure where to begin? Our guest judge and esteemed writer Kathryn van Beek has a few hot tips to get started on your poem or short story ... Submissions close on 11th September - click here for more info . https://www.otago.ac.nz ...
Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 :: National Association of
1st prize: $1,000, a free creative writing course of the winner's choice and publication on our website. Runners-up: $200 each. Entry fee: $9 Find out more here Deadline: 11.59pm (NZST) on April 30, 2024 Results announced by June 30th, 2024.
COMPETITIONS
UK COMPETITION. Open to: Writers who have not published a book-length work of fiction, life-writing or poetry (excluding self-published works or poetry chapbooks) Theme: None. *. Accepts: Poetry (up to 3 poems = a single entry) Size: 3,000 words. Entry Fee: £12, £16 for 2, £6 for a subsidised entry.
Writing Competitions
The Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024 ... Anthology Magazine Competitions. External Competition Listings. Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2023. Beagle North Short Story Competition. Anansi Archive Writing Awards ... Find out about the latest courses, publishing opportunities and writing competitions by signing up for ...
Insight Publications
9 likes, 0 comments - insightpublications on November 1, 2023: "We're delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2023 Insight Creative Writing Competition! To view the shortlist, please visit the link in our bio. We received hundreds of entries from across Australia. The shortlist represents the top five entries in each year level, and we wish them a massive congratulations!
Creative Writing NZ Short Story Prize 2024
30 September 2023. The Failing Writers Flash Fiction Competition. Bath Flash Fiction Award. Deadline: 11.59 pm (NZST) on 30 April 2024. Entry Fee: $9. Prizes: 1st Place: $1,000 plus online publication and an online creative writing course; two runners-up prizes of $200 each. Word Limit: 3,000 words. Judge: Dr Lucie Brownlee (award-winning ...
2024 Creative Writing Contest Winner Angela Du Reading Her ...
The Celebrate America Creative Writing Contest challenges fifth graders across the country to reflect on and write about one of two themes: ...
List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participants. The following table lists the countries with a broadcaster that have participated in the contest at least once, up to 2023. Planned entries for the cancelled 2020 contest and entries that failed to qualify in the qualification rounds in 1993 or 1996 are not counted.. Shading indicates countries whose broadcaster have withdrawn from the contest or former participants that are ...
2023 Winners & Runners Up
2023 Winners & Runners Up. All short stories submitted to the 2023 AISAA Creative Writing Competition have now been read and assessed and a shortlist of six Scholars has been devised. Each of the six selected have distinguished themselves in terms of the quality of writing, the structure of story and the originality of voice. The general ...
20 creative side hustle ideas
Your co-worker does freelance writing work on weekends. Your next-door neighbour shoots videos and engages 1,000 subscribers on YouTube most evenings. Your mom is even talking about selling the ...