A collection of writing competitions, prizes, awards and opportunities open for submissions throughout the year for adult writers residing in NSW, Australia.
APRIL
7 April: 2026 Emerging Writers’ Awards
The Emerging Writers’ Awards are dedicated to uncovering the hottest new scripts and writing talent across Australia, these awards are a purpose-built and industry-recognised opportunity for members to have their work showcased directly to industry decision-makers. The winning writers will share in $10,000 worth of prize money.
13 April: Griffith Review Emerging Voices Competition
Griffith Review is looking for original submissions of fiction and creative non-fiction from 3,500 – 5,000 words. Up to four winning entries will be selected by judges Melanie Ostell (Melaine Ostell Literary), Margot Lloyd (Pink Shorts Press) and Sharlene Allsopp (author) as well ad Griffith Review’s editorial staff. The winners will share a prize pool of $20,000 and have their work published in an edition of Griffith Review.
15 April: The Southerly Poetry Prize
Southerly is excited to announce Australia’s newest literary prize. The inaugural Southerly Poetry Prize will open for entries from 1 March with a submission deadline of 15 April. All Australian poets are eligible to enter. The winner will receive a cash prize of $2000 AUD, with their winning entry published in Southerly 81.1 in October 2026.
23 April: 25/26 The Rocks Creative Terraces EOI
Create NSW invites eligible NSW literature practitioners to apply for 12- or 24-month residencies in terrace housing on Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Open to all NSW Literature Practitioners career stages. Residencies start from June 2026.
28 April: Spill the Beans Member Prize
Poets, novella, children’s and memoir writers. Here is your chance to win 50 professionally printed copies of your book (up to 100 pages), including a custom-designed cover. To be eligible, you must be a current Spill the Beans member and submit a 400-word story or 60-line (including stanza breaks) poem to all three Spill the Beans challenges. The opening date is 25 March. The first challenge opens 25 March until 28 April. The second challenge opens 26 May until 26 June and the final one opens 25 July and closes 28 August.
28 April: Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Short Story Writing Competition 2026
The Jane Austen Literacy Foundation invites writers worldwide (aged 16+) to enter their annual short story competition. This year’s theme is A Story Worth Telling — write an original fictional story in any setting, time period or genre. Three winning stories will be recorded as a worldwide audiobook by multi-award-winning Austen narrator Alison Larkin, and the overall winner announced in Chawton, Jane Austen’s literary home, with Jane’s family in June 2026.
30 April: The Best of Times Short Story Competition #41 (Autumn 2026)
Best of Times is looking for humorous short stories up to 2,500 words. There are prizes for first, second and third place, up to 60% of the entry fees received. Highly commended and commended stories will receive certificates.
30 April: Flying Islands Poetry 2026 Manuscript Prize
Flying Islands Poetry is pleased to announce our third biennial manuscript prize! The winner will receive $1000 cash, publication in the Flying Island Pocket Poets Series (with 30 free copies to the poet) and a possible short writer’s residency at Arbaro Writers and Artists Residency. Other finalists may also be offered publication in the Flying Island Pocket Poets Series.
30 April: Nan Tien Temple Children’s Writers & Illustrators Residency
Applications are now open for a unique residency supporting children’s authors and illustrators to develop new work in a peaceful and culturally rich environment. Taking place 29 September – 11 October 2026, this residency, now in its second year, offers time, space, and inspiration within a working Buddhist temple. Shaping up to become a long-term annual program, the residency aims to provide ongoing opportunities for Australian creatives to explore storytelling over the years to come.
MAY
1 May: 2026 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards
The Banjo Paterson Writing Awards were established in 1991 to honour Banjo Paterson, a great Australian writer, and favourite son of Orange. The writing competition has three separate categories: Short Story writing, Contemporary Poetry, and a Children’s Writing Awards category to encourage and inspire children to develop their writing skills.
15 May: Eastwood Hills FAW Literary Competition 2026
Eastwood Hills FAW is accepting writing submissions on any theme in the categories of flash fiction, poetry, memoir, and short story.
15 May: Boree Log Award for Bush Verse 2026
Enter ballads in perfect rhyme and metre, with max 80 lines and an Australian bush theme.
10 May: Men Like Me Poetry Competition
To participate in the Men Like Me Poetry Competition, submit your original poem. This competition open to everyone. The first-place winner will receive $300, the second-place winner will be awarded $150, and the third-place winner will earn $100. All poems receiving Honourable Mentions will be featured in their published collection, ensuring that every voice is heard and celebrated.
18 May: 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize
ABR welcomes entries in the 2026 ABR 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 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English. This is the sixteenth time the Jolley Prize has run and it is one of the world’s leading prizes for short fiction.
31 May: The Bath Novel Award
The Bath Novel Award 2026 is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA novels of every genre. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published or independently published without advance.
31 May: The NSW Poetry Prize
NSW Poetry Prize is an independent, grassroots competition open to creators and lovers of poetry, from any country, aged 16 years and over. The theme for this year’s competition is comedy. The winner of the first place prize will receive $200.
31 May: Artist in Residence – The Old School Mt Wilson
The Old School House, Mount Wilson commenced an Artist in Residence program in 2019, providing an opportunity for artists to work, be supported by and engage with the local community. The program provides residency, accommodation and studio, for three or four weeks for both emerging and established artists and suits musicians/composers, writers, visual and textile artists.
JUNE
1 June: 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. The Novel Prize offers US$10,000 to the winner and simultaneous publication of their novel in Australia and New Zealand by Giramondo, in the UK and Ireland by Fitzcarraldo Editions, and in North America by New Directions. The prize recognises works which explore and expand the possibilities of the form, and are innovative and imaginative in style.
5 June: MeetCute Storyteller Competition
MeetCute are searching for the next big voice in romance fiction and the winner will be offered literary representation! Enter your opening chapter to a romance novel. From sizzle to slow burn, we are open to all types of romantic fiction from romantic comedy to historical romance to newer sub genres such as romantasy and mafia romance. The first prize winner will receive £500 and an offer of literary agency representation from Kate Nash Literary Agency Ltd.
7 June: Bath Flash Fiction Award
We host two international flash fiction writing competitions; the Bath Flash Fiction Award, and the Bath Novella-in-Flash Award. In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections, and also as single author novellas-in-flash.
22 June: Frank Moorhouse Fellowship for Young Writers
The Copyright Agency Frank Moorhouse Fellowship for Young Writers will support a writer aged 18-35 years to develop and write a new work of fiction.
30 June: Teacher, Teacher Anthology
Author and editor Dianne Bates is collecting stories from teachers all around Australia about their teaching lives for a proposed anthology titled Teacher, Teacher. Each story – with a title – should be 1,000-1,500 words. At the end of the book, there will be a biography of contributors. Payment will be at ASA rates. If you are interested in contributing to this anthology, please contact Dianne (Di) Bates at dibates@outlook.com with your expression of interest.
SEPTEMBER
30 September: Rhiza Edge Short Story Competition
Rhiza Books, in partnership with Wombat Books, are looking for short stories with the theme of “Hidden Creatures”. They are open to stories of fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action and crime. With a focus on cryptids / cryptozoology they invite exciting stories that embrace folklore, mystery, speculation… and all the shadowy places in between. Stories can be of length 1000 to 5000 words.
NOVEMBER
30 November: The 2027 Perentie Prize
The Perentie Prize is for graphic novel manuscripts (text only) is now open. The winner will receive an offer of publication with Perentie Press, as well as a $2000 advance towards royalties.
GENERAL JOURNAL & MAGAZINE SUBMISSIONS
Babyteeth Journal
Accepting submissions across many artforms, including poetry, prose and scripts.
Buzz Words
Buzz Words is the premier twice-monthly e-magazine for those in the Australian children’s book industry with information about Australian and overseas markets, events, opportunities, and industry news, as well as interviews and feature articles. There are opportunities for subscribers to get published in the magazine or book review website.
Cordite Poetry Review
A quarterly Australian and international journal of poetry, criticism and research. Regularly open for submission of unpublished poems from Australian and overseas-based writers.
Frankie Magazine
A bi-monthly magazine welcoming submissions from writers that have their own individual voices, speaking their minds.
Griffith Review
Open four times each year, accepting submissions of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and occasional special projects.
HEAT Literary Magazine
Welcoming submissions of fiction, essays, hybrid forms and translated works, HEAT is published five times a year in a slim, intimate format, that throws sharp focus on the work of the featured authors.
Island Magazine
A not-for-profit premium Australian literary magazine of fiction, poetry, nonfiction and arts features. Looking to provide opportunities for new, emerging and established writers from Australia, New Zealand and Australians living abroad.
Kill Your Darlings
KYD now accepts short fiction submissions from members year-round, with a minimum payment of $1000. (Writers who aren’t yet members are welcome to join and submit.)
Mascara Literary Review
Currently accepting fiction and non-fiction up to 3000 words and reviews 1200-1500 words.
Meniscus
An online, free access literary journal publishing high quality, innovative poetry, short fiction, and creative essays in English, or in other languages with a good parallel translation. Meniscus publishes two issues a year: in April, and in October.
Overland Magazine
Accepting submissions of completed fiction and non-fiction articles and poems, 3000 words or less.
Quadrant
Accepts unsolicited, previously unpublished articles that fit within its general profile of a journal of ideas, essays, literature, poetry and historical and political debate.
The School Magazine
Australia’s most-loved literary magazine for children. The School Magazine is open year-round to stories, articles, poetry, plays and persuasive writing for readers aged 7–12. They welcome submissions from both established and emerging writers, respond within 30 days and pay on publication.
Southerly
One of Australia’s oldest literary journals, Southerly accepts short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and academic essays from Australian and New Zealand citizens, or residents of Australia.
The Human Writers
The Human Writers began as an Australia-based webzine but is now seeking previously unpublished non-fiction contributions from writers aged 50+ from all around the world. Writers 50+ can send stories of 1000 words or fewer, including a photo with their piece, and where they live.
Varnish
Varnish discards traditional word limits and encourages longer works, allowing more thematically complex and timeless explorations, aiming to introduce readers to fresh mental frameworks and unexamined connections. Play with form, play with length, play with the reader.
Westerly
Publishes short stories, micro-fiction, poetry, memoir and creative non-fiction, artwork, comics, essays and literary criticism.
Writing NSW publishes these free listings in good faith but does not endorse or warrant the accuracy of any information.
Find out more about getting published and submitting your writing to journals with our information sheets.