For the benefit of our members (and the broader writing community), we’ve collected this list of current competitions and opportunities for you. Please note that we do not administer these competitions, and we can’t answer any questions you might have about them.
May
The Banjo Prize (unpublished fiction manuscripts, contract and advance) closes 24 May, 2019
2019 Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize (poetry, entry fee, large prize), closes 31 May, 2019
Call for submissions: Growing up Disabled in Australia (non-fiction), closes 31 May, 2019
WOW! Women on writing flash fiction competition (250–750 words, prizes to top 20, top 10 are interviewed, USD entry fee with optional extra critique, cash prizes) closes 31 May, 2019
Poetry Matters Tenth Annual Competition 2019 (Theme: runaway world, entry fee, prizes) closes 31 May 2019
June
The Bath Novel Award (international award for adults or young adult novels, entry fee, prize) closes 2 June, 2019
Victoria University Short Story Prize for New Writers (new and emerging authors, fee, prize and publication) closes 3 June, 2019
2019 Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Competition (fiction and non-fiction, includes a regional writer category, cash prize and publication) closes 3 June, 2019
The Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award (4 categories, fee, cash prize) closes 3 June, 2019
Verandah Journal (fiction, poems and scripts, submission fee, publication and possible prizes) closes 10 June, 2019
Kathryn Purnell Poetry Prize (poetry, max 50 lines, entry fee, prize) closes 10 June, 2019
2019 CHASS Australia Prizes (more academic/professional prize, multiple categories, no fee, cash prize, self-nominations welcome), closes 21 June, 2019
SWAMP (postgraduate creative writing students, theme ‘Home’ , publication) closes 28 June, 2019
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award (school-age, poetry, entry fee, prize), closes 30 June, 2019
Better Read Writing Competition (creative, 2k words, ‘the road less travelled’) closes 30 June, 2019
Queensland Literary Awards (multiple awards available, no fee, cash prize) closes 30 June, 2019
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor’s International Poetry Prize (poetry, fee, prize) closes 30 June, 2019
The 2019 John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers (authors between 12-18 years old, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, cash prize and workshop) closes 30 June, 2019
Woorilla Poetry Prize 2019 (open age and youth, entry fee, prize) closes 30 June, 2019
Wyndham Writing Awards (short story, graphic short story, flash story and poetry, no entry fee, cash prize) closes 30 June, 2019
July
SD Harvey Short Crime Story Award (high entry fee, fiction and non-fiction, 2–5k words, cash holiday and prize) closes 1 July, 2019
The 2019 ACU Prize for Poetry (poetry, entry fee, prize) closes 8 July, 2019
The Next Chapter (mentorship and cash grant) closes 12 July, 2019
August
Elyne Mitchell Writing Award (fiction up to 2500 words, theme is Australasian stories in a rural landscape) closes 22 August, 2019.
Boroondara Literary Awards (short story, entry fee, prize) closes 30 August, 2019
September
Poetry on Planes (poetry, free, payment), closes 1 September, 2019
The Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Writing Competition (theme: togetherness in diversity, 1k words, entry fee, cash prize, publication for top 40) closes 2 September, 2019
December
The Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development + Publication Prize (high entry fee, 40–85k word submissions, fiction or non-fiction only, $4,500 self publishing package prize), closes 20 December, 2019
Ongoing
Brow Books (the book publishing arm of The Lifted Brow) currently has submissions open for non-fiction books.
LitMag is looking for fiction, poetry and non-fiction submissions (submission fees, paid).
Utterance journal is looking for female, trans and non-binary writers to submit poems and short non-fiction on their life. Submissions open monthly and are capped at 100 total, so keep an eye on this one.
Babyteeth journal is looking for a variety of content (including photography, scripts and illustrations). There is a small payment for contributors.
Transcollaborative is looking for people to help with a translation project (no second language required) (paid)
