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!
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Mars Awakens Story Challenge
To celebrate the release of her upcoming children's science fiction novel, MARS AWAKENS, author H.M. Waugh is hosting a story challenge for writers aged 9 - 14. Young writers are encouraged to write a short story about Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Prize: The winner will have a character named after them in the sequel to MARS AWAKENS
Closes: 31st May 2022
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The Best Australian Yarn
Recently announced during Perth Festival's Writers Weekend, The Best Australian Yarn is a short story competition open to writers from the age of 12. Presented by The West Australian and Minderoo Foundation, this competition seeks to celebrate creative writing across Australia.
Prize: Cash prizes across various categories - the youth winner also receives mentoring
Closes: 31st May 2022
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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 3rd June 2022
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Make Your Own Story Book Competition
Open to students from Pre-Primary to Year 8, the Make Your Own Story Book Competition is annually run by the WA branch of the CBCA. Students have the opportunity to create a picture or story book that tells an original story using original text and illustrations.
Prize: Not yet listed, though there is a prize for each category and all participants receive a certificate
Closes: 10th June 2022
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2022 RD Walshe Memorial Writing for the Environment Prize
Submit a fictional piece of prose no more than 800 words on the topic of peace and sustainability, over several age categories.
Prizes: $500 for each category winner, and the Pat Strong Award for a Young Writer for the junior writer winner
Closes: 17th June 2022
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The Spark Prize
The Spark Prize is run by Australian publisher Hardie Grant Publishing and calls for work of narrative non-fiction. The competition seeks to nurture an idea into a publishable book.
Prizes: Winner receives $5000, a mentorship, and a week-long residency on the Mornington Peninsula. Shortlisted entries also receive prizes
Closes: 27th June 2022
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Randolph Stow Young Writers Award
To honour the international achievements of Geraldton-born writer Randolph Stow, this award aims to encourage the creativity of young writers in the midwest region. Open to students in Years 3 - 12 studying in the Midwest as noted by the Education Department, and accepts entries of both poetry and prose.
Prizes: Cash prizes for the winners across several age categories, certificates for runner-ups, shortlisted entries compiled into a booklet on display at the City of Greater Geraldton Regional Library
Closes: 4th July 2022
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Sudden Writing Prize
Open to writers under the age of 25 and run by Express Media and the Australiasian Association of Writing Programs, the Sudden Writing Prize seeks creative work across various forms and wants to know what people are writing about right now.
Prizes: $500, publication, and a membership to the AAWP
Closes: 31st July 2022
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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
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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
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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