Young Writers Competitions and Opportunities

Calling all young writers, playwrights and poets!  Lots of regular and new young writers’ competitions and opportunities have opened up. Some are closing soon.

So flex those writing muscles and get your entries in fast. (Only if they’ve been buffed and polished and proofed, of course.) You’ll find further details and some great new resources on my Young Writers’ Resources page, such as details of two Katharine Susannah Prichard residential places in WA, The John Marsden and Hachette Australia and Scribe Non-fiction Prizes, plus lots more comp details, events and happenings.

All fabulous opportunities to get your writing in front of judges, publishers and selection panels and there’s some not insignificant cash prizes on offer too.

So get those stories and poems in fast for the comps closing soon.

Some tips for success:

• Follow submission guidelines (exactly)
• Redraft, redraft, redraft
• Read your work aloud to pick up jars and jolts and to check for rhythm
• Vary your sentence structure
• Be strenuous at spell-checking and proofreading
• Give your work a few weeks “air time” (you’ll pick up things you never noticed when you go back to it after a break)
• Flick off that fear goblin nagging on your shoulder. If you’ve put in the work – it’s ready. Repeat – flick and submit.

If you know of any writing opportunities or competitions for young writers, not listed on the YWR page, I’d love you to leave me the details in a comment or email me the link. Thnx. And Good luck!

Advertisement

Young Writer Comps and Opportunities

Calling all young writers, playwrights and poets! While I’ve been gallivanting around the UK, these past few weeks, heaps of regular and new young writers’ competitions and opportunities have opened up. Some are closing soon.

So flex those writing muscles and get your entries in fast. (Only if they’ve been buffed and polished and proofed, of course.) You’ll find further details and some great new resources on my Young Writers’ Resources page, such as details of three KSP residential places in WA, The John Marsden and Scribe Non-fiction Prizes, plus lots more comp details, events and happenings.

All fabulous opportunities to get your writing in front of judges, publishers and selection panels and there’s some not insignificant cash prizes on offer too.

So get those stories and poems in fast for the comps closing soon.

Some tips for success:

• Follow submission guidelines (exactly)
• Redraft, redraft, redraft
• Read your work aloud to pick up jars and jolts and to check for rhythm
• Vary your sentence structure
• Be strenuous at spell-checking and proofreading
• Give your work a few weeks “air time” (you’ll pick up things you never noticed when you go back to it after a break)
• Flick off that fear goblin nagging on your shoulder. If you’ve put in the work – it’s ready. Repeat – flick and submit.

If you know of any writing opportunities or competitions for young writers, not listed on the YWR page, I’d love you to leave me the details in a comment or email me the link. Thnx. And Good luck!

Young Writer Opportunities

This is a fantastic time of year for young writers with some great comps and exciting opportunities on offer. Click here to check out the details of the many open right now, including The Future Leaders Writing Prize; the Patrick White Indigenous Young Writers Award; the National Young Writers Festival happening in October among multiple others.

All fabulous opportunities to get your writing in front of judges, publishers and selection panels and there’s some not insignificant cash prizes going.

So get those stories and poems in fast for those comps closing soon.

Some tips for success:

• Follow submission guidelines (exactly)
• Redraft, redraft, redraft
• Read your work aloud to pick up jars and jolts and to check for rhythm
• Vary your sentence structure
• Be strenuous at spell-checking and proofreading
• Flick off that fear goblin nagging on your shoulder. If you’ve put in the work – it’s ready. Repeat – flick and submit.

If anyone reading here knows of any writing opportunities or competitions for young writers, not listed on the YWR page, I’d love you to leave me the details in a comment or email me the link. Thnx.

Young Writers’ Competitions and Opportunities

It’s that time of year  to flex your writing muscles and get your entries in to the fantastic number of competitions and exciting opportunities open to young writers right now. You’ll find further details and some cool new resources on my Young Writers’ Resources page, such as writing residencies, including: three great KSP places in WA, the Ray Koppe Residency – offering a week at Varuna Writers’ House; writing conferences, including:  CYA Hatchlings  combined with the full CYA program in July 2013 and  the National Young Writers Festival blasting off in October 2013, plus lots more competition details, events and workshops.

All fabulous opportunities to get your writing in front of judges, publishers and selection panels and there’s some not insignificant cash prizes going.

So get those stories and poems in fast for those comps closing soon.

Some tips for success:

• Follow submission guidelines (exactly)
• Redraft, redraft, redraft
• Read your work aloud to pick up jars and jolts and to check for rhythm
• Vary your sentence structure
• Be strenuous at spell-checking and proofreading
• Flick off that fear goblin nagging on your shoulder. If you’ve put in the work – it’s ready. Repeat – flick and submit.

If anyone reading here knows of any writing opportunities or competitions for young writers, not listed on the YWR page, I’d love you to leave me the details in a comment or email me the link. Thnx.

Call out to Young Writers

Checking around the internet last week, I found heaps of new, exciting opportunities open to young writers and poets and some cool new resources. I’ve updated my Young Writers’ Resources page, including news of three great KSP writing residencies; the John Marsden Writing Prize details; the National Young Writers Festival happening in September and Express Media’s National Young Writers Group page on Facebook with news of submissions, events and workshops.

All fabulous opportunities to get your writing in front of judges, publishers and selection panels and there’s some not insignificant cash prizes going.

So get those stories and poems in fast for those comps closing soon.

Some tips for success:

• Follow submission guidelines (exactly)
• Redraft, redraft, redraft
• Read your work aloud to pick up jars and jolts and to check for rhythm
• Vary your sentence structure
• Be strenuous at spell-checking and proofreading
• Flick off that fear goblin nagging on your shoulder. If you’ve put in the work – it’s ready. Repeat – flick and submit.

If anyone reading here knows of any writing opportunities or competitions for young writers, not listed on the YWR page, I’d love you to leave me the details in a comment or email me the link. Thnx.

Young Writers’ Resources

Hey, Young Writers

Seeing, by my blog stats and search terms, the popularity and frequent visits to my post back in July on resources for young writers,  I’ve created an updated and separate resource page on From Hook to Book, packed with opportunities for those aiming for publication, to enter competitions, or just wanting to get your writing out there. You’ll find resources, competitions and websites to hook you in to just some of the opportunities available for young writers. There’s heaps more to be found too if you Google around online.

Writing is fun and sometimes frustrating. It’s great to get words on the page and watch your characters come to life. They can do the most unexpected things, and take you to exciting places. (Be warned: They won’t always do what you want them to.) Getting published and winning competitions takes work, but it is possible. How much do you want it? You can write (redraft) your way there. Check out the links on the resources page and see which ones suit you and your writing best, then – be brave – put your writing out there. Go for it.

Meanwhile, I’ll try and keep the page as up-to-date as possible.

Good luck. Happy writing. 

Chris

Love you to let me know if you find any resources you think others might find helpful. Just leave details or a link in the comments or send me an email – details on the Contact page.

 

 

[Image by http://www.lumaxart.com]

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