Writing Competitions
Writing competitions are a great way to test a writer's creative skills, create a motivation to write and a concrete goal, and achieve - with any luck! - publication.
Why not check out the competitions below!
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Please note, the writing competitions listed on this page are not endorsed by the CWEP.
We recommend checking the entry requirements and opening/closing dates.
Students should check with their carers or teachers before entering a competition.
Please beware that some of the competitions have a small entry fee.
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Australian Competitions
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(creative non-fiction for young regional writers)
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State Library Queensland Young Writers Award
(for Qld youth 18-25yrs)
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QATSIF Creative Arts Competition
(open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Qld Grades 7-12)
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Art Design Awards & Literary Competition
(open to Qld students Grades 5 -12)
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(for 16 years and over)
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The Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition
(for children and young adults who are blind or low visioned)
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The Roly Sussex Short Story Competition
(includes a category for secondary students)
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The KSP Spooky Story Competition
(free for youth)
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(age range: up to 17 years)
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Whitlam Institute’s ‘What Matters?’
(for students Grades 5-12)
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Peter Cowan Short Story Competition/Julian Cowan Youth Award
(for writers12-18 years; includes an entry fee)
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Scribblers Festival: The Golden Pen’ Award
(age range: 3 categories across Year 4-Year 12)
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(age range: Year 7-9; Year 10-12)
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Norman McVicker Youth Literary Award
(age range: up to 18 years; includes entry fee)
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The Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition
(age range: up to 19 years)
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Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Writing Competition
(age range: up to 18 years)
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Terror Australis Children’s Short Story Competition
(age range: K to 16 years)
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(Age range: up to 18 years)
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International Competitions
(age range: 11-21years; free entry)
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(free entry; prose and poetry)
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Bennington Young Writers Awards
(age range: Year 9-Year 12)
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(age range: 13-19 years)