Young Writers’ Resources

Last week I ran a Show Don’t Tell Creative Writing workshop for a fabulous group of year nine elective students. I was thrilled to see them blossom from shy at sharing and writing to becoming fully engaged and those pens flew across their notebooks.

I promised to check out some writing resources for the group, and thought once I put the listing together that maybe some other keen young writers might chance upon it if I put the information and links up on my blog.

As I Google my way around, I marvel at how many opportunities are out there for all writers. Just a search away. Entering competitions and writing for anthologies, magazines (online and print) can offer great income generating and publication potential. All contribute to our writing credibility and publication credits.

If anyone reading knows of any of other great links, competitions, opportunities for young writers, please post a comment (or email me off-blog – see contact tab above) and I’ll add them into the post.

Resources:

Express Media (“provides support and opportunities for young people in writing and media”) http://www.expressmedia.org.au

Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) look at their national literary awards link below– several sections for young writers http://www.writers.asn.au

Australian Writers’ Centres full listing of Australian state and various writing centres on the Australian Society of Authors website http://www.asauthors.org/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=ASP0016/ccms.r?PageId=10041

The Australian Writers’ Marketplace 2011 – Writers resource listing competitions, awards, prizes and markets accepting submissions, i.e. publishers, newspapers, magazines. (available via online subscription or print version, also available through your local writers’ centres.) http://www.awmonline.com.au – perhaps request your school library to invest in a subscription or hardcopy.

Competitions:

John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers 2011: Entries open 1 May 2011 (check website for details http://www.expressmedia.org.au/index.php/prizes-grants-money-for-writers/the-john-marsden-prize-for-young-australian-writers/

Fellowship of Australian Writers National Literary Awards (FAW) offer several sections for young writers http://www.writers.asn.au/index.php?page=fawawards

National Young Writers Festival (competition submissions closed for 2011, but check out website for festival program coming soon.) http://www.youngwritersfestival.org

Dorothea MacKellar Poetry Awards http://www.dorothea.com.au Entries are accepted from Tuesday 1st March to Thursday 30 June 2011 – Secondary and Primary school categories.

CYA Conference Hatchlings (conference for young writers 8 – 18y/o) http://www.cyaconference.com

Writing Contest! Open to anyone currently attending an Australian school. Entries close 30 June 2011.

Write a response (poem, story, song, dialogue or description) to one of the three pictures on the website. http://www.affordablemanuscriptassessments.com/contest.htm

Australian Poetry Centre (comprehensive listing of poetry competitions, prizes and awards) http://www.australianpoetrycentre.org.au/?page_id=105

2011 FAW Hilarie Lindsay Young Writers Short Story Competition for School students. Closing date 31 August 2011 (click link for conditions and entry form) http://www.fawnsw.org.au/News/competitions.htm

Section 1 Years 10,11 and 12 Up to 2500 words Prize $200

Section 2 Years 7,8 & 9 Up to 2500 words Prize $180

Section 3 Years 5 & 6 Up to 1500 words Prize $160

Section 4 Years 4 and under Up to 1500 words Prize $60

OzKids in Print Awards – primary and secondary students can submit their poems and/or stories for publication online. Shortlisted submissions will be printed in OzKids magazine and considered for the annual award. Check the website for full details. http://www.ozkidz.com.au/08view.php?id=10

 Write Across Victoria: This competition is open to all Victorian secondary students in years 7, 8 and 9. Entries close at 5pm on Friday 29 July 2011. http://www.mwf.com.au/2011/?name=school-write-across-victoria-competition

The Age MS Readathon Ultimate Story: is a writing competition for Australian students from prep to year 11. Write the concluding chapter of a story.  http://education.theage.com.au/cmspage.php?intid=279&intversion=1

Wordfest 2011 Short Story Competition: Open to all members of the Monash Community over the age of 12. Category A: 12 to 14 years, Category B: 15 to 17 years. Visit website for details: http://www.monlib.vic.gov.au/wordfest2011/wordfest2.html

Write Now! Short Story Competition: Junior  8 – 11 years, 500 words or less. First prize $50.00, second prize $25.00, and book prizes.Young Adult 12 – 17 years, 1500 words or less. First prize $70.00, second prize $40.00, and book prizes. Open to Victorian entrants. Closing date for entries is Friday 30 September. http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/front-page-news/write-now-short-story-competition

Writing Publication Opportunities:

Voiceworks Magazine (under 25s) Submission Guidelines http://www.expressmedia.org.au/voiceworks/index.php/submissions

Alphabet Soup Magazine – Children’s writing by Under 12s http://www.alphabetsoup.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=4

Websites:

Inside a Dog (Home of YA readers) http://www.insideadog.com.au

Dee White’s Deescribe Writing Blog – lots of writing advice, info and Tuesday Writing Tips http://deescribewriting.wordpress.com/want-to-be-a-writer

Steph Bowe’s Hey Teenager of the Year blog – http://heyteenager.blogspot.com

Teaching Authors – website with a comprehensive range of markets for young writers  http://www.teachingauthors.com/p/for-young-writers.html

(Please note: These links, opportunities, and organisations are listed as resources without endorsement by the author.)

Last Updated: 12 July 2011

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