AAWP’s 2026 Prizes Are Open

The Australasian Association of Writing Programs’ suite of writing prizes are back for 2026 and are open now. Keep reading for all the details.

AAWP & Recent Work Press Novella Prize

On a blurry green-grey background, text reads: AAWP and RWP Novella Prize 2026. Novella Prize —Publication Pathway and Cash Prize Have you written a novella in prose or verse or a hybrid novella that crosses genre boundaries? Enter the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and Recent Work Press (RWP) Novella Prize for your chance to win. If you win you will receive: a written commendation from AAWP $500 cash prize fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual AAWP conference (November 2026) If your manuscript is as robust as the synopsis and opening extract of your novella, you may secure a publishing contract with RWP: recentworkpress.com For further information, please visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit.

Have you written a novella in prose or verse? Or a hybrid novella that crosses genre boundaries? Enter the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and Recent Work Press (RWP) ‘Novella Prize’ for your chance to win.

If you win you will receive: a written commendation from AAWP. This ‘tick of approval’ will see your manuscript assessed without delay. You will, effectively, leap to the top of the submissions pile. You will also receive a $500.00 cash prize and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP (November 2026) where you will be invited to read from your work.

If your full manuscript is as robust as the synopsis and opening extract, you may secure a publishing contract with RWP: https://recentworkpress.com

Take advantage of this stunning opportunity. Fast track your writing journey in a fiercely competitive market.

Read the full terms of entry here

Enter the AAWP & RWP Novella Prize here

**AAWP & Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize**

Overlayed on a photograph of a navy blue brick wall, text reads: AAWP and Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize 2026. The Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and Westerly Magazine are proud to offer a prize for life writing. In 2026, The Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and Westerly Magazine are offering a prize for writers at all stages of their journey; both emerging and established writers are welcome to enter. We welcome submissions of autobiography, biography, memoir, and essay. We celebrate Life Writing as a rumination upon memory and experience and encourage creative and hybrid approaches. Hybrid storytelling is broadly conceived as storytelling that crosses traditional boundaries of nonfiction and creative nonfiction and/or is experimental in form. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, a written commendation from AAWP and the winner’s work will be considered for publication by Westerly. Entries Close: 30 June 2026. For further information, please visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

In 2026, the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) and Westerly Magazine are offering a prize for Life Writing. We welcome submissions of autobiography, biography, memoir, and essays. We celebrate Life Writing as a rumination upon memory and experience and encourage creative and hybrid approaches.

The prize is open to writers at all stages of their journey; emerging and established writers are welcome to enter. The prize recognises excellence in nonfiction, creative nonfiction and hybrid modes of storytelling. Hybrid storytelling is broadly conceived as storytelling that crosses traditional boundaries of nonfiction and creative nonfiction and/or is experimental in form.

We invite you to send Life Writing submissions of up to 3500 words. The winner will receive a written commendation from AAWP, a $500 cash prize, a one-year subscription to Westerly, and conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where they will be invited to read from their work. Please see item 3 (Terms and conditions). The winner’s work will be considered for publication by Westerly.

We encourage you to take advantage of this stunning opportunity to celebrate diverse interpretations of nonfiction, creative nonfiction and hybrid modes of storytelling, and be welcomed into the thriving community of writers associated with the AAWP.

Read the full terms of entry here
Enter the AAWP & Westerly Magazine Life Writing Prize here

AAWP & Express Media Sudden Writing Prize

On a light blue abstract photograph, text reads: Sudden Writing Prize 2026. Emerging writers under 25. Open theme. Short-short fiction, sudden fiction, sketchy stories, creative nonfiction, poetry. Prose: 400 words. Poetry: 40 lines. Prose poetry: 200 words. Submissions close 30 June 2026. For further information, please visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

We are deeply interested in capturing a composite “picture” of what people are writing about. Now. Please send creative work—short-short fiction, “sudden” fiction, “sketchy” stories, creative nonfiction, poetry, as well as hybrid forms.

We are accepting submissions on the following scale: up to 400 words prose, 40 lines for poetry, 200 words for prose poems, and the equivalent for hybrid forms. Submissions must be previously unpublished. Please send your most polished work, without delay.

If you win you will receive a written commendation from AAWP and a $500 cash prize. You will have your work published on the Express Media website and receive a Voiceworks subscription. You will also receive fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where you will be invited to read from your work.
Read the full terms of entry here

Enter the AAWP & Express Media Sudden Writing Prize here

AAWP & Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Translators’ Prize

Next to a close-up photograph of a woman clapping in that audience of an UWRF event, and on a brown background, text reads: AAWP and UWRF Translators' Prize. The AAWP X UWRF Translators’ Prize is offered by the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) in partnership with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF). The prize is open translators at all stages of their career. The aim of the prize is to promote the work of emerging translators by facilitating networking opportunities and publication pathways. The winner will receive an invitation to attend and participate in Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026, including accommodation for the duration of the festival. In addition, the winner will receive fully subsidised fees to attend the AAWP annual conference and a written commendation from AAWP. Entries close: 30 June 2026. Visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

This prize is offered in partnership with the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF), and is open to translators at any stage of their career.

The winner receives a written commendation from AAWP, a festival pass to UWRF and accomodation for the duration of the festival (*Terms and Conditions apply, see below). In addition, you will receive fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP, where you will be invited to read from your work. The editors at Meniscus Literary Journal will also consider your work for publication.

Entries must be no more than 30 lines (poetry) or 3000 words (prose), and entrants can translate their own work into English. Entries must be accompanied by a ‘Translator’s Statement of Intention’ (up to 400 words) addressing the aims of the translation.

Read the full terms of entry here

Enter the AAWP & UWRF Translators’ Prize here

AAWP & UWRF Emerging Writers‘ Prize for Prose

Next to a close-up photograph of a man in that audience of an UWRF event, and on a brown background, text reads: AAWP X UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Prose The AAWP X UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Prose is offered by the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) in partnership with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF). The prize is open to emerging writers of prose only. The aim of the prize is to foster global writing communities: to promote the work of under-represented writers to a broader “English-reading” audience. The winner will receive an invitation to attend and participate in Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026, including accommodation for the duration of the festival. In addition, the winner will receive fully subsidised fees to attend the AAWP annual conference and a written commendation from AAWP. Entries close: 30 June 2026. Visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

This prize is offered in partnership with the UBUD Writers and Readers Festival, and is aimed at emerging writers of short fiction.

If you win you will receive: a festival pass to UWRF and accommodation for the duration of the festival (*Terms and Conditions apply, see below). In addition, you will receive fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP. The editors at Meniscus will also consider your work for publication.

Take advantage of this stunning opportunity to celebrate the craft of writing at Southeast Asia’s largest and most exciting literary festival. Be welcomed into the thriving community of writers within the AAWP. Enter your short story and make the most of this generous publication pathway and networking opportunity for emerging writers. Entries should not exceed 3000 words.

Read the full terms of entry here

Enter the AAWP & UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Prose here

AAWP & UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Poetry

Next to a close-up photograph of a hand signing a book at an UWRF event, and on a white background, text reads: AAWP X UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Poetry The AAWP X UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for poetry is offered by the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) in partnership with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF). The prize is open to emerging writers of poetry only. The aim of the prize is to foster global writing communities: to promote the work of under-represented writers to a broader “English-reading” audience. The winner will receive an invitation to attend and participate in Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2026, including accommodation for the duration of the festival. In addition, the winner will receive fully subsidised fees to attend the AAWP annual conference and a written commendation from AAWP. Entries close: 30 June 2026. Visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

Enter your poem in the ‘AAWP/UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Poetry for your chance to win.

Take advantage of this stunning opportunity to celebrate the craft of writing at Southeast Asia’s largest and most exciting literary festival. Be welcomed into the thriving community of writers within the AAWP. Enter your poem and make the most of this generous publication pathway and networking opportunity for emerging writers.

Read the full terms of entry here
Enter the AAWP & UWRF Emerging Writers’ Prize for Poetry here

Chapter One Prize

Overlayed on a photo of a pile of books, text reads: Chapter One. The AAWP’s Publication Pathway for Emerging Writers. Have you written a poetry collection, literary novel, short story collection, or a hybrid work that crosses genre boundaries? Enter the Australasian Association of Writing Programs’ (AAWP) ‘Chapter One’ competition for your chance to win. If you win, your work will be assessed by the University of Western Australia Publishing, as a matter of priority. You will effectively leap to the top of the submission pile. You will also receive a $500 cash prize, a written commendation from AAWP and fully subsidised conference feels to attend the annual conference of the AAWP (November 2026) where you will be invited to read from your work. If your full manuscript is as robust as ‘Chapter One’ you may secure a publishing contract with UWAP: http://uwap.uwa.edu.au. Take advantage of this stunning opportunity. Fast track your writing journey in a fiercely competitive market. Entries close 30 June 2026. For further information, please visit: meniscusliteraryjournal.submittable.com/submit

Have you written a poetry collection, literary novel, short story collection or a hybrid work that crosses genre boundaries? Enter the Australasian Association of Writing Programs’ (AAWP) ‘Chapter One’ competition for your chance to win.

If you win you will receive: a written commendation from AAWP and a letter of recommendation to the University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP). This ‘tick of approval’ will see your manuscript assessed without delay. You will, effectively, leap to the top of the submissions pile. You will also receive a $500.00 cash prize and fully subsidised conference fees to attend the annual conference of the AAWP (November 2026) where you will be invited to read from your work.

If your full manuscript is as robust as ‘Chapter One’ you may secure a publishing contract with UWAP: http://uwap.uwa.edu.au.

Take advantage of this stunning opportunity. Fast track your writing journey in a fiercely competitive market.

You must be an AAWP member, and you may enter as many times as you like.

Read the full terms of entry here

Enter the Chapter One Prize here

The Prizes and Partnerships Portfolio is managed by AAWP President | Chair, Associate Professor Julia Prendergast, contactable directly at jprendergast@swin.edu.au

Got a question? Want to be on our focused Prizes email list? Email us at prizes@aawp.org.au

AAWP prizes have been ratified by Arts Law: ‘Arts Law was very impressed with AAWP’s attitude, which clearly demonstrated AAWP’s respect for writers.’

You can read more here:Arts Law Advises AAWP on Best Practice

For more information about the AAWP Prizes—including past winners and publication updates—visit this page on our website.

Related