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Opportunities

This page lists awards and major literary prizes, publications looking for contributors, grants, major competitions, traditional and online publishing opportunities, and much more. Entries are included as they come in and are in no particular order ...


Current Opportunities


ABR Copyright Agency Fellowship
Australian Book Review seeks applications for the ABR Copyright Agency Fellowship. This Fellowship – the fourth to be offered by ABR – is proudly supported by ABR's generous Patrons. We are seeking a substantial non-fiction article with an Asian focus – either a profile of a major Asian literary/cultural figure or a discursive essay with Asian literary/cultural themes. The Fellowship is worth $5000. Any Australian writer with a significant publication record (books, creative writing, essays or journalism) is eligible to apply. Go to The ABR Copyright Agency Fellowship.

 

Call for Short Film Scripts 2012
The Film & TV Department of Adelaide College of the ARTS is seeking short film scripts for production in mid 2012, by third year students. Email submissions close 2 March, 2012. Details at http://bit.ly/sD9z3Z

 

Cancer Council Victoria’s Arts Awards Program 2012
Share your cancer experience. Theme: strength. Short story, poetry, youth and children’s writing and other categories. Details at www.artsawards.com.au

 
 
The Novella Project
A collaboration between GriffithREVIEW and Copyright Agency Limited, the Novella Project will publish up to three novellas, the authors of which will share in a prize pool of $30,000. The novellas selected will be published in The GriffithREVIEW, as well as individually in electronic format. Closes 26 April. Full details at http://griffithreview.com/the-novella-project.
 
 
The BBC International Short Story Award
International short story award with a first prize of £15,000. No entry fee; maximum 8,000 words. Entrants must have some previous publication record in the UK. Entries close 27 February. Full details at http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes-and-awards/1
 
 
Ashton Wylie Unpublished Manuscript Award
This $10 000 award rewards excellence in the mind, body, spirit genre. Entries close 31 March. Full details at http://www.authors.org.nz/
 
 
Expressions of Interest for Queensland Poetry Festival
The deadline for individuals and groups interested in performing, or with projects to pitch in association with the festival, is Wednesday 22 February. The festival will be in Brisbane, 24-26 August 2012. Details at www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com (dead link noted Jan 24).
 
 
Literature Board – Grants
Staff from the Literature Board of the Australia Council will be available on Wednesday 7 March to discuss possible grant applications. Check your eligibility at www.australiacouncil.gov.au/artforms/literature and phone 8223 7662 to book.
 
 
PLR and ELR Payments
Public Lending Right and Education Lending Right programs make payments to Australian creators and publishers in recognition that income is lost through free multiple use of their books in lending libraries. The closing date for the 2012/13 PLR and ELR programs is 31 March. It includes titles published  from 2007 to 2011 not claimed previously. See: http://www.arts.gov.au/literature/lending_rights
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
 
Ecopoetry Submissions Wanted
In November Two Ravens Press will publish an ecopoetry anthology, addressing the relationship between people and the natural world. Deadline 31 March. See www.tworavenspress.com for more information.
 
 
Ute Legend Short Story Prize
The subject of your story will own or drive a Ute. 1st prize $1000. No entry fee. Closes 15 February. Details at www.utelegend.com.
 
 
Voiceless Writing Prize
Focus on the relationship between humans and animals. Fiction and nonfiction pieces of 5-10,000 words. 1st prize $15,000 and a People’s Choice prize of $5,000. If published in the collected works you will receive $500. Entries close on 16 March 2012. Details at voiceless.org.au.
 
 
VoiceWorks Seeks New Editor
Applications close Monday 6 February. Applicants aged under 25 are strongly encouraged to apply. Details at http://expressmedia.org.au/express_media/.
 
 
Speculative Fiction:  a New Ebook Publisher
Hague Publishing is seeking submissions from Australian and New Zealand authors. Find guidelines and access to the online submission system at www.haguepublishing.com.
 
 
New Publishing Opportunity
Disposable Fiction is a new creative micro publishing company based in the Adelaide Hills. For submission details and their competition, please go to www.disposablefiction.com.au.
 
 
Carclew Grants
Applications are now open in the 2012 Project and Development Grants for artists aged 26 and under. The first round of Project and Development Grants closes at 5pm on March 15, 2012 for activity from 1 July-31 December 2012. Details at www.carclew.org.au.
 
 
Carclew Information Sessions
General Information Sessions are open for the above grants. Session 2 is on Thursday 9 February 2012, 5.30-6.30pm in the Carclew Boardroom, 11 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide. Contact Belinda Powles (for Dale Durie), Monday-Wednesday on (08) 8267 5111.
 
 
Grant for Children’s Illustrators
The ASA has a new one-off grant initiative for emerging, developing and established Children’s Picture Book illustrators. Projects may not be fully formed but applications are encouraged. Close 29 February 2012. Contact Lucie Stevens on (02) 9211 1004 or  via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it For guidelines and application forms, please go to www.asauthors.org and look under the ‘Services’ drop down menu.
 
 
British Australian Community Literary Prize
Open to all citizens and permanent residents of Australia, this prize will be awarded to an original, unpublished essay on the theme of the positive heritage of British culture in Australia. Word limit 8000. Entries close 30 April. For more details visit http://www.britishaustraliancommunity.com/wp/british-australian-community-literary-award.
 
 
New Small Publisher
Rough Draft is now accepting manuscripts for consideration for publication in 2012. For details go to www.roughdraft.com.au.

 

The 2012 Annual Australia-Wide Eyre Writers Awards are open. 
Details are available on-line at http://eyrewriters.com/COMPETITIONS/competitions.html Terms and conditions, categories, and entry forms are found by selecting the Competitions tab. Posted entries only accompanied by a copy of the entry form to be postmarked by 31 January, 2012.

 

Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2012
In 2012 there are six awards:
  • adult fiction
  • poetry
  • non-fiction
  • young adult fiction
  • children's fiction
  • Australian history.

Entries for work published during 2011 close Wednesday 1 February 2012. Details, eligibility and entry forms can be found at http://www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards.

 

Twenty First Century Stories 'Tell it like it is' grants 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, arts organisations or community organisations are invited to apply for a grant to tell new stories with potential public outcomes. Full details may be found at http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/grants/creative_australia_21st_century_stories. Applications close Monday 16 January 2012.

 

AFCA Awards: Writing About Film
For Australian film critics and film commentators. Four Award categories: 1. For writing on Australian film; 2. For writing on non-Australian film; 3. For an individual film review for an Australian film; 4. For an individual film review for any non-Australian film. Entries close 31 December. Details at www.afca.org.au 

 

Arts Law Centre
A national not-for-profit community legal centre, established with the support of the Australia Council. Read how to protect and promote yourself as a writer at www.artslaw.com.au/artforms/archive/cat/literature/ 

 

Commonwealth Writers – New Fiction Prizes
The Commonwealth Book Prize for first novels published between 1 January and 31 December 2011, with £2,500 for regional winners and £10,000 for the overall winner. Details at www.commonwealthwriters.org 

 

Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
Creative Nonfiction seeks essays up to 4,000 words for a special 'Australia' issue. Two cash prizes: $6,500 (AUD) for Best Essay and $2,500 (AUD) for Best Essay by an Australian writer. All submissions considered for inclusion in Creative Nonfiction #46: Australia, to be launched at the 2012 Melbourne Writers' Festival. Multiple entries welcome; $20/essay. Deadline: 31 January 2012. Details at: www.creativenonfiction.org

 

Filmmaking Summer School
At Melbourne University, 23 to 27 January 2012. Four days of Writing for Film and Television. Cost per day: $125 full, $115 concession or discount for booking all 4 days: $475 Full / $425 Concession. Details at www.summerfilmschool.com

 

Harper Collins Free Website
Post a minimum of 10,000 words of your unpublished novel or nonfiction for people to read and comment on and see how to publish an ebook at www.Authonomy.com 

 

Indigenous Fiction
The quarterly McSweeneys is seeking Indigenous fiction. Deadline 31 December. Details at www.asauthors.org 

 

2012 CBCA Multi-Storied Conference
Children's and Young Adult authors and publishers can register their interest in the Children's Book Council of Australia Conference by going to www.cbca.org.au.

 

Unpublished Young Adult Writers
Hardie Grant Egmont are launching a new collection of debut Young Adult novels in 2013. Writers must not have published a novel before and the story must be set in real life. Submissions close 27 February. Details at bit.ly/Ampers.

 

PAN Magazine #3
Seeking submissions of essays, literature, poetry and more. Closes 31 December. See details at www.panmagazine.com.

 

Residential Editorial Program at Varuna
Intensive five-day program for mid-career editors, 7-12 May 2012. Supported by the APA and the Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. Closing date for applications is 9 January 2012. Information and application forms: www.publishers.asn.au.

 

Australia Council Arts Visit
Staff from the Literature Board of the Australia Council will be available on Wednesday, 7 March to discuss possible grant applications. Appointments will be held from 10am-4pm. Writers must have had a full length book or play published before they can apply as an Emerging Writer. Visit the Australia Council website prior to making an appointment to find out if you are eligible: www.australiacouncil.gov.au/artforms/literature. Please contact the SA Writers' Centre to make a booking.

 

Copyright Agency's Creative Industries Career Fund
Authors, artists, publishers or those involved in publishing or the visual arts can apply for up to $5,000 to do something that will develop professional skills for career development.
Application deadline is 20 January, 2012. For more information see www.copyright.com.au.

 

ABR Calibre Prize
The Australian Book Review competition for an outstanding nonfiction essay. 1st prize $7,000, 2nd prize $2,000, 3rd prize $1,000. Closing date 1 December. Details at www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes/calibre-prize

 

Australian Film Festival 2012
A competition for film scripts up to 15 minutes. 1st prize $1,000. Details and entry at www.australianfilmfestival.com.au/

 

Women Writers in South Australia
Come and build your State’s Writing Society. Your expertise would be valued and you may also appreciate some feedback on your latest work. Daytime meetings 4th Thursday monthly, February-November, 10.15am at the SA Writers’ Centre. Guests welcome and membership available. Contact Ethel Shippen 8260 1240 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

ABC Fiction Podcast
ABC’s new Fiction Podcast is where authors and audio producers get together to produce new audio stories. Go to www.abc.net.au/pool for more details.

 

Aurealis Speculative Fiction Awards
Award for writing by an Australian citizen or permanent resident, published for the first time between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011. Entries close on 23 December 2011. For more information go to: www.aurealisawards.com or contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Feedback Required
Young writer requires feedback on a completed novel manuscript: a well-written philosophical mystery. If you are able to assist, please contact Jude at the SA Writers’ Centre 8223 7662.

 

Many Eggs – Many Baskets
Proposal: To increase possible markets for their books each of 5 authors gives 5 copies of their book to the other 4. They all go to different markets, fetes and local shopping centres to sell the books. They agree a time to swap their takings. Interested? Please email Barry at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

IP Picks 2012 Unpublished Manuscript Awards
Publication of the best book-length manuscript in five categories: Best Fiction, Best Creative Nonfiction, Best Poetry, Best Young Adult/Junior Prose, Best First Book. Reading fee, $66 per entry. Closes 1 December. See ipoz.biz/IP/IP_picks.htm

 

Speculative Fiction: a new ebook Publisher
Hague Publishing is seeking submissions from Australian and New Zealand authors. Find guidelines and access to the online submission system at: www.haguepublishing.com

 

Twelfth Planet Press: Novel Manuscript Submissions in January 
Advance notice: Twelfth Planet Press is looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime. Submissions:  January 1 to January 31, 2012. Link to ‘Submissions’ at: twelfthplanetpress.com