For your perusal: jobs, competitions, and places to publish. Find something in this list to help bring you inspiration, fame and fortune. Also, remember to bookmark our new Opportunities page for the most recent jobs and comps around.
WRITING OPPORTUNITIES
Writers Bloc Workshop Competition
We think it’s important to invest in literature, and in the future of Australian writers in particular. To that end, each month, we curate, edit, illustrate and publish a selection of original creative writing— and pay the writer professional publishing rates.
Each month, we will choose one short story, poem, or otherwise brilliant piece of writing to be our Bloc Feature. The Writers Bloc team of professional editors, teachers and award-winning creative writers will then work with you to polish the piece and publish it along with specially commissioned cover art. A little like this.
Best of all, we’ll pay you for the story, and include you in our end-of year-anthology of creative writing.
If you’re interested, all you have to do is upload a completed draft of your story to our Workshop section, and join in our community of creative writers.
The KYD Unpublished Manuscript Award
This award will assist an early-career author in the development of their unpublished manuscript. The award is open to writers of adult fiction and adult non-fiction.
The winner will receive a $5000 cash prize and a mentorship with KYD’s Rebecca Starford (non-fiction) or Hannah Kent (fiction)
Submissions open 1 Feb 2017 and close 5pm AEDT Friday 31 March 2017.
100 Word Stories Readers Digest
Our incredibly successful 100-word story competition is back. This is your chance to win US$1000 in your local currency and see your work published by Reader’s Digest – all you have to do is write a brilliant work of fiction in just 100 words. There are also two runners-up prizes of US$250. Stories should be original, unpublished and exactly 100 words long (99-worders will be disqualified, hyphenated words count as one).
CLOSING 31/12/16
First Crime Novel Competition
Sponsored by Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America (MWA).The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any Published Novel (in any genre), as defined by the guidelines below, (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. Employees, and members of their immediate families living in the same household, of Minotaur Books or Mystery Writers of America (or a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of either of them) are not eligible to enter. Only one manuscript entry (the “Manuscript”) is permitted per writer. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
CLOSING 12/12/16
Wundor Short Fiction Contest (Novellas, Short Stories and Flash Fiction)
At Wundor they plan to champion interesting, unusual fiction in all of its forms. Brevity can be one of literature’s great virtues, and we do not believe in filling out short stories into novella form if they are supposed to be short stories, or lengthening a novella to try to make a novel, when the story suits the novella form just fine.
Whether you have a single piece of work, a collection of pieces or a brilliant novella on your hands, they would like to read it. The only stipulation is that the sum total word count of your submission should fall between 5,000 and 45,000 words.
CLOSING 28/02/17
The Times / Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition
Are you an unpublished and unagented writer with an original and exciting story for 7-to-18-year-olds? If so, why not enter this competition? The prize will be a worldwide publishing deal with Chicken House, with an advance of £10,000 (subject to contract), plus the offer of representation from a top children’s literary agent. All longlisted entrants will receive a reader’s report of their work.
CLOSING 18/12/16
Boulevard Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers
Boulevard is accepting entries for its annual short fiction contest for emerging writers. The winner will receive US$1500 and have their story published in the magazine.Boulevard is an American literary magazine established in 1985 and based at St. Louis University in Missouri. Boulevard aims to publish the finest in fiction, poetry and non-fiction and was described by Poet Laureate Daniel Hoffman as ‘one of the half-dozen best literary journals’. The magazine has been edited throughout its history by Richard Burgin, a five-time Pushcart Prize winner.
CLOSING 31/12/16
Danahy Fiction Prize
The Danahy Fiction Prize is an annual award of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review.Judging is by the editors of Tampa Review, and all entries will be considered for publication.
CLOSING 31/12/16
Forty South Publishing Tasmania Writers' Prize 2017
Open to residents of Australia and New Zealand, the 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 Tasmania 40°South.
CLOSING 13/02/17
Nature Writing Prize - 2017
The $5,000 award is for an essay between 3,000 and 5,000 words in the genre of ‘Writing of Place’. The prize will go to an Australian writer whose entry is judged to be of the highest literary merit and which best explores his or her relationship and interaction with some aspect of the Australian landscape. The competition’s judges are award-winning journalist, author and editor Jo Chandler and novelist and critic James Bradley. The winning entry will be published in Griffith Review online as a multimedia essay.
CLOSING 27/01/17
Don't Talk to Me About Love Poetry Competition
What does LOVE mean to you? This competition wants your poetry exploring love in any of its myriad expressions: romantic, platonic, parental, and much, much more. They know there is a whole world of love out there, and they want to read about it. See last year’s winner and honourable mentions to get a sense of what we are looking for.
All submitted works must be original and unpublished. All works that have been published in print or on the Internet, including self-published works, as well as works that have been broadcast or taped are considered previously published and are therefore ineligible for submission.
Poems must be written in English.
CLOSING 15/12/16
Celtic Mythology Short Story Prize
Any kind of fiction short story will be considered (action, romance, drama, humour etc.) as long as they meet the following criteria:
Celtic mythology or folklore forms a fundamental element of the story (i.e. the characters can be characters from Celtic mythology, the action can take place in a mythological location, mythological concepts can be used etc.).
Any Celtic folklore or mythological reference used should be as authentic as you can make it (for example; no dedicated pantheon of Irish Gods, no werewolves or vampires etc.)
A compelling story/theme, engaging characters. You’re a writer – you know what we mean. Cash Prizes.
CLOSING 10/12/16
IPEd National Editors Conference 2017
Call for papers, workshops and panel participation
Editors Queensland, on behalf of the Institute of Professional Editors Limited, is seeking expressions of interest to present papers and workshops at the 8th IPEd National Editors Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 13–15 September 2017.The conference program, with the theme Advancing Our Profession, will be divided into three streams: technology, professional development and building alliances.
This conference will focus on contemporary and emerging aspects of editing and publishing,
CLOSING 16/01/17
2024 Short Story Competition - Future
Seeking the best credible positive vision of life in 2024, in a satisfying narrative context. Entropy being what it is, all that we can create, without first imagining it, is a mess!
So. tell us a story we can believe in, about a world not far in the future where things are not perfect but getting better, not just for a few, but for humanity.
This is not easy to do, dystopias abound in all forms of fiction and “utopia” is pronounced with a sneer more often than not. But how will we avoid a horrible future if it is all we can imagine?
CLOSING 05/05/17
Toowoomba Playwriting Competition 2017
Aspiring and experienced Australian playwrights are invited to submit unpublished and unperformed play scripts to the annual Carnival of Flowers Toowoomba Repertory Theatre Play Writing CompetitionToowoomba Rep. has initiated this competition to foster and encourage new and experienced playwrights, whether amateur or professional.
The play scripts will be judged anonymously by an experienced reading panel who will establish a short list of ten. The shortlisted plays will then be evaluated by three industry professionals who will prepare written feedback to the playwrights on their scripts, as well as providing guidance for the selection of the two winners of our competition.
The winning plays will be workshopped then performed during the 2017 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
for a six night season.
CLOSING 31/01/17
Jobs and Internships
The Emerging Writers Festival in Melbourne is looking for creative producers for the 2017 festival. This is a volunteer position, and would suit an arts management or communications student seeking a university-placement internship.If you’re keen to get hands-on experience in literary event management, and work with a friendly, supportive organisation who will provide you with excellent professional development, click through for more information.
Applications close 5pm Friday 16th December 2016.
Artistic Coordinator - Playwriting Australia
Playwriting Australia is the national new play development company. It seeks unparalleled talent and connects it with opportunity, commits space, time and support for the expression of ideas, creation and craft unearths new voices, creates a legacy of extraordinary Australian stories, and aims tochange the make‐up of Australian new writing within a generation.
Applications close 09/12/16
Digital Marketing Coordinator - Sydney Writers' Festival
The Digital Marketing Coordinator will work closely with the Director, Special Projects and Marketing Manager on the launch of a new website, as well as managing the digital and social campaign for the 2017 May Festival.
Applications Close 11/12/16
Marketing Assistant | Sydney Writers Festival
Working closely with the Marketing Manager and Digital Marketing Coordinator, the Marketing Assistant plays an integral role in assisting with the execution of the 2017 marketing campaign. This role spans across print, digital media, promotion, distribution and signage.
This is a contract position (14 weeks) from 27 February 2017.
Please click here for a full job description and details of how to apply.
Applications close on Sunday 11 December at 11.59pm.
Programming and Administration Assistant – Sydney Writers Festival
The Programming and Administration Assistant will work closely with the Programming Coordinator on the administrative and logistical side of programming the 2017 Festival.
This incorporates artist liaison, support for the suburban and regional program, support for the workshop program, copy writing and editing and general administrative responsibilities.
This is a contract position (23 weeks) from 23 January 2017.
Please click here for a full job description and details of how to apply.
Applications close on Sunday 11 December at 11.59pm.
Production Manager – Sydney Writers Festival
The Production Manager will work closely with the Head of Operations and Production to deliver all production and operational aspects of the Festival precinct.
This is a contract position (14 weeks) from 16 March 2017.
Please click here for a full job description and details of how to apply.
Applications close on Friday 16 December at 5pm.
Meanjin Deputy Editor
PART TIME
Meanjin, published by Melbourne University Publishing, is looking for a deputy editor. The successful candidate will have an enthusiasm for writing and ideas, be an independent self-starter, and be proficient in various office and online publishing systems.The capacity to aid the editor in smoothly managing a complex publishing project is essential, as is an ability to deal with the magazine’s basic accounts, its writers, customers and sub-contractors.
A full position description is available on their website.
This is a three-day-a-week, maternity-leave position for a minimum of nine months, beginning in early February 2017. Meanjin’s offices are in Carlton, Melbourne.
Applications Close 09/12/16
RESIDENCIES AND THEATRE
Steinbeck Fellowship
The Steinbeck Fellows Program of San José State University (SJSU), which was endowed through the generosity of Martha Heasley Cox, offers emerging writers of any age and background the opportunity to pursue a significant writing project while in residence at SJSU. The emphasis of the program is on helping writers who have had some success, but not published extensively, and whose promising work would be aided by the financial support and sponsorship of the Center and the University's creative writing program.
The Steinbeck Fellowship Program is named in honor of author John Steinbeck and is guided by his lifetime of work in literature, the media, and environmental activism. The program offers the opportunity to interact with other writers, faculty and graduate students, and to share their work in progress by giving a public reading once each semester during the fellowship. The fellowships afford a stipend of $10,000. Residency in the San José area is required during the academic year (approximately 1 September - 20 May).
CLOSING 02/01/17
Playwriting Australia – Seeking Stageplays
Playwriting Australia is seeking original plays. They approach the selection of plays with care and precision. It is a multi-stage process that involves a number of different readers assessing plays across a detailed list of criteria. It is a process that also allows for readers to be in conversation with them and with each other, ensuring quality control of reader’s responses.
They believe terrific new writing must be produced and we do this reading to give playwrights opportunities to develop and/or showcase their best new plays in order to see the work reach production.
All plays submitted to Playwriting Australia are read in their entirety.
Submissions are ongoing.
PUBLICATIONS SEEKING SUBMISSIONS
We accept unsolicited material, if it is polished and fits the tone and style of the magazine, is clearly targeted at a particular section of the magazine and falls within the word counts relevant to a particular section. (For example 750 words for 'My Word' submissions or 1800 for a four-page feature; see the attached 'Word Counts' information box.
Alternatively, writers can pitch story ideas by email first. To be considered, your pitch should explain which section of the magazine the story is intended for, be one paragraph long, contain a topic sentence, a sample introductory sentence and explain the story angle, writing tone, suggested word length, a list of possible interviewees (if appropriate) and whether or not photographs and/or illustrative material is available.
CLOSING 28/02/17
Summer Shorts Submissions
The Quart Short Collective are co-ordinating a series of quarterly reading nights in Adelaide, where professional actors read writers' work, and they'd love you to send through any short stories, poetry or creative non-fiction you may have. Submissions are rolling, but to be considered for the next evening of readings in January, you'll need to get your work to us by December 22. It's not themed, not limited to SA authors and they do pay on a profit-share arrangement (averaging about $30 per contributor). You can find more information on their website - please share with anyone who may be interested!
CLOSING 22/12/16
Veronica Literary Magazine
Veronica is a brand new online literary magazine, started in 2016 by creative writing students at QUT.
They will be regularly publishing a wide range of content, including fiction, memoir, poetry, and art. Producing something different? Send it their way!
They seekr complex representations of all women and non-binary folk. So, if that’s your jam, send them your pieces! They are on the hunt for pieces up to 2,000 words for fiction, memoir, non-fiction, etc.Poetry should be up to 60 lines, or a suite of three shorter, related, poems. They would love to see your art, comics, illustrations, graphics, etc. and guidelines are flexible, so if you’re an artist send us an email and we can chat about it!
Send your submissions to: [email protected] with “fiction”, “memoir”, “poetry”, “comic”, etc. in the subject line. Submissions are open now!
THey are currently unable to pay contributors, but will provide critiques and feedback to all submissions.
Submissions are ongoing.
CLOSING 01/06/17
Newslogue
The Newslogue team have opened their platform to the public! They are encouraging all writers and journalists to create an account through www.newslogue.com to post original work to receive analytics, readership growth and revenue.
Their business model puts the money of advertisers directly in your bank account. Minimum industry averages pay between 0.96c and $4.43 per thousand views, one million views per month can produce $4,000 in revenue, direct to the creator. Writers retain full copyright of the work they post on Newslogue
CLOSING 31/03/17
The Chronic'les of Babes
‘The Chronic’les of Babes’ is a place for all female identifying individuals between the ages of 18-30 who have a chronic and/or invisible illness to share their experiences. The focus is the side effects, both positive and negative, that you don’t find on the side of a medication bottle.
Email them here: [email protected]
CLOSING 31/12/16
Homer
Homer is about masculinities, which does not mean it’s by men or even purely for them. Masculinities affect everyone – positively, negatively, differently. However you’ve encountered them, every angle is needed to create as robust and kaleidoscopic a picture of masculinities as they deserve (and sorely need). It could be social commentary, comedic literature review, an outright hagiography of a wonderful and unusual man or anything else, but before submitting, ask yourself if it lends something to public dialogues around men and masculinities that isn’t out there already.
CLOSING 30/11/16
Scum Mag
Scum is interested in publishing feminist-friendly work of any variety, but as a general rule your piece should be under 1000 words (50 lines for poetry) and able to be classified as “fiction”, “culture”, “memoir”, “column”, “poetry”, and/or “review”. They tend not to publish traditional reviews of books and films—to get a feel for the reviews they do publish, check the review tag. Feel free to pitch to them if you’re not sure if your piece is a good fit. (Please note that they don’t accept pitches for fiction or poetry.)
Submissions to Scum are open the first week (from the 1st to the 7th) of every month. The rest of the month, submissions are closed. They pay $60 per piece of writing.
Uneven Floor (poetry)
Uneven Floor, an independent poetry publication based in Perth, Western Australia, is seeking poetry submissions for its online magazine.
Unpaid, editors ask that writers read their website thoroughly to get a feel for their tone before submitting. Ongoing.
The Wrong Quarterly
The Wrong Quarterly are a London-based journal who publish "inventive" works of nonfiction, life writing and essays up to 5,000 words and fiction up to 6,000 words. Submissions are accepted from both British and international writers. Ongoing.
Right Now
Right Now is committed to covering human rights issues in Australia through free, accessible, creative and engaging online, print and radio media. Creative writing is a great way to explore human rights in Australia: from poetry to flash fiction to long and short pieces. Ongoing.
This post was sponsored by an our Patron Angie Holst – thank you Angie! If you'd like to help support the next generation of Australian writers, check our our Patreon page.
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