Is your child a budding storyteller, an imaginative wordsmith? Encouraging hobbies like reading and writing, or even facilitating their explorations through workshops and events, are great ways of helping their progress. But sometimes, they need more motivation, or they want to flex their competitive muscles – not to mention the incredible benefits of positive recognition of their hard work. That’s where writing competitions and prizes come in!
Whether your aspiring young storyteller or word wizard enjoys writing fictional stories, poems, novellas, or nonfiction, they are sure to find the perfect writing adventure from our list of collected Australian writing competitions that are open at the moment.
Best children’s writing prizes to enter in 2023
Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition
Closes: 1 December
Entry fee: $20
The Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition is open to all Australian high school students. It is a wonderful opportunity for serious student writers, encouraging them in their literary growth - and there are also some fantastic prizes on offer!
All state winners will be awarded:
- A cash prize of $100
- Flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast
- Tickets to attend Storyfest Writers’ Festival on 25-27 March 2024
- Exclusive access to meet with Australia’s elite authors and publicists
A national winner will also be officially announced during the festival in front of authors and attendees alike, with a prize of $500 awarded to the winner.
Somerset National Poetry Prize
Closes: 1 December
Entry fee: $15
The purpose of the Somerset National Poetry Prize is to encourage a love of writing poetry amongst secondary school students, to affirm it as a worthwhile literary pursuit, and to stimulate excellence in writing. It also aims to inspire and enrich youth literature.
As a part of the 2024 Somerset Storyfest, school-aged students are invited to participate in the Somerset National Poetry Prize from anywhere in Australia, in two categories: Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9), and Senior Secondary (Years 10 to 12).
Each category winner will be awarded:
- A cash prize of $300
- Flights and accommodation to the Gold Coast
- Tickets to attend Storyfest Writers’ Festival on 25-27 March 2024
- Exclusive access to meet with Australia’s elite authors and publicists
KSP Short Fiction/Poetry Competition
Closes: Fiction – 6 September, Poetry – 27 September
Entry fee: FREE
The KSP Writers' Centre presents annual short fiction and poetry competitions for Australian writers, which are free for youth to enter. Judges will be looking for good quality original, unpublished writing. All fiction and poetry styles and themes are acceptable.
Results will be announced at an awards ceremony in December and published on social media and the KSP website thereafter. In the Youth category, first prize is $100, while the runner-up is $50.
Whatever you enter, make it count: there is a limit of one entry per person!
Find out more here – fiction or poetry!
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers
Closes: 4 August
Entry fee: FREE
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation. The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers gives young writers the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of some of Australia’s favourite authors. The Prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s secondary school students, and to encourage them to pursue writing and publishing opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.
The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
The prize winner in each category will receive:
- $500 courtesy of Hachette Australia
- Publication of their work on the Express Media website
- Their names and an acknowledgement printed in Voiceworks, Australia’s premier youth literary journal.
- All fifteen shortlisted writers will:
- Be invited to participate in a writing masterclass
- Attend an exclusive Q&A with Pip Harry
- Receive a book pack of YA titles courtesy of Hachette Australia.
My Place Competition
Closes: 29 September
Entry fee: FREE
The Australian Children’s Television Foundation has offered a student writing competition based on the themes of television series My Place since 2018, with this year’s theme being ‘Play and Imagination’.
This creative writing competition is open to primary students in Years 1 to 6, secondary students in Years 7 and 8, and special education students of all ages. Entrants are asked to explore how children throughout history have used their imaginations to play, and what their play might tell us about life in the past, present and future.
Placegetters will receive a copy of My Place signed by author Nadia Wheatley, a book pack compliments of Walker Books, and a certificate of achievement.
