creative writing competitions south africa 2021

Type your email…

University of Johannesburg Prize for Creative Writing 2021 shortlists announced.

The shortlists for the University of Johannesburg Prize for Creative Writing 2021 were announced on September 9, 2021.

The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing, also known as the UJ Prize, was instituted in 2006. It comprised of a main prize and a debut prize, given annually for “the best original creative work in English published in the previous calendar year”. Some previous winners were Nthikeng Mohlele. Mohale Mashigo, Zakes Mda, Penny Busetto, Lauren Beukes, Ivan Vladislavic, and Jacob Dlamini.

For 2021, the Multilingual Language Services Office (MLSO) of the University of Johannesburg, introduced new prizes and they announced their shortlists on September 9. They are;

UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu

The following titles are shortlisted (in alphabetical order according to the authors’ surname) for the 2021 main prize in isiZulu with a prize value of R70 000.00:

• Ngenxa YeMendi  by F Khumalo
• Kwashiyana ukwenza  by ME Ngcobo
• Isibusiso Nezinyembezi  by EDM Sibiya

UJ Debut Prize in isiZulu 2021

The shortlist for the 2021 Debut Prize in isiZulu with a monetary value of R35 000.00 (in alphabetical order according to the authors’ surname) contains the following titles:

• UGovana kaGovana  by Mbusiseni Bhenya
• Ngenxa Yezinduna  by T Mabaso
• Isivivane soKhozi  by M Mcambi

UJ Prize for Sesotho sa Leboa 2021

The titles on the shortlist for the 2021 main prize for Sesotho sa Leboa (in alphabetical order according to the authors’ surname) with a prize value of R70 000.00 are:

• Afa re maraganateng ?byRakhudu Mathiba
• Madimabe a Lešoko by Kobate John Sekele
• Mararankodi mafelelo  by Kobate John Sekele

UJ Prize for Literary Translation 2021

The following titles are shortlisted for the UJ Prize for Literary Translation(in alphabetical order according to the translators’ surname) with a prize value of R50 000.00:

• 1 Recce.  The Night belongs to us  by Alexander Strachan translated by Linde Dietrich
• Reg Dog  by Willem Anker translated by Michiel Heyns
• Iimbali Zamandulu.  Stories of the past (1838-1910)  edited and translated by Jeff Opland and Peter T Mtuze

UJ Prize for the Translation of Youth Texts

For 2021, an additional prize will be awarded, namely the UJ Prize for the Translation of Youth Texts with a prize value of R35 000.00. The following texts (in alphabetical order according to the translators’ surname) are shortlisted:

• Die Ickabog  by JK Rowling translated by Kobus Geldenhuys
• Spoekie  by Jason Reynolds translated by André Trantraal
• Die Lang Pad Onnetoe  by Jason Reynolds translated by Nathan Trantraal

The winners for the different prizes will be announced on Wednesday, September 15, 2021.

Share this:

James Murua

One response to “University of Johannesburg Prize for Creative Writing 2021 shortlists announced.”

[…] 2021, the University of Johannesburg, introduced new prizes and they announced their shortlists on September 9. On Wednesday, they announced the winners in the different categories and they […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Subscribe to our newsletter

FunDza is helping to nurture and grow South Africa’s writing talent.

#LoveWriting

FunDza runs regular writing challenges and competitions, providing aspirant writers with a particular writing topic and format. They can submit their writing on https://live.fundza.mobi.

Mentorship programme

Our mentorship programme pairs promising writers with experienced writing mentors to write a ‘FunDza story’. We are proud to have mentors such as Sifiso Mzobe and Masha Du Toit, who have mentored young writers such as Njabulo Goba and Yonela Gatyeni, who have become part of our professional stable.

Fellowship programme

CityLife Arts

CityLife Arts is a specialist arts publication that focuses on visual art, theatre and literature.

The death of a public museum in South Africa and the emergence of a privately owned museum

Abstract painter Thembeka Heidi Sincuba manifesting the spiritual realm on canvas

Celebrating 30 years of democracy through exhibition and poetry

Market Photo Workshop alumnus opens a photography gallery right in the heart of Braamfisherville in Soweto

Veteran South African dance-maker, Robyn Orlin, named the 2024 JOMBA! LEGACY ARTIST

Celebrating 50 years of National Arts Festival in a different world

Esther Mahlangu: how the famous South African artist keeps her Ndebele culture alive

Veteran stage manager and show producer Lydia Moleele launches her company in home Province of Limpopo

South African Literary Awards calling for writers to enter the competition

By CityLife Arts Writer

The write associates, in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), invite South African writers to submit qualifying literary works for the 17 th  South African Literary Awards (SALA).

The submissions Opened on 31 s March 2023 and the closing date is 3  May 2022.

About the South African Literary Awards:

Founded by the wRite associates and supported by the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (then DAC, now DSAC) in 2005, the main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while it celebrates literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems and philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all the languages of South Africa, particularly the official languages.

The SA Literary Awards continue to become the most prestigious and respected literary accolades in the South African literary landscape.

The main aim of the South African Literary Awards is to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while it celebrates literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa’s histories, value systems, philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all eleven official languages of South Africa. The Awards aim to become the most prestigious and respected accolades in the South African literary arena.

Having started with one (1) category in 2005 – the South African National Poet Laureate Prize – to date, SALA boasts sixteen (16) categories, with the newest additions being the Regional Poet Laureate, (two already awarded in 2021) andLocal Poet Laureate Prize(to be awarded from 2022), SALA accepts work in all SA’s 11 (eleven) official languages and has to date, honoured over two hundred and sixty (260) authors.

Selections are made from published authors whose primary input is in imaginative writing – fiction as well as creative non-fiction. The work must demonstrate good linguistic presentation, the nation’s identity, societal values, universal truths, and cultural aesthetics. It must also contribute to social cohesion, nation building and transcendence of time. This brings the overall SALA categories to sixteen 16’.

Fresh from marking 17 years of her epoch-making existence of celebrating and promoting South Africa’s literary talent, this year (2022), the South African Literary Awards (SALA) deepens and broadens its reach by adding the following categories Regional and Local Poets Laureate. Among other winners of these  awards is the late poet Kgositsile  who was honoured with the title of National Laureate, among others.

1.     Children’s Literature Award

2.     Youth Literature Award

3.     First-time Published Author Award

4.     k. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award

5.     Poetry Award

6.     Nadine Gordimer Short story Award

7.     Creative Non-fiction Literary Award

8.     Literary Translators Award

9.     Literary Journalism Award

10. Novel Award

11. Posthumous Literary Award

12. Chairperson Literary Award (not open for submissions)

13. Lifetime Achievement Literary Award (not open for submissions)

14. National Poet Laureate Prize (not open for submissions) and

15. Regional Poet Laureate Prize(from all the provinces except the Western Cape and Limpopo)

16. Local Poet Laureate Prize

For the Submissions Criteria and Nomination Forms, please visit  www.sala.org.za  or  www.writeassociates.co.za

Please note that this year, submissions forms are submitted online. However, the hard copies of the books must be submitted by courier or self-delivery at the wRite associates/SALA offices: 74 Mimosa Road, Randpark Ridge, 2194 .

One thought on “ South African Literary Awards calling for writers to enter the competition ”

My name is Khanyisile Galela I’m Author of the book called AS WE GROW CHILDREN STORIES BOOK ,I tried to email but it doesn’t go though i need to fill the form for SALA AWARDS .

Regards Khanyisile Galela 0719521664 0792765639

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

THE 2024 SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS (SALA)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

Download 2024 Call for Submissions

The 19th South African Literary Awards (SALA) proudly announce the Call for Submissions in the following categories:

Children’s Literature Award 2024 | Creative Non-fiction Literary Award 2024 First-time Published Author Award 2024 | k. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award 2024 Literary Journalism Award 2024 | Literary Translators Award 2024 Local Poet Laureate Prize 2024 | Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award 2024 Novel Lit Award 2024 | Poetry Award 2024 Regional Poet Laureate Prize 2024 |  Youth Literature Award 2024

• Search Search Search …
• Search Search …

Opportunities

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: AFRICAN WRITERS TRUST EMERGING WRITERS WORKSHOP

Submission deadline: Friday, 1st October 2021 at 5pm GMT African Writers Trust (AWT) is hosting a training workshop for emerging writers of creative nonfiction with a particular focus on memoir writing and personal stories. The workshop will integrate both virtual and in-person platforms and experiences, and include an online writing workshop, book discussions and peer […]

Is The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize biased?

By Emmanuel Monychol I would like to congratulate Aminatta Forna (Sierra Leone) author of Memory of Love and Cynthia Jele (South Africa) author of Happiness is a four-letter word for winning this year’s Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book and Best First Book Africa region respectively.

Useful Links

Brittle Paper

Brown Turtle Press

Commonwealth Writers

Exiled Writers Ink

Kwani Trust

PEN International

Africa Book Club

African Books Collective

African Peoples Advocacy

African poetry review

African Writers Abroad

African Writing Online

AfricanWriter

Arterial Network

Badilisha Poetry

BNpoetryAward

SABLE Lit Mag

Sub-Saharan Publishers

The Caine Prize

The Woyingi Blog

Transcultural writing

Transition Magazine

Writers Afrika

Zamantungwa: of poetrypotion.

• 2024 CALENDAR
• PUBLIC SPEAKING 2024
• READING FESTIVAL 2024 (English / afrikaans / isizulu)
• SPELLING BEE 2024
• CREATIVE WRITING 2024
• CREATIVE WRITING TOPICS 2024
• KREATIEWE STELWERK ONDERWERPE 2024
• VOORDRAG / POETRY PRESENTATION 2024
• ENTRY FORM LINKS 2024
• BANKING DETAILS
• ADJUDICATING COURSES
• COMPETITION PHOTOS
• VOORDRAG GEDIGTE OPSIES 2024
• POETRY TOPICS 2024
• SPELLING BEE WORD LISTS 2024

• Complete our entry form attached in this booklet.
• Send your proof of payment & entry form to: [email protected] before the entry cut-off deadline.
• Email your work to [email protected] before the submission deadline.
• All work will be adjudicated and certificate and rebuttal will be emailed to you.  
• Your work must be your own, original work.
• It should not have been previously published.
• We shall disqualify any plagiarized work as it is against the law.
• Your story should not have previously won any other competition in SA.
• You must use one of the given topics for your work.
• Each participant to have written their work in their own hand writing.
• This makes is more “your own work” than a typed text.
• We shall consider how well you have responded on the topic given, when choosing the winning work.
• A 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place will be awarded in each age group in each division for English and Afrikaans.
• The adjudicator’s decision is final.
• We reserve the right to extend this competition’s closing date to ensure prizes are awarded to work of the highest standard.
• Adhere to the relevant language depending on which language you entered for.
• You will be entering via email.
• Your certificate of participation will be emailed to you.
• 1 st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners, certificates and pins will be couriered to the school. NOTE: This is for the school/parent’s account.  The relevant courier fee amount will be communicated to the top 4 for payment before pins can be couriered.  Amount is roughly R120.00
• We have decided that no typed work will be accepted as of 2021 and therefore 2023 will be no different.
• If you wish for your school’s participation certificates to be printed and sent to you, an additional fee will be charged upon request depending on the number of participants entered and a courier fee will also be for the school’s account.
• Make sure you adhere to the format and word counts etc. as set out in this booklet.
• Should be sent as PDF/JPEG format if emailed or original can be couriered to us.
• Written in English/Afrikaans – Depending on the language you entered for.
• Grade 3 – max of 100 words
• Grade 4 to 5 – max of 200 words
• Grade 6 to 7 – max of 250 words
• Grade 8 to 9 – max of 350 words
• Grade 10 to 12 – max of 500 words
• Your title, name and surname, school, grade should be added to your cover letter.
• Always ensure the word count is stated on your written work.
• Grade 3 – max of 6 lines
• Grade 4 to 5 – max of 10 lines
• Grade 6 to 7 – max of 12 lines
• Grade 8 to 9 – max of 14 lines
• Grade 10 to 12 – max of 16 lines
• Grade 3 – max of 50 words
• Grade 4 to 5 – max of 70 words
• Grade 6 to 7 – max of 90 words
• Grade 8 to 9 – max of 130 words
• Grade 10 to 12 – max of 150 words
• Always ensure the word count is stated on your written work
•     [email protected]

• Opportunities
• Autumn Program
• Youth Workshops
• Online Events
• Regional Program

Competitions and Opportunities

Whatever your writing goals for 2024, you’ll find a range of opportunities in our round-up of literary prizes, competitions, fellowships, calls for submissions and more below—updated weekly! 

Subscribe to our weekly e-news for the latest opportunities straight to your inbox, and view a list of Australian and international publications here .

Writing prizes are a great way to give yourself a deadline, build your publication credits, as well offering a financial incentive at any stage of your writing career. Keep an eye on our program of workshops to get you ready to enter your best work.

Please note that inclusion on this page is not an endorsement. Writers should always carefully check terms and conditions for information on fees, rights, and eligibility.

Do you have an opportunity to share? Submit it for review here .

Skip to a month:

Closes 5 January 2024

The List Adelaide Summer Festival Guide 2024

The List magazine is returning to Adelaide in January with its Adelaide Summer Festival Guide and we are seeking reviewers to cover the summer festival programme with 200 word reviews for our website.

Closes 7 January 2024

Pitch the Griffith Review

Keen to get creative over the summer break? Griffith Review are accepting non-fiction pitches for GR Online, their online publishing platform.

Closes 10 January 2024

Thematic residency program in Finland, 2024

Residency program for artists, writers & creative professionals. Periods: 1 month (29 days/period). When: May / June / July / August 2024. Where: Arteles Creative Center, Hämeenkyrö, Finland. Back to Basics residency program gives artists the opportunity to clear their mind, get back to focus and (re)discover the very basis of their being.

Closes 12 January 2024

Mentorships

Writing mentorships for first nations creatives.

Emerging First Nations creatives in SA are invited to apply for InReview’s First Nations arts writing mentorships. The paid program supports mentees to develop their arts writing and criticism skills with guidance from experienced First Nations mentors.

Closes 15 January 2024

Prizes and awards

Romantic book of the year.

Romance Writers of Australia (RWAus) is excited to announce the Romantic Book of the Year award (RuBY AWARD), opens on the 4th December and closes January 15th 2024. The contest is open to any author who has published a romance or romantic elements book in Australian or New Zealand between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2023. Entry is $30 for RWAus members and $50 for non-members.

Closes 21 January 2024

Kat Muscat Fellowship

With the generous support of the Muscat family and the broader community, Express Media is honoured to present the 2024 Kat Muscat Fellowship. The Fellowship offers professional development up to the value of $5,000 for an editorial project or work of writing by a young person (aged 16-30) of an underrepresented gender (including cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, intersex people, gender diverse people and those who are otherwise marginalised), and seeks work that epitomises values of defiance, feminism and empathy.

Seeking Submissions

Not quite write prize for flash fiction.

The Not Quite Write Podcast is seeking entries to its January 2024 flash fiction competition. The Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction will challenge writers to produce up to 500 words of fiction based on 2 traditional writing prompts plus one “anti-prompt.” Entry fee: $25. Prize: 8 cash prizes totaling $2,000 incl. $1,000 First Prize plus publication on the Not Quite Write podcast and website. Open to all ages and levels of experience.

Closes 22 January 2024

2024 Calibre Essay Prize

ABR welcomes entries in the 2024 Calibre Essay Prize, worth $10,000. The Calibre Prize is open to all essayists writing in English. We seek essays of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject. We welcome essays of all kinds: personal or political, literary or speculative, traditional or experimental. Founded in 2007, the Calibre Prize is one of the world’s leading prizes for a new non-fiction essay.

Status: Open for entry Prize money: $10,000 Dates: 23 October 2023 – 22 January 2024

Applications close 22 January

Fellowships

Black&write writing fellowsh ips.

Each year the State Library of Queensland’s black&write! offers two fellowships for unpublished manuscripts by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers. The winning Fellows will receive $15,000 prize money, as well as manuscript development with black&write! and publication opportunity with Hachette.

Closes 24 January 2024

Ever dreamt of seeing your writing brought to life on-screen? Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable program is your chance to pitch work (published or unpublished) to screen industry professionals. Applications close 24 January 2024.

Closes 25 January

Australian Book Industry Awards

The ABIA award ceremony is Australia’s book industry’s night of nights. Nominations are open until 25 January.

Entries close 27 January

Local Word Writing Prize

Submissions of up to 3000 words are welcome from emerging and established writers in prose fiction and creative nonfiction. The winner of the prize will receive a cash prize of $2000, a one-hour mentoring session with a Deakin University writing practitioner, publication on GRLC’s website and announcement in GRLC’s e-newsletter.

Entries close 28 January

The Masters Review Short Story Award For New Writers

The annual contest for emerging writers, with cash prizes up to $3000, publication online and agency review.

Closes 31 January

The ASA/HQ Fiction Prize

The Australian Society of Authors and HQ, a division of HarperCollins, have partnered to offer the biennial ASA/HQ Fiction Prize. The winner will receive a publishing contract with HQ, with a $10,000 advance against royalties, and the runner-up will receive $500 and a year’s membership with the ASA.

Magarey Medal for Biography

The Magarey Medal for Biography is awarded biennially to the female person who has published the work judged to be the best biographical writing on an Australian subject. The Magarey Medal will be awarded next in July 2024 for a book published in 2022 or 2023.

Entries close 31 January

The 20/40 Publishing Prize

20/40 is an exciting new publishing prize for single works of prose fiction and non-fiction, between 20,000 and 40,000 words in length. 20/40 is established by independent, non-profit press Finlay Lloyd. Entries will be assessed blind by a panel of judges with the intention of publishing two winning books each year.

Opens Mid-January

WA Premier’s Book Awards

Managed by the State Library of Western Australia, this award supports, develops and recognises excellence in Western Australian writing. Entries for 2024 will open in mid-January.

Entries close Monthly

Submissions

Aniko press guest book reviews.

Aniko will be accepting one to two guest book reviews per month that fit with the tone and style of Aniko Press. The main focus is on literary and contemporary fiction, short story collections, poetry, interesting/experimental nonfiction and exciting graphic novels. Book reviews should be between 600-900 words, and contain a mix of literary criticism and personal opinion. Each published review is paid $50.00.

Closes Monthly

Competition

Right left write.

QLD Writers Centre’s monthly short fiction competition Right Left Write is a great opportunity to get your writing published. Winning entries are published in the newsletter, on their website, and in an annual print anthology edition. Monthly.

Closes 1 February

Open for submissions

Plumwood mountain journal call for submissions.

Plumwood Mountain: An Australian and International Journal of Ecopoetry and Ecopoetics is seeking submissions for their upcoming issue ‘Queering Ecopoet(h)ics’. Submit up to two poems that rupture and unsettle hegemonic thinking about ‘Nature’, ‘the natural’ and the environmental status quo.

Submissions open 2 February

ASA/CA 2024 Award Mentorship Program for Writers and Illustrators

An award mentorship program for writers and illustrators, to help develop work to a publishable standard. 12 winners receive mentoring, participation in a Paths to Publishing program, ASA membership for 12 months and a ticket to Literary Speed Dating event.

Story Unlikely open for submissions

Seeking short stories of all genres (fiction and nonfiction). All published stories are professionally illustrated and no submission fee. Submission period open from 2 February.

Closes 5 February

2024 Mona Brand Award for Stage and Screen Writers

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Mona Brand Award for Stage and Screen Writers – Early Career Writer Award valued at $10,000. The total prize money in 2024 is $40,000, which is awarded over the following two categories: The Mona Brand Award ($30,000) and the Early Career Writer Award ($10,000).

Closes 4 February

Submit to Cordite 112: TREAT

Cordite Poetry Review invites submissions to their latest edition, to be guest-edited by Tricia Dearborn. Submitted poems should engage with, respond to or explore the meaning(s) of ‘treat’.

Griffith Review Open Submissions for Poetry

Attachment Styles goes far beyond the family tree to consider the pleasures, pitfalls and peculiarities of our messy human relations. Griffith Review is currently open to submissions of up to four individual poems that can respond to this topic or be of no theme.

National Biography Award

Since 1996, the National Biography Award has celebrated excellence in biography, autobiography and memoir writing. With a prize pool of $42,000, it is the nation’s richest prize for Australian biographical writing and memoir, hosted by the State Library New South Wales.

Closes 6 February

Scholarships

Marten bequest travelling scholarships.

This round of the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship offers $50,000 for artists (aged 21 to 35) to study and develop their artistic gifts across acting, instrumental music, painting and poetry. Applicants can look to travel interstate and/or overseas as part of their application.

Closes 11 February

Artist call-out

Emerging writers festival artist call-out.

The #EWF24 Artist Call-out is now open! Got an event idea? Always wanted to share your work? EWF returns in 2024 with online and IRL events from September 5-15.

Closes 12 February

AWW Microstory Competition

Young people under the age of 18 are invited to submit a microstory of 50 words or less, which focused on the question: what does it mean to be human? The winner will receive a $500 gift card courtesy of Hello SA and a YA book pack courtesy of Writers’ Week.

Entries close 14 February

2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards welcomes all independent book authors and publishers who have a book written in English released in 2022-2024 or with a 2022-2024 copyright date. The Next Generation Indie Book Awards offers over 80 categories and more than 80 awards.

Closes 14 February 2024

Forty South – The Tasmanian Writers’ Prize

Prize for short stories up to 3,000 words with an island or ‘island-resonant’ theme. Winning entry receives a cash prize of $500, with a selection of the best entries to be published in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2024.

Closes 16 February 2024

Lambda Literary Awards

The Lambda Literary Awards recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals to LGBTQ+ literature, culture, and community.

Closes 19 February

Residency Fellowship

Copyright agency – uts new writer’s fellowship 2024 ($30k).

Australian writers who have published one or two book-length works are now invited to apply for this residency for 2024. It is well known that completing a second or third book is often difficult. This unique opportunity provides a writer with the financial security to complete a new work, to take creative risks, and to connect with Australia’s leading creative writing program.

Closes 20 February

Call for submissions

Open call for indie comic magazine.

Sticky Beak is an independent comics initiative currently seeking submissions of black and white comics

Entries close 23 February

Mulga Bill Writing Award

Goldfields Libraries and Eaglehawk Festivals Inc. are calling for entries from writers all over Australia for the annual Mulga Bill Writing Award. Writers are encouraged to take inspiration from the theme ‘mystical waters’, and submit a poem (max. 25 lines) or short story (max. 2000 words). Writers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to apply. Entry fee is $5.

Closes 23 February

FFF Competition Twenty

Competition Twenty will stay open for submissions until 10 pm (UK Time) Friday 23rd February 2024. Submit a flash fiction piece of between 100 and 300 words, on any theme 1 Winner will receive £150.00 and publication
 2 Highly Commended will receive £40.00 and publication
 3 Shortlisted will receive £30.00 and publication

 Judge – Adele Evershed (winner of Comp 19) £3.85 fee per entry/story via PayPal.

Entries close 25 February

Stringybark Open Short Story Awards 2024

Submissions of up to 1500 words are invited for the Stringybark Open Short Story Awards with over $1350 in cash and books for the winners. The theme is completely open; however, there must be a link, no matter how small, to Australia.

Entries close 26 February

The Text Prize for Young Adult & Children’s Writing

Awarded annually to the best manuscript written for young readers, the $10,000 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing aims to discover incredible new books by exciting authors. Published and unpublished writers of all ages are invited to submit works of fiction or non-fiction for young readers. The winner receives a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties.

Spoken Word SA Poet in Residence

The month-long residency at Adelaide City Library includes studio space within the library, at least one opportunity to present or perform their work, and the poet will be paid for their involvement. All ideas are welcome.

Entries close 28 February

Book Link Awards for Children’s Historical Fiction

Book Links celebrates outstanding work of children’s historical fiction. The award is a prize of $1000.

Paul Cave Prize for Children’s Literature

Seeking poetry, flash fiction and short stories of up to 5000 words that provides an enjoyable reading experience with strong vocabulary and grammar while being mindful of the audience’s age (5 – 12).

Applications close 29 February

Country Arts SA Quick Response Grants 

Up to $3000 for Individuals; Up to $5000 for Organisations/Community Groups. Grants will fund professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers or small project opportunities. The program supports immediate need that arises. Open 10 times each year during the following months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. Applications must be submitted by 11:29pm (ACST) on the  last day of each month.

Closes 29 February

Rabbit poetry

Rabbit is currently accepting submissions for Issue 39: the MUTINY Issue, inviting nonfiction poems, in all aesthetic registers, up to three poems per poet welcome.

The Letter Review Prize

The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Unpublished Books is now open. $4000 USD prize pool and publication for our winners.

Entries usually open February

The Australian/Vogel’s Award for Young Writers

One of Australia’s richest and the most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of 35. Offering prize money of $20,000 plus publication by Allen & Unwin, the Award has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most successful writers, including Tim Winton, Kate Grenville, Gillian Mears, Brian Castro.

Entries close Various

Country Arts SA Grants 

Country Arts SA have a range of grants to support arts and cultural activities in regional South Australia . View the grants page for those currently open.

Opens 1 March

Churchill Fellowships

The fellowships offer a diverse range of people from all walks of life an opportunity to travel overseas for four to eight weeks to explore a topic or issue that they are passionate about. Applications open 1 March.

Davitt Awards

Sisters in Crime Australia’s 24th Davitt Awards for the best crime and mystery books by Australian women published in 2023 are now open. The competition is open to books by all women who are citizens/residents of Australia.

Closes 1 March

Wilderness Society’s Karajia and Environment Awards for Children’s Literature 2024

The Environment Award for Children’s Literature celebrates Australian books written for children that promote a love of and care for nature.

The Karajia Award for Children’s Literature, established in 2022, sits alongside the Environment Award for Children’s Literature and is awarded to a book that celebrates a connection to Country by a First Nations author or illustrator.

Closes 5 March

Creative Australia: Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups

This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. $10,000 to $50,000.

Creative Australia: Arts Projects for Organisations

Organisations that undertake arts programs, projects, or that provide services to artists, are welcome to apply for up to $100,000 investment.

SCWC Poetry Prize 2024

South Coast Writers Centre (SCWC) invites poets to respond to the theme ‘gentle’ in the 2024 Poetry Award with a first prize of $1000. The Award is run in conjunction with the Wollongong Art Gallery exhibitions that form part of The Gentle Project: Horny Sticks and Whispering Lines and A Gentle Response. The Gentle Project celebrates the life and legacy of artist Ian Gentle, who lived and worked in the Illawarra from 1986 to 2009 with exhibitions at Wollongong Art Gallery and Clifton School of Arts, a short film about his life, Gentle at Clifton, and the publication Ian Gentle: The Found Line.

Closes 8 March

The Jennifer Burbridge Short Story Award 2024

The Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award was established in 2001 by Mary and Andrew Burbidge to honour the life of their eldest daughter, Jennifer, who died aged 21. The prize is funded by royalties from Mary Burbidge’s memoir Forever Baby, published by Harper Collins in 1999, and welcomes short stories of fiction or non-fiction up to 3000 words on the theme of disability. The winner will receive $500.

Job opportunity

Indigenous collections officer.

The State Library of South Australia is now hiring for an Indigenous Collections Officer, who provides cultural expertise and administrative support for collection access, collection development, collection maintenance, research services and community consultation.

Closes 10 March

2024 National Regional Arts Fellows

Regional Arts Australia is currently accepting Expressions of Interest from regional artists and arts workers for the 2024 National Regional Arts Fellowship Program, providing income for regional artists and arts workers to develop work, skills, networks, or research. In 2024, they are seeking Fellowship proposals with a focus on economic, cultural and/or environmental sustainability.

Closes 11 March

Incubator Program

Creative innovator 2024.

Open to individual creatives or small groups with either an existing project or a burgeoning creative business idea. You’ll receive training and support in a creative, nurturing environment and have the chance to pitch for up to $20,000 cash funding at the end of the six-month program.

The 2024 Meanjin InPlace Autumn Residency

Now open to Australian writers from culturally and racially marginalised communities, working in genres published by Meanjin. Applications for this residency are open now and close on 11 March.

Closes 12 March

Anne Elder Award

A national, annual award for a sole-authored first book of poetry of 20-minimum pages in length, published in Australia. First prize $1,000.

Closes 13 March

Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition

Little Black Dress Productions and the KSP Writers’ Centre presents the annual spooky story competition. The judges will be looking for good quality original, unpublished writing with engaging characters and a compelling narrative including an excellent beginning, middle and end. Entries must be rated PG and should address the theme, ‘Don’t Look Up’. Young writers up to 17 years of age (Australian resident) and adult writers (WA resident) are eligible to enter.

Closes 14 March

Peter Carey Short Story Award

The award is for stories between 2000 – 3000 words and is open to all Australian residents. Entry is $15 per story. The winning entry receives $2000, while the runner-up wins $1000. The first and second-placed stories will be published in the Spring 2024 edition of Meanjin . Longlisted entries in 2024 will be judged by Eugen Bacon.

Closes 15 March

Australians in Film and Screen Australia have announced the return of UNTAPPED, the professional development program for undiscovered and historically excluded Australian screenwriters and directors.

The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Elyne Mitchell Photo Story Awards

Find an image you have taken to inspire your writing. Alternatively pick up your camera and find your inspiration. Each entry must be accompanied by a story of no more than 200 words, inspired by the image provided. The story must have specific reference to the theme ‘The Call of the High Country’. The text and the photograph must be the writer/photographer’s own work. Entrants can enter up to five pieces.

Closes 17 March

Grants and funding

Neilma sidney literary travel fund.

Offered by Writers Victoria; grants for travel between $2,000 – $10,000, to support emerging and established writers and literary sector workers in pursuing professional development opportunities. March round for travel between 1 Jul 2024 – 1 Jul 2025.

Closes 19 March

Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

The richest literary prize in the nation, with a tax-free prize pool of $600,000 in recognition of the outstanding literary talents of established and emerging Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians. Awards are presented in six categories: fiction, non-fiction, young adult literature, children’s literature, poetry and Australian history. Up to $100,000 will be awarded in each category—$80,000 for the winning entry and $5,000 each for a maximum of four shortlisted entries.

Closes 22 March

The Hope Prize – Simon & Schuster Australia

International prize dedicated to ‘sharing stories of hope, courage, and resilience’. Accepting short story submissions, of both fiction and nonfiction, on the theme of Hope, between 2,000-5,000 words in length. Winning entry receives $10,000, second prize $2,000, third prize $1,000. Simon & Schuster Australia will publish an anthology of all winning and highly commended submissions in 2024.

Closes 24 March

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund Create Grants

Create Grants provide a living allowance for writers and visual artists at key stages of their career. Creative writers can apply to write their second book in the following literary genres: fiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, picture book illustration, graphic novels, playwriting, literary non-fiction and writing for performance (plays only). Amount of grant: $20,000.

2024 Kids & YA Festival EOIs

Writing NSW’s biennual Kids & YA Festival will return on Saturday 3 August 2024, and is now open to submissions for presenters. Submissions may come from authors, editors, publishers, agents, academics and any others with a passion for the genre. Involvement may take the form of panel speakers, chair responsibilities, or interactive sessions. Held in Lilyfield NSW.

Closes 25 March

The Daisy Utemorrah Award

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is open for entries. Do you have a Junior or Young Adult story that you’d like to tell? Open to all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander writers, the winner receives $15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books! This is a great opportunity for an emerging or established writer to publish a new work of junior or YA fiction (that is, writing for readers aged between 8-18yrs).

Paid Internship

Open book: australian publishing internship.

A paid internship that aims to provide a well-rounded introduction to the Australian publishing industry, and create practical and sustainable pathways towards long-term careers for aspiring professionals. Interns will gain in-house experience at Australian publishing organisations and be supported by a mentor. There are three paid placements based in Sydney and Melbourne.

Stringybark Open Short Story Awards

Stringybark Publishing and others are proud to sponsor their flagship short story award. Submissions should be up to 1500 words, written for ages 16 and above, and have a link, no matter how small, to Australia. There is an award pool of over $1350 in cash and books. *Entry fee

Closes 30 March 2024

Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Award Short Story

Open to all. No theme. Accept short stories up to 4,000 words. First prize $400. Second prize $200. Third prize $100. Entry fee $10 per story. Entry forms available from the website.

Closes 31 March

Best Australian Science Writing and the UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing

Entries are now open for writers to submit their pieces for consideration in The Best Australian Science Writing and the UNSW Press Bragg Prize for Science Writing. Contributions from both established and emerging voices are encouraged. Pieces must have been published in print and/or online in Australia or globally between 1 January 2023 and 31 March 2024. Authors must be Australian residents or Australian citizens living overseas.

Hedberg Writer-in-Residence (Tas)

Applications are open for a $30,000 writing residency based at the University of Tasmania. The Hedberg Writer-in-Residence program gives an established Australian author the chance to live and work in Tasmania for three months. The successful applicant will receive a $20,000 living allowance, accommodation worth $10,000 and access to an office and the University library. They will also mentor students across the state and speak at public events.

Closes 31 March 2024

Light and Shadow – Minds Shine Bright Seasons Writing competition

The Minds Shine Bright Seasons writing competition is open and calling for entries. From the shifting shadows from dawn till dusk that shorten under the midday sun; to the deep dark shadows of the night -— the theme of light and shadow beckons . . . short stories, short scripts, poems and flash fiction welcome. $5 entry fee. 2500 word limit. First prize $500. Winning and commended entries receive prize money and publication in an anthology.

Awards and prizes

Rubery book award.

The Rubery Prize is a prestigious international book award seeking the best books by indie writers, self-published authors and books published by independent presses. Book of the Year receives £2000 (AU$3740) and this year is judged by resident judge Dr Paul McDonald and guest judge Kerry Hadley-Pryce.

Applications close 31 March

Tom Collins Poetry Prize

Poets are invited to submit up to five unpublished pieces for the chance to be recognised among Australia’s most talented poets. The theme is open for poems up to 60 lines each. First prize is $1,000, second is $300, and third is $100.

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024

An annual prize for an unpublished poem written by an adult for children aged 7–11, open to poets from across the world. Entry fee. 1st prize €1,000 plus a week at Circle of Misse in France, 2nd prize €500, 3rd prize €250. The winning poems will be published in the Irish Times online.

The Calanthe Collective Prize for Unpublished Poetry

This competition is designed to encourage aspiring and current poets in two categories: Under 18, restricted to high school aged people; and the Open category, open to poets who are yet to have a book or chapbook published, with an open theme. Cash prizes and publication on the Calanthe Press website.

Ethel Webb Bundell Literary Award for Short Stories

Open theme. Prizes: First $400; Second $200; Third $100. Highly commended and commended certificates will also be awarded.

Northern Beaches Writers Competition: Art & Words project

Writers are invited to enter original stories (max 2500 words) inspired by the theme of ‘GLASS’, along with one original image that reflects and enhances that story. Stories can be non-fiction, fiction, or fiction inspired by true events. All genres and styles welcome. Multiple entries also welcome. If you are a visual artist, you are welcome to collaborate with a writer of your choice and enter jointly. Entry fee: AUD$15. Winners receive cash prizes and online publication.

Applications close March & Sept

Carclew’s Project & Development grants for individuals

Carclew offers grants to early career artists aged 26 years or under, for arts projects with a tangible outcome and/or skills and career development. Project & Development grants for individuals provide up to $10,000 and are offered twice per year for activity occurring in the following six months.  Closing March and September.

Applications open March

Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellowship

The Fellowship supports an established Australian creative writer to begin a new piece of work while in residence at the Charles Perkins Centre, Australia’s leading multidisciplinary Centre, dedicated to easing the global impact of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease and their related conditions through innovative research and teaching. The Fellowship is for one year and includes: a stipend of AUD $100,000, a University of Sydney Honorary appointment, a base at the Charles Perkins Centre, full library access, the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of researchers, educators and clinicians at the Centre. 

Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship

The Fellowship allows creatives to travel south to experience Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean and Australia’s activities there, so that they can communicate these unique first-hand experiences, insights and understanding to others. Arts Fellowship expressions of interest open in March each year.

Applications open late March

Ned Kelly Awards

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious recognition honouring published crime fiction and true crime writing. The categories are Best Crime Fiction, Best Debut Crime Fiction, Best True Crime and Best International Crime Fiction. Entries are accepted for books published in the 12 months prior to 1 March each year.

Entries close April 1

Competitions

Rspb and the rialto nature and place competition.

The Rialto working in association with the RSPB, BirdLife International, Cambridge Conservation Initiative and The University of Leeds Poetry Centre. Poems are invited that deal with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge Zaffar Kunial. 1st PRIZE £1000. 2nd PRIZE £500. 3rd PRIZE £250.

Closing April 1

Emerging Writers’ Festival Guest Curatorship

This is a curation opportunity with a one-off curatorial payment provided for an Emerging First Nations Producer, who is interested in dipping their toes into literary and festival programming, with a national festival.

Closing 2 April

Deep Cre ek Residency Fellowship

Matilda Bookshop, in partnership with Writers SA, and association with Ultimo Press, offer an annual residency fellowship to a South Australian writer. The fellowship provides support to work on a writing project of literary merit, including a travel subsidy, time and writing space at Deep Creek, as well as mentoring and a publishing consultation.

Closing 5 April

Wakefield Press Essay Prize Award 2024

The History Council of South Australia and Wakefield Press welcome applicants for the annual Wakefield Press Prize for the best essay on a topic relating to the history of South Australia, 2,000- 10,000 words. The prize consists of a $500 book voucher from Wakefield Press, presented at the annual History Council of South Australia awards.

Closing 7 April

New Australian Fiction 2024

KYD’s New Australian Fiction 2024 will once again showcase stories from Australia’s best and brightest established and emerging writers in an anthology edited by KYD editor Suzy Garcia. Submissions are invited from diverse backgrounds and all levels of experience, with unpublished stories 2000-6000 words in any genre.

Closing 8 April

Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellowship (NSW)

Welcoming EOIs from Australian creative writers working in all genres, including poetry, fiction, memoir, non-fiction, playwriting and creative non-fiction. The Fellowship fosters collaboration between Australian creative writers and researchers at the Charles Perkins Centre. The one-year Fellowship offers a stipend of $100,000, a University of Sydney Honorary appointment, a base at the Charles Perkins Centre, full library access and opportunity to collaborate with researchers, educators and clinicians at the Centre.

Calls for submissions

Griffith review emerging voices.

Griffith Review is looking for original submissions of fiction and creative non-fiction, of 3500-5000 words on any theme. Four winners will share a prize pool of $20,000 and have their work published in Griffith Review.

Closing 9 April

Writing group

Calling writers and storytellers with disability: eois now open.

Writers and storytellers with disability from across Australia are invited to submit an expression of interest to join Writers Victoria’s free Writeability Goes Online writing group. The group will meet via Zoom on the first Saturday of the month, from 11am–1pm, between May and December 2024. Places are limited and all levels of experience are welcome. EOIs close 11:59pm, Tuesday 9 April. Submit your EOI via Submittable here . If this is not accessible for you, please email [email protected] for an alternative way to submit.

Creative Australia’s Creative Leadership Program

Are you a writer, editor, artist or creative worker who wants to make change? Apply now to receive a $7000 grant for professional development, attend 2 in-person multi-day workshops on leadership and participate in a range of online activities over 18 months.

Closing 12 April

Queensland Literary Awards

National prizes offered for outstanding published books by Australian writers, illustrators and creators; including a $15,000 fiction award and $15,000 nonfiction.

Closing 14 April

Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize

International prize; submit short fiction up to 1,500 words. First prize winner receives €2000, residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation (Italy), manuscript assessment and consultation with literary agencies. All shortlisted writers will be published in an anthology launched at the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize Salon, Madrid, and in a partner journal (Australia’s Kill Your Darlings ).

Closing 15 April

The Ned Kelly Awards

The Australian Crime Writers Association is proud to launch the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards for Australian crime writers. Entries open: Friday March 15. Australia’s oldest and most prestigious award, honouring published crime fiction and true crime writing. The 2024 award categories are: Best Crime Fiction, Best Debut Crime Fiction, Best True Crime and Best International Crime Fiction (published in Australia).

Closing 21 April

April Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Calling writers of all ages and levels of ability to create an original piece of flash fiction of 500 words or less based on two typical writing prompts plus one “anti-prompt”. Compete for A$2,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and 2 ‘wildcard’ prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice.

Closing 22 April

Australian Book Review Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

The Jolley Prize is worth a total of $12,500 and is for an original work of short fiction of between 2000 and 5000 words, written in English.

Island Nonfiction Prize 2024

Entries to this prize must be under 4000 words, or up to six pages for comics. Works should be suitable to a general audience, rather than scholarly/academic works. The winning writer will receive $3000 and their work will be published in Island.

Baby Teeth Journal Submissions

Baby Teeth Journal’s April submissions round is now open. Send us something cool you’ve made. Full guidelines can be found on our website.

Closing 23 April

FFF Competition Twenty One

Submit a flash fiction piece of between 100 and 300 words, on any theme. Winner will receive £150.00 and publication
. Highly Commended will receive £40.00 and publication
. Shortlisted will receive £30.00 and publication
. £3.85 fee per entry/story.

Entries close April 30

The 2024 Folly Prize

The 2024 Folly Prize runs from 15 January – 30 April 2024, with a cash first prize of $1000 NZD. The Prizewinner and Runner Ups will be published in Issue 2 of Folly, due to be launched in late October 2024. Open to writers from around the world, specifically looking for work that is accessible (fun), yet well written. Pacey, provocative, honest and light.

Geography Writing Competition

The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland is running a geography writing competition which should have wide appeal. Submit a short story (up to 500 words) using imagination, creativity and with a wide interpretation, on any geographical concept, set in Queensland.

The Best of Times Short Story Competition #37

Closing Date 30 April 2024. Genre: Humorous short stories up to 2,500 words. Prizes for first, second and third place. Certificates for highly commended and commended stories. Entry fee $10 per story.

The Letter Review Prize is free to enter. It is open in the categories of Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Unpublished Books. Total Prize Pool is $4000 USD for this round. Winners are published by The Letter Review, and considered for submission to Pushcart Prize etc. Open to anyone in the world: No style or subject restrictions. 10-20 Shortlisted in each category.

Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards

This award for unpublished fiction manuscripts accepts the first three chapters or approximately the first 10,000 – 12,000 words of a completed manuscript. First prize receives $2500 and runner-up $1000. *Entry fee.

First Friday of each month

Writing challenges

Furious fiction.

On the first Friday of the month, you are invited to submit a short story up to 500 words, referencing the monthly theme, with only 55 hours to write.

Entries close monthly

The Wakefield Weekly Writing Competition

An exciting monthly challenge for authors Australia-wide. Each month, Wakefield Press release a new prompt for authors to respond to. The prize includes gift vouchers and the publication of winning entries on the Wakefield Press blog. 

Closes 2 May

Fall into Focus – Residency program in Finland

Residency program for writers, artists and researchers Periods: 1 month. When: Sept / Oct / Nov 2024. Where: Arteles Creative Center, Hämeenkyrö, Finland. Fall into Focus residency program is for writers, artists and researchers who want to concentrate on their creative practice, projects, writing and research.

Closes 5 May

American Australian Association – First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) Writer in Residence USA Fellowship

The Fellowship is tailored for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, poets, or storytellers. This six-month program offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself creatively in the US and is designed to foster literary connections and amplify Indigenous voices whilst engaged in a supportive academic environment. The program provides support of US $40,000, with the awardee primarily based between the AAA headquarters in New York and Boston, with additional national engagements as required.

Closes 6 May

Danger Awards

Now in their seventh year, the Danger Awards continue to honour books featuring Australia as a setting for stories about crime and justice. Along with the Danger Award trophy, each winner will receive $1000 In prize money and will be invited to speak at BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival 2025. Entry fee: $33.

Seeking submissions

Blackout poetry competition.

Baby Teeth Journal is running another Blackout Poetry Competition! Poets will work from the same source text to create a blackout poem, winner takes home $100 cash and has their work published.

Closes 10 May

Banjo Paterson Writing Awards (PDF)

Annual awards hosted by Central West Libraries (NSW), aiming to foster writing with Australian content. Submit short fiction up to 3,000 words or contemporary poetry up to 200 lines. Also includes the ABC Central West Children’s Writing Awards for writers under 16. First prize $2,000 for both Short Story and Contemporary Poetry categories. *Entry fee

Grieve 2024

Grieve 2024 is now accepting entries! This year, we are expanding the scope of storytelling genres to include prose, poetry, and a variety of multimedia formats such as film, audio & more. We are excited to see how this expansion will enrich the storytelling landscape of the Grieve Project and further amplify the voices of those touched by grief and loss. Entries close 8pm (AEST) Friday 10 May 2024. Open to Australian citizens/residents 18 years or older.

Closes 12 May

John Gavin Writing Competition 2024

There are two open categories for the John Gavin Writing Competition 2024: the Open Category must include John Gavin and/or his trial, 1840s Swan River Colony setting, any form and genre, up to 750 words, with the theme ‘lost worlds’, national entries welcome; and the WA students category.

Closes 14 May

Development program

Publishable 2024.

Publishable 2024 is Queensland Writers Centre’s 15th annual national manuscript development program for emerging writers; the program accepts submissions of completed unpublished manuscripts across a broad range of genres and formats. Longlisted writers take part in a personalised manuscript development program with workshops and consultation sessions, while shortlisted writers receive a 5-hour mentorship with a writing industry professional, and are given the opportunity to pitch their work to leading Australian agents and publishers. Opportunities for feedback and development are available for all applicants, including a complimentary workshop tailored to the year’s cohort of applications – all helping you progress your manuscript closer to publication.

International Rights Fund For Literature

This program supports literary agents, rights managers, and publishers to attend international markets such as book fairs to sell rights in Australian works of creative writing. Contributions of $5,000 per successful applicant are available.

Closes 15 May

Eastwood/Hills FAW Literary Competition

Categories include: Open Theme: Flash Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Short Story. Prizes: First $150; Second $50. $8/entry or $30/4 entries.

Eastwood/Hills FAW Boree Log Award for Bush Verse

Ballads to be in perfect rhyme and metre with max 80 lines and an Australian bush theme. First prize: $100 plus trophy and certificate. $8 per entry or $30 for 4 entries.

Closes 17 May

What Matters? Writing Competition

The What Matters? Writing Competition is open for 2024, our 20th anniversary year! Open to students in Years 5-12, this competition asks young people to answer a deceptively simple question: What matters to you? There is no topic too big or too small and whether fiction or non-fiction, poetry or essays, we want to help young people be heard when they raise their voices! Entries can be up to 600 words and submitted online.

Closes 31 May

Dymocks Beyond Words Competition

Beyond Words is a national writing competition run by Dymocks Tutoring and Dymocks Books. It is open to primary and high school students across Australia. The competition is free to enter. Students are asked to write a short story between 500-1500 word on any theme. We encourage all students to enter — the contest is judged on a combination of craft as well as the creativity of ideas in the story! There is a prize pool of $20,000.

2024 Newcastle Poetry Prize

For more than three decades, the Newcastle Poetry Prize has championed Australian poets and their craft. Since 2005, the University of Newcastle has generously sponsored a substantial prize pool, with a first prize of $15,000. This significant competition provides a platform to showcase both emerging and established voices. Entries close: 11.59pm, Friday 31 May, 2024 (AEST). Open to Australian citizens or residents over the age of 18 years or older.

The Muslim Poetry Anthology

​Submissions are open for publication of a poetry anthology by, with and for Muslim poets. The anthology is the first of its kind in Australia and will be edited by Sara M. Saleh and Zainab Syed, along with commissioning editor Manal Younus. They are looking for poetry that is unsettling, evocative, beautiful and subtle, and holds space for and celebrates the multiplicity of identities as Muslim-identifying artists. Poets and writers of all levels are highly encouraged to submit their pieces.

Creative Time Residential Fellowships

Published authors or illustrators of at least one book for children or young people are invited to apply for “the gift of time”. The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust provides accommodation, local support, and travel to our host city Adelaide.

2024 Slinkies Under 30s call out

Slinkies is looking for writing that is under 10,000 words of any genre or style to publish in their annual anthology.

Entries close 1 June

2024 Questions Writing Prize

The 2024 Questions Writing Prize aims to recognise and reward young Australian writers (18 to 30 years). The writing can be fiction or non-fiction on any topic, as long as the piece remains between 1500 and 2000 words. The prize for best writing is $3000.

The Novel Prize

The Novel Prize is a biennial award for a book-length work of literary fiction written in English by published and unpublished writers around the world, with a prize of US$10,000 and publication of their novel in Australia, New Zealand the UK and Ireland and North America . The prize recognises works which explore and expand the possibilities of the form, and are innovative and imaginative in style.

Entries close 3 June

Canberra Youth Theatre’s Emerging Playwright Commission

Offers a professional commission to an emerging Australian playwright, to create a new full-length work that brings the voices and stories of youth to the stage. The commission offers a successful emerging playwright or writing team $17,100 to develop a full-length script suitable to be performed by actors aged anywhere between 7 and 25.

Entries close 12 June

ARA Historical Novel Prize

The richest literary prize for Historical Fiction. With prize money of $100,000, the ARA Historical Novel Prize gives Australian and New Zealand historical novelists the chance to be recognised, with a category for outstanding Children and Young Adult (CYA) historical fiction, in addition to the Adult category.

Entries close 21 June

The Brilliant Poetry Competition

The first international Brilliant Poetry Competition celebrates the creativity of science. Submissions of poems which harness the beauty of language to convey the marvels of science are invited. The competition is free to enter and open to established and emerging poets. The winning poem will be published in The Brilliant – science communication publication and awarded £1000. £500 will be awarded to second place and £250 to third place.

Applications close 30 June

Residency at Lighthouse Arts Newcastle

Commit to creativity this new year! Applications for Lighthouse Arts residencies are now open for February to June 2024. Open to writers and creatives of all backgrounds, disciplines, and stages, our residency rounds cater to both local and visiting artists.

Closing 30 June

The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

Open to school students (kindergarten to year 12) across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry. Poems up to 80 lines, three poems per student. Optional theme: “Listen, I have an Idea.” The annual anthology includes all the winning, runners-up, shortlisted, highly commended and commended poems from all competition categories. *Entry fee

AAWP/Spineless Wonders Novella Prize

For an emerging writer with an unpublished novella manuscript, this prize offers an exciting opportunity to fast track your writing into the publishing world. If you win you will receive a judges’ report from an established literary author, seeing your manuscript assessed without delay. You will also receive $500 and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP (Nov. 2024), where you will be invited to read from your work.

AAWP/Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize

The AAWP/Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize welcomes entries from writers of autobiography, biography, memoir, and essays, and celebrates excellence in nonfiction, creative nonfiction and hybrid modes. The winner will receive $500, a one-year subscription to Westerly, and conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where they will be invited to read from their work. The winner’s work will be considered for publication by Westerly.

AWP/UWRF Translators’ Prize

The Prize is open to translators at any stage of their career, working in poetry or prose. The winner will receive a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and accommodation for the duration of the festival. They will also receive a 1-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the AAWP’s annual conference. The editors at Meniscus will also consider your work.

AAWP/UWRF Emerging Writers’ Short Story Prize

For emerging writers of short stories, this prize offers a stunning opportunity to celebrate the craft of writing at South East Asia’s largest and most exciting literary festival, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. Be welcomed into the thriving community of writers within the AAWP. Take advantage of this generous publication pathway and networking opportunity for emerging writers of short stories.

AAWP/UWRF Emerging Writers’ Poetry Prize

For emerging writers of poetry, this prize offers a stunning opportunity to celebrate the craft of writing at South East Asia’s largest and most exciting literary festival, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. Be welcomed into the thriving community of writers within the AAWP. Take advantage of this generous publication pathway and networking opportunity for emerging writers of poetry.

AAWP/Express Media Sudden Writing Prize

The AAWP/Express Media Sudden Writing Prize welcomes short and sharp writing in a range of genres and on any theme, from emerging writers under 25. If you win you will receive $500. You will have your work published on the Express Media website and receive a Voiceworks subscription. You will also receive a 1-year membership to the AAWP, and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where you will be invited to read.

AAWP/UWA Publishing Chapter One Prize

Emerging writers with an unpublished poetry collection, literary novel, short story collection, or a hybrid, genre-crossing work could win a $500 cash prize, alongside fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP’s annual conference. You will also receive a written appraisal of your work from an established literary author and a letter of recommendation to UWAP.

Closes 1 July

Wasafiri Queen Mary New Writing Prize

The prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. Categories: Fiction, Life Writing and Poetry. Word Count: Max 3,000 words. Entry: £12 for a single entry, £16 for a double entry, and £6 for a single subsidised entry. Winners: £1,000 cash prize (for each category) and publication in Wasafiri’s print magazine. Deadline: 5pm BST on 1 July.

Closes 21 July

July Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Calling writers of all ages and levels of ability to create an original piece of flash fiction of 500 words or less based on two typical writing prompts plus one “anti-prompt”. Compete for A$2,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and 2 ‘wildcard’ prizes. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast, where the judges share in-depth analysis about the entries and offer free writing advice

Closes 31 July

Anthology Short Story Competition

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.

Writers SA Varuna Fellowship

We are thrilled to once again team up with Varuna, the National Writers’ House, to offer two writing residency and development fellowships for South Australian writers working in any genre or form. The fellowships provide time, writing space, and consultation to work on your writing in a dedicated writers’ retreat in the beautiful Country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples in the Blue Mountains! Opens for applications in July.

Entries close 31 August

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

An international literary prize that is a hotbed for new talent in poetry and short fiction. Each winner is awarded with £2,500 as well as publication.

BREW Poetry Award

The BREW Poetry Award honours the profound beauty and transformative impact of verse, recognising poets who skillfully weave language to evoke emotions and imagery. Awards include Judges’ Pick and Community’s Pick, with winners receiving a badge, digital certificate, and potential feature in an anthology or in a The World’s Best Magazine print edition. Entry is free.

Anthology Personal Memoir Competition

Everyone has a story to tell. What’s yours? Authors are invited to share a unique life experience. Whether your memoir recounts a transformative journey, a poignant moment, or a life-altering event, we welcome your story. The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is open to original and previously unpublished memoirs in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. The winner will receive €500 and publication.

Entries close August

Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards

The most valuable literary prize in the country, with prizes for Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Award for Indigenous Writing and Writing for Young Adults – each receive $25,000. The winner of the Award for an Unpublished Manuscript receives $15,000. The winners of the six main suite categories go on to contest the overall Victorian Prize for Literature, worth an additional $100,000. Usually closes August.

Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards

Cash prizes for the best crime short stories by Australian women. Maximum length: 5000 words.  $12,365 in prizes on offer. The awards usually close August.

Opens 1 September

Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country who is aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words). Regional winners each receive £2,500 and the opportunity to be published online by Granta magazine, and the overall winner receives £5,000. A free prize for unpublished short fiction, open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country. Translations or entries in languages other than English are also accepted. The 2025 prize will open for submissions on 1 September 2024.

Closing 29 September

Open submissions

Story unlikely.

Story Unlikely is seeking short stories. Submission period runs from February 2nd through September 29th. No restrictions on genre (seeking all types of stories; fiction and creative nonfiction). 10k word limit (15k for Members). 8 cents a word, reprints are 1 cent a word (we cap payment at $200, or $400 for Members). All published stories are illustrated. No submission fee.

Entries close 30 September

Woorilla Poetry Prize

Be part of a highly recognised poetry competition that has assisted poets for over 30 years. Enjoy the opportunity to win cash prizes and have your work published in multiple categories.  Closes 30th September 2024.

Anthology Flash Fiction Competition

Established to inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story. The winner will receive a €300 cash prize.

Anthology Nature Writing Competition

The Anthology Nature Writing Competition is created to celebrate the beauty of the natural world, inspire literary excellence and encourage Anthology’s readers to explore the great outdoors. Whether it’s the wonder of life right in your own garden, an encounter with wildlife, the serenity of a forest, a reflection on environmental challenges, or the healing power of nature, we welcome your stories. The winner will receive €500.

Entries usually close September

Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli Fellowship for Writers

Open to mid-career writers, this $13,500 fellowship is awarded to someone in recognition of their literary achievements and commitment to humanity and social justice issues. Applicants must be under the age of 40 and identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, living with a disability, or culturally and linguistically diverse. Usually closes September each year.

May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Ian Wilson Memorial Fellowship

Apply for this “gift of time and support”, which includes accommodation, local support, and travel to Adelaide providing creative time away from home.

Entries close September

POEM FOREST

A free nature writing prize that breathes life back into the natural world that sustains us. Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with Wollongong City Council, 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. All POEM FOREST Prize entries are published in a digital library and have the chance to win $5,000 in prizes. Usually closes September.

Entries open September

Fellowship | Scholarship

Magabala books fellowship and scholarship.

The Fellowship, worth $10,000 is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytellers is intended to provide valuable time for a mid-career author to work on a current manuscript. The scholarships support professional development relating to writing, illustration and storytelling, and are open to both emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, artists, illustrators and storytellers. Applications usually open in September.

Closes 20 October

October Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction

Closes 30 October

Anthology Photography Competition

Open to photographers working at any level, the Anthology Photography Competition celebrates outstanding standalone images. It also provides a platform for photographers to showcase their work through publication. Images submitted must be on the theme of ‘Everyday Wonders’. Submissions will be judged on quality, creativity, originality, and visual/emotional impact. The winner will receive a €500 cash prize.

Anthology Travel Writing Competition

Established for writers who like to share authentic travel experiences and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that captures the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. FIRST: €500

Closes 31 October

Anthology Poetry Competition

Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines. FIRST: €1,000 cash prize and publication

Anthology Art Competition

The Anthology Art Competition is established to foster and support both established and emerging visual artists and provide a platform for publication. The competition is open to multiple genres including painting, printmaking, mixed media, photography and digital media. The winner will receive €500 and editorial coverage in a future issue of Anthology.

Closes October

SA Literary Fellowships

Writers SA and State Library of South Australia have partnered to offer the SA Literary Fellowships program to support emerging, established, and First Nations writers, with a writing prize (2 x $10,000 Mid-Career; 1 x $10,000 First Nations; 2 x $3,000 Emerging) and more. Applications will be open from August-October 2024 TBC.

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards

The annual awards are the richest and longest running state-based literary awards in Australia, covering all genres of writing. entries usually close in October.

The Stella Prize

The Stella Prize awards the best book by an Australian woman, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry with $50,000. Nominations usually close October.

Closes November

Residencies and Fellowships

Writers sa varuna fellowships.

Each year we team up with Varuna, the National Writers’ House, to offer two new writing residency and development fellowships for SA writers working in any genre or form. The fellowships provide time, writing space, and consultation to work on your writing in a dedicated writers’ retreat in the Blue Mountains. Usually closes November.

Miles Franklin Literary Award

One of Australia’s most prestigious literature prizes, the Miles Franklin accepts applications from publishers usually until November.

Closing November

CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Awards for published Australian books for readers under the age of eighteen. Six categories including Book of the Year for Older Readers, Younger Readers, and Early Childhood Readers; Picture Book of the Year, Eve Pownall Award and Award for New Illustrator. Entries open March-November.

Closing 31 December

Sojournal: One Image One Story

Sojournal is a non-profit labour of love and at present we cannot offer payment to contributors. We will not be running any advertisements on our site so the only income we might achieve is through donations. Sojournal exists to support you in your story telling because we love great travel stories. If you are published by Sojournal we will spread your work as widely as possible.

Stay in the loop:

The latest literary news, events, opportunities, workshops, competitions and more, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Major Supporters

South African Schools' Debating Board

Home of SA Schools Debating

Writing Competition

The Social Justice Writing Competition is the result of a partnership between young people, the South African Schools Debating Board and the the Centre For Sexualities AIDS and Gender (CSA&G) at the University of Pretoria- through its Just Leaders student volunteer programme.

The competition is an essay writing competition and is open to all grade 8-11 learners in South Africa. The top entries are selected and published in a book through the CSA&G. The first leg of this competition was hosted in Gauteng.

Reflection on the 2019 Project

Acknowledgements

This whole project would not have been possible without the significant effort and contributions from the following people and organisations:

Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo and the SA Schools Debating Board (SASDB) initiated this project and ensured that it was successful – it would not have happened without her.

Pierre Brouard and his organisation, the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G) at the University of Pretoria, worked closely with Bettina to take this project through its various stages.

Bettina and Pierre also edited the stories and assisted the learners to polish them.

Tumelo “Duke” Rasebopye of the CSA&G took this project under the wing of the Just Leaders project he manages at the CSA&G and he assisted with developing and implementing the Social Justice workshop which the school learners attended as a requirement of entering the essay writing competition. The Just Leaders project is funded by the Norway-based Students and Academics International Assistance Fund (SAIH) and their generous financial assistance helped make this project possible.

Volunteers of the SASDB (Khutso Mhlaba, Ethienne Smith) and Board Members Tlou Matshidiso, Rimbilana Shingange, Irene Mpofu and Richard Chemaly) helped out on the day of the Social Justice workshop, especially with logistics; and volunteers from the CSA&G’s Just Leaders project (Boitumelo Nokeri, Chigo Mabila, Mohau Nei, Onkaetse Khupari) helped to organise and run the workshop, leading sessions with the learners, modelling advocacy and leadership.

Crawford College Pretoria generously hosted the workshop for the learners and Yvonne Ready offered support and oversight from Crawford’s perspective on that day, we thank them for this.

Last but not least, Johan Maritz designed, laid out and formatted the booklet and helped us to achieve an excellent product.

2019 Book Abstract

When final year medical student Bettina Buabeng-Baidoo approached the C entre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G) at the University of Pretoria (UP) , in her role as Fundraising Officer in the South African Schools Debating Board (SASDB) , to collaborate on a social justice writing competition for high school learners, we were very excited.

The South African Schools Debating Board is a non-profit organisation which facilitates World School Style debating in the nation. The SASDB believes that debating and public discourse are pivotal tools in creating a more tolerant and equal society.

The CSA&G runs a social justice project for students at UP , Just Leaders , and we have learned that the energy, enthusiasm and sense of justice in young people is infectious, and critical to a functioning society based on freedom of speech, fairness and dignity, determined to redress the imbalances of the past.

This volunteer programme, funded by the Students and Academics International Assistance Fund (SAIH) , aims to build an inclusive UP, one which recognises that differences around class, ability, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality and race still matter in who arrives at, and succeeds in, the University. The #FeesMustFall movement was an earthquake for the tertiary sector, in its aftermath there is still much work to be done.

This social justice writing competition was Bettina’s brainchild; building on her work with the SASDB where she coaches young people in debating skills. This marriage of her interests and the CSA&G’s ethos has been a happy one. Together we developed

a call for schools in Gauteng to send teams of Grade 10 – 12 learners, accompanied by their debating teacher, to a one-day workshop on social justice. The workshop was hosted with the generosity of Crawford College in Pretoria and we especially single out Yvonne Reddy for her support for the day.

Run by volunteers of the Just Leaders programme, the workshop explored human rights and social justice in South Africa, and then homed in on themes of race, inequality, HIV, sexualities and gender as exemplars of work that still needs to be done in South Africa to realise the dream of an equal and fair society.

Participants in this workshop were then invited to write and submit an essay which had social justice as its theme. While they were encouraged to write on the themes of the workshop, any essay which explored justice in post-Apartheid South Africa was eligible. We selected the most promising essays, provided feedback for re-writes and revisions where necessary, and helped to polish them lightly so that they shine. We did not select winners or runners up for this exercise, but chose to showcase a cross section of stories instead: the entries appear in no particular order.

It is important to note that we obtained full consent from the essay writers and their parents/guardians for these stories to be published.

This consent was important because we discovered that the learners did not hold back! HIV diagnoses, rape, gender, violence, questionings around sexual orientation and gender identity, provocations around race (did it still matter today- definitely said one writer, it shouldn’t said another) and questions of privilege and culpability come up in these stories. There is a rawness to some of them and while they don’t reflect the views of the CSA&G , the SASDB , or the schools from which the learners are drawn, we are also passionate in our defence of their right to have their say. These are their views, their stories and we are proud of them. We hope you will be too.

Share this:

• +44 (0) 1892 710877

THE WRITERS COLLEGE Short Story Competition

Proudly supporting emerging writers, the annual writers college short story competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form. the competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. scroll down to see the prizes, theme, judges, rules and entry requirements., theme for 2024, it didn't have to be this way, it didn't have to be this way, the longlist finalists.

Congratulations to the top 20 entrants in the 2023 Writers College Short Story Competition—a truly enormous achievement!

From all around the world, we received over 800 entries—an exhilarating showcase of diverse cultures and talent. To each writer who participated, a big well done for your remarkable contribution.

Mark your calendars for 18 August, when we unveil the winners. Plus, we reveal the names of the top 60 writers who secured places in the prestigious Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention, and ‘More Stories We Loved’ categories.

In no particular order, here are our top 20 stories:

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane ‘Return to Court’ – by Taki Scordis ‘End of’– by Rosalind Adler ‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin ‘The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming ‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi ‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle ‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim ‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong ‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest ‘The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’ – by Travis Inglis ‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon ‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis ‘Plain Signs’ – by Taryn Hochstrasser ‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop ‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann ‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes ‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming ‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski ‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

THE WINNERS

Hearty congratulations to the 800+ participants who took part in our inaugural global short story competition. This event marked a significant milestone: for the first time, we united the forces of the SA Writers College and NZ Writers College competitions, inviting voices not only from South Africa and New Zealand but reaching out to beginner creative writers worldwide.

The result was a captivating cultural tapestry, proving that our backgrounds may vary, but the essence of a well-told tale resonates universally.

It is with great pride that we introduce our top-placed writers for 2023. These winners skilfully navigate the complexities of human relationships; t heir narratives serve as mirrors to our human experiences. Their ability to blend vivid imagery, compelling characters, and thought-provoking narrative arcs has made them triumph in this writing contest.

FIRST PLACE:

‘return to court ’ – by taki scordis, ‘the people of colour’ – by ross fleming, third place:,  ‘the time love was good to me, or: how i came to grow apples’ – by travis inglis, in fourth place is ‘plain signs’, written by taryn hochstrasser, and in fifth place is ‘end of’, written by rosalind adler.

Read the judges’ comments, as well as the top three stories, below the Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention and ‘More Stories We Loved’ results lists.

HIGHEST HONOURS

In this category, the judges were looking for unparalleled creativity, narrative depth and emotional resonance. Entries exhibited masterful storytelling techniques, innovative plot development and character exploration, captivating the readers from start to finish.

In no particular order:  

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane

‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin

‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi

‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle

‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim

‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong

‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest

‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon

‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop

‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis

‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann

‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes

The Song Thrush – by Gerrie van der Zanden

‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski

‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

These stories displayed well-crafted narratives with strong coherence and skilful execution of the theme ‘Words Have Consequences’. The stories effectively drew in readers through their clear prose, compelling characters and evident command of literary techniques.

In no particular order:

‘The Price of a Loose Tongue’ – by Lauren Roode

‘Tuesday Is Bin Day’ – by Hilary Hughes

‘The Words That Mattered’ – by Wandile Kumako

‘All That Is Unsaid’ – by Amalie Rupasinghe

‘Quick and Deadly, or Harmless’ – by Mattea Orr

‘Stills’ – by Ruby Vincent

‘Star-Crossed to Oblivion’ – by Findlay Donnan 

‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming

‘Monster Upon Dana’ – by Immaculate Halla

‘All She Talks About Is Heroin’ – by Adam Graham

HONOURABLE MENTION

Honourable Mention recognizes stories that exhibited potential, displaying elements of promise in terms of imagination, character dynamics, and thematic exploration.

‘Butterfly Wings and Unkept Promises’ – by Zoe Ramasawmy

‘Battleground’ – by Adele Anderson

‘Sorry Kiri’ – by Leanne Jepson

‘Forever Sleep’ – by Zulaiga Mohamed Hoosain

‘Exhaustion Lit by Fury’ – by Alane Delano Obeso

‘Four Summers Down’ – by Claire de Wet

‘What Does Zack Fox Say?’ – by Clement Spocter

‘Triple Word Score’ – by Nadia Cassim

‘The Silence Within’ – by Lasheena Khan

‘The First Time’ – by J F Dangarembizi

MORE STORIES WE LOVED

In the “More Stories We Loved” category, the stories chosen resonated with the judges for a variety of reasons, either through unique perspectives, unusual settings, or unexpected emotional impact. These stories may require further polishing, but they possess an undeniable charm that has captured the attention and admiration of the panel.

‘The Door with No Handle’ – by Nazia Islam

‘Things He Said’ – by Shey-Lee Scott

‘Creeping Creeping’ – by Rick Neale

‘But Why?’ – by Nicole van Staden

‘Eggshells & Other Breakables’ – by Phoebe Bush

‘A Sign of The Times’ – by Liyema Ngcawe

‘Never Again’ – by Lynne Moses

‘My Blanket Called Nana’ – by Tamzyn Huggard

‘Promises and Lies’ – by Keith Williams

‘Little’s Ditch’ – by T. J. Perkins

‘The Journey of a Book’ – by Adele Dubarry

‘Graffiti’ – by Lucy Goodman

‘Friday’ – by Yvonne Wang

Our next short story competition will open November 2024 and closes on 31 March 2025.

The judges’ ratings and comments for the top three stories

A huge thank you to our judges this year: Lorraine Forrest-Turner, Karen Jeynes and Andrew Salomon.

First Place

'Return to Court' by Taki Scordis

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 13/15
• Originality 12/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 13/15
• Characterization 11/15
• Imagery and use of language 12/15
• Overall gut response to story 13/15
• TOTAL 74/90

Judges’ comments

• A fabulous tale that races along at a pace I could barely keep up with. I was torn between wanting to slow my reading down to enjoy the slick writing and get to the next paragraph fast enough to satisfy my burning curiosity. To say I was totally hooked from start to finish is a gross understatement. Like all great twists, the ending makes total sense. You go back in your mind and think ‘of course, it was so obvious’. Except it wasn’t. This story is a great example of where excellent use of characterisation and language is not compromised by a brilliant plot. We often read beautifully written stories that have little or no plot. This writer combines both arts perfectly. Lorraine
• An entertaining tale, characterised by well-timed humour. Andrew
• A sharp, well written story, which manages a number of twists and turns, before a satisfying ending. The characters are interesting and unexpected. There are great layers of meaning and metaphor. Karen

The Runner-up

'The People of Colour' by Ross Fleming

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 9/15
• Originality 13/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 10/15
• Characterization 14/15
• Imagery and use of language 13/15
• Overall gut response to story 12/15
• TOTAL 71/90
• An exceptional piece of poetic writing that deserves time to savour each word, phrase, sentence and paragraph. Unfamiliar with much of the language, I had to go back and read it several times to appreciate the full beauty and nuances of the writing. This is a story I would love to hear read out loud by a native speaker. I loved the originality of the language and characterisation. Lorraine
• Smart and effective use of onomatopoeia, to lend a poignant side to this story that takes an unflinching look at the grim physical and mental effects of poverty and marginalisation. Andrew
• A fascinating, flowing piece, almost meditative, that plays with sense of space and time. There’s an interesting approach to language and wordplay, and a sense that the writer is playing with their craft. Karen

Third Place

'The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I came to Grow Apples ' by Travis Inglis

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 11/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 12/15
• Overall gut response to story 10/15
• TOTAL 68/90
• This is a beautifully written love story with a simple plot that flows along charmingly. The first person narrative uses dialogue well to portray the love interest’s thoughts without needing to explain them. I particularly like the opening lines. ‘I lied at parties. It was an attempt to be anonymous, or perhaps interesting.’ These lines had me hooked right away. As the story unfolds and the lie about the orchard comes true, there’s a gentleness in the writing that befits the pace the trees and apples grow. The ending is a little ambiguous – but appropriate. Lorraine
• A touching exploration of the push and pull between recriminations and desire when an old flame that was never really extinguished can flare up again. And of how quickly time passes between youth and middle age. Andrew
• An intricately woven story, with excellent use of imagery. A strong central character, and a well-crafted story that offers the reader enough, without trying to resolve everything too neatly. It contains a kind of magic. Karen

Closing date:

30 september 2024, longlist announced:, 31 october 2024, winners announced:, 15 november 2024.

Submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: 

[email protected]

PRIZES FOR 2024

Second prize, and publication in an anthology of winning stories, first prize, third prize, the top three winners receive editorial comments on their submitted works., the basics of creative writing course, competition rules:.

• We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
• We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
• All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: [email protected]
• The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
• Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
• The 2024 theme is ‘It didn’t have to be this way’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘It didn’t have to be this way’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
• Only one story per entrant is allowed.
• We only accept entries written in English.
• The competition closes at midnight on 30 September 2024. The longlist will be published by 31 October 2024, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on 15 November 2024.
• Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
• Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
• Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
• The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
• If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
• The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
• Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.

ENTRY FORMAT:

• Only e-mail submissions are acceptable. Stories must be copied and pasted into the body of the email, AND sent as a Word document attachment. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: The 2024 Writers College Short Story Competition.  
• Each story must have a unique title. Do not use the theme as your title.
• Your email must state the title of your story, as well as your name. E.g. ‘Once Upon a Time’ – by John Smith
• Your email must include the declaration: ‘I declare that this is my own work, 100% unassisted by generative AI (such as ChatGPT etc.), and I have been published in a mainstream print or online publication fewer than four times.’
• Winners will be asked to show a valid proof of identity.
• State your word count in your email.
• Do not include your name on any page of your story. All entries will be judged blind.
• Use a font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 or more. Use 1.5 or double spacing between lines. We prefer a clear line between paragraphs rather than indenting.
• Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”, or on our webzine. Read these:

THE JUDGES:

Tania Hutley

Tania Hutley started her literary career by writing short stories and has been a runner up in New Zealand’s two most prestigious short story competitions, the Katherine Mansfield Awards and the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition. In 2010 she won the Page and Blackmore National Short Story Award.

After branching out into novel writing, she published two middle-grade chapter books for children. Then she wrote the Skin Hunter science fiction trilogy, and co-wrote The Trouble With Witches urban fantasy series. Under the pen name Talia Hunter, she has also published eleven contemporary romance and romantic comedy novels and even made the USA Today Bestsellers List.  

Though Tania started off with traditional publishers, she’s now enthusiastic about self-publishing and the control it gives to authors.

She was born in New Zealand, but has recently moved to Australia where she’s constantly amazed and not at all freaked out by the weird and wonderful critters. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her with a glass of wine, a good book, and a jumbo-sized can of bug spray.

Sonny Whitelaw

Sonny Whitelaw has enjoyed a successful career as a writer for over 30 years. Her work as a photojournalist has appeared in dozens of international magazines,  including National Geographic .

She won a Draco Award for her first novel, The Rhesus Factor , and all eight of her novels, including five based on the television series Stargate , have been international bestsellers.

A qualified adult educator with an MA in Creative Writing, Sonny taught writing courses to adults and teenagers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In 2008, she moved with her teenage son to a small lifestyle property in Oxford, Canterbury.

When she’s not having an enormous amount of fun exploring the South Island, Sonny splits her time between researching and writing scientific reports, editing fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, and working on her own exciting young adult science fantasy series called The Runes of Creation . Find out more about this series on her website.

Sonny tutors the Write a Novel Course, the Literary Short and Flash Fiction Course and the Advanced Novel Writing Course.

Andrew Salomon

Andrew Salomon is an award-winning author. His debut novel Tokoloshe Song was shortlisted for the Terry Pratchett First Novel Award.

Additionally, his short fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He has also received the PEN Literary Award for African Fiction and the Short.Sharp.Stories Award.

Andrew is the author of the young adult thrillers The Chrysalis and Wonderbear . His latest novel is the dark fantasy thriller The Equilibrist . He completed an MA at the Institute for Archaeology at University College London. Some of his most memorable experiences have been at rock painting and engraving sites in subterranean caves and shelters across the world. These often find their way into his fiction.

Alex Smith is the award-winning author of five novels:  Algeria’s Way ,  Drinking from the Dragon’s Well ,  Four Drunk Beauties,   Devilskein & Dearlove  (published by Random House/Umuzi) and  Agency Blue  (published by Tafelberg). 

Her work has received widespread acclaim.  Drinking from the Dragon’s Well  was longlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and  Devilskein & Dearlove  was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal in the UK.  Agency Blue  won a Sanlam Youth Literature Award, while  Four Drunk Beauties  won the Nielsen Booksellers’ Choice Award. 

Alex tutors the Novel Writing Course, the Advanced Novel Writing Course, the Advanced Short Story Writing Course and the Grammar Skills Course, sharing her knowledge and expertise with students of all skill levels.

Karen Jeynes

Karen has won numerous awards and nominations for her co-writing of TV series, including two Emmy nominations for Best TV Comedy. Currently, she is the head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing  ZANews: Puppet Nation  (winner of 22 South African Film and Television Awards and two Writer’s Guild of South Africa Awards for Best TV Comedy), as well as  Point of Order  (SAFTA winner for Best Game Show in 2017),  Comedy Central News  and  Parlement Parlement .

Lorraine Forrest-Turner

Lorraine Forrest-Turner has been writing professionally for over 30 years. As well as writing PR and marketing content for business, she also writes short stories and stage plays.

Two of her plays ( Seven Stages of an Affair and To Have and to Hold ) are published by Samuel French and three ( Dear Lily , Bank Holiday Mondays and Other Ways to Kill a Marriage and Three’s Company ) are published by Lazy Bee Scripts.

Many of her short stories have been published in fiction and women’s magazines. These include Planting Primroses in Potholes in Yours Fiction, Getting on with Freya in Take a Moment, and First Dance in Royal Marsden Hospital Magazine.

Her stage plays have won numerous awards and have been performed throughout the UK. These include Sparks at the Cockpit Theatre, London, Isosceles at the ABC Theatre in Cambridge, and Spin at the Kenton Theatre in Henley.

Lorraine has recently rewritten her stage play To Have and to Hold as a film script. It is currently in production. Her book of short stories 13:22 and other stories is published on Amazon.

The Short Story Writing Course

Download our free anthologies.

Click on a cover to download our free anthologies that showcase the winning stories from past competitions in South Africa and New Zealand (+/- 1MB). Since 2023, the competition has opened to international entries.

Past Winners of The Writers College Short Story Competition

We would like to acknowledge the past winners of our Short Story Competitions.

First Place: ‘ Return to Court ’ – by Taki Scordis

Runner-up: ‘’ The People of Colour ’ – by Ross Fleming

Third place: ‘ The Time Love Was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples ’– by Travis Inglis

First Place: ‘The Trolley Ladies’ by Jess Aitken

Runner-up: ‘The Bridge’ by John Tipper

Third place: ‘With Love: From Me to You’ by Christopher Reed

First Place: ‘Drainpipe’ by Akshata Rao

Runner-up: ‘let it be. waiho’ by Christopher Reed

Third place: ‘Paper Planes’ by Hannah Woolhouse

First Place: ‘Meat’ by Nicky Taylor

Runner-up: ‘The Long White Cloud’ by Toakahu Pere

Third place: ‘Truth-Telling’ by Nicola Bentley

First Place: ‘Crabs’ by Moira Lomas

Runner-up: ‘Golden’ by R. L. Jeffs

Third place: ‘Thunderstorm’ by Mary Francis

First Place: ‘White Boy Wonder’ by Victoria Louise Lawrence

Runner-up: ‘The Hole’ by Regan Drew Barsdell

Third place: ‘Alan Matsumoto’ by Paul M. Clark

First Place: ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ by Suzanne Main

Runner-up: ‘Moving Patterns’ by Nicholas Buck

Third place: ‘A Handful of Dust’ by Madeline Dew

First Place: ‘Aroha’ by Jeff Taylor

Runner-up: ‘Out to Sea’ by James MacTaggart

Third place: ‘Contractual Remedies’ by Barnaby McIntosh

First Place: ‘Norman’s Letter’ by Lizzie Nelson

Runner-up: ‘Being a Ghost’ by Abby Jackson

Third place: ‘Other People’s Lives’ by Ruth L. Jeffs

First Place: ‘The President, the Ski-Instructor and the Watermelon’ by Jade du Preez

Runner-up: ‘The Invisible Woman’ by Lizzie Nelson

Third place: ‘Not My Daughter’ by Monique Reymer

First Place: ‘The Barrier’ by Timothy McGiven

Runner-up: ‘A Certain Hardness’ by Collin Minnaar

Third place: ‘Gravity’ by Andy Evans

First Place: ‘Regrets’ by Aaron Ure

Runner-up: ‘The Effects of Cancellation’ by Sacha Norrie

Joint Third place: ‘Careless Driving’ by Stephanie Attwood , and ‘Milk and Two Sugars’ by David Hamilton

First Place: ‘Tell Me About the Love of Your Life’ by Feby Idrus

Runner-up: ‘Expunge’ by John Drennan

Third place: ‘The Bridge’ by Tony Wi

Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs

Freelance journalism for magazines and webzines, advanced freelance journalism, travel writing, write a non-fiction book, basics of creative writing, advanced creative writing, short story writing, advanced short story writing, write a novel, write a romance novel, advanced novel writing, writing science fiction and fantasy course, an introduction to poetry, advanced poetry, scriptwriting, advanced scriptwriting, writing for video games, writing books for children | part one, writing books for children | part two, write your memoir, advanced memoir writing, the writers' marketing and publishing toolkit, from idea to publication in 36 months, grammar for writers (english 1st language), grammar skills (english 2nd language), business writing toolkit, writing coach course, mastering punctuation, report writing and presentation, write better newsletters, copy-editing and proofreading, press release and media writing, copywriting, writing seo copy for websites, self-publish your e-book, self-guided 14-day creative writing intensive, self-guided 14-day story building intensive, free 5-day creative writing challenge, writers and editors for hire, how we train, terms and conditions, privacy policy, connect with us, © 2005 - 2024 the writers college all rights reserved, +44 (0)1892 710877, [email protected].

*Your language will be set using a browser cookie.

Log in to Music in Africa

• Login with Facebook
• Login with Google

Don't have an account? Sign up

Forgot your password?

All Artists & Industry (47 117)

Artists (34 053).

• Bands /groups
• Composers, arrangers & songwriters
• Choirs, orchestras & ensembles
• Session artists
• Solo artists
• Sound artists
• Spoken word

Artist Service Providers (6 956)

• Video Producers
• Legal Experts
• Audio Engineers
• Collecting Societies
• Distributors
• Marketing Experts
• Recording Studios
• Record Labels

Events & Venues (3 531)

• Event Suppliers

Archives & Media (2 953)

• TV channels
• Publications
• Radio Stations

Music Education (2 494)

• Primary & secondary schools
• University departments
• Community music centres
• Online educators
• Private tutors

Organizations, Networks & Associations (3 644)

• Culture development
• Legal/copyrights
• Production & Technical
• Associations

You are here

Call for entries: 2021 international songwriting competition.

The 2021 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in the US is now accepting entries. The winners of the competition will share more than $150 000 in cash and prizes. 

Both aspiring and established songwriters stand an opportunity to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena.

"ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate," the organisers said.

"ISC has the most prestigious panel of judges of all the songwriting and music contests in the world, offering exposure and the opportunity to have your songs heard by the most influential decision-makers in the music industry."

Some of the listed judges on the ISC website include Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Tom Waits and Arturo Sandoval. Previous African musicians who have been on the judging panel include  Amadou and Mariam  (Mali),  Youssou N'Dour  (Senegal) and  Femi Kuti  (Nigeria).

Who can apply?

The organisers are accepting applications from participants of any age and naitonality. The entries can be submitted in the following categories:

• Adult Album Alternative (AAA)
• Adult Contemporary (AC)
• Children's Music
• Comedy/Novelty
• Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
• Folk/Singer-Songwriter
• Instrumental
• Latin Music
• Lyrics Only
• Music Video
• Performance
• R&B/Hip-Hop
• Unpublished
• Unsigned Only
• World Music
• Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish – either in the same category or in multiple categories.
• There is no physical event to attend and anyone can enter from the safety and comfort of their own home.

Selection process

The jury will award winners based on:

• Creativity.
• Originality.
• Lyrics (excludes songs that do not have lyrics).
• Arrangement.
• Overall likeability.
• Production/recording quality.
• Vocal ability.

How to apply 

To fill out the online application form ,  entrants must:

• Read and understand the  guidelines .
• Pay $30 for every song submitted.

View how the awards process and schedule is done here .

Submission deadlines are as follows:

• Regular deadline – 23 September 2020.
• Extended deadline – 4 November 2020 .

For more information, send an email to  i [email protected] .

Most popular

Prophetess Beatrice

Marie Pascale

Audrey Bading M

South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA)

Aliant Qais Conrad Laureate

Sabu Jiyana and Matimba Project

Pole Classic

Amanie Illfated

Related articles.

• ACCES Music Conference

Disclaimer: Music In Africa provides a platform for musicians and contributors to embed music and videos solely for promotional purposes. If any track or video embedded on this platform violates any copyrights please inform us  immediately and we will take it down. Please read our Terms of Use for more.

• previous play next     repeat

• 021 813 9224

‘We Ate His Bowels First’

By gabisile shabangu, first place.

2021 SHORT STORY WRITING COMPETITION

We ate his bowels first. Snarling and gnashing at the still-warm entrails. Slathering and weeping as we licked blood from the soft ridges where his life used to be. Salt and iron. It was a birthing: reminiscent of how we came and how we would leave. The sinew and muscle we swallowed in deep, guttural sighs sowed themselves down our throats and back into our flesh inside. Blood for blood. We had lost so much when we writhed on the ground expelling dead matter from our wombs, blood dancing in stinging rivulets down our thighs. Salt and iron as we screamed. It had to happen like this.

We did not move in the dark this time. We did not conceal ourselves in the crevice of unknowing. We appeared like sun rays over the mountain, after the coolness of dawn. A promise. And like the sun, we touched everything, devouring it in our path to make up for what had been lost as we arrived. We ate his bowels first. Hooking our fingers to look between the muscle: searching through tendons and veins for his absolution. Something to round out the blood, make the flesh worth tasting, even though we ate it regardless. Your guts for ours, no matter how putrid yours might be. We ate his bowels first.

Before, when we bore our vocation in the dark, we ate with our eyes closed. Shame and foreboding had tied themselves into neat bows at the base of our lungs. We did not breathe for fear someone would find us out: send us back to the bedlam from which we had come. But, when we saw her running down the campus street, toga clutched desperately between her hands, Afro crushed by the indent of a pillow, we found ourselves reaching to catch up behind her. She looked like us. We could not reach her from the shadows. So we stepped forward into the flickering street lights of the small town. She looked like us. Then looked at us. We knew we had arrived before she even welcomed us.

We flexed inside her only with her permission. In the growling darkness of her soul we warmed ourselves. She let us establish a home on the border of her memory and the violation she acknowledged only before she slept. That subtle violence that retched her out into the streetlights, hair and body crushed from the outside in. From here we fed. Nourishing ourselves on the shame and foreboding that had settled like weeds between her lungs and gut. As she breathed, we gorged ourselves, becoming fuller and more flexible. We moved in silence. Growing. Until she bled. It was not a letting we could remember, although it was familiar. Her body pulsed and removed itself from itself. Leaking slowly in dancing rivulets. We stilled our feeding, made curious by the sudden change in the rhythm of her pain. It was an undulation she could bear.

As we turned inward, ready to eat yet more, she whispered gently, ‘This is my offering. You can nourish yourself on my blood if you replace it.’ We understood the solemn agreement that had been made between us. Blood for blood. And so she gave us eyes.

We grew together. She fragmented herself and reattached the parts that worked to make space for us. Before, we slipped between hosts. Asking quietly in dreams if we could enter. Never settling, always displaced. It is why we could not abandon the darkness we had made our home: it engulfed us when we became estranged from the bodies that kept us briefly rooted. As we floated, we fought chaos, and the amalgam of grief that gave us whispered form tore our bodies open. Each day was a coming together and falling apart.

You only live once when you are made of shadows. With her, we could live a thousand times in a single breath. Our sorrow solidified, became tangible, something we could kiss. Our presence made her bloom. Every morning we stared back at one another through shadowy eyes: eyes that held so much disillusion in a face that had only orbited the sun twenty-one times. As we grew within her and she morphed to accommodate us, her eyes darkened, and we curled our lips every time we greeted each other in the bathroom mirror. She looked at us, and we stared back.

On the outside, she played at life in a manner that made us gleam for its deceit. Her body still held the same shape. But there was violence on her lips and at the back of her throat. We tasted it in her blood. The discreet violence that unsheathed itself into her while she slept in an acquaintance’s dorm left opaque scars that she could not see. We traced our fingers across them every day. No one would anticipate the fury behind her grin. Her rage contracted. Every month came the letting, and she repeated the terms of our bond.

‘Slowly, child,’ we cooed, ‘you will soon lick your revenge clean off its bones.’

‘But I’m hungry,’ she said. We know.

It surprised us that she did not shrink in the way we were accustomed. She was deliberate in what she wanted. We basked in her certainty. She gave us life and eyes and now she would give us intentional bloodshed. She sharpened our resolve. Our hunger increased with her determination, and she allowed us to feed until we caught up with her. The next letting she changed the terms of our agreement.

‘It is time to replace what you have taken,’ she said. We stung with delight.

We were not familiar with hunting so unconcealed. She coaxed us from our shyness, nudging us forward into the streetlights and back over the tarmac where we met. Her rage and grief bolstered us: they seared white hot marks on the inside of her veins, warming us.

‘Where are we going?’ we sighed. She answered simply by dragging steadily on a Marlboro Gold as she navigated the pavement. We swallowed air and tobacco and the last remnants of our disquiet. We had never been so bold.

She stalked into the bar. We held our breath as she snaked through the crowd and haze. Who was it, we wondered? Which one had done it? But as we moved, we saw and saw and saw. It could have been them all. Her blood swelled thick and warm as the memory of what drove her hunger swirled in ugly wisps behind her eyes. We were overstimulated: the recollection of our own writhing and running brought forward by the flashing teeth leering behind half-filled glasses. Which one had done it, we wondered, to ourselves and to her? We felt ourselves fragmenting. We had never hunted this unconcealed. We promised blood for blood, but what of our own letting? She hesitated in the panic. Briefly, we became unmoored. And then she saw him. The hunger returned seven-fold, and we knew we would feast. It had to happen this way.

He had no suspicions when she took his hand and led him out the bar. The entire night she danced a deceit while she swallowed bile. We watched him from behind as they walked: saw the teeth glistening and the swell of his appetite. We were hungry too. She led him slowly, making him take in the shape of her body, the fullness of her Afro and the steadiness of her backbone. We saw right through the skin on his face. He wanted to crush that backbone into the base of his mattress: start what he could not finish when she woke up, before we found her running in the streets, toga clutched desperately between her hands, tears stinging cold shame into her cheeks.

He had no suspicions as they walked past the mini shopping mall; then left past the bottle store that sold wine and beer at 10% less. Then straight up past the Italian restaurant with an open gutter running next to it, which she had fallen into once on the way home from a friend’s birthday party in town. Still straight on past the neatly packed guesthouses in which neatly packed guests slept; and still straight on past the shared lawn of the all-women’s residences, one of which she used to live in. He had no suspicions as she led him through the entrance of the park that was closed after sunset but still accessible in the dark. We watched from behind, saw straight through the fucking skin on his face, at how he wanted to crush her backbone into his mattress while she slept. Our hunger burned welts into the roof of her palate.

He had no suspicions. And so, when she turned, wrapped her hands around his shoulders and stared measuredly through the skin on his face, he did not blink when her teeth parted and sank into his throat. We tasted his surprise. It warmed our teeth and tickled our lips. She tore through his scream, and we swallowed that too. Blood for blood. His flesh did not part willingly; it clung to his bones with an impressive obstinance. So we bit down into the memory of the dishevelled toga, the almost crushed backbone, and draped her jaw in the armour of that fury. She would make his skin part the same way he had hers. He looked at us and we looked back. We ripped and tugged at his gurgling cry until he drooped in our arms. His knees buckled and he folded into her mouth. We fell with him. Blood and tears streamed down her chest, her heaving breath beat life against the gargled moan thrumming in his.

‘It had to happen like this,’ we panted. He twitched slightly. His arms sagged around her sides and his head hung heavy in the nook of her neck. She wrapped her arms around his shoulder and deposited him on the ground. We heard him splutter for his mother. He shuddered meekly, still not blinking. We felt a warm stinging on our cheeks.

‘It had to happen like this,’ she said simply. We ate his bowels first.

Gabisile Shabangu is a budding South African speculative fiction storyteller. She is the winner of the SAWC Annual Short Story Competition for 2021. She has an Honours degree in English Literature and is currently completing the Literary Short & Flash Fiction online writing course with SAWC.

Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs

Freelance journalism for magazines and webzines, vryskutjoernalistiek vir tydskrifte en e-publikasies, advanced freelance journalism, travel writing, write a non-fiction book, creative writing courses, basics of creative writing, basiese kreatiewe skryfkursus, advanced creative writing, short story writing course, advanced short story writing, write a novel, write a romance novel, skryf 'n roman, advanced novel writing, writing science fiction and fantasy, an introduction to poetry, advanced poetry, scriptwriting, advanced scriptwriting, writing for video games, writing books for children | part one, writing books for children | part two, write your memoir, advanced memoir writing, business & grammar, grammar for writers (english 1st language), grammar skills (english 2nd language), business writing toolkit, writing coach course, mastering punctuation, report writing and presentation, write better newsletters, specialist courses, copy-editing and proofreading, press release and media writing, copywriting, writing seo copy for websites, self-publish your e-book, writing intensives, self-guided 14-day creative writing intensive, self-guided 14-day story building intensive, free 5-day creative writing challenge, buy a gift voucher, writing services:, writers and editors for hire, how we train, terms and conditions, privacy policy, connect with us, © 2005 - 2024 the writers college all rights reserved, (+27) 021 813 9224, [email protected], our refund policy.

If within seven days of starting your course you are not happy on your course, we can either transfer you to a different course or provide a full refund.

If you request a refund after seven days and before 30 days we will charge a 5% administrative fee, as well as any bank fees and tutor fees already incurred.

We do not offer a refund after 30 days on the course.

2023 Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop Fellows

Annually, The Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop holds and has nurtured various writers across Africa. Writers often seeks an opportunity to grow themselves and build their creative writing skill. This workshop has been a medium for many writers. In October 2022, Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop called for entrants within Africa. After critical assessment of applications, the organizers of the workshop is pleased to announce its first fellows.

Idembeka Creative Writing Workshop Fellows 2023

The se ten writers will attend a five-day virtual workshop , from the 9 th to 13 th of January 2023, taught by Frances Ogamba , Okey Ndibe , Ukamaka Olisakwe , T.L. Huchu , Mubanga Kalimamukwento , and Kasimma .

Works from the workshop will be considered for publication on Isele Magazine.

Due to their sponsors, the organizers of Idembeka  workshop can offer e ach fellow a modest stipend.

Ebubechukwu Udeoba (Nigeria)

Ebubechukwu Udeoba , a Nigerian writer . is an alumnus of the 2021 SprinNG writing fellowship. His work has appeared on Kalahari Review, NSPP anthologies , and elsewhere. He was a finalist for the Nigerian News Direct Poetry Prize, 2020, and was the 2nd Runner Up in the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) 2021. He’s on Twitter @ebubeudeoba.

Adaobi Chiemelu (Nigeria)

Adaobi Chiemelu is a consummate artist of Igbo-Nigerian descent. She is deeply passionate about beauty, truth, language, nature , and culture. She is currently working as an editor and researcher on a number of Igbo language and culture projects.

She is the author of Purple Heart , a poetry chapbook with a confessional theme, released October 2022 and available for purchase. You can find her online (IG/Twitter/YouTube) @adaolilies.

Matshediso Radebe (South Africa)

Matshediso Radebe is a 22-year-old South African short fiction writer . Her pieces tend to be built on characters and their relationships more than anything else. She ha s been writing since she was nine but only recently started taking short fiction craft more seriously.   She is a BA Communication student.

Immaculate Halla (Tanzania)

Immaculate Halla was born in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. An avid reader with a passion for writing short stories , novels, and poetry. She shows some of her work on Writers Space Africa , and she runs a substack newsletter called ‘One More Book’, which is a lounge for books, bookworms, and writers.

Mohan Akal (Kenya)

Akal Mohan is an emerging writer and poet currently based in Kampala, Uganda. He reads in trust and writes in faith and thinks of stories as a way of processing the world. 

Ntombikamama Moyo (Zimbabwe) ​

Ntombikamama Moyo has an Honours degree in Publishing Studies from the National University of Science and Technology and has previously worked as a Publisher ’ s assistant, copy editor , and proofreader. In 2020, she published her debut novel  In 30 Days .  Her short story ,   “ Stuck in Limbo ” , was shortlisted in a national writing competition and subsequently published in the  Intwasa Short Stories Anthology Volume 2  in 2022. Ntombi’s work is biased towards romance and drama which celebrates family and friendship values.  

Nnaemeka Nnam (Nigeria)

Nnaemeka Nnam is a Nigerian Poet who exists on the margin. Their poems have been published or are forthcoming at Nn ọ k ọ Stories, W&S and elsewhere. Nnaemeka wants you to embrace love, sadness and joy as they come . When they are not obsessing over books on Instagram, they are wishing upon a star.

Anjola Ogunsanwo (Nigeria)

Anjola Ogunsanwo holds a first-class degree in communications from Covenant University. She works as a copywriter and social media strategist and TV host. Her works have been featured o n Green Black Tales and Taint Taint Taint lit Mag . In 2020, her first feature manuscript Of Orchids and New Songs was shortlisted for the Quramo Writers prize.

Adeola Aregbesola (Nigeria)

Adeola Aregbesola is a 23-year-old Nigerian writer .

Zenande Black (South Africa)

Zenande Black is a writer who studied Film and Television. She writes scripts and short stories. Zen spends most of her time writing and growing her own food.

Congratulations to the Fellows!

If you wish for amazing opportunities as a writer, you can start by applying for Writing Fellowships and   contests

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 Yes, add me to your mailing list

Post Comment

Welcome to the United Nations

Africa’s creative industries on the move, breaking barriers

Get monthly e-newsletter.

The just-concluded Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) held in Durban, South Africa, ended with deals worth over $36 billion, according to AFREXIM Bank .

There were a series of activities at the fair that focused on the African creative economy as part of Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an initiative of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) to support Creative Economy growth on the continent.

CANEX activities at the fair included film policy workshops with film commissioners and policy makers from around the continent; CANEX Live, and the CANEX Summit featuring a series of expert-led discussions, fireside chats, and creative showcases, all aimed at giving an opportunity to show how the creative industry in Africa can contribute to economic growth.

CANEX comes at a good time for the creative industry in Africa. Over the last few years, African music has been gaining global appeal, with West African ‘Afrobeats’ and Southern Africa ‘Amapiano’ being at the forefront of this.

Songs by Nigerian artists Wizkid Ft. Tems and Ckay have topped global Shazam searches and charts in the last few months. At the same time, the number of African 2022 Grammy nominees is unprecedented.    

African fashion - propelled by a generation of innovative designers, local and diaspora markets, new support platforms and fashion weeks in Dakar, Kampala, Addis Ababa, no less impactful than their better-known contemporaries in Lagos and South Africa - is increasingly reaching new markets and gracing global catwalks.

Through a partnership with Afreximbank, 20 African fashion designers showcased at Portugal Fashion Week in October 2021.  

Film has not been left behind. Beyond Nollywood and the South African movies, films from Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, and other countries are also gaining regional and global recognition. The film industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, is witnessing a resurgence with the emergence of institutions and projects led by filmmakers like Petna Ndaliko Katondolo focusing on telling stories about Congolese history through film.

Creators such as musicians, comedians, designers, and others that leverage social media platforms to reach audiences directly and monetise the access are an important part of this industry.

For example,   Coco Emilia , the Cameroonian fashion entrepreneur has leveraged her 2.6 million Instagram followers to build multiple fashion and beauty businesses.  From Edith Brou , the Ivorian digital activist and TV personality, to Saad Lamjarred , a Moroccan singer-songwriter that used his social media to contribute to the mainstreaming of Moroccan pop, African creatives are now using social media and digital technology to reach new audiences, create new businesses and advocate around issues that are important to them and their communities.

Across all the creative sectors, Africans are actively leveraging the existing opportunities already on the continent to create new opportunities in ‘Createch’ and leapfrogging some of the barriers affecting their markets.

Some of these companies were present at CANEX. These included Black Rhino VR , a Virtual Reality production company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, that creates content using this kind of technology for sectors as diverse as education, tourism, and health. The co-founder, Brian Afande , was on one of the CANEX panels on Africa and The Global Digital Disruption and spoke about his company’s focus on not just making content but also on strengthening the ecosystem for Virtual Reality in Kenya and around the continent.

On the same panel alongside Emeka Uzoigwe – the acting director, Strategy and Innovation at Afreximbank; Bola Atta – the group director, Corporate Communication at UBA PLC;  and this writer - Ojoma Ochai – the managing partner, Creative Economy Practice at CC Hub (Nigeria).

The panel was moderated by Chao Maina , who is leading an innovative company – African Digital Heritage which is leveraging technology to stimulate digital archiving of African heritage.

In addition to digital disruption, the discussions in CANEX covered a range of topics including the importance of cultural festivals in the creative industries of Africa, monetising visual arts content, talent management, representation and branding among, other topics.

Overall, while there were issues highlighted in terms of gaps in talent, infrastructure, regulation and other areas, there was a sense of purpose and hope, that with emerging new companies like the Creative Economy Practice which aims to stimulate more innovation and technology application in Africa’s creative industry, HEVA Fund that is financing creative industry businesses in East Africa and the Afreximbank’s $500 million facility which will offer much needed access to capital, the creative economy in Africa has never been at a better place. Besides improving their economic welfare, it is an unprecedented opportunity for Africans to tell their own stories and promote their own narratives.

Ms. Ojoma Ochai is Managing Partner of The Creative Economy Practice at CC Hub in Nigeria.

Also in this issue

5 ways Africa can prepare for COP27

COP26: Landmark $500 million agreement launched to protect the DR Congo’s forest

Botswana: First high-burden country to reach key milestone in elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Curtain comes down at IATF 2021 in Durban – Deals worth US$36 billion recorded so far

Innovative tools helping grassroots women access land in Africa

Ending violence against women: Layla from Morocco shares her story

COVID-19 vaccines: AU, Africa CDC and COVAX call on donors and manufacturers to accelerate access

Swahili gaining popularity globally

Africa’s Free Trade Area to boost the creative industry, generate jobs for the youth

Pawners Paper

• Book Review
• Non Fiction
• Literary News
• Call For Submissions
• Literary Magazines
• Affiliate Shop

Header$type=social_icons

Featured post, pawners paper calls for submissions.

Pawners Paper Is Back! Attention writers and wordsmiths ! We are thrilled to announce that Pawners Paper after a long hiatus, is now open fo...

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024: Poetry, Short Stories, Fiction

access to the African writing competitions 2024, we compiled a list of writing opportunities for African writers. Enjoy writing competitions in Africa

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 List

• Ensure you read the submission guidelines before submitting for the writing contests
• Ensure you are conversant with what the organizers of the writing contests want. You can do this by checking the works that won the previous contests.
• Ensure you meet the submission deadline for the writing contest. One mistake most writers make while submitting for contests in 2024, is omitting the date the submission closed or not paying close attention to it.
• Eligibility requirement for the contests. Checks if there's one provided for in the contest.
• And lastly, take a deep breath and submit your entries after proper checks for possible errors.
• International Writing Competitions 2024
• Poetry Competitions In 2024
• Essay Contests In 2024
• Poetry Competitions In Nigeria 2024
• Writing Competitions In Nigeria 2024
• Essay Contests In Nigeria 2024
• Poetry Competitions UK 2024
• Writing Competitions UK 2024
• Essay Contests UK 2024
• Writing Competitions In USA 2024
• Essay Contests USA 2024
• Writing Competitions In Canada 2024
• Poetry Competitions In Canada 2024
• Writing Competitions In Australia 2024
• Poetry Competitions In Australia 2024
• Writing Competitions United Arab Emirates 2024
• Short Story Competitions 2024
• Literary Magazines Accepting Submissions 2024
• Poetry Competitions For African Writers 2024

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024

• Short Story Competitions In Nigeria 2024
• Mental Health Poetry Competitions 2024

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 January 

• Defenestrationism's Lengthy Poem Contest 2024
• Gemini Magazine Poetry Prize 2024
• The Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies 2024
• Quantum Shorts Flash Fiction Contest 2024
• The Colorado Prize for Poetry 2024
• The Gulliver Travel Grant 2023
• Rattle Chapbook Prize 2024
• Chris O'Malley Prize in Fiction 2024 and Phyllis Smart-Young Prize in Poetry 2024
• Pawners Paper's Spoken Word and Poetry Contest 1.0 2024
• Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest 2023
• Story Unlikely Annual Short Story Contest 2024

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 February 

• Dragonblade Publishing's Write Track Competition 2024
• The Ambroggio Prize 2024
• Harold Morton Landon Translation Award 2024
• The Tower Poetry Competition 2024

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 March 

• The 2024 New Poets Prize
• Black Women’s Non-Fiction Manuscript Prize 2024
• Indignor House Writing Competition 2024

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 April

• Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest 2024
• SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction 2024 | $4,000 Cash Prizes 
• Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest 2024 |$2000+ Cash Prize  
• Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize 2024 | $5,000 Cash Prize
• Poetry International Prize 2024 | $1000 Cash Prize 
• 2024 Oversound Chapbook Prize | $1000 and 50 Copies
• The Iowa Poetry Prize 2024
• Own Voices, Own Stories Award 2024 | $2000+ Cash Prizes  
• Al Blanchard Award 2024 | $100 Cash Prize And More  
• $100 cash award.
• Publication in 2024’s Best New England Crime Stories anthology
• Free admission to the Crime Bake Conference.
• A handsome plaque.
• The winner is not required to attend the conference.
• The Author of Tomorrow Award 2024 | £1000+ Cash Prizes 

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 May 

• The Waterston Desert Writing Prize 2024 | $3000 Cash Prize  
• 15th Call for the Casa África Essay Awards 2024 | 2000 Euros Cash Prize
• Montreal International Poetry Prize 2024 | $20,000 Cash Prize
• Academy of American Poets' James Laughlin Award 2024 | $5,000 Cash Prize and Sponsored Residency
• ABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction 2024 | $5,000 Cash Prize
• Academy of American Poets' Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize 2024 | $25,000 Cash Prize
• The Yeovil Literary Prize International Writing Competition 2024
• The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing 2024|$10,000 and publication

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 June

• Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest 2024 | $1,000 Cash Prize 
• Bard College's The Bard Fiction Prize 2025 | $30,000 and Writer Residency
• The Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award 2024 | $25,000 Cash Prize
• Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2024
• The Bridport Prize 2024
• 2024 McLellan Poetry Competition
• The Goi Peace Foundation's International Essay Contest For Young People 2024 | $700+ Cash Prizes
• University of Akron Press's Akron Poetry Prize 2024 | $1,500 and Publication
• Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors Short Story Contest 2024 | No Entry Fee
• The Griffin Poetry Prize 2025 | $130,000 Cash Prizes
• The 2024 Poetry London Prize | $8,000 Cash Prizes
• Drue Heinz Literature Prize 2024 | $15,000 Cash Prize and Publication 

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 July 

• The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2024 | $1,000 Cash Prize  
• The Wanjohi Prize for African Poetry | $100, $50
• The HG Wells Short Story Competition 2024 | $1,000+ Cash Prizes and Publication  

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 August 

• The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2024 | Poetry and Short Story
• £5,000 prize money
• (£2,500 for the Poetry Winner, £2,500 for the Short Fiction Winner)
• Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual
• A five-day course from Arvon (Fiction Winner)
• Two online masterclasses with Arvon (Poetry Winner)
• One-year print subscription to Granta (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
• One-year digital subscription to Mslexia (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
• Six-week writing poetry course from Curtis Brown Creative (Poetry Winner)
• Full membership to The Poetry Society (Poetry Winner)
• A course from the Poetry School (Poetry Winner)
• Consultation with Redhammer Management (Fiction Winner)
• Six-week writing short stories course from Curtis Brown Creative (Fiction Winner)
• Full membership to Litopia (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
• One-year Deluxe Subscription to The London Magazine (Poetry & Fiction Winners)

Writing Competitions In Africa 2024 September 

• Rattle Poetry Prize 2024 | $15,000 Cash Prize  

List Of Writing Competitions In Africa 2023

• European Writing Prize 2023
• The prize for the winner will be as follows:
• 50 euros paid via PayPal or bank transfer
• Automatic lifetime membership into The European Society of Literature
• Publication in the following quarterly literary journal of TESL
• Potential talks with literary agents — they may scout the shortlist and winners.
• The prestige associated with being victorious! An unmatched opportunity to get your foot in the burgeoning literary industry of Europe and the Americas.
• Island Prize For African Writers 2023
• International Student Essay Competition 2023
• Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award 2023
• Nine Dots Prize 2023
• Ako Caine Prize For African Writing 2023
• Welkin Writing Prize 2023

I’m running this competition as a thank you to the writing community which has done so much to support both my writing and my freelance work over the past few years. In September 2022, I was lucky enough to receive a DYCP grant from Arts Council England to fund paid research and writing time, and this competition feels like a small thing that I can do to pay forwards my good fortune. As such, the competition is free to enter and I hope it will be a welcoming space for all writers. The competition is open to all forms of narrative prose, be that flash fiction, short-short, vignette, haibun, hermit crab, prose poem or work that sits outside such labels. There is a whole universe (or welkin) of possibilities.

• 1st place (£150 + annual membership of Writers' HQ worth £190)
• 2nd place (£75 + AdHoc Fiction book voucher worth £25)
• 3rd place (£50 + a copy of "Deflection" by Roberta Beary)
• Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest 2023
• Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest 2023
• Deep Wild 2023 Graduate Student Poetry Contest  
• Global Essay Competition 2023
• Center For African American Poetry and Poetics Book Prize 2023
• The Diana Woods Memorial Award 2023
• The Graywolf Press African Fiction Prize 2023
• Annual BSFS Poetry Contest 2023
• Please no previously published submissions.
• Winners will receive a cash prize, convention membership and be invited to read their winning entries at Balticon. Attendance at Balticon is not required to win.
• Winning poems will be published one time in the BSFAN, the Balticon convention souvenir book. In addition, a pdf version of the winning poems as they appear in the BSFAN will be available on the Balticon Poetry Contest website. Writers retain all rights to their work. By submitting to the contest, entrants agree to these terms
• Stephen Spender Prize 2023
• 2023 Helen Schaible International Sonnet Contest
• Winchester Poetry Prize 2023
• The 1729 Book Prize in Poetry 2023
• SURGING TIDE: THE ANNUAL SUMMER WRITING CONTEST
• 2023 Platt Family Scholarship Essay Contest
• 3rd Singapore Unbound Awards for the Best Undergraduate Critical Essays on Singapore and Other Literatures 2023
• The Granum Foundation Prize 2023
• The Yale Drama Series 2023
• Lucky Jefferson Poetry & Prose Summer Contest 2023
• Palette Poetry's Chapbook Prize 2023
• The Kari Howard Fund for Narrative Journalism 2023
• The Masters Review’s Short Story Award for New Writers 2023
• The Edinburgh Award for Flash Fiction
• Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2023
• The Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing 2023: The Hungry Tide 30th Anniversary Special
• The Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing
• The Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award 2023
• Academy For Teachers: Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest 2023
• The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multilingual Texts 2023 
• The Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction, Issue 24
• The New York Labor History Association’s Bernhardt Prize 2023
• Frontier Poetry's Roots and Roads Prize 2023
• Source Writing Prize 2023
• Mslexia Women's Fiction Competition 2023
• The César Egido Serrano Foundation 2023
• The Iowa Short Fiction Award & John Simmons Short Fiction Award 2023
• Jeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize 2023
• The Peter Poetry Prize 2023
• The National Poetry Competition 2023
• The ServiceScape Short Story Award 2023
• Frontier Poetry's Award For New Poets 2023
• The Benjamin Franklin Essay Competition 2023
• 2024 Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize
• Happiful Poetry Prize 2024 
• The Poetry.com Contest 2023
• One Teen Story Contest 2023
• 2024 Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition
• The Betty Trask Prize 2023
• Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2023
• Cafe Writers Poetry Competition 2023
• Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest 2023
• 2023 Information Warfare Essay Contest
• How might the opening salvoes of the next war begin in the information space,and what should be done now to defend against those attacks? How might our adversaries be planning to win without fighting by using information warfare?
• What specific information warfare technologies (offensive and defensive) should the U.S. military be investing in now?
• How can the military recruit, educate, train, and retain the information warriors it needs to prevail in the information environment?
• Are there any recent case studies (that went well or poorly) that can provide lessons to guide strategy, operations, tactics, or acquisition over the next three to five years?
• What role will electronic warfare and emissions control play in the future of naval warfare?
• J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction 2023
• The Sarah Maguire Poetry in Translation Prize 2023
• The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
• Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition 2023
• Troubadour International Poetry Prize 2023
• first prize £2,000
• second prize £1,000
• third prize £500
• plus 20 commendeds
• plus – winners & commendeds will be invited to read with judges (live & online) at the Bedford Park Festival ‘Yeats Birthday’ poetry event in June 2024.
• Afritondo Short Story Prize 2024
• The Masters Review Chapbook Competition 2024
• The 2023 Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition
• 2024 Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award 
• The Lyric College Poetry Contest 2023
• The Writivism Literary Prizes 2023
• The Tony Quagliano Poetry Award 2023
• Harbor Editions' Laureate Prize 2024
• Lilith Magazine Annual Fiction Contest 2023
• Kinsman Quarterly’s Iridescence Award 2023

• Advertise With Us

Sharing is caring

|recent posts$type=blogging$m=0$cate=0$sn=0$rm=0$c=12$va=0.

• Opportunities
• Call for Submission
• Essay Contests
• Annual Writing Contest
• SHORT STORIES
• Photography
• Book Reviews
• Literary Events
• Popular Authors Biographies
• Freelancing
• Non-Fiction
• Flash Fiction
• Publishers weekly
• Art and Photography
• Featured Profile
• African (65)
• Annual Writing Contest (16)
• Art and Photography (1)
• Articles (153)
• Book Reviews (10)
• Call for Submission (101)
• Contest (425)
• Essay Contests (56)
• Featured Profile (1)
• Fiction (12)
• Flash Fiction (3)
• Literary Events (7)
• Literary Magazines (121)
• Literary News (91)
• Newsletter (1)
• Non-Fiction (4)
• Opportunities (156)
• Poetry (91)
• SHORT STORIES (16)

/fa-clock-o/ |TRENDING$type=list

RECENT_$type=list-tab$date=0$au=0$c=5

Comments_$type=list-tab$com=0$c=4$src=recent-comments, random_$type=list-tab$date=0$au=0$c=5$src=random-posts, /fa-fire/ year popular$type=one.

Subscribe To Pawners Paper

• Privacy Policy
• Terms And Conditions

Footer Social$type=social_icons