View Competitions

Upcoming Competitions/Events

• Wimmera Regional Library Short Story Competition
  Competition is open to all residents of the Corporation's six member shire councils ie Buloke, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack. Must be a member of the Library.
• EJ Brady Short Story Writing Competition
  Annual short story competition with an open theme. Entry forms available from March. Two categories: Major Short story maximum 2,500 words or less, Very Short story 700 words or less. Entry form and guidelines on website.
• Michael Thwaites Poetry Award, The
  Formerly the ACT Writers Centre Poetry Award, this award is for an emerging writer (ie without a collection of poetry published at the closing date for submissions to the award). Prize awarded to an original, unpublished poem not exceeding 50 lines.
• Trudy Graham Literary Award
  Sections: Short Story (to 2,000 words) and Poetry (to 50 lines). Open theme. Awarded in even years. Age open.
• Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award
  The award is for an emerging writer (ie without a novel or collection of short stories published or accepted for publication at the closing date for submissions to the award) who resides permanently within the ACT region. The award will be given to t
• Tom Howard Poetry Contest for Verse in All Styles & Genres
  Poems of any length, type or theme. Must be neatly written, typed, or lodged online. Winning poems will be published online every year. All other rights remain with the author.
• FAW (NSW) Jean Stone Poetry Award
  Entries for the Jean Stone Poetry Award are to be a maximum of 60 lines. All entries must be unpublished, in English and typed. Check with organisers to confirm competition details.
• FAW (NSW) Walter Stone Award
  Awarded on the even biennial year for an original, unpublished manuscript which shows some aspect of Australian History or have some Australian Historical significance. Theme is ‘Life Writing’, defined as a work of biography, autobiography, memoir,
• Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award
  The Award encourages development of material (not necessarily religious) that conveys a message of faith, hope and love. A panel of judges are appointed annually by the Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Trust. Preference is given to persons who have reside
• Aurealis Awards
  The Aurealis Awards recognise the achievements of Australian writers of science fiction, horror and fantasy. Prizes are awarded in the following categories; science fiction, horror, fantasy, young adult, children's, anthology or collection and illust
• New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
  The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards honour distinguished achievement by Australian writers. Prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction, the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literat
• Section Z Creative Writing Competition
  Open Age Short Story: for an original, unpublished story (1,000 words). Open Age Poetry: for an original, unpublished poem (no word limit). Open Age 55-word story: original, unpublished work. School age childrens competition also.
• Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarships
  The Marten Bequest is intended to augment the scholar's own resources towards affording a cultural education by means of a travelling scholarship in one or more categories of the Arts. These scholarships shall be used for study, maintenance and trave
• ASA Mentorship Program
  The Australian Society of Authors' Mentorship Program offers practical and effective support for young and emerging writers. Successful applicants work closely with an experienced mentor of their choice over eight months. Please see website for more
• Book Abyss Writing Competition
  Open topic up to 1,000 words. Include cover letter with your name, address, word count, title, email address. For full details, please see website.
• Positive Words Competition
  Categories for poetry and short stories. Closing dates: 23 April, 31 October. Also mini-challenge every month, entry fee $1.20 in unused postage stamps. Contact the Editor for details.
• Queen of Crime Awards
  Maximum 2,000 words. Details subject to change, please check with organiser.
• Kibble Literary Awards, The
  The Awards began in 1994 and are awarded to women writers of a published book of fiction or non-fiction classifiable as life writing. Application forms and guidelines can be obtained by contacting Perpetual Philanthropic Services. Please also confirm
• Peter Porter Poetry Prize
  Prize for a single poem of 100 lines or less. Previously published or prize-winning poems are not eligible. Please see website for further details.
• Sydney Theatre Company Patrick White Playwright Award
  Award for a full length play that has not been professionally performed. Please contact organisers to confirm closing date.
• FAW (VIC) Jim Hamilton Award
  For unpublished novel on any theme or genre with a minimum length of 30,000 words. Entries must be aimed at adult or teenage readers. One copy required, will not be returned. No age limit.
• Barbara Jefferis Award
  Awarded to the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society. Please see website and guidelines for further details.
• FAW (VIC) Barbara Ramsden Award
  An award for a published book of fiction or non-fiction that demonstrates high quality and professionalism, reflecting the combined efforts of author and editor. All entries must include two copies of the book and 100 words from author or publisher o
• FAW (VIC) White Light Short Film Script Award
  For entrants of any age in two categories: Part A, TV Drama Script Award; Part B, Short Film Script Award. One copy required, will not be returned.
• FAW (VIC) Young Poet of the Year Award
  A poem on any theme, no word limit, in two age categories: Part A, 8-12 years; Part B, 13-16 years.
• FAW (VIC) John Morrison Short Story Award
  For a short story on any theme, max 300 words. One copy of each story required. For writers aged 17-20 years.
• FAW (VIC) Anne Elder Poetry Award
  For a first book of poetry published after November in the preceding year. The book must have at least 20 pages of text. Self-published works are eligible. Publishers or authors are welcome to submit entries. Three copies of the book are required. En
• FAW (VIC) Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award
  For a short story of up to 3,000 words, which deals with any aspect of the lives of those with mental disability, and/or its impact on their families. The story should be relevant to an Australian situation. Entries will not be returned. No age limit
• FAW (VIC) Colin Thiele Poetry Award
  For a poem on any theme, open to young writers aged between 15 and 20 years. Entries will not be returned. No word limit.
• FAW (VIC) Di Cranston Award
  Award for a stage play, radio or television script on any topic by a writer of any age. Entries will not be returned. Max 120 pages in script format.
• Blackened Billy Verse Competition
  Must be bush poetry (ie containing rhyme and rhythm). Must have an Australiana theme. No limit on length. Entry forms available 1 August.
• FAW (VIC) Michael Dugan Short Story Award
  Open to young writers in two age categories: Part A, 8-12 years; Part B, 13-16 years. Entries will not be returned.
• FAW (VIC) Angelo B Natoli Short Story Award
  An award for a short story on any theme to max 3,000 words. Entries will not be returned.
• Alexander Henderson Award
  Award in memory of the late Alexander Henderson, to commemorate his wonderful contribution to genealogy. Presented annually to the person or persons producing the best family history published in Australia, in the opinion of the Institute.
• FAW (VIC) Mavis Thorpe Clarke Award
  Group Entry: An anthology of writing by students attending the same Australian secondary school. All kinds of writing are eligible. Work must be original. Entries will not be returned. Maximum of fifteen pieces of writing. Individual Entry: As per ab
• FAW (VIC) John Shaw Neilson Poetry Award
  For a poem of 14-60 lines. A suite of poems linked thematically may be entered as one poem provided the line limit is adhered to. Entries will not be returned.
• FAW (VIC) Mary Grant Bruce Short Story Award For Children's Literature
  For a short story aimed at readers aged between 10 to 15 years. No longer than 5,000 words. Writers living in the Gippsland area are also eligible for a separate award. Entries will not be returned.
• FAW (VIC) Christina Stead Award
  For an Australian work of fiction first published after November of the preceding year. Publishers or authors are welcome to submit entries. Entries will not be returned. Two copies of the book are required.
• Advertiser Summer Short Story Competition, The
  Three sections: Primary (up to age 12), Secondary (13-17 years), and Adult (over 18 years). Word limit of 1,000 words for Adult and Secondary sections, and 500 words for Primary section. Stories must be unpublished and be accompanied by a photo and s
• IP Picks National Awards for Unpublished Manuscripts
  Prizes awarded for unpublished manuscripts in poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, best junior prose, or best first book. Upper limit for prose is 80,000 words. Check our website for further competition details and information on past winners. Open
• ABR Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay
  Prize for an original non-fiction essay (in English) between 3,000 and 10,000 words. All non-fiction styles are eligible, including life writing, literary studies, history, politics, anthropology and popular science. Entries must not be under conside
• Miles Franklin Literary Award
  The Award is for a published novel that presents Australian life in any of its phases. Biographies, collections of short stories and books for children are not eligible. The winner is announced in May/June. The novel must be published in the year pre
• FAW (WA) Tom Collins Poetry Prize
  The Tom Collins Poetry Prize is an annual open competition, held since the 1970s, and attracts entries from all over Australia. Maximum three entries per person.
• Crichton Award For Children's Book Illustration
  The entry must be the artist's first illustrated book for children, published by a trade publisher, where the illustrations form a significant part of the book's narrative or information content.
• Vision Australia's Dickinson Literary Award
  Competition for blind or vision-impaired writers. Entries must be submitted in Braille or print type and must be in English. Taped entries cannot be accepted. Categories include: Fiction and Non-Fiction (Adult, Young Adult and Youth)and Autobiography
• Children's Book Council of Australia Awards, The
  Categories include: Book of the Year for Older Readers; Book of the Year for Younger Readers; Book of the Year for Early Childhood; Picture Book of the Year. Awards judged on language, appropriate theme, quality of illustrations, interaction of text
• Australian Shadows Award
  Awarded annually for the best piece of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian (poetry, short story, anthology etc). Anyone can submit by sending details to the Director.
• Allwrite! Australian Festival for Young People
  The Allwrite! Festival is a part of the Come Out Festival and incorporates a range of performances and activities for the 3-18 age range. The Festival's aim is to encourage participation by young people, and present and explore the highest quality li
• Bundaberg WriteFest
  Workshops by industry professionals and authors. Third Saturday in May. Additional readers' festival on Sunday: 'Booked Festival of Authors' on Sunday.
• FAW (TAS) Henry Savery National Short Story Award
  A competition for writers resident in Australia. Open theme short story no longer than 2500 words. Stories must be original, unpublished and must not have won a monetary prize in any other competition. Contact competition organiser to confirm closing
• Tasmania Book Prize
  Suite of Prizes which recognize, promote and encourage the Tasmanian publishing industry. Please contact organisers or see website for details and to confirm closing date. Awarded in odd years.
• Julie Lewis Literary Award
  Competition has sections for short stories and poetry. Short stories should be up to 2,000 words. Poems should be up to 50 lines. Age and theme open. Multiple entries are allowed.
• GC O'Donnell Copyright Essay Prize
  The GC O'Donnell Copyright Essay Prize was established as a biennial competition in honour of Gus O'Donnell, author, founder of the Australian Copyright Council, and one of the fathers of copyright in Australia. A prize is awarded to the author of an