
Anthology Poetry Competition - CLOSE
By Anthology Magazine
Closes 31 October, 2023
Open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines.
More info here
The ASA Style File - CLOSE
By The ASA
Submissions close Sep 28
The ASA Style File is a curated portfolio site for illustrators to showcase their work.
More info here.
Larrikin House Submissions - OPEN
Larrikin House love edgy, quirky, humorous stories that push boundaries and challenge stereotypes.
More info here.

Anthology Short Story Competition - CLOSE
By Anthology Magazine.
Entries close 31 August, 2023
This short story competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.
More information here
The ASA Style File - Open
By The ASA
Submissions close Sep 28
The ASA Style File is a curated portfolio site for illustrators to showcase their work.
More info here.
Walker Book Manuscript Prize - CLOSE
By Walker Books
The award is open for the following categories:
Junior fiction: for readers 5-8 years (5,000-20,000 words)
Middle grade fiction: for readers aged 8-12 years (30,000 to 50,000 words)
Young adult fiction: for readers 12+ (50,000-80,000 words)
More info here.
Picture It Anthology - Close
By Just Write For Kids
Submissions close July 31
‘Show’ us the beauty of Australia from your heart. Open to aspiring, emerging and experienced author/illustrators. Collaborations between authors and illustrators allowed.
More info here.
The School Magazine Illustrations - CLOSE
By The School Magazine
Submissions close July 3
The books are now open!
We value a range of styles (particularly, at the moment, realistic styles, and a light-hearted/whimsical approach to nonfiction articles.
More info here.
Children's Book Writing Competition - CLOSE
By Exisle Academy and EK Books
Submissions close 1 July
Open to experienced and aspiring authors. Write a 350-word short story on the theme of “When I Met My Feelings”.
More info here.
Wombat Books Submissions - CLOSE
By Wombat Books and Rihza Edge.
Picture Books (General Fiction): April 2023
Rhiza Edge Young Adult: Open ongoing
Early reader fiction: Open June 2023
More information here.
Anthology Angels - CLOSE
By Anthology Angels
Please submit either a complete short story up to 1500 words (no first chapters or to be continued…) or a poem of no more than 650 words. The theme is ‘Hot Diggety Dog! Tails from the Bark Side’ and our judges are looking for funny, quirky and whimsical stories about man’s best friend. We would love you to have the chance to be published in our next anthology with copies to be donated to Story Dogs.
More info here.
Ann Whitford Paul – Writer’s Digest Manuscript Award - CLOSE
By SCBWI
The Ann Whitford Paul – Writer’s Digest Manuscript Award is an annual award given to a Most Promising Picture Book manuscript. Open to SCBWI members only.
More information here.
Paperbound Magazine Submissions - CLOSE
By Paperbound Magazine.
Closes 28 Apr, 2023
Flash fiction, short stories, poetry, or scripts on a ‘Past and Future’ theme aimed at middle grade, teen and/or young adult readers. Also accepting illustration submissions.
More info here.

Under the Silver Tree Short Story Competition - CLOSE
By Under the Silver Tree Cooperative Bookshop
Closes 12 April, 2023
Short stories up to 2,000 words on the theme of “underground”.
More info here
CYA Published Competition - CLOSE
By CYA Writers and Illustrators Conference
Published authors writing for the children’s and young adult market. Categories include Picture BookS and YA/Middle Grade.
More info here.
CYA Illustration Competition - CLOSE
By CYA Writers and Illustrators Conference.
Submit a colour illustration suitable for a book, based on the theme ‘Dreamland’.
More info here.
CYA Aspiring (Unpublished) Competition - CLOSE
By CYA Writers and Illustrators Conference
Unpublished authors writing for the children’s and young adult market. Categories include Picture Books, Chapter Books and Fiction for Young Adults.
More info here.
Loose Parts Press - CLOSES
At Loose Parts Press our focus is on children’s books that are empowering and affirming – stories that inspire kids to change the world and highlight the beauty and joy in it.
We primarily publish fiction: board books, picture books and chapter books but will consider middle grade and graphic novels.
More info here.
ASA Literary Speed Dating Booking - CLOSE
By Australian Society of Authors
Closes 24 March
Our successful Virtual Literary Speed Dating series gives writers a unique three-minute opportunity to pitch their completed manuscript to Australian publishers and agents.
More info here.
Affirm Press - Illustrator Submissions
Affirm only accept submissions quarterly on the first Monday of each new season for their kids list. This quarter it’s Illustration.
More info here.
KYD New Australian Fiction - CLOSE
By Kill Your Darlings
We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and all levels of experience to submit to this collection. Stories must be between 2000-6000 words and must be previously unpublished. All genres will be considered.
More info here.
ASA Literary Speed Dating Booking - OPEN (Copy)
By Australian Society of Authors
Closes 24 March
Our successful Virtual Literary Speed Dating series gives writers a unique three-minute opportunity to pitch their completed manuscript to Australian publishers and agents.
More info here.
Larrikin House Manuscript Submissions - OPEN
By Larrikin House
Opens 1 March, 2023
Larrikin House love edgy, quirky, humorous stories that push boundaries and challenge stereotypes.
On the 1st March and 1st September Larrikin House will open the submissions portal for Picture books (ages 3-7), Junior fiction (ages 5-9), Middle grade fiction (ages 9-13), and Graphic novels (ages 7+).
More info here
Searchlight Best Children’s Illustrated Picture Book - CLOSE
By Searchlight Writing for Children Awards
Closes 1 March, 2023
Entries are invited for our new illustrated picture book competition. We are searching for exciting stories that young children will ask for again and again!
More info here
Text Prize - CLOSE
By Text Publishing
Awarded annually to the best manuscript written for young readers, the $10,000 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing aims to discover incredible new books by exciting authors.
More info here.
Kate Dopirak Craft and Community Award - CLOSE
By Kate Dopirak
The Kate Dopirak Craft and Community Award provides tuition to the SCBWI Annual Summer Conference in Los Angeles to the author of a promising manuscript.
Submissions for the 2023 award year are open to middle-grade and young-adult book writers.
More info here.

Stringybark Open Short Story Awards - CLOSE
By Stringybark Stories
Closes 12 February, 2023
Max 1500 word short story competition. Open theme, only constraint is that a reference to Australia must be made.
More info here

ASA 2023 Award Mentorship Program for Writers and Illustrators - CLOSE
By the Australian Society of Authors.
Closes 31 January 2023
Thanks to a grant from the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, we are able to offer an award mentorship program for writers and illustrators, to help you develop your work to a publishable standard.
More info here
KYD New Australian Fiction - OPEN (Copy)
By Kill Your Darlings
Closes 5 March 2023.
We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and all levels of experience to submit to this collection. Stories must be between 2000-6000 words and must be previously unpublished. All genres will be considered.
More info here.
Red Paper Kite Submissions - CLOSE (Copy)
By Red Paper Kite
Closes 27th Jan
We are looking for stories with a fresh vibe, and only accept children's picture books manuscripts (around 500 words max.)
Also accepting illustrator’s portfolios.
More info here