If you’re interested in pushing your literary barrow further, read on:

 

Newcastle Poetry Prize

Established in 1981, the Newcastle Poetry Prize is the richest poetry competition in Australia. Each year entries are anonymously judged by a panel of respected poets from around Australia. There are two sections: Open ($11,000) and New Media ($2,000), with a local award ($500) being given to the highest placed poem in the Open Section from a poet residing in the Hunter Valley.

Sponsored by the University of Newcastle and Newcastle City Council, the Newcastle Poetry Prize is highly regarded for its annual anthology, offering established and emerging poets an opportunity for publication.

Closing date: July 4. For further information and conditions of entry, please visit the Hunters Writers Centre.

Text Publishing searching for new Australian Young Adult Writing

Text Publishing have just announced a new writing prize on Australia’s literary landscape: the Text Young Adult Prize.  The prize is open to Australian and New Zealand writers of all ages, published or not. Works of both fiction and non-fiction are eligible, and the winner will receive a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties.

The prize is open until 31 July and the winner will be announced at Melbourne Writers’ Festival on Saturday 30 August.

For more information and conditions of entry please visit their website

Penguin in searching for Australia’s next big crime writing star

Penguin has just announced details of a competition to find a new Australian voice in the commercial crime/thriller market. On offer for the winner, is a publishing contract with Penguin Australia. Three runners’ up will also receive a full publishing critique of their work.

 

The judging panel for the competition will include Beverley Cousins and Robert Sessions (Penguin Group), Paul Landymore (Bookseller Readings Books & Music) and international bestselling author Nicci French.

 

To enter Penguin’s crime writing competition, writers must submit their full contact details, the opening chapters (up to 5000 words), a full synopsis (1000 words on less) including the ending and a proposed back cover copy (up to 100 words.)

 

The competition closes Friday 23 June 2008 at 5pm. 

More details can be found at www.penguinmostwanted.com.au
 

Vogel Literary Award Submissions Now Open

The Australian/Vogel Literary Award is Australia’s richest and most prestigious award for an unpublished manuscript by a writer under the age of thirty-five. It’s launched the careers of writers such as Tim Winton, Kate Grenville and Andrew McGahan.

To celebrate 50 years of Vogel’s in Australia, the prize money has been doubled by the sponsors, bringing the total award prize money for 2008 to $50,000 plus normal royalties from sales.

Want to enter?
Entrants must be below 35 years of age and normally residents of Australia. The manuscript submitted should be a work of fiction, Australian history or biography and must be an original work, entirely by the entrant and written in English.

Entries close 31 May 2008

For further information, visit Allen & Unwin 

Poetry Idol is back for 2008!

The 2008 season of Poetry Idol heats returns on Tuesday 6 May from 6.30pm. Head down to the St Kilda Library on the first Tuesday of every month up until August to perform or cheer on your favourite Idol.

 

Heat winners will perform in the Poetry Idol Final at Federation Square as part of the Age Melbourne Writers’ Festival. There’s $3000 worth of prizes up for grabs!

 

So if you’re ready to wax your lyrical mojo, register your place by emailing Michael Crane on mfcrane2000@yahoo.com