Writing Competitions
I've put together this list of competitions to help motivate/inspire myself and others to write. Some of these cost money to enter or have age and other restrictions, so please do look at their T&Cs. I do not run any of these competitions. They are in order of closing date.
To see my past entries, head here (I can only add them once the competition is over).
Are you running an Australian writing competition or do you know of one not listed? Let me know!
To see my past entries, head here (I can only add them once the competition is over).
Are you running an Australian writing competition or do you know of one not listed? Let me know!
2015
March
The Sheila Malady Short Story Competition
Closing date: 21st March
April
Bayside Writing Competition - Short Story
Closing date: 24th April
Bayside Writing Competition - Poem
Closing date: 24th April
May
Dangerously Poetic
Closing date: 15th May
Australian Love Letters
Closing date: 29th May
HBCA Open Writing Competition (.pdf)
Closing date: 29th May
Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize
Closing date: 29th May
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Patron's Prize for Poets
Closing date: 29th May
The Novella Project III
Closing date: 29th May
Vice-Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize
Closing date: 29th May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (Qld) Flash Fiction competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Memoir Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Pauline Walsh Award for Short Short Story
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Poetry Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Australian Horror Writers Association Flash Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Australian Horror Writers Association Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31st May
The Australian/Vogel's Literary Award
Closing date: 31st May
The Best of Times Short Story Competition #19
Closing date: 31st May
June
Lyndall Hadow/Donald Stuart Short Story Competition
Closing date: 1st June
Grieve Writing Competition
Closing date: 1st June
Shoalhaven Literary Award
Closing date: 12th June
S.D. Harvey Short Story Award
Closing date: 15th June
The Affirm Press Mentorship Award
Closing date: 15th June
ACU Prize for Poetry
Closing date: 16th June
Newcastle Poetry Prize
Closing date: 19th June
Poetic Licence
Closing date: 30th June
Polestar Literary Prize
Closing date: 30th June
Metamorphose Literary Journal
Closing date: 30th June
Henry Savery National Short Story Award
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Poetry Competition
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Short Story Competition
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Non Fiction Competition
Closing date: 30th June
July
Questions Writing Prize
Closing date: 1st July
Per Capita Young Writers
Closing date: 10th July
SLQ Young Writers Award
Closing date: 17th July
Launceston, Tasmania Literary Award (.pdf)
Closing date: 19th July
Yarram Community Learning Centre Annual Literary Competition
Closing date: 20th July
The Post Office Hotel Bronze Spur Award 2015
Closing date: 20th July
Ipswich Poetry Feast
Closing date: 24th July
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Trudy Graham/Julie Lewis Literary Award for Prose
Closing date: 31st July
Elyne Mitchell Writing Award (.pdf)
Closing date: 31st July
August
Umoja Orphanage Writing Competition
Closing date: 6th August
The New Guard Contest
Closing date: 20th August
New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing
Closing date: 24th August
Boroondara Literary Award
Closing date: 28th August
Cowley Literary Award
Closing date: 31st August
Mona Brand Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31 August
Toowoomba Writers' Festival Literary Prize
Closing date: 31 August
The Carmel Bird Award
Closing date: 31 August
September
Marjorie Barnard Award
Closing date: 25th September
October
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Glen Phillips' Poetry Prize
Closing date: 2nd October
TBA
2015 QLD Literary Awards
2016
TBA
Calibre Writing Award
March
The Sheila Malady Short Story Competition
Closing date: 21st March
April
Bayside Writing Competition - Short Story
Closing date: 24th April
Bayside Writing Competition - Poem
Closing date: 24th April
May
Dangerously Poetic
Closing date: 15th May
Australian Love Letters
Closing date: 29th May
HBCA Open Writing Competition (.pdf)
Closing date: 29th May
Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize
Closing date: 29th May
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Patron's Prize for Poets
Closing date: 29th May
The Novella Project III
Closing date: 29th May
Vice-Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize
Closing date: 29th May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (Qld) Flash Fiction competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Memoir Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Pauline Walsh Award for Short Short Story
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Fellowship of Australian Writers (NSW) Poetry Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Australian Horror Writers Association Flash Competition
Closing date: 31st May
Australian Horror Writers Association Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31st May
The Australian/Vogel's Literary Award
Closing date: 31st May
The Best of Times Short Story Competition #19
Closing date: 31st May
June
Lyndall Hadow/Donald Stuart Short Story Competition
Closing date: 1st June
Grieve Writing Competition
Closing date: 1st June
Shoalhaven Literary Award
Closing date: 12th June
S.D. Harvey Short Story Award
Closing date: 15th June
The Affirm Press Mentorship Award
Closing date: 15th June
ACU Prize for Poetry
Closing date: 16th June
Newcastle Poetry Prize
Closing date: 19th June
Poetic Licence
Closing date: 30th June
Polestar Literary Prize
Closing date: 30th June
Metamorphose Literary Journal
Closing date: 30th June
Henry Savery National Short Story Award
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Poetry Competition
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Short Story Competition
Closing date: 30th June
Society of Women Writers NSW Inc 90th Anniversary National Non Fiction Competition
Closing date: 30th June
July
Questions Writing Prize
Closing date: 1st July
Per Capita Young Writers
Closing date: 10th July
SLQ Young Writers Award
Closing date: 17th July
Launceston, Tasmania Literary Award (.pdf)
Closing date: 19th July
Yarram Community Learning Centre Annual Literary Competition
Closing date: 20th July
The Post Office Hotel Bronze Spur Award 2015
Closing date: 20th July
Ipswich Poetry Feast
Closing date: 24th July
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Trudy Graham/Julie Lewis Literary Award for Prose
Closing date: 31st July
Elyne Mitchell Writing Award (.pdf)
Closing date: 31st July
August
Umoja Orphanage Writing Competition
Closing date: 6th August
The New Guard Contest
Closing date: 20th August
New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing
Closing date: 24th August
Boroondara Literary Award
Closing date: 28th August
Cowley Literary Award
Closing date: 31st August
Mona Brand Short Story Competition
Closing date: 31 August
Toowoomba Writers' Festival Literary Prize
Closing date: 31 August
The Carmel Bird Award
Closing date: 31 August
September
Marjorie Barnard Award
Closing date: 25th September
October
Peter Cowan Writers Centre Glen Phillips' Poetry Prize
Closing date: 2nd October
TBA
2015 QLD Literary Awards
2016
TBA
Calibre Writing Award