WRITING COMPETITIONS
Hello writers!
Whether established or emerging, young or old, published or yet-to-be-published, we want to encourage you in your writing forays. One of the best ways to forge a way forward with your writing craft is to get it out there in the world. Easier said than done? Well, here is something to motivate you: a list of upcoming writing competitions for Australians. We encourage you to choose one, and get writing!
SKIP TO A MONTH
MELBOURNE POETS UNION INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
up to 50 lines of poetry
19/1/2025
$1,700 first prize
CALIBRE ESSAY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Non-fiction essay, 2,000-5,000 words length
28/1/2025
$10,000 prize pool
THE LOUIE AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Open to members of the Australian Crime Writers Association, on the topic:
the photograph
30/1/2025
$500
SISTERS IN CRIME DAVITT AWARDS
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For the best Aussie women's crime & mystery books
31/1/2025
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THE TASMANIAN WRITERS PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Aus and NZ writers on an island resonant theme
14/2/2025
$500 first prize
SORRENTO CREATIVE WRITING PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Aus and NZ writers who haven't been commercially published
1/3/2025
$5,000 first prize
SCWC POETRY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian residents aged 18+
2/3/2025
$1,000 first prize
JENNIFER BURBIDGE SHORT STORY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
On the theme of disability in the Australian setting
7/3/2025
$500 first prize
PETER CAREY SHORT STORY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian residents aged 18+, 2000-3000 words
13/3/2025
$2000 first prize
AALS CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Poetry and creative prose categories, also indigenous writers categories.
31/3/2025
$1000 first prize
CALANTHE COLLECTIVE PRIZE FOR UNPUBLISHED POETRY
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Under-18 and open sections
31/3/2025
$1000 first prize
FAW TASMANIA NAIRDA LYNE AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Up to 1,000 words on a theme suitable for children aged 8-12 years
31/3/2025
$100 first prize
ELIZABETH JOLLEY SHORT STORY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
2,000-5,000 words
5/5/2025
$12,500 prize pool
DANGER AWARDS
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Crime novels published
Jan-Dec, 2024
16/5/2025
$1000 each winner
AUSTRALIAN FICTION PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For a book-length work of fiction
30/5/2025
$20,000 plus publication with Harper Collins
THE SPIERS PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For unpublished middle-grade or young adult fiction
31/5/2025
$5,000 plus publication with UWA Publishing
ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Historical fiction
11/6/25
$150,000 prize pool
MARK & EVETT MORAN NIB LITERARY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Literature of any genre
16/6/25
$40,000
UNPUBLISHED NOVEL AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Novel-length fiction in seven genres (see link)
27/6/25
$10,000
DOROTHEA MACKELLAR POETRY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For school students
30/6/25
$150-$1,000 per section
AAWP/SPINELESS WONDERS NOVELLA PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For an emerging writer with an unpublished novella manuscript
30/6/25
$500 and appraisal
RICHELL PRIZE FOR EMERGING WRITERS
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For unpublished writers of adult fiction and narrative non-fiction
13/7/25
$10,000
NAKATA BROPHY PRIZE FOR YOUNG INDIGENOUS WRITERS
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Short fiction and poetry
27/7/25
$5,000 first place
KATE CHALLIS RAKA AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For best book of poems by an indigenous writer
28/7/25
$25,000 first place
ROSE FRANKCOMBE SHORT STORY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
By the Society of Women Writers Tasmania, for works up to 1,500 words on the theme of 'Challenge'
31/7/25
$500
PORT OPEN WRITING COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Open to Australian writers.
31/7/25
$200
STORIES OF LIFE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Autobiographical or biographical, about an aspect of Christian faith.
31/7/25
$700 prize pool
SHORT STORIES UNLIMITED
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Theme: fresh water.
31/7/25
$200 first place.
THE PETER BLAZEY FELLOWSHIP
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all Australian non-fiction writers with a publishing record.
11/8/25
Up to $20,000
LANE COVE LITERARY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Short story/travel/poetry.
20/8/25
$7,000 prize pool
FAW TASMANIA POETRY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all Australian residents.
31/8/25
$150
THE SCARLET STILETTO AWARDS
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all women Australian of crime fiction.
31/8/25
$10,000+ prize pool
BETTY OLLE POETRY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
Australian bush verse.
31/8/25
$500 first place.
ROLY SUSSEX SHORT STORY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian citizens and residents.
1/9/25
$7,500 first place.
KSP SHORT FICTION COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian citizens and residents.
tba
$300 and residency.
KSP POETRY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian citizens and residents.
tba
$300 and residency.
WOORILLA POETRY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all writers.
30/9/25
$3,000 first place.
S.D. HARVEY SHORT CRIME STORY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all writers.
tba
$1,000 first place.
STELLA PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian women and non-binary writers.
tba
$60,000 first place.
BRUCE DAWE NATIONAL POETRY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian citizens and residents.
tba
$3,000 first place.
MiNDFOOD POETRY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian and NZ residents.
tba
$1,000 first place.
MiNDFOOD SHORT STORY COMPETITION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian and NZ residents.
tba
$1,000 first place.
NOT QUITE WRITE PRIZE FOR FLASH FICTION
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all writers.
tba
$2,000 prize pool.
ERNESTINE HILL MEMORIAL AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian residents on the theme Australian country.
tba
$1,000 first place.
RAE ALISON CERHAN AUSTRALIAN BALLAD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian residents.
tba
$600 first place.
MARJ WILKE SHORT STORY AWARD
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australian women aged over 18 years.
tba
$350 first place.
JUDITH WRIGHT POETRY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For emerging poets from Australia and New Zealand.
tba
$6000 first place.
NEILMA SIDNEY SHORT STORY PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For all writers on the theme of 'travel'.
tba
$5000 first place.
HAWKEYE PUBLISHING MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PRIZE
CLOSING DATE
PRIZE MONEY
For Australians aged over 18 years.
tba
Structural edit, line edit and author coaching.
