Some up-coming writing competitions.

Write-a-Book-in-a-Day

Raise funds for Children’s Hospitals Australia (CHA), the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (PMHF) and the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre (KSPWC). The challenge is to plan, write, edit, illustrate, bind and submit a children’s book in 12 hours. Teams of 5-10 people will be given a random setting, two human characters, a non-human character, an issue and five random words at 8 am. They’ll have until 8 pm to submit the finished book. Each team must obtain sponsorship (minimum $300 to enter, 60% of which will go to CHA).  Visit www.kspf.iinet.net.au/bookinaday

No deadline: The Nameless Challenge

‘The Nameless Challenge’ is a round-robin fantasy tale fund-raiser to assist local writer Paul Haines in his struggle with cancer. The challenge has already been taken up by notable authors such as Richard Harland, Jack Dann and Sean Williams. Now all they need is an ending. A donation of $10 is required for each entry. Visit www.australianhorror.com for details.

20 JUN: ZineWest 09

ZineWest 09 offers new and emerging Western Sydney Writers an opportunity for publication and prizes.
Free entry. First Prize $400. Stories, poems, memoir, cartoon. West Sydney is defined as Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollondilly councils. For details visit www.nwg-inc.com

26 JUN: Vibrant Verse

Poetry competition, open style, open theme, traditional or contemporary. Maximum of 60 lines. First prize $100, second $50 with certificates awarded at the discretion of the judges. Entry fee is $5. Visit http://sites.google.com/site/fawnorthshoreregional/ for details.

30 JUN: FAW Manly and Peninsula Region Mid-Year Awards

Four categories: Short story, max 3000 words, prize $150/$75; Poetry, traditional or free verse to 30 lines, prize $75/$50; Article, max 800 words, prize $75/$50, The Helen Wilson Short Story Award for Manly Branch members, not yet published nor won a prize. All entries $10, except Helen Wilson SS Award, which carries a $5 fee. Cheques payable to FAW Manly and Peninsula Regional, Post entries to The Competition Secretary, FAW Manly and Peninsula, PO Box 241, Manly, 1655

30 JUN: Elyne Mitchell Rural Women’s Writing Award

Two categories: Emerging – women between 15 and 25 years of age; Open – women over 25 years of age. $1000 to the winner of each category. Visit www.elynmitchell.com for details.

30 JUN: Page Seventeen Short Story and Poetry Competition

Short story to 3000 words; poetry to 60 lines. 1st prize $150, 2nd prize $75 in each category. Entry fee $5 or 3 for $12. Open theme. Contact enquire@pageseventeen.com.au or visit www.pageseventeen.com.au for details.

30 JUN: Kaixin Writing Competition

Competition to foster more awareness of China, its culture, history, politics, people, stories, fables,traditions, its place in the world. Fiction/non-fiction stories or plays 1000-2000 words on the topic of China or the Chinese people. Language is English, entry $15. Visit http://kaixin.com.au/kaixin-writing-competition/ for details.

30 JUN: Children and Young Adult Writers and Illustrators Contest

Categories: picture book text for preschool aged children, up to 500 words; picture book text for primary school aged children up to 500 words; chapter book text only for older primary aged children, first 1000 words; Fiction for young adults, first 1000 words; graphic novel or illustrated picture book (words & illustrations), fiction or non fiction, any age group within CYA, 3 pages of graphic novel or 3 pages of illustrated picture book, up to 500 words; Illustration of up to three pages of one of the two extracts, written by Anita Bell or Paul Collins OR design a cover for either of the extracts written by Anita Bell or Paul Collins. Visit http://www.cyaconference.com/ for details.

30 JUN: Bridport International Writing Competition

Two categories: short story, first prize £5000; poetry, first prize £5000. Visit www.bridportprize.org.uk for details.

30 JUN: Australian Unit Bryan Kelleher Literary Award

Bush poetry, first prize $1000. No entry fee. Visit www.australianunity.com.au/literaryaward for details.

30 JUN: All Poetry Competition

A competition for all genres of original, unpublished poetry,14- 40 lines written in English. Entry fee $5 per poem. First Prize:$150. Second Prize:$80  Third prize $50. For details visit artsrush.com.au

30 JUN: Gum Blossoms Poetry Competition

Poems, free or rhymed, including prose poems, any theme, from 10 to 50 lines. First prize $100 and publication on Scribbligum, second prize $50 and publication as above. Entry fee $5 each item or $25 for five. Visit www.scribbligum.com

30 JUN: Barrow Street Press Book Contest

Best previously unpublished manuscript of poetry in English. Winner will receive publication by Barrow Street Oress plus $1000. Entry fee US$25. Visit www.barrowstreet.org for details.

30 JUN: Henry Savery National Short Story Award

Open to all writers resident in Australia. First prize $400, second prize $100. Short story max 2500 words. Open theme. Visit www.fawtas.kingston.org.au/competitions.html for details.

30 JUN: Paperback in Your Hand Contest

Fiction, verse or creative non-fiction manuscripts of up to 25 000 words, 25 000 – 60 000 words and 60 000 – 100 000 words. Every entry receives full-scale manuscript assessment. Entry fees start at $22. Visit www.affordablemanuscriptassessments.com for details.

30 JUN: King Island Literary Award for Poetry

Poem up to 60 lines. First prize $300, second prize $100. Special prize of $100 for King Island resident. Visit www.fawtas.kingston.org.au/competitions for details.

6 JUL: Val Vallis Award for Unpublished Poetry

This prize is awarded to an emerging Australian poet for an unpublished poem (or suite of poems) of 100 lines or less. The first prize winner will receive $3,000. Visit www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com for more information.

10 JUL: Adelaide Review Short Fiction Competition

The overall winner will receive a dozen of Australia’s best wines plus publication, along with up to five finalists, in the Adelaide Review. Submissions must not exceed 2500 words. The competition features an international judging panel including Brian Castro, JM Coetzee and Olive Senior. Visit www.adelaidereview.com.au for details.