WRITING COMPETITIONS 2022
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.
JANUARY 2022
Shirley Jackson Awards
The Shirley Jackson Awards, Inc. has been established for outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic.
Closing Date: 31 January 2022
Website: https://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/rules/
Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize
Supported by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, the prize seeks excellent short fiction of up to 3000 words themed around the notion of ‘travel’; imaginative, creative and literary interpretations are strongly encouraged.
Open to all writers, nationally and internationally, at any stage of their writing career.
The winning story will receive a $5000 first prize and be published in Overland’s Autumn 2022 issue. Two runners-up will each receive $750 and be published at Overland online in 2022.
Entry fee: $12 for subscribers and $20 for non-subscribers.
Deadline: 7 January 2022
Website: https://overland.org.au/prizes/overland-neilma-sidney-short-story-prize/
Australian Book Review – Calibre Essay Prize
Entries are currently open for the 2022 Calibre Essay Prize, worth $7,500. Essays between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject and of all kinds: personal or political, literary or speculative, traditional or experimental.
Open worldwide to all essayists writing in English.
Deadline: 17 January 2022
Website: https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/calibre-prize/2022
Romance Writers Of Australia
3 x Romance Writer Competitions:
The Ruby, is a premier award. Judged by Australian readers and writers, this contest is open each year to any Australian or New Zealand author who has published a romance or romantic elements book.
The Spicy Bites contest (also open to published authors) is for erotic romantic short stories up to 5000 words and offers finalists the chance to have their story published in an RWA anthology.
The Sweet Treats contest (also open to published authors) is for sweet romantic short stories up to 3000 words and offers finalists the chance to have their story published in an RWA anthology.
Deadlines:
The Ruby Awards: 17 January 2022
Spicy Bites: 24 January 2022
Sweet Treats: 24 January 2022
Website: https://romanceaustralia.com/contests-overview/
FEBRUARY 2022
Mind Shine Bright
Writing Competition is now open and calling for entries. The theme of Minds Shine Bright’s first annual competition is confidence. The competition is open to all writers of fiction and includes the following categories and word limits:
Short stories: 5000 words/Flash Fiction: 1000 words /Poetry: 240 lines/Scripts: 90 pages
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes: $1000 overall winner, $500 for category winners, $100 commendations. Winners will be published in an anthology in mid-2022.
Closing Date: 28 February 2022
Website: https://mindsshinebright.com/
Tasmanian Writers Prize 2022
The Tasmanian Writers prize is for short stories up to 3,000 words having an island, or island-resonant, theme.
The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $500.
A selection of the best entries will be published in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2022.
Closing Date: 14 February 2022
Website: https://www.fortysouth.com.au/tasmanian-writers-prize
Heroines Anthology & 2022 Heroines /Joyce Parkes Women’s Writing Prize 2022
The 2022 Heroines Anthology is now open for submissions of short fiction and poetry. The Heroines Anthology is a collection of stories about women written by women.
The Heroines/Joyce Parkes Women’s Writing Prize is awarded to one piece of short fiction and one piece of poetry that is published as part of the Anthology. In 2022, the 1st prize for Short Fiction is $1000 & 1st prize for Poetry is $1000. Entry Fee: $15
Closing Date: 28 February 2022
Website: https://www.theneoperennialpress.com/heroinesanthologyprize2022
MARCH 2022
Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition
The theme for 2022 is ‘Best Friend’. Adults: $10 per entry Youth: Free
YOUTH: Max 500 words, one entry only (Australian residents) ADULT: Max 1,200, unlimited entries (WA residents only)
Deadline: 24 March 2022
Website: https://www.kspwriterscentre.com/spooky-story-competition
Peter Carey Short Story Awards 2022
Moorabool Shire Libraries, Peter Carey Short Story award is for short stories between 2000 – 3000 words and is open to all Australian residents.
The winning entry receives $2000, while the runner-up wins $1000. First and second prized stories will be published in the Spring 2022 issue of Meanjin. Both stories will receive Meanjin’s standard contributor fee for their work.
Entry Fee $15
Deadline: 17 March 2022
Griffith Review Emerging Voices Competition
Open to: Australian and New Zealand emerging authors (unpublished or only one book published)
Theme: None
Accepts: Fiction and Creative non-fiction
Size: 3,500 – 5,000 words
Entry Fee: $25, Griffith Review subscribers = $15
Prizes: Pool of $25,000
https://griffithreview.submittable.com/submit
Tales from the Pandemic: Short Story Competition
Eastern Regional Libraries (Victoria) are calling for short pieces of fiction or non-fiction writing up to 3000 words. A selection of entries will be professionally published in an anthology by IngramSpark.
Prizes: First prize $3,000, Second prize $1,000, Third prize $500, Local prize $1,000
Deadline: 22 March 2022
Website: https://www.yourlibrary.com.au/shortstorycomp/
Northern Beaches Writers’ Competition
Stories up to 2,500 words that are inspired by the theme of ‘tree’, 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 also welcome.
Prizes: First place ($100 + publication), Second place ($50 + optional publication).
Deadline: 31 March 2022
Website: http://northernbeacheswritersgroup.com/northern-beaches-writers-competition/
Ned Kelly Crime Awards 2022
Categories: Best Crime Fiction/Best Debut Crime Fiction/Best True Crime Books
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Publishing period: Eligible books must be the first edition of the work, published within the specified dates of the judging period – from March 1 of the preceding year (eg 1 March, 2021) to the last day of February in the award year (eg. 28 February, 2022).
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An entry fee of $50 applies to the submission of each title.
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Each title must be entered via a separate form.
Deadline: 31 March 2022
Website: https://www.austcrimewriters.com/2022-ned-kelly-awards
APRIL 2022
Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes
Submissions for the 2022 Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes are now open.
Open to: Victorian residents 18 years and over
Prize: First: $500
Theme: Biographical
Short Story – 1,000 – 3,000 words
Entry Fee: $15
Closing Date: 8 April
The Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund
In partnership with the Myer Foundation, the Travel Fund supports emerging, midcareer, and established Australian writers and literary sector workers in pursuing professional development opportunities.
Applicants can apply for grants between $2,000 and $10,000.
Closing date: 14 April
Website: https://writersvictoria.org.au/the-neilma-sidney-literary-travel-fund/
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2022
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.
1) Short fiction, any subject, no set theme, 2,000 word maximum
2) No previous publication of the entry, English language, anonymous submission (don’t write your name on the first page, please!)
Entry Fee: 20€ for first entry, €10 for further entries, sponsorships available
First Prize: €1500
– A week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation
– A consultation with a Literary Agent Charlotte Seymour from Johnson & Alcock
– A manuscript assessment and follow-up meeting with a literary editor from The Literary Consultancy
Runner-up Prizes: €750 (two prizes available)
Closing Date: 15 April
Website: https://desperateliterature.com/prize/
Furphy Story Literary Awards – Open Short Story Competition
Theme: Australian Life in all its diversity
Length: Not more than 5,000 words
Reward: Prize Money: 1st Prize – $15,000, 2nd Prize – $3,000, 3rd Prize – $2,000
LaTrobe University Shepparton Residency*, Publication of selected works in annual publication
Closing date: 30 April 2022
Website: https://www.furphystory.com.au/furphy-literary-award/open-short-story-competition/
The John Gavin Competition
1) John Gavin Ballad competition, 500 word limit.
2) John Gavin Flash Fiction competition, 750 word limit.
Theme: The Life and Times of John Gavin Prizes: 1st prize $200, 2nd prize $100
Entry fee: $10 per entry
Closing Date: Extended to 30 April
Website: https://www.fremantleroundhouse.com.au/
CYA Conference (US)
Accepts: Aspiring Writer and unpublished in book format in adult genre (see website for full requirements)
Size: First 5,000 words and 600 word synopsis
Entry Fee: $23.10
Prizes: First: 15-minute video consultation with final judge, Second: $60, Third: $40, Submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of adult books
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Accepts: Published Writer (see website for full requirements)
Size: First 12,500 words and 600 word synopsis
Entry Fee: $42.90
Prizes: First: 15-minute video consultation with final judge, Submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of adult books
Closing Date: 3 April
Website: https://www.cyaconference.com/adult-genre-competition
Newcastle Short Story Award
2,000 words Entry Fee: $16.50
Prize: First: $2,000, Second: $1,000, Third: $700, 2 x Highly Commended: Value $250 to $500, 3 x Commended: Value $200 3 x Hunter Region Writers Awards: Value $100 to $250
Closing Date: 25 April
Website: https://hunterwriterscentre.org/newcastle-short-story-award-2022/
Silver Tree Short Story Competition
Under the Silver Tree Cooperative Bookshop Short Story Competition.
Short story of no more than 2000 words inspired by Rebecca West’s quote:
“The world is round and what might seem like the end may also be only the beginning.”
Entry Fee: $10 for per entry. Entrants may submit more than one entry.
First Prize: $1,000 Highly Commended: $100 each
Deadline: 30 April 2022
Website: https://www.underthesilvertree.com/writers-competition
State Library of Queensland – Development Awards and Prizes
Fellowships, & development awards are on offer including the David Unaipon Award and Glendower Award for unpublished manuscripts, and opportunities for Queensland writers only – three Queensland Writers Fellowships and two Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Awards.
- 3 x Queensland Writers Fellowships – $19,500 each
- David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer – $15,000
- Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer – $15,000
- 2 x Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Awards – $12,500 each
There is no fee to apply to development awards.
Closing Date: 29 April
Website: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/queensland-literary-awards
MAY 2022
2022 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
Entries are currently open for the 2022 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. The Jolley Prize is worth a total of AU$12,500 – first place will receive $6,000, second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $2,500.
The Jolley Prize is open to all short story writers writing in English.
We seek original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
Length: 2,000 to 5,000 words
Closing Date: 2 May
Westwords/Ultimo Prize 2022
The Prize welcomes submissions from emerging writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction with a completed, previously unpublished manuscript who have a connection to Western Sydney. This connection can be through their personal connection, their manuscripts or the subject matter they deal with and its relevance to the issues and concerns of this dynamic region.
The Prize is open to both published and unpublished emerging writers.
The manuscript must be a complete work of fiction or narrative non-fiction, between 60,000 and 90,000 words, aimed at an adult readership.
The winner will receive $5,000 in prize money, a week at Varuna, The National Writers’ House and a publication deal with Ultimo Press.
Entry is free.
Closing Date: 16 May
Website: https://www.westwords.com.au/projects/westwords-ultimo-prize/
Neonovel Time Travelers Contest
Authors, submit your story – Readers, vote for your favourites
Win up to €2,000
The theme of this contest is “Time travel”. We chose this theme because it’s broad enough to include all genres and fuel your creativity.
To respect the theme of the contest, the main character or characters of your entry must go through a change of temporality and must have a significant impact on the plot. This change must occur in the story before the end of the fourth chapter and must be mentioned in your book description.
Closing Date: 25 May
Website: https://neovel.io/contest/time-travelers-contest?tab=2
The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award
Prize money of $20,000 plus publication by Allen & Unwin with an advance against royalties
- Entrants must be aged under 35 years of age on 31 May 2022 (that is born after 31 May 1987).
- Entrants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.
- The manuscript submitted with the entry form should be a work of fiction, Australian history or biography.
- It must be a minimum length of 50,000 words and a maximum of 80,000 words.
- The manuscript must be an original work, entirely by the entrant and it must be written in English.
Entry fee of $25 is applicable to each manuscript entered.
Closing Date: 31 May 2022
Website: https://www.allenandunwin.com/being-a-writer/the-australian-vogel-s-literary-award
Screencraft
US Screenwriting Competitions
Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Closing Date: 31 May
Website: https://screencraft.org/screenwriting-contests/
JUNE 2022
RD Walshe Memorial Writing for the Environment Competition 2022
The Sutherland Shire Environment Centre Annual Writing Prize. An original piece of fictional prose no more than 800 words based on the theme of ‘peace and sustainability’.
Theme: Peace and sustainability
Word limit: 800 words
Prize: In the three categories (Up to 18 years; 19-25 years; over 65): First prize – $500; runner-up – $100
Deadline: 17 June 2022
Website: https://www.ssec.org.au/grants-and-awards/rd-walshe-memorial-writing-for-the-environment-prize/
2022 Historical Novel Prize
The ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest genre-based literary award in Australasia.
It incorporates both an Adult category and a Children and Young Adult (CYA) category.
$100,000 in prizes
Closing Date: 15 June
Website: https://hnsa.org.au/the-2022-ara-historical-novel-prize/
Newcastle Poetry Prize 2022
The line limit is 200 maximum. There is no minimum.
1st Prize: $15,000 2nd Prize: $5,000 3rd Prize: $1,000
Closing Date: 27 June
Website: https://hunterwriterscentre.org/newcastle-poetry-prize-2022/
North Street Book Prize
A Self-published book can win up to $8,000 plus marketing services.
One grand prize winner will receive $8,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value)
The top winner in each category will receive $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $175 value)
One honorable mention in each category will receive $250
We will publish online excerpts from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges.
Entry Fee: $70 per book
Closing Date: 30 June
Website: https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize
The Northern Beaches Readers Festival – Short Story Competition 2022
Stories up to 1500 words – the theme is ‘Fire and Water’.
$500 for the winning entry
Entry is $10
(The competition will be independently judged by the Writer’s Studio’s Senior tutor and editor Kelly Rigby.)
Closing Date: 30 June
Website: https://www.nbrf.com.au/shortstory
The Society of Women Writers NSW – National Writing Competition 2022
Open to women writers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, aged 18 years or over, members and non-members.
Short Story – Fiction – Winner – $500 Highly Commended – $250 Commended – $100
Short Story – Non-Fiction – Winner – $500 Highly Commended – $250 Commended – $100
Poetry: Winner – $300 Highly Commended – $200 Commended – $100
Entry Fees: Short Story Members: $30/Non-members: $40
Poetry: Members: $15 per poem or $40 for three/Non-members: $20 per poem
Closing date: 30 June
Website: https://womenwritersnsw.org/news/national-writing-competition-2021-153-154
The Moth Short Story Prize 2022
The Prize is open to anyone (over 16), as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.
Word limit of 4,000
Prize € 3000
Entry fee is €15 per story
Closing Date: 30 June
Website: https://www.themothmagazine.com/a1-page.asp?ID=8227&page=23
Rose Frankcombe Short Story Competition 2022
Theme: Joy
Word count: Up to 1500 words.
Entry fee: $10 for up to two entries
Closing date: 30 June 2022
Website: http://www.swwtas.org/249437482
City of Melbourne’s – Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Awards 2022
Open to writers living in Victoria only
The Dorothy Porter Award for Poetry (up to 100 lines)
Narrative Non-fiction (no more than 5000 words)
Short Story Set in Melbourne (no more than 5000 words)
Life Writing Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writers (no more than 5000 words)
Self-told Stories by Writers Living with a Disability (no more than 5000 words).
Winning entries will receive a $2000 category prize. The overall winner of the Lord Mayor’s Creative Writing Award will win an additional $10,000.
Closing Date: 30 June
JULY 2022
ACU Poetry Prize
Open to those enrolled at any Australian University
Poems must not exceed 60 lines
Entry fee is $25 per poem
First prize: $10,000 Second prize: $5,000 Third prize: $3,000
Closing Date: 4 July
Website: https://www.acu.edu.au/faith-and-values/office-of-the-vice-president/acu-prize-for-poetry
The 2022 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers
Entries are open to unpublished writers of adult fiction and adult narrative non-fiction.
Prize: Winning Entry: $10,000 and a 12-month mentorship with Hachette Australia
•The first three chapters of the work with a maximum word length of 20,000 words;
•A one-page synopsis;
•A chapter breakdown of the rest of the work, no more than two A4 pages long;
Closing Date: 8 July 2022
Website: https://emergingwritersfestival.org.au/the-richell-prize-for-emerging-writers/
Boroondara Literary Awards
Open Short Story Competition
Word length between 1,500 and 3,000 words
First place: $1500/ Second place: $1000/ Third place: $500
(The Keith Carroll Award of $500 is given to the best entry from a Boroondara resident.)
Closing Date: 29 July
Website: https://boroondara-guhqp.formstack.com/forms/open2022
Port Writers Open Writing Competition
3 Categories:
Fiction (up to 2500 words)
Non-Fiction (up to 2500 words),
Poetry (up to 32 lines).
Prizes for each Category: 1st $200, 2nd $50, Highly Commended Certificate.
Hastings Award – one prize over all categories (for local writers in the Port Macquarie-Hastings geographic area) $100
Entry: $10 per entry (limit of 3 entries per category)
Closing Date: 31 July
Website: http://portwriters.com.au/2022open
AUGUST 2022
The 2022 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition
First prize $250 + Hawkeye Publishing Gift Voucher + anthology cover based on the winner’s story.
Short-Listed & Long-Listed announced, plus Top 40 published in an anthology
Maximum 1,000 words
Theme: Water Under the Bridge
$15 entry
Closing Date: 1 August
