Opportunities for Young Writers
Flash Lab
Night Parrot Press is an independent publisher in Perth. Their Flash Lab is open to young writers aged 12-17, where flash fiction pieces under 500 words have a chance to be published on their website - a new story is published every week!
Enter Here
Furious Fiction
55 hours. 500 words. Run by the Australian Writers Centre, Furious Fiction occurs on the first Friday of each new European season. You will be provided with a set of prompts and have the weekend to write your short story. Open to writers 17 and over.
Prize: $500 to the winner. Shortlisted entries are published on the website
Closes: Next round is 2nd September 2022
Enter Here
Voiceworks
Published by Express Media, Voiceworks is a national quarterly journal that features exciting new writing and art by young Australians. People under the age of 25 have the chance to publish their fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. The journal is available in most states of Australia but unfortunately not WA yet. You can purchase the journal online.
Enter Here
Respect Stories Competition
For creatives aged between 10 and 14, the Australian Government's Respect initiative is calling for stories and/or illustrations to show what respect means to you.
Prizes: $500 gift voucher and publication
Closes: 14 August 2022
Enter Here
Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Writing Competition
Run by Queensland publisher Hawkeye Publishing, this short story competition honours well-loved Sydney Hammond (who can read about on Hawkeye's website). The competition theme is 'Water under the bridge' and is open to juniors (under 18).
Prizes: Gift voucher for the winner, and top 40 published in an anthology - the top 5 in the junior category will also be published and receive group mentoring with the publishing director
Closes: 1st August 2022
Enter Here
Tim Winton Award for Young Writers
Presented by the City of Subiaco, the Tim Winton Award is open to Western Australian school students and encourages imagination, innovation, and creativity. Entries must be original prose and under 2000 words.
Prizes: Not yet listed
Closes: 12th August 2022
Enter Here
2022 Hilarie Lindsay Young Writers Poetry Competition
Open to Australian school children across four categories (from under Year 4 to Year 12) and seeking works of poetry.
Prizes: Cash prizes vary between age levels
Closes: 31st August 2022
Enter Here
Young Minds Short Story Competition
Run by the City of Canning, the Young Minds Short Story Competition is open to young writers in Years 7 - 12. Submit a short story under 700 words with the theme "Dreaming with your eyes open..."
Prizes: There are several prizes available, including workshops with Holden Sheppard and Peter Cheong, and vouchers
Closes: 31st August 2022
Enter Here
KSP Writers' Centre Annual Short Fiction Competition
The Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre's annual short fiction competition is on again! Thanks to a sponsorship from the Shire of Mundaring, entries from youth (17 years and under) are free. KSP is looking for original, unpublished stories with engaging characters and a compelling narrative.
Prizes: To be announced
Closes: 8 September 2022
Enter Here
INSPIRE Writers in Residence Initiative
Writers aged 18 and over have the opportunity to win one of six residencies in Perth's National Trust places. The writing residency is a chance to develop a piece of creative work in a heritage place.
Prizes: 15 days in a National Trust place and a $5000 stipend
Closes: 11 September 2022
Enter Here
Poem Forest
Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with The Australian Botanic Garden, Poem Forest invites students (and teachers!) to use their words to make positive climate action. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal habitats and create a Poem Forest for future generations. In 2021, over 5,000 poem trees were planted.
Prize: All entries published in their digital library, cash prizes, book pack prizes
Closes: 23rd September 2022
Enter Here
KSP Writers' Centre Annual Poetry Competition
The Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre's annual poetry competition is on again! Thanks to a sponsorship from the Shire of Mundaring, entries from youth (17 years and under) are free. All poetry styles and themes are accepted.
Prize: To be announced
Closes: 29 September 2022
Enter Here
Armadale Writers' Award
The Armadale Writers’ Award is a creative writing competition which is open to adult writers living in Western Australia.
Prizes: First place receives $1000 and second and third also receive a cash prize
Closes: 30th September 2022
Enter Here
Call for Submissions: YA Magical Realism Anthology by LGBTQIA+ Authors
Fremantle Press has partnered with Get YA Words Out to produce an anthology of YA stories featuring magical realism and by LGBTQIA+ authors.
Prize: Publication in the anthology out 2023
Closes: 30th November 2022
Enter Here