Putting pen to paper, or even fingers to keyboard, is a wonderful creative outlet for people of any age. As children are developing and learning to read and write, what better way to encourage them to share their stories than with a little healthy competition.
We are fortunate in Australia there are many accessible avenues for entering writing competitions, even if you are under the age of 18. It is just a matter of knowing when and where to look.
Here we have rounded up some popular writing competitions suitable for children to enter. Now all you have to do is decide which ones to enter, what to write and start writing!
Writing Competitions for Kids
Competition details are correct at time of writing, but are subject to change, so please check individual websites and entry requirements carefully.
ABC Heywire Competition
For more than 25 years the annual ABC Heywire Competition has been helping stories of youth outside of the big Australian cities be shared among the rest of the country. These inspiring true stories help young people feel connected and their voices heard even though they may live remotely. Winners have the opportunity to work with ABC staff to produce their story to be featured on ABC and also attend the Heywire Summit.
Type – A true story about an aspect of your life in text, audio or video format (~400 words)
Open To – High school students in regional, rural and remote Australia
Entry fee – Free
Prizes – Winning stories featured on ABC Radio and abc.net.au and receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Heywire Summit in Canberra.
More details can be found at ABC.
CYA Writers and Illustrators Conference – Hatchlings Competition
Each year the CYA Conference is held to help new and established writers and illustrators of Children’s and Young Adult literature to learn, grow and connect. As part of this conference there is a raft of writing competitions open to the public, of which the Hatchlings competition is one. With three categories, and open themes, young people, aged 8 to 18 can showcase their writing in picture books, chapter books or the adult genre. Your work may even get in front of a publisher – and who knows what may happen then!
Type – Three categories (Picture book, chapter book, writing for adult’s genre)
Open To – 8 – 18-year-olds worldwide
Entry fee – Free
Prizes – Three prizes for each category ($40 – $100)
More details can be found at CYA Conference.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
If you like to write poetry, or want to start, then the annual Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, which have been running for more than 39 years, is a wonderful competition to enter. Students are free to write poetry on any topic, though an optional theme is provided each year for those that wish to accept it. If you are stuck for inspiration or are after some writing tips, check out the learning resources section on the webpage or read some of the previous winning entries.
Type – Poetry
Open To – Students enrolled in an Australian educational facility
Entry fee – Starting at $20
Prizes – Cash prizes, trophies, book vouchers, publication in the annual anthology and participation certificates.
More details can be found at Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards.
Dymocks Beyond Words Competition
The Dymocks Beyond Words Competition asks school students to write their very best short story, on any theme, in any genre. The catch, you need to keep the word count between 500 – 1,500 words. Prizes include varying amounts of money and can be won in special categories such as regional Australia, First Nations, EAL/D and more.
Type – Short story (500 – 1,500 words)
Open To – Current primary and high school students in Australia
Entry fee – Free
Prizes – The chance to win a share of $15, 500
More details can be found at Dymocks Beyond Words.
The Golden Pen Writing Award
Practice your writing, as you tailor your submission to the specific theme of this annual writing competition. Western Australian students can enter this competition in one of three age categories (Junior, Middle or Senior) for the chance to win some great prizes.
Type – Fiction, non-fiction, graphic novel (Limit of 3,000 words)
Open To – Western Australian students (or whole classes) in Years 4 – 12
Entry fee – Free
Prizes – Cash prizes, book vouchers, publication on Scribblers website, certificates
More details can be found at Scribblers Festival.
The Kids News Short Story Competition
This Kids News writing competition encourages children from Kindergarten to Year 9 to write a short story on any theme or topic – let your imagination run wild. Students from kindergarten to Year 4 have a word limit of 250 – 750 words, while the older children in Years 5-9, have a limit of 500 – 1,000 words.
Type – Short stories (varying word limits for different age groups)
Open To – Students from kindergarten to Year 9 throughout Australia
Entry fee – Free
Prizes – iPad, book packs, getting your story published and a HarperCollins Children’s Books mentorship.
More details can be found at Kids News
These are just some of the many writing competitions for children that are available in Australia. A quick internet search and keeping an eye out at your local education facilities and libraries can also assist you in finding other competitions to enter. Remember, when you do find one, share it with your classmates, family and friends. Who knows you may be the next JK Rowling, Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl!
Considerations When Entering Writing Competitions for Kids
- Is the competition open to children of your age?
- Can anyone from Australia enter, or do you have to live in a particular area?
- What category is the competition – poetry, short story, anything.
- Is there a fee for entering or is it free?
- Do you have the consent of your parent/carers to enter the competition?
- Are there any other special conditions in regard to entering the competition?
Tips for Entering Writing Competitions
If you are planning on entering a writing competition, it is important to follow a few guidelines to give yourself, and your writing, the best chance of winning.
- Follow ALL competition guidelines, paying particular attention to word count, what details to include, presentation and submission dates.
- Always ask someone else, or several people, to read your submission and ask them for constructive feedback.
- Run spell-check and grammar-check over your finished work.
- Print out your submission and read it aloud. This is a great way of hearing and seeing errors you may have missed previously.
- Don’t use fancy fonts. Make sure the font is readable and not too small (or too big). Fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri in font size 12 are common choices.
And remember, don’t be disheartened if you do not win the first or any writing competition you enter. It does not mean your writing is bad, it may just mean your writing wasn’t right for that competition at that time. Sometimes, it is the writing process that is the fun part, not necessarily winning. You can also use any feedback provided to improve your writing.
