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 3rd March 2023
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
Fiction Factory Chapter Novel Competition
Submit the first chapter of your novel to Fiction Factory's Chapter Novel Competition. Is it well written and compelling? This is your chance to find out and have it read by a literary agent.
Prize: Cash prize and an appraisal. Shortlisted entries will also receive an appraisal
Closes: 31st March 2023
Enter Here
Toolkits
Express Media's Toolkits Program is accepting applications for its 2023 season. Open to writers under 30, Toolkits invites an intimate group over 12 weeks and develops their skills, workshop their work, and connect with other writers. There are three streams: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Digital Storytelling. This is an online program.
Closes: 10th April 2023
Apply Here
John Gavin Writing Competition
Run by the Fremantle Round House, the John Gavin Writing Competition is open for stories of all themes and genres as long as they include John Gavin and/or reference to his trial: the time and place must be 1840s Swan River Colony.
Prize: $350 for first, $175 for second
Closes: 30th April 2023
Enter Here
Future Leaders Writing Prize
Open to Year 11 and 12 students, the Future Leaders Writing Prize aims to encourage expressive and creative writing from talented young writers. Pieces must be between 800 and 1000 words and can be fiction or non-fiction.
Prize: $1000 and publication
Closes: 1st May 2023
Enter Here
What Matters? Writing Competition
Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? is open to students from Years 5 - 12 and encourages students to raise their voices and understand that their perspectives are valuable. Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of 600 words or less.
Prize: Several opportunities and cash prizes
Closes: 5th May 2023
Enter Here
Make Your Own Story Book
Hosted annually by the WA branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA), the Make Your Own Story Book competition is open to young creatives from Pre Primary to Year 8. Students are encouraged to write and illustrate their own story. There's an abundance of resources on the website.
Prize: To be announced
Closes: 9th June 2023
Enter Here
Randolph Stow Young Writers' Award
Young writers in Years 3 - 12 who reside and/or attend a school in WA's Midwest are invited to submit original works of poetry or prose.
Prize: Not yet announced
Closes: 3rd July 2023
Enter Here
The Golden Pen
WA's Scribblers Festival's annual writing competition, The Golden Pen, is open for 2023 entries. Open to school-aged young people, this year's theme is "explore the world of Creative Bravery" and is open to interpretation by the writer. Entries are on an individual or classroom basis.
Prize: Cash prizes and a certificate
Closes: 26th August 2023
Enter Here
Poem Forest
Red Room Poetry's Poem Forest is open once again for entries! For every poem entered, a tree is planted. Several categories are open to students (and teachers!) and there are poetry writing resources on the website.
Prize: Various, including book packs and cash
Closes: 22nd September 2023
Enter Here