The best way to improve your writing is to write.
There are some good opportunities for young prose, song and poetry writers around at the moment. Have a look and have a go.
Little Stories. Big Ideas
Submit flash fiction that is 100 words or less on the theme of ‘responsibility’. Open to Australian secondary school students. Any literary style is welcome. Closing date for term one entries: Friday 8 April. For more information, visit the Little Stories, Big Ideas website.
What Matters? National Writing Competition 2022
Submit an original written work of up to 600 words in prose or poetry, either fiction or non-fiction. Open to school students in years five to twelve. Free to enter. Closing date: Friday 6 May. Visit Whitlam Institute’s website for further details, including writing advice.
North Lake has a good history in this competition with sisters Fareeha (2019) and Ayesha (2020) Khan both shortlisted.
The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize
Entries for the 2022 Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize are now open. You can submit up to 5 poems of any theme or style. The 2022 winner of The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize will receive $3000, and two highly commended entrants will be awarded $500 each. Entries close on 6 June. Find out more: Bruce Dawe Prize
USQ Get Songwriting Prize
Calling all High Schoolers – year 9 to year 12 – enter your song (or two!) for your chance to win a prize pool valued at over $1200, including: 1. $1000 worth of music equipment, products or services of your choice, 2. A prominent songwriting text and a $200 gift voucher to a music store of your choice. 3. Registration at one of USQ’s Two-Day Music Experiences held in July or September at USQ Springfield, including an opportunity to have your song recorded in our TV & Radio facilities – Valued at $50 In addition to the overall winner there will be two runners-up, these runners up will win: 1. A prominent songwriting text and a $200 gift voucher to a music store of your choice. 2. Registration at one of USQ’s Two-Day Music Experiences held in July or September at USQ Springfield – Valued at $50 Entries are open until 6 June. Find out more and enter here: Get Songwriting Prize
And if you live in the City of South Perth (Como, Karawara, Kensington (part), Manning, Salter Point, South Perth or Waterford)
South Perth Young Writers Award
A prose writing competition with an upper-secondary category. Shortlisted entrants are invited to attend a writing workshop to develop their writing skills and to refine their submitted story which is then re-read before finalists are chosen.
Entries close midnight Monday 25 April
South Perth Young Writers Award
Best Australian Yarn
Run by The West Australian and open to anyone over the age of 12.
Prize pool of $50,000. Youth prize of $2,000 plus mentoring.