Whether you need a reset on your writing in the second half of the year, or a deadline to work towards to motivate you, Mona's Fiction Editor, Lauren, brings you the second half of her series on writing competitions to enter in 2022. Writing competitions are usually sparse in the final months of the year, so it's time to motor, Monas! There are competitions for a variety of forms below, so there's no excuse not to take that next step and share your writing with the world! Please note that the competitions are sorted by CLOSE dates.
June
30th June: The Society of Women Writers NSW – National Writing Competition 2022
This competition is open to women writers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, aged 18 years or over. There are fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories, with prizes awarded for first, highly commended and commended entries. First prize ranges from $500 to $300 depending on category. Entry fees apply, up to $40. Entry is via their website: https://womenwritersnsw.org/news/national-writing-competition-2021-153-154
30th June: The Rose Frankcombe Short Story Competition 2022
A short story competition run by the Society of Women Writers, Tasmania, open to all Australians, on the theme of joy. Maximum word count for an entry is 1500 words and the entry fee per piece is $10.00. First prize is $500.
Entry via email: wendylaing02@gmail.com and more information available on their website: http://www.swwtas.org/249437482
30th June: Dorothea McKellar Poetry Award for School Students
One for our Young Monas, The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award is Australia’s largest and oldest poetry competition for school students. There are many age-determined categories and varied prizes. This year the theme is 'in my opinion' (however, all writing will be accepted). All entries can be submitted online via: www.dorothea.com.au
The Northern Beaches Readers Festival is holding a new short story for short form fiction stories run during their festival. Stories should follow the theme ‘fire and water’ and entries are $10 per piece. Prize money available for first prize is $500. Entry is via their website: https://www.nbrf.com.au/shortstory
July
8th July: The 2022 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers
Entries are open to unpublished writers of adult fiction and adult narrative non-fiction. You must have a complete manuscript to enter. The winning entry is awarded $10,000 and a 12-month mentorship with Hachette Australia. There are very specific entry requirements, so check their website for more information: https://emergingwritersfestival.org.au/the-richell-prize-for-emerging-writers/
15th July: 2022 E.M. Fletcher Short Story Writing Competition The annual E.M. Fletcher Writing Award is open to short stories that are based on family history or genealogy. The word limit is 2000 words and first prize is $1000 cash and publication in the December edition of Family History ACT’s journal The Ancestral Searcher. Entry is via their website: https://www.familyhistoryact.org.au/writingcompetitioninformation
29th July: Boroondara Literary Awards This competition is a partnership between the Rotary Club of Balwyn and the City of Boroondara and there are prizes awarded for writers of all ages. There is no theme and there are both poetry and short story competitions. The word limit is 3000 words and entries are free. First place secures $1500. Entry is via their website: https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/about-council/awards/boroondara-literary-awards
31st July: AAWP/Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize
The AAWP/Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize welcomes entries from emerging and established non-fiction writers of autobiography, biography, memoir, and essays, and celebrates excellence in nonfiction, creative nonfiction and hybrid modes of storytelling.
The word limit is 3500 words and first prize is $500, a one-year subscription to Westerly, and conference fees to attend the annual conference of the Australasian Association of Writing Programs. Entry is via their website: https://aawp.org.au/news/opportunities/
August
1st August: The 2022 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition
This competition is open to all short story writers and this year the theme is 'water under the bridge'. Short and long listed entries will be published in an anthology. First prize is $250, a Hawkeye Publishing Gift Voucher and the anthology cover will be based on the winner’s story. The maximum word count is 1,000 words and the entry fee is $15. Entry is via their website: https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/writing-competitions/sydney-hammond-memorial-short-story-writing-competition-2021/
29th August: The Woollahra Digital Literary Award
This is a particularly exciting national literary award encouraging writers producing work in a digital medium. The award seeks submissions of a literary nature that are digitally born – published online or in electronic form. There are four categories in which to enter: fiction, non-fiction, poetry and digital innovation. Word limits vary from 3 000 - 30 000, depending on chosen form, so check their website for details and entry. Prize money ranges from $2500 to $1000. Entry is $12 via their website: https://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/library/whats_on/digital_literary_award
31st August: Jean Stone 2022 Poetry Award
This competition is run by the Fellowship of Australian Writers for up to 60 lines of poetry, with a first prize of $500. Entries are via their website: https://fawnsw.org.au/entry-jean-stone-2022-poetry-award/
September:
8th September: KSP Short Fiction Competition 2022
The Katherine Susannah Pritchard Short Fiction Competition is open to Australian residents and citizens. There are youth and adult categories and entry is free for youth, $15 for adults. All fiction styles and themes are acceptable, the word limit is 2 500 and first prizes vary according to category, but include cash and writing residencies. Entry is via Submittable, see their website to assist with set up of a Submittable account: https://www.kspwriterscentre.com/short-fiction-competition
30th September: 2022 New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing There are over 6 categories and prizes for this award, and all types of fiction, poetry and non-fiction are accepted from writers all over Australia. There is also a category for youth. Fees for entry are between $5-$10 and entry is via email: nethunderboltprize@gmail.com For terms and categories, visit their website: https://www.newc.org.au/thunderbolt-prize-for-crime-writing.html
Ongoing Opportunity: Call for Women With Disabilities Australia Blog Posts Why not use the opportunity of a lull in competitions to submit a blog post to the Women With Disabilities Australia website? There are conditions and information about submitting on their website: https://wwda.org.au/wwda-lead-blog/
Don't forget that Mona's blog opens for entries each month from the 1st to the 7th! We accept fiction and non-fiction pieces up to 1500 words, and poetry of 40 lines - this could be one poem or a collection. There is no entry fee for submission and we pay for every piece and we love showcasing writing from women who live in rural, regional and remote Australia! Visit our submissions site now: https://www.monamagazine.com/copy-of-submissions
Have you entered any of the competitions in our series 22 Writing Competitions to Enter in 2022? How did you find the process? Let us know by commenting on our blog or socials!
Enjoy reading writing by women that addresses the real issues in rural and regional Australia? Order your copy of our second issue of Mona Magazine now!