Inspire the young people in your life with Fremantle Press’s top 12 writing competitions courtesy of creative writing teacher Deb Fitzpatrick

New year, new opportunities, and 2019 has plenty to offer when it comes to writing competitions for children and young adults.

Author, editor and creative writing mentor Deb Fitzpatrick has put together a comprehensive list for you to browse through. Better still, download the poster version to stick up in your classroom so your aspiring writers have something to work towards.

Fogarty Literary Award 2019
An unpublished work of adult fiction, narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction.
Open to: Western Australians aged between 18 and 35.
Entry fee: Free
Prize: $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.
Closing date: 22 April 2019
Further information: www.fremantlepress.com.au/fogarty-award/

Peter Cowan 600 Short Story Award
Short story of no more than 600 words.
Open to: Writers from 12 to 17 living in Australia
Entry fee: $5
Prizes: $50
Closing date: 29 March 2019
Further information: www.pcwc.org.au/competitions/2019-peter-cowan-600-word-short-story-award/

CYA Hatchlings Writers and Illustrators Competition
Picture book, chapter book, graphic novel, illustrated picture book, middle grade illustrated novel, or illustration.
Open to: Ages 8 to 18
Entry fee: $14
Prizes: First prize $100, second prize $60, third prize $40 in each category.
Closing date: 7 April 2019
Further information: www.cyaconference.com/hatchlings-competition

Rocky River ‘Riters Laura Literary Awards
Short story or poem.
Open to: Ages 5 to 18
Entry fee: $10
Prizes: Various; see website
Closing date: 12 April 2019
Further information: www.rockyriverriters.club/competitions/

Central West Libraries Banjo Paterson Awards
Short story of no more than 1,000 words or a poem of no more than 30 lines.
Open to: Ages 16 and under
Entry fee: $5
Prizes: First prize $200, second and third prizes $100
Closing date: 26 April 2019
Further information: www.cwl.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/CWL_0603_BanjoWriting_EntryForm_2019.pdf

Henry Lawson Society National Literary Awards – Wombat Award
Up to three poems on the theme of ‘our heritage’.
Open to: Ages 12 and under
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: First prize $100, second prize $75, third prize $50
Closing date: 30 April 2019
Further information: www.henrylawsonsociety.org/the-wombat-award/

Whitlam Institute What Matters? Writing Competition
Respond to the question ‘What matters?’ in 400 to 600 words using prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction.
Open to: School students years 5 to 12
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: $350 for each category winner and $200 for runners-up
Closing date: 10 May 2019
Further information: www.whitlam.org/what-matters/

CBCA Make Your Own Story Book Competition
Picture book or story book that tells an original story, using original text and illustrations
Open to: Western Australian students from pre-primary to Year 8.
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: Three prizes in each category for each age group
Closing date: 7 June 2019
Further information: wa.cbca.org.au/wamyosb.htm

John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers
Fiction or non-fiction of up to 3000 words, and poetry up to 100 lines
Open to: Ages 12 to 17
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: Shortlisted writers receive an exclusive workshop, a meeting with John Marsden, a cash prize, a book pack of YA titles, and publication of the work on the Express Media site
Closing date: 30 June 2019
Further information: www.expressmedia.org.au/programs/john-marsden-prize/

Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Poem of up to 80 lines with the optional theme: ‘Is there anybody there?’.
Open to: Australian students
Entry fee: Various; see website
Prizes: Monetary prizes and gift packs
Closing date: 30 June 2019
Further information: www.dorothea.com.au/How-to-Enter-awards

Adelaide Plains Poets Poetry Competition
Poem on the theme of ‘location’.
Open to: Primary school and secondary school students.
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: First, second and third prizes, plus highly commended and commended certificates with a total prize pool of $700
Closing date: 5 July 2019
Further information: www.carolyn-poeticpause.blogspot.com

KSP Writers’ Centre Little Black Dress Spooky Story Competition
Story of up to 500 words on the theme of ‘change’, with significant elements of eeriness/spookiness.
Open to: Ages 8 to 18
Entry fee: Free
Prizes: Youth (WA) first prize $100, certificate and goody bag; Youth (WA) second prize $25, certificate and goody bag; Youth Interstate Award $25 and certificate
Closing date: 19 July 2019
Further information: www.kspwriterscentre.com/spooky-story-competition

Deb Fitzpatrick lives and works in Fremantle as a freelance editor, mentor and writer. Deb wrote her YA novel 90 Packets of Instant Noodles while living in a shack in the cloud forest of Costa Rica, and Have You Seen Ally Queen? while backpacking through South America. Her other books include The Break, The Amazing Spencer Gray, The Spectacular Spencer Gray and At My Door. Deb has a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) from UWA and teaches professional writing and editing at Curtin University.