Writing and Illustrating Competitions

Book Links The Centre for Children’s Literature presents
the annual Short Story Competition
For children in Grades 4, 5 & 6

Write a short story of no more than 1000 words – any subject.
It must be fiction and all your own work.
Entries open term 3 and close September. The winner is announced October.The winner will receive $100 and have their story published on the StoryLinks website. Enter using the online entry form.
Link to be added in 2025.
Enquiries: email competitions-children@booklinks.org.au

Author of Tomorrow
The Author of Tomorrow is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it is an annual competition open to young people across the world who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English. The Author of Tomorrow opened for submissions on 1st March, 2024.

Calanthe Collective Prize for Unpubished Poetry
There is a section for under 18 which is free. Entries close in March.
More information

CYA Conference Writing and illustrating competitions
Closes each year in April. For ages 8-18.
More information. 

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry competitions. Entries accepted: March 1 to June 30, results announced during early September. More information.

Future Leaders Writing Prize
The Future Leaders Writing Prize is designed to recognise and reward talented young writers. It aims to encourage expressive and creative writing.
Australian Year 11 and 12 students are invited to submit a piece of writing (800 to 1,000 words). The essays can be fiction or non-fiction and on any topic
More information

The Golden Pen Writing Award
This award is part of the Scribblers Festival in WA. It is open to students in years 4-12 in junior, middle and senior catgeories in WA only. Entries close on Monday 26 August 2024
More information

The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers
Entries are now open and will close 31 July 2024
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation. The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age. Shortlisted writers get the opportunity to receive mentorship from an established author. In 2024, the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers Mentor is Jane Godwin. The competition is for secondary school aged students (between the ages of 12 and 18 inclusive).
More information

Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project
Essay writing competition for students in Years 5-8 and 9-12. Prize details: There will be three winners in each section: 1st prize (gift card valued at $500), 2nd prize ($200), 3rd prize ($100). Honorable mentions ($50) may also be awarded at the panel’s discretion. Closing date: November TBA Entry fee: Free entry.
More information

Kids News
Short Story Writing Competition. Has writing tips from Jackie French. Free entry for Kindergarten to Year 9. Entries close mid year.
First prize winners in each age category will take home 10 copies of their winning short story published into a printed book with a personally designed cover plus an iPad and Harper Collins book pack.
There are also prizes for one runner-up and three highly commended entries in each age category.
This year’s competition (2020) has been expanded into four categories: Kindergarten to Year 2, Years 3-4, Years 5-6 and Years 7-9. More information.

KSP Writers Centre Spooky Stories Competition
YOUTH  category (8-18 years): Max 500 words. $5 enter
Youth first prize: $100, certificate, complimentary print copy of Spooky Story anthology
Youth second prize: $25, certificate, complimentary print copy of Spooky Story anthology
Closes end of March
More information

Little Stories, Big Ideas
Little Stories, Big Ideas is a literary competition for secondary school students across Australia, where entrants aged 12 – 18 years respond to a specific themed prompt in 100 words or less, in any literary style they like. Entry is free, and there are terrific prizes on offer across two age categories. The competition runs four times per year, to coincide with school Terms.
We believe kids have a lot to say about the world in which they live. Little Stories, Big Ideas embraces themes that impact and shape their world, and are topical, relevant, and important. Think: climate change, environmental issues, diversity, respect, acceptance, inclusion, political landscape, asylum seekers and refugees, and more. Writing to a prompt allows entrants to explore and push boundaries with their creativity
Visit the webiste for full information about Little Stories, Big Ideas, including prizes and online entry portal.

Somerset Storyfest competitions
Somerset Storyfest have a novella writing competition and a National Poetry Prizw. More information.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Compeitition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Each year, young people write on a theme that stems from the Commonwealth’s values and principles, developing key literacy skills whilst also fostering an empathetic and open-minded world view. Recent themes have focused on the environment, inclusion, the role of youth leadership, and gender equality. All entrants and all participating schools receive a Certificate of Participation and one Winner and Runner-up from the Senior and Junior categories win a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events. There are two categories, under 14 and 14 – 18. The maximum word counts are 1,500 words for Senior entries and 750 words for Junior. Entries close mid May.

Voiceworks
Voiceworks is a national literary journal that features exciting new writing and art by young Australians. Their purpose is to create a space for people under twenty-five to develop their creative and editorial skills and to publish, and be paid for, their fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics. Each selected piece goes through a collaborative editing process, and they provide individualised feedback for all unsuccessful submissions. Find out how to submit.