Calling all writers! WORDfest's 2024 Short Story Competition is open! Entries can be submitted from the 1st of April, 2024. Entries close at 11:59pm on the 24th of June 2024.
Apollo Bay WORDfest welcomes original entries from writers residing in the state of Victoria (who aren't currently paid fictional writers) to submit short stories.
Get tapping on your keyboards, writing to an open theme, and submit your entry to one of three judging categories (please note, there is a small entry fee for the Adult/Open Category):
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(maximum 3000 words)
The winner of the Adult Open Category will receive $1000 cash prize.
Entry Fee: $10
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(maximum 1000 words)
Entries must be from young adults, aged 12-18. The winner will receive a $300 cash prize.
FREE entry
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(maximum 500 words)
Entries must be from writers under the age of 12. The winner will receive a $200 Readings book voucher.
FREE entry
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Entry dates
The opening date for entries is 1st April 2024. Entries close at 11.59pm on 24th June 2024.
Prizes
The winner of the Adult Open Category will receive $1000 cash prize.
The winner of the 12-18 years Young Adult Category will receive a $300 cash prize.
The winner of the Under 12s Category will receive a $200 book voucher.
Who can enter?
Entries are welcome from residents of the state of Victoria, Australia, writing in English who are not currently paid, professional fiction writers.
How to enter
Entries must be submitted via email to info@apollobaywordfest.com by 11.59pm on 24th June 2024.
Include in the email body only your full name, age, story title, address of permanent residence and contact phone number.
One entry per person.
The entry fees of $10 for the adult category, free for under 18s and under 12s, must be paid by direct deposit to the following bank account:
Apollo Bay Arts Inc. Writers Festival BSB Number: 633-000
Account Number 162 260 665The author’s name must not appear anywhere in the attached document, story or in the name of the digital file. Judging will be ‘blind’.
Formatting your entry
Entries must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .docx).
The text should be presented in 12 pt font size.
The pages should be numbered. The file name should only include the title of the story.
Entrants should not include their own name in the title of the story or the file name.
Entries must be a single, adhering to the word limit for the category. Entries must be written in English. Entries must be original works of fiction writing, not previously published elsewhere or infringing on copyright laws.
Copyright in the story (or stories) remains with the entrant.Publication
Apollo Bay WORDfest Committee reserve the rights to publish the three winning stories in print and online using appropriate media platforms.
Authorship of the shortlisted stories will be fully acknowledged in the event of print and online publishing.
The Judging Process
Judging is a ‘blind’ process. Entrants who have included their name in their document, story, or file name will be disqualified.
The shortlist of entries will be decided by the Apollo Bay WORDfest committee.
The panel of judges who select the winners from the shortlisted entries will be independent of the Apollo Bay WORDfest committee.
The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into about the judgments or the judging process.
We are unable to provide feedback about individual entries.
Apollo Bay WORDfest reserves the right not to award a prize in any category.
Winners of the Under 12 and young adult categories will be announced at 11:30am on Saturday July 26 @ Apollo Bay Community Hall
The winner of the Adult OPEN Category will be announced after Poetry, Plants & Pies, 7:30pm on Satuday July 26 @ Apollo Bay Community Hall