AWARDS, PRIZES, GLORY
The best source of material on competitions is through your local writers centre or in the latest edition of The Australian Writer's Marketplace available from the Queensland Writers Centre. It can't possibly have everything, but it runs close. There's also a lot of other information there which you might find useful.
Bear in mind that entering a competition is, by it's nature competitive. You have a greater chance of getting published than you do of winning a competition.
And sometimes good material doesn't win, but sometimes it's on the 'no' or 'maybe' pile because it's poorly constructed, unoriginal, uninteresting, badly written, under-edited, boring, the same as all the other entries, or not what the particular competition is about. Or it's the work of an undiscovered genius and the judges are fools who should not be let loose with blue pencils.
A note about conditions:
When you enter competitions it's as well to look at the conditions carefully and decide what you think is all right for you and what you think isn't.
I had a note from a writer about the conditions of a prize which read in part:
I assign the copyright in my entry to the [the organisers].
And
You agree that the [organisers] can copy, edit and publish your entry (including using quotations or extracts from your entry) for the purposes of the [organisers] and that no fee will be payable to you for this use.
It's up to you, of course, what you sign, but it's as well to know at assigning rights means you're giving over copyright (better to licence the work which means it's for a specified use and for a specified time). The copyright holder is the one who decides what can and can't be done with a work. You should check out the legal implications of what you sign. It's not up to other people to tell you (including me. I'm not a lawyer.)
The second paragraph also seems to be too generous to the organisers for my tastes. I'd be a bit wary of unknown editors being given all this freedom without the writer being able to object.
It's up to you, but think carefully about offering your work when these sorts of conditions apply. It might be that it's a fund-raiser and all very innocent, but exercise your judgement. Sometimes I'm quite happy to give away all sorts of things in a good cause - and sometimes I'm not. Guideline: Choose rather than be suckered.
SOME GOOD COMPETITIONS:
...but you still have to make up your own mind and read the conditions.
A
Angus & Robertson (Ulladulla) Short Story Prize. One of the 2006 Southern Shoalhaven Literary Awards. $500 bookvoucher first prize. Entry forms and guidelines at the Escape Arts Festival site. Closes 31 August.
Arvon International Poetry Competition. First prize is five thousand pounds. The closing date for entries is 15 September 2006.
The Australian Centre Literary Awards. Part of the University of Melbourne.
BC
The Broadway Poetry Prize is run by the Poets Union. The prize is $3000. A goodly amount. Winners announced at the Australian Poetry Festival (held 1 - 10 September in 2006). Check out the details of the prize and the festival on the Poets Union site.
DEF
The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize
G
Griffin Award The famous award is $5000 for a new playscript. The Griffin has long been a force in Australian theatre.
H
The Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize is run by Island Magazine which is one of Australia's premier literary magazines.
IJKLM
Iremonger Award for Writing on Public Issues is run by Allen & Unwin. Entry forms available from Allen & Unwin's site.
NO
National Short Storytelling Competition Sponsored by the University of Canberra, this prize has both written and recorded (electronic) sections - both with prizes of $3000. This has to be good.
New England Review Poetry Competition 2006 50 Kentucky St Armidale NSW 2350. Unpublished, and not on offer poems up to 40 lines. Open theme any style. First Prize $150, Second Prize $75 Highly Commended and Commended Certificates. Results and Winning Poems to appear in Winter Edition of New England Review.
PQR
Poetry Postcard competition
A fun competition held in association with the Shoalhaven Poetry Festival.
Email the organisers to enquire about the 2007 festival.
STUVWXYZ
Shelly's Bookshop Poetry Prize. One of the 2006 Southern Shoalhaven Literary Awards. $500 bookvoucher first prize. Entry forms and guidelines at the Escape Arts Festival site. Closes 31 August.