WRITING COMPETITIONS 2024
Listed below are upcoming Short Story competitions and other Writing competitions that you might like to enter. They are listed by submission closing date, not when the competition is open.
Please read any instructions and entry requirements on the competition/awards website.
If you would like your Short Story or Writing Competition to be listed, please email: competitions@writerstudio.com.au
JANUARY 2024
Romance Writers of Australia
The Romantic Book of the Year (RUBY) is our contest for published novels and novellas by Australian or New Zealand authors. It includes sections for Contemporary, Historical, Suspense, Speculative Fiction, Romantic Elements and Novella.
Romantic novels (40K+) and novellas (10K–40K) which were first published (in digital or print) between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. Limit of 3 entries per entrant.
Entry fee: $30 inc GST (RWAus members), $50 inc GST (Non-members)
Closing Date: Monday 15 January 2024, 5:00pm (AEDT)
Website: https://romanceaustralia.com/our-contests/
Calibre Essay Prize
Essays of all kinds: personal or political, literary or speculative, traditional or experimental.
Word limit: Between 2,000 and 5,000
Entry fee: $20 Current ABR subscribers
Standard/non-subscribers: $30
Prizes: Winner $10,000
Closing date: 22 January 2024
Website: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/calibre-prize/2024
black&write! Writing Fellowships 2024
Two Fellowships for unpublished manuscripts by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers currently living in Australia.
Two winners will each receive:
$15,000 prize money
Editorial development with the black&write! Indigenous editors.
A publication opportunity with Hachette Australia.
Closing Date: 22 January 2024, 11:59PM (AEST)
Geelong Regional Libraries & Deakin University Local Word Writing Prize
Submissions of up to 3000 words are welcome from emerging and established writers in prose fiction and creative nonfiction.
The winner of the prize will receive a cash prize of $2000 and a one-hour mentoring session with a Deakin University writing practitioner. Publication on GRLC’s website and announcement in GRLC’s e-newsletter
Commended writers will receive a cash prize of $250 and publication on GRLC’s website and announcement in GRLC’s e-newsletter
Closing Date: 27 January 2024
Website: https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/local-word-writers-prize
Story Unlikely’s Annual Short Story Contest
No restrictions on genre: fantasy, sci-fi, memoir, fiction/nonfiction.
Word limit: 4,500 words
Entry fee: free!
Prizes: Winner $750, Second place $500, Third place $250
Closing date: 31 January 2024
Website: https://www.storyunlikely.com/#contest
FEBRUARY 2024
The Tasmanian Writers’ Prize 2024
Short stories up to 3,000 words having an island, or island-resonant, theme.
Word limit: 3,000 words
Prizes: Winner $500
A selection of the best entries will be published in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2024.
Closing date: 14 February 2024
Website: https://www.fortysouth.com.au/tasmanian-writers-prize
Mulga Bill Writing Award 2024
Goldfields Libraries and Eaglehawk Festivals Inc. are calling for entries from writers all over Australia for the annual Mulga Bill Writing Award. Writers are encouraged to take inspiration from the theme ‘mystical waters’, and submit a poem (max. 25 lines) or short story (max. 2000 words).
Short story: $500 first prize, $150 second prize
Poetry: $200 first prize, $50 second prize
Entry fee: $5
Closing Date: 23 February, 2024
Website: https://www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au/mulgabillwritingaward
Stringybark Open Short Story Awards 2023
1500 words or fewer in length, have a link to Australia in it, and be written for an audience aged 16 and above.
Prizes: An award pool of over $1350 in cash and books
Closing Date: 25 February 2024, 11:59PM (AEST)
Website: https://www.stringybarkstories.net/competitions/open—open-short-story-awards.html
The Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition
The Margery Allingham Short Mystery Prize is for a single, previously unpublished short story of up to 3,500 words by an author aged 18 years or over on 1 January of the competition year.
The entry fee is £18
First Prize of £500
Closing Date: 29 February 2024
Website: https://thecwa.co.uk/awards-and-competitions/margery-allingham-short-mystery-competition-rules/
MARCH 2024
The SCWC 2024 Poetry Award 2024
The Award is open to submissions of poems up to 50 lines responding to the theme “gentle”, with four prizes to win totalling $1300.
All winning entries will be published in the South Coast Writers Centre’s 2024 Anthology.
The submission fee per poem is $15/$10 for SCWC members.
Closing Date: 5 March 2023
Website: https://southcoastwriters.org/scwc-poetry-award-2024
Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize 2024
Williamstown Literary Festival Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize 2024
Type: Poems may be on any topic.
Word limit: Poems may be in any form, up to 30 lines in length.
Prizes: First Prize $500
Entry fee: $15, maximum of 2 poems.
Open to all writers aged 18+ residing in Victoria, Australia.
Closing date: 8 March 2024 at midnight
Website: https://www.willylitfest.org.au/home/writing-prizes/ada-cambridge-writing-prizes/
Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition
The theme for 2024 is ‘Don’t Look Up’.
Adults: $10 per entry Youth: Free
YOUTH: Max 500 words, one entry only (Australian residents) ADULT: Max 1,200, unlimited entries (WA residents only)
Closing Date: 13 March 2024
Website: https://www.kspwriterscentre.com/spooky-story-competition
Peter Carey Short Story Awards 2024
Submissions open 29 January. The award is for short stories between 2000 – 3000 words and is open to all Australian residents.
Prizes:
Winning entry receives $2000
Runner-up wins $1000.
First and second prized stories will also be published in the Spring 2024 edition of Meanjin.
Entry fee is $15 per story
Closing Date: 14 March 2024, 6:00PM (AEDT)
The Hope Prize Prize 2024
International short story prize that seeks submissions on the themes of hope, courage and resilience.
Word limit: Submissions are to be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Prizes: With a $10,000 AUD first prize and all highly commended submissions published in a Simon & Schuster Australia anthology book. All royalties from the book will support the incredible work of Beyond Blue.
Entry fee: $22 per submission.
Closing date: 22 March 2024
Website: https://www.thehopeprize.com/
Minds Shine Bright Writing Competition 2024
Each entry must be original, unpublished fiction or poetry written by the submitting author and include the theme of Light and Shadow in some way.
Entry Fee: $5
Word limits: Up to 2,500 words per entry
Prizes: Combined $1500 plus shortlisted entries will be published in the second Minds Shine Bright Seasons series anthology Light and Shadow.
Closing Date: 31 March 2024
Website: https://mindsshinebright.com/
Northern Beaches Writers’ Group Competition
Stories up to 2,500 words that are inspired by the theme of ‘GLASS’, along with at least one copyright-free image that reflects and enhances that story.
Stories can be non-fiction, fiction, or fiction inspired by true events. All genres and styles welcome.
Entry fee: $15. Multiple entries welcome.
Prizes: First place ($250 + online publication), Second place ($100 + online publication).
Closing Date: 31 March 2024 5:00PM (AEDT)
Website: http://northernbeacheswritersgroup.com/northern-beaches-writers-competition/
Screencraft True Story & Public Domain Screenplay Competition
This competition focuses on true stories, biographies and works in the public domain (published before 1928). Accepting TV and Feature Scripts!
Grand Prize: $1000 cash, Accepted into the ScreenCraft Writer Development Program, personal industry introductions, Exclusive Finalist only workshop.
Website: https://screencraft.org/screenwriting-contests/
The Plaza Flash Fiction Prize
Word Limit: 1000 words max.
Entry Fee: Writers can enter any number of times. (£11.00 Subsequent entry: £5.50)
First Prize: £1000
Second Prize: £300
Third Place: £100
Top 10: The 10 shortlisted entries will be published in The Plaza Prizes Anthology 2, which will be launched at their awards ceremony in 2024.
Website: https://theplazaprizes.com/competition/the-plaza-flash-fiction-prize-1000-words/
500Flash Flash Fiction Competition
Word Limit: 500 words max.
Entry Fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories, £11 for three stories, £14 for four stories
First Prize: £300
Second Prize: £200
Third Place: £100
Website: https://flash500.com/flash-fiction/
APRIL 2024
Griffith Review Emerging Voices Competition 2024
Calling all emerging writers: Griffith Review is looking for submissions of fiction and creative non-fiction. You can write to any theme you like – but they are looking for new ideas, fresh voices and bold perspectives – work that commands our attention.
Word Limit: 3,500 to 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $25 for non-subscribers and $15 for current subscribers. The entry fee entitles you to a complimentary digital subscription to Griffith Review valid for six months.
Prizes: The winners will share a prize pool of $20,000, and their work will be published in Griffith Review.
Desperate Literature Prize for Short Fiction
The aim of the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing.
Entry Fee: €20 for the first piece of short fiction and €10 for every further entry with a maximum of five entries per person.
Grand Prize: €2000, A week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Consultation with a UK literary agent, A long-form manuscript assessment
2 x Runner-Up Prizes (multiple): €1000
2024 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
Accepts original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English.
Entry fee: $20 Current ABR subscribers
Standard/non-subscribers: $30 (Also includes digital access to ABR free of charge for four months)
First prize: $6,000
Second prize: $4,000
Third prize: $2,500
Closing date: 22 April 2024
Website: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/elizabeth-jolley-story-prize/current-prize
The Plaza Short Story Prize
Word Limit: 5000 words max.
Entry Fee: Writers can enter any number of times. (£15.00. Subsequent entry: £7.50)
First Prize: £1000
Second Prize: £300
Third Place: £100
Top 10: The 10 shortlisted entries will be published in The Plaza Prizes Anthology 2, which will be launched at their awards ceremony in 2024.
Website: https://theplazaprizes.com/competition/the-plaza-short-story-prize-5000-words/
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction
Prizes: 2-4 Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. 10-20 writers Shortlisted. All entries are considered for publication and for submission to the Pushcart.
Entry Fee: $0 USD.
Word Length: 0 – 5000 words.
Details: Open to anyone in the world. There are no genre or theme restrictions. Judges feedback available. Judged blind.
The Letter Review Prize for Poetry
Prizes: 2-4 Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. 10-20 writers Shortlisted. All entries are considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart.
Entry Fee: $0 USD.
Length: 70 lines
Details: Open to anyone in the world. There are no style or subject restrictions. Judges’ Feedback available. Judged blind.
The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books
Prizes: 2-4 Winners are announced who share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Winners may choose to have an extract published, and receive a letter of recommendation from our Judges. 10-20 writers are Shortlisted.
Entry Fee: $0 USD.
Words: Please submit the first 5000 words of your prose manuscript, or 15 pages of poetry.
Details: Open to anyone in the world. The entry must not have been traditionally published. We are seeking all varieties of novels, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections. We will accept manuscripts that are unpublished, self published, and some which are indie published. Review full entry guidelines for further details. Feedback available. Judged blind.
The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction
Prizes: 2-4 Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. 10-20 writers Shortlisted. All entries are considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart.
Entry Fee: $2 USD.
Words: 0 – 5000 words.
Details: Open to anyone in the world. We welcome most forms of Nonfiction including: Memoir, journalism, essay (including personal essay), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel, nature, opinion, and many other permutations. Judges’ Feedback available. Judged blind.
This is your opportunity to write a short story using imagination, and creativity and with a wide interpretation, of any geographical concept set in Queensland.
First Place: $300 and publication in the RGSQ Bulletin and on the RGSQ website
Second Place: $150
Third Place: 1 year membership to the Queensland Writers Centre
Entry Fee: $10 per entry
Word Length: Short fiction up to 500 words.
Details: Multiple entries can be made in one or both categories (if eligible).
F(r)iction is a triannual publication that boasts work from both industry legends and emerging writers. Each issue is carefully curated to evaluate an important cultural topic from vastly different perspectives.
Short Story
Word Limit: 1,001 – 7,500 words
Prize: $1000 and will be considered for publication in F(r)iction, our triannual print collection or through our online blog F(r)iction Log. Up to five finalists will be considered for publication too.
Entry Fee: $15
Flash Fiction
Word Limit: up to 1,000 words per piece
Prize: $300 and will be considered for publication in F(r)iction, our triannual print collection or through our online blog F(r)iction Log. Up to five finalists will be considered for publication too.
Entry Fee: $10 (single), $12 (3 pack)
Poetry
Word Limit: up the three pages per poem
Prize: $300 and will be considered for publication in F(r)iction, our triannual print collection or through our online blog F(r)iction Log. Up to five finalists will be considered for publication too.
Entry Fee: $10 (single), $12 (3 pack)
Creative Nonfiction
Word Limit: up to 6,500 words
Prize: $500 and will be considered for publication in F(r)iction, our triannual print collection or through our online blog F(r)iction Log. Up to five finalists will be considered for publication too.
Entry Fee: $15
Website: https://frictionlit.org/contests/
Short stories of up to 2,000 words on an open theme.
The competition is open to all women writers within Australia and SWWV members worldwide.
Prizes:
1st $300
2nd $150
3rd $75
Winning stories will be published in the Society’s anthology, Sparx. Copyright remains with the author.
Entry Fees: For SWW Victoria members: 1 story $10.00 or 3 stories $20.00 / For non-members: 1 story $15.00 or 3 stories $30.00
MAY 2024
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction.
Word Limit: 6,000 words max.
Entry Fee: $22 USD
STORY Prize: First Prize $3500 + Duotrope voucher
ESSAY Prize: First Prize: $3500 + Duotrope voucher
Bondi Screenplay competition invites diverse voices from all over the world to share their unique story with us. In return, we wish to focus on and celebrate where all good stories start…with the writer.
Entrants must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
Submissions must be no longer than 130 pages in length.
Grand Prize:
The winner will get their script turned into a professional Audible production. Keep it to yourself as a table read or publish it to Amazon Audible & Spotify for others to enjoy. This prize is valued at $1400 USD
Best Feature Screenplay
The Bondi Wave D’ore Prize Package:
-The official Bondi Wave D’ore Laurels.
-10 Pitches on VPF.
-Your choice of any available Academy award-winning (or nominated) signed script from our shop.
Best TV Pilot:
The Bondi FrothPrize Package:
-The official Bondi Froth Laurels.
-10 Pitches on VPF.
-Your choice of any available Academy award-winning (or nominated) signed script from our shop.
Best Short Screenplay:
The SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) Prize Package:
-The official Bondi SUP Laurels.
-5 Pitches on VPF.
-Your choice of any available Academy award-winning (or nominated) signed script from our shop – after the best TV pilot and Best Feature winners have made their selection.
All Entrants
-15% off any script in the shop.
Thanks to our official sponsor every entrant will receive 1 VPF pitch.
Write a poem on the theme: reading
Any style of poem
Up to a maximum of 35 lines, not including the title
There is a $5 entry fee for each entry, you can enter up to three poems in one submission. Entry fees will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, minus processing fees.
1st prize: $250
2nd prize: $100
3rd prize: $50
Commended: 5 awards of $20
The competition will culminate in the creation of an anthology that captures the diverse voices and experiences of grief and loss. Additionally, a public event will be hosted in the Hunter region and streamed online, providing a platform for participants to share their work and engage with the community.Open to Australian citizens or residents 18 years or older.
The following guidelines are offered for submission (there are other visual mediums accepted):
Prose: The word limit for prose submission is 500 words.
Poetry: The line limit for poetry is 36 lines.
Miki was a phenomenal writer who was sadly never published in her lifetime. Her surviving brother, Paul Gallasch—with the support of her friends and the community that surrounded her—has set up this prize in her honour, to discover and foster writers like Miki, who might otherwise not be given the recognition they deserve.
Open to all South Australian residents.
Free Entry.
Word Count: 5000max
Prize money: $2083 for the winner, and a bottle of Jameson behind the bar, with your name on it, for the runners up.
Website: https://www.ernmalley.com.au/miki-prize
Boroondara Literary Awards Open Short Story Competition 2024
Open to all Victorian residents. One entry per person.
Length: Between 1,500-3,000 words
First Prize: $1,500
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $500
Keith Carroll Award $500 and a commemorative pen to the best entrant by a Boroondara resident.
Highly commended: Up to 3 vouchers, $50 each
JULY 2024
Vine Leaves Press: The 2025 International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition
They welcome submissions from marginalized voices.
Word Limit: If the manuscript is narrative in nature (i.e. a memoir) then the length should be between 50,000 – 80,000 words.
If the manuscript is experimental in nature (i.e. not straight prose, could be vignettes, poetry, or a mix), it should be at least 100 pages long.
Entry Fee: $25 per entry (multiple entries accepted)
Prizes:
The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000 + Publication of the winning manuscript will occur in 2026 by Vine Leaves Press.
Runners up will also be considered for publication.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Story Unlikely’s Magazine Submission
Submissions to their monthly magazine are currently open through September 29th. 
The submission period runs from February 2nd through September 29th
No restrictions on genre (seeking all types of stories; fiction and creative nonfiction)
10k word limit (15k for Members)
8 cents a word, reprints are 1 cent a word (we cap payment at $200, or $400 for Members)
All published stories are illustrated
No submission fee
