creative-writing-side-image-dWelcome to the wonderful world of Creative Writing! Writing isn’t something that’s confined to the classroom, and if you have a passion for it then entering competitions can be a great motivator for you to make real that story that’s been bouncing around inside your head.

On this page you can find information on various writing competitions available to any budding authors at St Leonard’s, along with some sites to visit for inspiration. Have a look and see if you can find a competition that you like, and feel free to talk to your English teacher for advice or your writing or how you can enter a competition.

Poetry

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards: http://www.dorothea.com.au/

John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers: http://www.expressmedia.org.au/jmp/

Somerset National Poetry Prize: http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/celebration-of-literature/competitions/poetry-prize/

Short Stories and Novellas

John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers: http://www.expressmedia.org.au/jmp/

Somerset National Novella Writing Competition: http://www.somerset.qld.edu.au/celebration-of-literature/competitions/novella-writing/

The Charles Dickens Prize: http://dickens.asn.au/prize/

HTAV Historical Fiction Competition: http://www.htav.asn.au/students/htav-historical-fiction-competition

Laura Literary Awards: https://rockyriverriters.club/competitions/ 

Rhonda Jankovic Literary Awards: http://www.rhondajankovicliterarysociety.org/literary-awards.html

Local Council Writing Competitions

Boroondara City Council: Boroondara Literary Awards

Glen Eira City Council: My Brother Jack Awards

Melbourne City Council: Young Writer’s Award

Monash City Council: WordFest SnapStory and Short Story Writing Competitions

Stonnington City Council: What’s Your Story? Writing Competition

Essay Competitions

John Button School Prize: http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/john-button-school-prize

Resources

A useful guide to narrative writing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/creativewriting/narrativewriting1.shtml

The mystery genre: http://www.ted.com/talks/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html

The power of simple words: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-power-of-simple-words

A range of short story ideas: http://www.creative-writing-now.com/short-story-ideas.html

Examples of great opening lines: http://americanbookreview.org/100BestLines.asp

Creating mystique like Harris Burdick:  http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/davidc/6c_files/documents/mysteries/divmysteries.htm

 

 

 

For a regularly updated list of current creative writing competitions,
please check this website: 

http://www.austwriters.com/AWRfiles/competitions.htm 

Note that it includes many professional and international competitions,
so check the details carefully.