Write Now: Summer Writing Opportunities

What better time to write than the holidays, when work is (hopefully) no distraction and time is finally on your side. Olivia Congdon, ACT Writers Centre Communications Officer, has compiled a list of writing competitions and opportunities for you take advantage of this summer. Enjoy!

Big Ink: Seeking Regular Writers
Canberra-based publication, Big Ink, is on the hunt for amazing writers to contribute to their blog and Big Ink magazine. Perfect for uni students or those who want to extend their portfolio. Read more about what they’re after here.

11 January
The Kat Muscat Fellowship
Calling all young female writers: the annual Kat Muscat Fellowship offers professional development up to the value of $3,000 for an editorial project or work of writing by a female-identifying young person (aged 16 to 30). This Fellowship aims to continue much-loved writer and editor, Kat Muscat’s legacy, and further develop the future of defiant and emphatic young Australian women. Funds may be used towards professional development opportunities, including, but not limited to: mentoring, residencies, interstate travel, or project fees. More details here.

15 January
Faber Writing Academy
Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin are offering one free place on their Writing a Novel – First Draft course in Sydney. The course starts on 16 February 2016 and will take place on Tuesday evenings (with occasional Saturdays) for three months. The course includes one-on-one consultations, as well as weekly novel writing workshops, with Kathryn Heyman. Read their website here for more info.

18 January
Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay
The Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay is Australia’s premier prize for a nonfiction essay, run by Australian Book Review. Open to all writers across the globe. Essays must be between 3,000 and 7,000 words and must be written in English. First prize is $5,000 and publication in Australian Book Review. Read more here. 

21 January
Stringybark Short Story Award
The latest short story award from Stringybark Stories offers over $900 in cash and book prizes, as well as publication, for the best entries. The winning tale will be a story of 1,500 words or less that entertains the judges. International entries most welcome. Details here.

22 January
Playwriting Australia: New Play Development
Applications are now open for Playwriting Australia’s first round of New Play Development opportunities for 2016, including intensive week-long workshops, rapid fire readings or up to six months of dramaturgy. This will be the last opportunity for scripts to be included in the 2016 National Play Festival. See their website for more details here.

29 January
$100,000 Writer In Residence Fellowship to Combat Obesity
Yes—you read that correctly—this opportunity is worth $100,000. A creative writer will join the fight against obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease with the announcement of a Writer in Residence Fellowship at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. The $100,000 fellowship—the first of its kind in Australia—will take an unusual approach in enlisting a creative writer in a domain that is often seen as exclusively medical. The Fellowship will recognise an Australian writer working in a creative genre (including fiction, poetry, theatre, creative nonfiction, digital media, and screen) who has published a major work, or has had it performed or produced professionally within the past five years. The Writer in Residence is to commence in mid-2016. See here for more details.

29 January
Adelaide Plains Poets Inc. Poetry Competition
Adelaide Plains Poets Inc. have opened their poetry competition. This year’s theme is ‘transition’—all entries must refer to the theme in some way. First, second and third win cash prizes, plus highly commended and commended certificates will be awarded. Total prize pool is over $700. Sections include: open, secondary school and primary school aged. See their blog here for more details.

31 January 2016
2016 Newcastle Short Story Award
This short story award is open to Australian residents. Huge prizes are on offer, including $2,000 for winning entry, and $1,000 for second place. Entries may be up to 2,000 words. $15 entry fee. More details here.

31 January 2016
The Hope Prize Short Story Competition
This is a new national short story competition established by the Brotherhood of St Lawrence. Submit your short story of either fiction or nonfiction. The Hope Prize is designed to encourage writing that transcends stereotypes of ‘the poor’. Whatever the genre, the story submitted must convey the experience of people facing hardship in their lives. First prize is $5,000, second prize is $3,000, third prize is $2,000, highly commended stories will each receive $500 and an award of $500 will also be made to an emerging writer under 18. Entries must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words. Details here.

31 January
Tasmanian Writers Prize
Open to residents of Australia and New Zealand, this prize is for short stories up to 3,000 words on an island, or island-resonant theme. The winner receives a cash prize of $500 and publication in the Tasmania 40°South. A selection of the best entries will be published in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2016. More details here.  

31 January
Eyre Writers Literary Awards
The Eyre Writers Literary Awards includes four separate competitions. They’re after prose writing, fact or fiction, essay or memoir that’s set to an Australian rural or maritime theme, with a maximum word count of 1,500 words. Awards include the Tom Black Memorial Prize for rhyming poetry, which must not exceed 50 lines. The Short Story Award is an open theme, and must not exceed 1,500 words. There is also a Non-rhyming Poetry Award, with an open theme, and poems must not exceed 50 lines. See here for more info. 

1 February
Creative Nonfiction Seeking Nature Essays
Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays about ‘learning from nature’ for an upcoming issue. The Biomimicry Center at Arizona State University will award $5,000 for best essay, and Creative Nonfiction editors will award $1,000 for runner-up. Word limit is 4,000 words. This opportunity is based in the US, but international entries are welcome. See here for more details.