Deadline June 13 | The Society of Women Writers NSW Poetry Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 13 June 2012

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. was established in 1925 and incorporated in 1987 and is the longest-standing literary society in Australia. The Society aims to enable women writers in all genres to meet and network, and to benefit from regular seminars and workshops. In addition to monthly workshops and luncheon meetings, the Society administers a number of Awards and Competitions. The 2012 Members’ Poetry and Short Story Competitions are now open.

First Prize $250.00 Second Prize $150 Third Prize $100

Terms and Conditions of Entry

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 40 lines, typed on one side A4 paper.

3. Only Pen Name should appear on the manuscript.

4. An entry fee of $10.00 per poem is payable for each entry. Make cheques out to Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. and not SWW.

5. Entrants must be financial members of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

6. Entries consisting of the poem manuscript, payment and entry form must be in the hands of Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067 (Ph 9419 3070) by the closing date: Wednesday 13th June 2012. Postmark date is acceptable.

7. The Judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

8. No entries will be returned.

RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12.30pm at the Society’s luncheon meeting at the Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing, State Library of NSW. Results will be posted on our website.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org or call 9419 3070

For submissions: Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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Deadline June 8 | Call for Submissions for 'Metamorphoses' Issue: Yemaya Interdisciplinary Women's Journal

Deadline: 8 June 2012

Yemaya is the Sydney University Law Society’s interdisciplinary women’s journal. It has been published annually since 2006 under the auspices of the Women’s Portfolio.

METAMORPHOSES

Contributors from all backgrounds (not necessarily law) are encouraged to critically explore this topic, touching upon the diverse and changing experiences of women with respect to the legal system, the legal profession, or any other locus of public or personal life.

Submissions can be essays, short stories, interviews, book reviews, original artworks, poetry or any other creative format. Written submissions should be up to 2,000 words and images should be a maximum of 300 dpi resolution.

Please send expressions of interest (optional) to women@suls.org.au; final submissions are due Friday 8 June.

Yemaya will be launched at King & Wood Mallesons in late August. Prizes for the best submissions will be awarded at the launch. Artworks also have opportunity to be exhibited in the Yemaya Pop-Up Exhibition Series.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: women@suls.org.au

Website: http://www.suls.org.au/publications.html

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The Carmel Bird Short Fiction Award 2012 for Women Writers (Australia only)

Deadline: 31 August 2012

Open only to women writers. 4,000 – 10,000 words. Winning and shortlisted entrants will be considered for inclusion in the SPINELESSWONDERS Long Shorts e-stories series.

Amanda Lohrey is the author of several novels, including the award-winning Camille’s Bread. Her first collection of stories, Reading Madame Bovary (Black Inc 2010) won both the Fiction and Australian Short Story Collection—Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award in 2011. She discusses long stories and her collection, Reading Madame Bovary, here http://bit.ly/bJIqLQ

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Entries must be from 4,000 – 10,000 words in length.

2. Entries must be printed on one side only, using 1.5 line spacing and 12 pt font size. The pages of stories must be numbered and must include the story title (but not author name).

3. Stories under consideration by another competition or publication or previously published or awarded, at a national level, will not be accepted.

4. Entries will be judged anonymously. The author’s name must not appear on the manuscript.

5. The judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

6. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.

7. Entrants must be either Australian citizens (living anywhere), or permanent residents of Australia.

8. Entry fee is $20.00. Multiple entries are acceptable. Payment can be made using Paypal via the Product page on our website, by cheque or money order made out to Spineless Wonders and mailed along with entries.

9. Each individual entry must be accompanied by a Covering Letter providing name, address, phone and email contact details, story title and word count.

10. Mail entries to:

Carmel Bird Long Story Competition
PO Box 220
STRAWBERRY HILLS
NSW 2012

11. Entries must be postmarked 31 August, 2012 or earlier. Late entries will not be accepted.

12. Shortlisted entries will be notified no later than February, 2013. Results will be announced via this website on International Women’s Day, Friday, 8 March, 2013.

13. The winning and shortlisted stories will be considered for publication in electronic form by SPINELESSWONDERS as part of its upcoming Long Shorts series. Proceeds of the e-story series sales will go directly to authors, excluding a minimal percentage to cover administration costs. Further details regarding issues such as copyright, distribution etc are included in the publisher-author contractual agreement.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: bronwyn@shortaustralianstories.com.au

For submissions: Carmel Bird Long Story Competition, PO Box 220, STRAWBERRY HILLS, NSW 2012

Website: http://shortaustralianstories.com.au

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Call for Submissions for Ampersand Magazine: Issue 6 on 'Love'

Deadline: 14 June 2012

Ampersand Magazine is a curiosity journal based in Melbourne, Australia. We have been annual, we have been bi-annual, we have been quarterly. These days we are as frequent as necessary. Meaning, infrequently.

Ampersand explores creativity, societal change and the human condition through multiple disciplines. We are interested in the discussion of any subject matter, particularly that which is unfashionable, unorthodox, illuminating or rare. Ampersand brings together academia and popular culture, enquiry and humour, innovation and tradition, opinion and evidence. We have a penchant for history and echoes of the past. We are interested in all modes of visual art. We are political, and interested in the fallout of religion and globalisation. We intertwine it all with absurdity, sex and cheap laughs.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Ampersand is now calling for non fiction, fiction, poetry and art submissions for issue 6 – Love.

We invite you to take a look at the provocations below, taken from A Lover’s Discourse by Roland Barthes.

Check out the submission guidelines below, and try to get your hands on a copy of Ampersand to familiarise yourself with what we do. When your homework is done, email drafts or finished articles (not pitches or proposals) to:

Non fiction and art submissions to Alice: alice’at’ampersandmagazine.com.au
or Simone: simone’at’ampersandmagazine.com.au

Fiction and poetry submissions to Charlie: charliegarber’at’gmail.com

Deadline is June 14 2012.

We do our best to reply to all submissions within 2–3 weeks, but time and volume may prevent us from providing individual feedback.

LOVE – we are looking beyond the euphoric light and into the shadows; of course you can’t have one without the other. The longing, the battle for individuality, the internal discourse, the extreme solitude.

But let there be light, too. We’re looking for good stories about incredible love affairs, about love within families, about how love can change the world.

As a further provocation, consider this list of the concerns of lovers, from A Lover’s Discourse by Roland Barthes.

s’abîmer / to be engulphed

absence / absence

adorable / adorable

affirmation / affirmation

altération / alteration

angoisse / anxiety

annulation / annulment

attente / waiting

cacher / to hide

casés / pigeonholed

catastrophe / catastrophe

circonscrire / to circumscribe

coeur / heart

comblement / fulfillment

compassion / compassion

compendre / to understand

conduite / behavior

connivence / connivance

contingences / contingencies

corps / body

déclaration / declaration

dédicace / dedication

démons / demons

dépendance / dependency

dépense / expenditure

déréalité / disreality

drame / drama

écorché / flayed

écrire / to write

errance / errantry

étreinte / embrace

exil / exile

fâcheux / irksome

fading / fade-out

fautes / faults

fête / festivity

fou / mad

gêne / embarrassment

Gradiva / Gradiva

habit / habiliment

identification / identification

image / image

inconnaissable / unknowable

induction / induction

informateur / informer

insupportable / unbearable

issues / outcomes

jalousie / jealousy

je-t’-aime / I-love-you

langeur / languor

lettre / letter

magie / magic

monstreux / monstrous

mutisme / silence

nuages / clouds

nuit / night

objets / objects

obscène / obscene

pleurer / crying

potin / gossip

pourquoi / why

ravissement / ravishment

regretté / regretted

rencontre / encounter

retentissement / reverberation

réveil / waking

scène / scene

seul / alone

signes / signs

souvenir / remembrance

suicide / suicide

tel / thus

tendresse / tenderness

union / union

vérité / truth

vouloir-saisir / will-to-possess

COLUMNS

Columns appear at the front of the magazine, and include opinion pieces; true stories; dissections of art, literature, politics and history; reportage; commentary and criticism. 500 – 1500 words

FEATURES

Ampersand is open to a variety of authorial voices, from academic to idiomatic, from journalistic to idiosyncratic. Please familiarise yourself with Ampersand’s ethos and previous content before submitting. Essays must reflect the theme in some way. We appreciate supporting imagery if available, and are open to image-based features (just keep in mind they will be printed in black and white). 3000 – 4000 words

REVIEWS

Ampersand’s reviews are not about selling or unqualified opinions. Our reviews are on general subjects, and involve a first person narrative and exploration of one thing – an artist’s whole body of work, a place or a service, for example. We do not publish unfounded rants or matter related to mainstream culture unless they are striking, contextualised interestingly or humourous. 500 – 1500 words

VERSE (FICTION AND POETRY)

Ampersand publishes two short stories and the work of one poet in each issue. 2000 – 4000 words

SPECIFICATIONS – Please submit your work as a Word document, accompanied by an introductory email giving a brief explanation of what you are sending, its word count, and which section you think it would suit.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

– We pride ourselves on excellent editorship, and have pride in our writers for their superior research.
– Please no physical submissions (email only)

Email submissions to the editor – alice@ampersandmagazine.com.au

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: simone’at’ampersandmagazine.com.au (non-fiction), charliegarber’at’gmail.com (fiction)

Website: http://ampersandmagazine.com.au

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Scheduled May 19 | The Feminist Supremacy: Discussion of Feminism at the Sydney Writers' Festival

Date: 19 May 2012

8:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Ticketed: $20/$15

Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street

Tara Moss, Catherine Deveny, Kathy Lette, Emily Maguire, Julia Baird (facilitator)

All of a sudden it seems everyone’s a feminist. Women who once rejected the term now embrace it. Anti-abortion campaigners call themselves feminist. Meryl Streep says Margaret Thatcher was a feminist. At one point George Bush said we went to war in Afghanistan to fight for women’s rights. But if everyone’s a feminist, has the idea lost its meaning? And are we doing anything with this new-found cachet? We might have a female prime minister and governor-general, but women still only make 87 cents to a man’s dollar and getting pregnant can be a career killer. So what good is it? Join us for a lively discussion. We’ve got some noisy females in the house tonight. Kathy Lette, Catherine Deveny, Tara Moss, and Emily Maguire. Chair: Julia Baird.

Register here >>

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Website: http://www.swf.org.au/

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The Society of Women Writers NSW Short Story Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 11 July 2012

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. was established in 1925 and incorporated in 1987 and is the longest-standing literary society in Australia. The Society aims to enable women writers in all genres to meet and network, and to benefit from regular seminars and workshops. In addition to monthly workshops and luncheon meetings, the Society administers a number of Awards and Competitions. The 2012 Members’ Poetry and Short Story Competitions are now open.

First Prize $250.00 Second Prize $150 Third Prize $100

Entries close 11th July 2012

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant, and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 2,500 words, typed on one side of white A4 paper at 1.5 line spacing.

3. Only PEN NAME should appear on the manuscript.

4. An entry fee of $15 per story is payable for each entry. Make cheques out to the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc (as written); not SWW or the name of Receiving Officer.

5. Entrants must be financial members of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

6. Entries consisting of entry form, manuscript and payment must be in the hands of the Receiving Officer, Barbara Westerway, 222 Pittwater Rd, Manly 2095 by the closing date: Wednesday, 11th July 2012. Postmark date is acceptable.

7. The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

8. No entries will be returned.

RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Wednesday, 10th October 2012 at the Society’s Luncheon Meeting at the Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing of the State Library of NSW. Results will be posted on our website:

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org

For submissions: Barbara Westerway, 222 Pittwater Rd, Manly 2095

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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The Society of Women Writers NSW Poetry Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 13 June 2012

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. was established in 1925 and incorporated in 1987 and is the longest-standing literary society in Australia. The Society aims to enable women writers in all genres to meet and network, and to benefit from regular seminars and workshops. In addition to monthly workshops and luncheon meetings, the Society administers a number of Awards and Competitions. The 2012 Members’ Poetry and Short Story Competitions are now open.

First Prize $250.00 Second Prize $150 Third Prize $100

Terms and Conditions of Entry

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 40 lines, typed on one side A4 paper.

3. Only Pen Name should appear on the manuscript.

4. An entry fee of $10.00 per poem is payable for each entry. Make cheques out to Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. and not SWW.

5. Entrants must be financial members of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

6. Entries consisting of the poem manuscript, payment and entry form must be in the hands of Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067 (Ph 9419 3070) by the closing date: Wednesday 13th June 2012. Postmark date is acceptable.

7. The Judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

8. No entries will be returned.

RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12.30pm at the Society’s luncheon meeting at the Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing, State Library of NSW. Results will be posted on our website.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org or call (ph) 9419 3070

For submissions: Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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2012 Elyne Mitchell Rural Women’s Writing Award (Australia)

Deadline: 30 June 2012

The 2012 Elyne Mitchell Rural Women’s Writing Award is offering prize money of $2000 across three categories for writing a story of up to 2500 words on the theme of ‘Leaping Into The Future’.

CATEGORIES FOR 2012 ARE:

• Emerging (women aged 12 yrs to 18 yrs): 1st prize $500
• Local (Residents of Towong or Tumbarumba Shires only): 1st prize $500
• Open (women aged over 18 yrs): 1st prize $1000

All Shortlisted authors receive a bookpack from Harper Collins Publishers Australia

TERMS & CONDITIONS

These are the Terms & Conditions for the 2012 Elyne Mitchell Rural Women’s Writing Award:

• All entries must have a specific reference to an Australian rural experience. Entries may be fiction or non-fiction. The theme for 2012 is ‘Leaping Into The Future’.
• Entries must not exceed 2,500 words
• There is no limit to the number of entries per person, however every entry attracts a non-refundable fee of $10.
• Entries must be unpublished, the entrants original work, and in English.
• Each entry form must be signed and dated by the author.
• Each entry must be typed, double-line spaced and on A4 size paper. Email entries should be in pdf format. Three copies of the manuscript must be provided for each entry sent by mail.
• The author’s name must not appear on any page within the story itself.
• The front page of the story should contain the title that matches the title on the Entry form, and include the Word Count, but not the author’s name.
• Once an entry is submitted, the manuscript is final. The entry may not be withdrawn nor any alterations made.
• Authors are advised to keep a copy of their entry, all entries will be acknowledged.
• No responsibility will be taken for entries and entries will not be returned.
• Late entries and/or those in breach of the entry conditions will be excluded.

A shortlist of ten (10) entries in each Category will be decided by the Judges. Short listed authors will be notified by email, mail or telephone. Each author whose entry is short listed will be invited to attend an Award Announcement and Presentation Ceremony on World Rural Women’s Day 13th October 2012 in Corryong.

Download the entry form here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: entries@elynemitchell.com

For submissions: send entries to The Elyne Mitchell Award, PO Box 267, Corryong, Vic 3707 or by e-mail at entries@elynemitchell.com

Website: http://www.elynemitchell.com

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Call for Submissions for 'Metamorphoses' Issue: Yemaya Interdisciplinary Women's Journal

Deadline: 8 June 2012

Yemaya is the Sydney University Law Society’s interdisciplinary women’s journal. It has been published annually since 2006 under the auspices of the Women’s Portfolio.

METAMORPHOSES

Contributors from all backgrounds (not necessarily law) are encouraged to critically explore this topic, touching upon the diverse and changing experiences of women with respect to the legal system, the legal profession, or any other locus of public or personal life.

Submissions can be essays, short stories, interviews, book reviews, original artworks, poetry or any other creative format. Written submissions should be up to 2,000 words and images should be a maximum of 300 dpi resolution.

Please send expressions of interest (optional) to women@suls.org.au; final submissions are due Friday 8 June.

Yemaya will be launched at King & Wood Mallesons in late August. Prizes for the best submissions will be awarded at the launch. Artworks also have opportunity to be exhibited in the Yemaya Pop-Up Exhibition Series.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: women@suls.org.au

Website: http://www.suls.org.au/publications.html

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Free to Enter: Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association Creative Arts Competition (poetry/ fiction/ non-fiction)

Deadline: 17 August 2012

The Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association is organising a writing and creative arts competition in collaboration with Victoria University and Offset on the theme : The Trung Queens and women in the 21st century. Prizes are $3,000, $1,000, and many other prizes. A book including the best compositions will be launched, on March 4th 2013, to celebrate both the United Nations International Women’s Day and the 30th anniversary of the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association..

BACKGROUND

2000 years ago, Giao Chi, the area that represents northern modern Vietnam was under Han Chinese rule, directly administered by the cruel and oppressive governor, To Dinh. Living in that area at the time were Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, the daughters of a local nobleman. They had a great hatred for the way To Dinh exploited and oppressed their people. To add to this, To Dinh had Trung Trac’s husband put to death for trying to start a rebellion.

During this period in Vietnam’s history, women were held in great esteem, and it wasn’t unusual for them to become judges, community leaders, warriors and traders. It was a combination of the high status enjoyed by women at that time, along with their strength, bravery and resilience that enabled the Trung sisters to raise an army of 80,000 and force To Dinh and his regime out of their country. After over a century of Chinese rule, the people of Ciao Chi finally reclaimed their land. Soon after, they crowned Trung Trac Queen, the first monarch to rule Vietnam.

We want you to comment upon, critique, re-present and turn on their heads the notions of gender, youth, power, politics and human rights in the 21st Century. You have two muses upon which to base your piece: The Trung Sisters of 1st Century Vietnam. You may present your work in either English or Vietnamese.

TOPIC/ESSAY QUESTION

Use the lives and triumphs of the Trung Sisters who lived in 1st Century Vietnam as an inspiration for women in the 21st Century

Issues of gender, power, politics and human rights have plagued women and their ability to lead and be heard over the centuries. There have been quite a few examples of mature queens or female prime ministers taking power following the footsteps of either their successful fathers or husbands, but has there been a young woman leading a successful rebellion where a husband had failed such as in the case of Trung Trac?

Show how it would be possible for two women like the Trung Sisters to achieve their objectives in the 21st Century.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

You can represent your piece on the Trung Sisters in the 21st Century context in either English or Vietnamese in the following forms:

Fiction:

• Poetry (3 examples to be provided if short, up to 100 lines for long poems)
• Short Story (up to 2000 words)
• Play

Non-fiction:

• Essay (analytical or reflective – up to 3000 words – must be well referenced using either Harvard or Oxford referencing methods)

Art:

• Painting, sculpture, photography etc – provide a high resolution photograph of piece (approximately

JUDGING CRITERIA

-Demonstrated knowledge of the Trung Sisters, as well as the context of the times in which they lived

- Demonstrated knowledge of women’s issues both in the time of the Trung Sisters and now

- Original content and interpretation

- Creative thinking

• Connection between the past and the present
• Discover some lessons from the Trung Sisters which can be applied to modern leaders
• Most creative way of representing your argument/story, the barriers and difficulties and how they might have been addressed

Winners will be announced at the Offset Creative Arts Festival, Saturday 20th of October 2012. A book comprising the best entries will be compiled, published and launched in March 2013 at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association.

DOWNLOAD

• Competition background notes
• Competition submission form

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: 2012writingcompetition@avwa.org.au

Website: http://avwa.org.au

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Four Funded Spots for Women: The Stella Prize/ Varuna’s Critiquing Culture Residency (Australia)

Deadline: 10 May 2012

A Residency and a Workshop on Writing Criticism at Varuna in July: four funded spots for women.

In order to support the aims of gender balance in Australia’s review pages, the Stella Prize Committee is funding three places for women at a workshop run by Geordie Williamson, chief literary critic of The Australian, at Varuna on Saturday 7th July. The “Critiquing Culture” workshop is part of the residency program he is leading at Varuna, the Writers' House in Katoomba, from the 2nd-9th July. There will also be funding for one scholarship for the entire residency.

If you’re a woman and you’re interested in learning more about how to refine your critical skills and find your way into publication, you are eligible to apply for one of these funded spaces. To apply, please send:

• a one-page CV including your contact details, and
• a 650-word sample of your critical writing, in any field of the arts

to Lis Bastian at Varuna, the Writers’ House: lis@varuna.com.au by May 10, 2012. This could be a published review or a piece you are preparing for publication, whether online or print. Your application will be assessed by Geordie Williamson, Kirsten Tranter and Jo Case, and decisions will be made at the discretion of the judges. Successful applicants will be notified by email by May 25, 2012, and will either have a space reserved at the workshop with all tuition paid (we are not able to fund travel or accommodation costs for the workshop), or else a full week’s accommodation and meals, with mentoring time set aside, for the residency.

CRITIQUING CULTURE WORKSHOP WITH GEORDIE WILLIAMSON

10am - 4pm | 14th July

Geordie Williamson has been chief literary critic of The Australian since 2008. His reviews and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and journals both here and in Britain since 2000. He is a regular presence on ABC radio, an intermittent academic, and the recipient of 2011's Pascall Prize for critical writing.

New digital publishing platforms have had a revolutionary effect on the nature and function of cultural criticism, not least by exponentially expanding its potential pool of practitioners. While this democratic opening is a hugely positive development, the slackening of standards that has sometimes accompanied it demands to be grappled with. This workshop will allow new voices to gain a basic grounding in how to write entertaining, thoughtful, and (in the best sense of the word) discriminating criticism.

• The workshop will provide an overview of the cutting edge of internet criticism – the blogs and websites that are reshaping how we discuss books, music and the visual arts.
• We’ll discuss ways to balance the different (and sometimes contradictory) demands of print and online criticism, and how to draw on the best aspects of each.
• We’ll examine audience (who are we writing for?) and the use of social networking and micro-blogging to assist in the creation of communities of readers.
• And we’ll look at the dos and don’ts of contemporary critical practice, from blogging frequency to winning the hearts and minds (and commissions) of arts editors and literature boards.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: contact Lis Bastian or Geordie Williamson geordie.williamson@gmail.com

For submissions: lis@varuna.com.au

Website: http://www.varuna.com.au

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Society of Women Writers of Tasmania Short Story Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 1 May 2012

Conditions of Entry

• The competition is open to all except those on the competition committee
• Theme open but the word ‘Tasmania’ is to be included somewhere in your story
• Limit 1500 to 2000 words
• Entries over 2000 words will be disqualified
• The acceptable font is 12 point Times New Roman. Spacing 1.5
• All entries to be presented on standard white A4 paper with no illustrations or hand-written additions
• No name or address should appear on entries. Enclose a separate cover sheet with competition name, title of
entry, word count, author’s name, address, phone number, and email address if available. Only the title of the
work and page numbers should appear on the entry
• Work must be original and at the time of entry it must not be entered in any other competition and must not
have won a prize in any other competition
• Entries will be accepted up to and including those postmarked 1st May, 2012
• Finalists will be notified by mail
• Winners will be announced at the SWWT meeting in Launceston on Monday, July 2 and the names will be
published on the SWWT web page by July 3
• Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of $5.00
• Judges decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. Entries will not be returned

Each entry should contain: (1) entry form (2) entry fee and (3) the short story/s.

Entry forms are available from the Secretary, 42 Weston Street, Deloraine, Tasmania, 7304
or download from the SWWT website: swwt.org.au

PRIZES

• 1st Prize: $250 (Plus a trophy, donated by Yvonne Gluyas)
• 2nd Prize: $100
• 3rd Prize: $50
• Certificates for Highly Commended entries.
• Ten finalists will also receive written feedback from the judges.

Entry fee: $5.00 per entry

Download the entry form here >>

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: call 03 6362 2850

For submissions: 03 6362 2850

Website: Mrs Mary Hawkins, P.O. Box 379, Beauty Point TAS 7304

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Call for Papers: International Year for People of African Descent (African Women Australia, Inc.)

Deadline: 17 August 2011

Contributions are invited from participants who possess knowledge and practice/ life experience relevant to the conference program:

· Recognition, Social Inclusion and Capacity Building

· Contributions of people of African Descent to Australian society

· Stories of the people of African descent since the First Fleet and through the periods of the White Australian policy, Assimilation policy, integration and multicultural policy.

· The economic, social, cultural and political rights of people of African Descent in Australia

· Issues of identity, maintenance of identity and the impact of Diaspora on identity

· Exploration of Identity and community in a vastly diverse community in Diaspora.

· Creating spaces for advocacy.

Preparing an abstract

The abstract should outline the subject of the presentation in no more than 250 words.

Additionally, it should include a concise title and the full names and contact details of the authors. The lead author/presenter should be listed first as the key contact. Any additional authors should be listed in the space provided and be clearly identified if they will be co-presenting.

A brief personal biography (approximately 100 words) from the presenting author/s must also be included which can be used to introduce speakers at the conference.

Please do not include any acknowledgments, figures or references in the abstract. Please provide details if you have presented this paper previously (i.e. conference, conference location and date).

Please indicate on your abstract submission form if it should be considered for a 30-minute presentation (20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes questions). Timings are subject to change based on the final program and presenters will be notified of their allocated time.

The abstract will be published in the final conference program.

Submitting an abstract

Abstracts must be submitted electronically by 5.00 pm Wednesday, 17 August 2011 using the abstract submission form.

Completed abstract submission forms should be returned by email, to registration@africanwomenaustralia.org

The program advisory committee for the conference will consider all abstracts for potential inclusion in the conference program and authors will be notified of the outcome by 30 August 2011.

This is a community event, hence, all Authors of accepted papers are expected to register and attend the conference. All expenses associated with attendance are to be covered by the presenter.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

You are invited to the National Conference to mark the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent: “People of African Descent: Recognition, Social Inclusion and Capacity Building” to be held at the Sebel Hotel 350 Church Street Parramatta New South Wales on 30 September, 2011. The conference is collaboratively organised by African Women Australia Incorporated, in partnership with The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre, Australian Human Rights Commission and several African and African Descent community groups around Australia. The conference will be open to all government agencies, service providers, academics and the general community.

An Official Reception will be held 29th September 2011, 6:00pm at Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown. This will include official speeches, a play, and performances

For inquires, please contact Dativah on e-mail address (info@africanwomenaustralia.org).

To register please read, complete, sign and return the registration, Proof of payment and application (where applicable) forms to the AWAU Inc. by e-mail: registration@africanwomenaustralia.org Receipt of each delegate’s Registration, Proof of Payment and Application Forms will be acknowledged within 5 working days.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT CONFERENCE

The year 2011 was declared by the United Nations a International Year for the People of African Descent to strengthen national actions and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture.

Conference Objectives:

1. Celebrate and acknowledge the presence of people of African descent in Australia raise awareness of the challenges facing people of African descent. It is hoped that the conference will foster discussions that will generate proposals for solutions to tackle these challenges.

2. Explore the collective depths of the delegates’ expertise and skills in order to inspire strategies for change that can advance the recognition for the people of African Descent.

3. And showcase contributions, explore issues and canvass strategies for the way ahead.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: info@africanwomenaustralia.org

For submissions: registration@africanwomenaustralia.org

Website: http://www.africanwomenaustralia.org

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Biennial Literary Award for Women Writers in Australia

Deadline: 1 July 2011

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Entries must be original, unpublished and not have won any award.
2. Prose Entries must be typed and double spaced o one side of A4 paper.
3. Name must be given on the entry form only.
4. A cover sheet to be attached to each entry showing; Title, Category, Word count for short story and articles.
5. Send copies only. All entries will be shredded after judging.
6. Entry fees must be enclosed with entries.
7. No limit to number of entries but entry form must accompany each entry (attached by paper clip, not stapled)
8. Copyright remains the property of the writer.
9. Competition results will be published in the SWWV newsletter and on the SWWV website.
10. The judges' decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
11. Winners will receive their results through the services of Australia Post.
12. Prizes will be presented at the SWWV meeting on 29 July 2011 at the Wheeler Centre, Melbourne.

Categories:

1. Poetry - max. 50 lines
2. Short Story - max. 2500 words
3. Article - max. 2000 words

Fees: $5 per entry, 3 entries for $12

Prizes: First prize $150, 2nd prize $75

Commended: (There may be several of these at the judge's discretion.)

Mail entries to:

The Receiving Officer
Biennial Literrary Award for Women
78 Abbott Street
Sandringham Vic 3191

DETACH HERE AND MAIL TO THE RECEIVING OFFICER. ENTRY FORM MAY BE PHOTOCOPIED FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES.

Click on the entry form to enlarge:
Contact Information:

For inquiries: fjbartosy@tadaust.org.au

For submissions: The Receiving Officer, Biennial Literrary Award for Women, 78 Abbott Street, Sandringham Vic 3191

Website: http:www.swwvic.net.au

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Kleenex Mums Blogging Competition (Australia)

Deadline: 30 June 2011

Are you a budding writer? A queen of craft? Or simply need to get something off your chest? Blogging is a great way to express yourself, share knowledge, and be part of the online community. And at Kleenex Mums, we want to send parents like you soaring off into the blogosphere.

That’s why we have launched So You Think You Can Blog – an online writing competition that gives Australian mums everywhere a chance at blogging stardom.

Simply submit a 500 to 800 word post on a parenting-related topic of your choice and you could be published on Kleenex Mums. There’s no limit on the number of posts that we’ll publish, if your post passes the scrutiny of our judging panel then it’ll go on the site! You can enter as many times as you like, just make sure each submission is a new post. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never written a blog post before, or if you’ve already got an established blog of your own, the competition is open to any parent who wants to write.

Plus we’re also giving away some great prizes. Our best blog entry will take home the much-coveted iPad2, and everyone who gets a post published will receive a cute overnight bag!

We’re after posts on almost any topic. So long as it relates to your life as a parent, we’re happy to look at it. In particular we would love you to:

* share your unique knowledge and parenting insights
* write about what you are really good at, or what makes being a parent worthwhile
* keep to one topic per post
* offer a unique, funny or different outlook on everyday life
* submit positive and upbeat stories that people will love to read

If you’ve got no idea where to begin or fall victim to writer’s block, download our free eBook, Blogging 101: The mum’s guide to starting a blog. Packed full of useful resources, and great advice from our favourite mum bloggers, you will be tapping those keys in no time.

They say everyone has one good book in them. So, every mum must have at least one good blog-post in them!

“So you think you can blog” Promotion – Conditions of Entry

The Promotion commences 11 May 2011 at 10:00am AEST and closes 30 June 2011 at 11.59pm AEST (Promotion Period).

Entry is only open to Australian residents who are members of Kleenex Mums. If you are not already a member you can join online at www.kleenexmums.com.au. Employees (and their immediate families) of the Promoter, or agencies or companies associated with the conduct of this Promotion, are ineligible to enter.

Entry

This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner. To enter (Entry) the entrant must:

(1) log onto www.kleenexmums.com.au (Kleenex Mums Website);

(2) click on the competition links featured throughout the Kleenex Mums Website or as featured on the Kleenex Mums Website to enter the Promotion;

(3) complete all the information requested for Entry into the Promotion including:

(a) personal contact information;

(b) the title of your blog post/article you are entering;

(c) an upload of the blog post/article you are entering that is between 500 to 800 words;

(d) the selected category that best describes your blog post/article you are entering;

(e) a photo or avatar of yourself

(f) a brief biography

(g) a photo to illustrate your blog post/article you are entering (optional);

(4) follow the link in the email sent by the Promoter to confirm Entry into the Promotion prior to the end of the Promotion Period.

Judging of Entries

All Entries including the blog post/article being entered must be the sole work of the entrant. Entries are deemed to be received by the Promoter at the time the entrant confirms the Entry by following the link in the email sent by the Promoter. Records of the Promoter are final and conclusive as to time of receipt. An entrant may enter more than once. However, each Entry must contain a new blog post/article.

Each Published Entry will receive a minor prize (Minor Prize). A total of five hundred (500) Minor Prizes can be awarded. The winners of the Minor Prizes will be notified by email within two (2) working days of their Entry being published on the Kleenex Mums Website.

All valid Entries (including the winners of the Minor Prizes) will be judged at 10:00 AEST on 8 July 2011 at Kimberly-Clark Australia, 52 Alfred Street, Milsons Point, NSW 2061 having regard to the overall quality of the Entry, including creativity, novelty, composition, creative merit and originality. The best entry will win the Main Prize.

Prizes

The Main Prize consists of an Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G 32GB (black color). The Minor Prize consists of an overnight travel bag set from Cher International that includes one (1) overnight travel bag and one (1) matching toiletries bag. The Main Prize is valued at $839. The Minor Prize is valued at $40 each with up to five hundred (500) to be won making the Minor Prize pool valued at $20,000. The total prize pool is up to a maximum of $20,839. The value of the prize(s) is accurate and based upon the recommended retail price(s) at the date of printing. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any variation in the value of the prize(s) after that date.

Who can enter? Australian residents only.

How often can I enter? You can enter this promotion as often as you like.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: info@kleenexmums.com.au

For submissions: click here

Website: http://www.kleenexmums.com.au

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Society of Women Writers' 2011 National Open Short Story Competition (Australia)

Deadline: 13 July 2011

OPEN THEME: First Prize $1,000 Second Prize $500 Third Prize $300

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY :

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 2,500 words, typed on A4 paper, one side only. Double spaced. No pen name required. Pages are to be numbered.

3. Entrants must be residents of Australia.

4. An entry fee of $10 per story in cheque or money order written in the name of The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. is to be sent with each entry form and entry. No receipts will be issued.

5. Name of entrant should only appear on the cover sheet and not anywhere on the story. Pen name not required.

6. The judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. No entries returned.

7. Only the short list will be informed of the result, which will be posted on the website and in Images newsletter before the announcement of the winners.

8. Winners will be announced at the Society’s luncheon meeting on Wednesday, 12th October, 2011 at 12.30pm at Dixson Room of the State Library of NSW.

Each entry must contain: 1) entry form 2) entry fee 3) cover sheet 4) short story entry, and should be in the hands of the Receiving Officer on the closing date.

Please send entry/entries to: Mrs Beverley Earnshaw
Receiving Officer
15 Hamer Street
KOGARAH BAY NSW 2217

Contact Information:

For inquiries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org

For submissions: Ms Barbara Westerway, Receiving Officer, 222 Pittwater Rd, MANLY NSW 2095

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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Society of Women Writers' 2011 National Open Poetry Competition (Australia)

Deadline: 8 June 2011

First Prize $300 Second Prize $200 Third Prize $100

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 40 lines, typed on A4 paper, one side only.

3. An entry fee of $5 per poem in cheque or money order should accompany each entry. No receipt/s will be issued. Don’t send cash. Please write the cheque or money order in the name of The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. Multiple entries can be paid with one remittance. Each entry must be on a separate form. This form may be photocopied. The form is also available on our website in 2 ways: download or copy and paste.

4. Entrants must be residents of Australia.

5. Entries must be in the hands of the Receiving Officer by closing date as stated above.

6. Winners will be announced at the Society’s luncheon meeting 12.30pm in the Dixson Room of the State Library of NSW on Wednesday, 14 September 2011

7. The judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. No entries returned. The short list will be posted on the website and published in the Spring 2011 edition of Images newsletter. After the presentation, the winners will be posted on the website and published in the Summer 2011 edition of Images newsletter.

Each entry should contain: (1) entry form (2) entry fee and (3) the poem.

Please send to: Ms Barbara Westerway
Receiving Officer
222 Pittwater Rd
MANLY NSW 2095

Download entry form >>

Contact Information:

For inquiries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org

For submissions: Ms Barbara Westerway, Receiving Officer, 222 Pittwater Rd, MANLY NSW 2095

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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Currently Open to Books for Children and Young Adults: Penguin Books Australia

The Books for Children and Young Adults (BCYA) division of Penguin Group (Australia) is the leading publisher of books for young people in this country. We produce picture books, story books, novels and some non-fiction works. We publish over 100 titles every year, ranging from books for very young children to publications for adolescents and beyond. We are currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts.

We receive many thousands of manuscripts each year and only a very small percentage do get published. With that said, some of the names we know and love started out in the unsolicited pile and we understand that hidden gems can be discovered there.

We are no longer sending individual responses for every manuscript submission. However, we would like to assure all aspiring authors that every submission is read and its potential carefully assessed.

The BCYA Submission Process:

When you send your submission in to us, we will acknowledge we have received it by sending an automatic response email. From here, your manuscript will be read by an editor and assessed. Due to the large amount of manuscripts we receive, if you are unsuccessful you will not hear anything more from us regarding your submission, and we are unable to give personal feedback.
Note: Only one submission will be considered per three-month period from the same author.

* Send all submissions electronically to BCYAsubmissions@au.penguingroup.com. We only accept submissions via email and any submissions sent via post will not be considered or returned.

* All manuscript submission files MUST be clearly named following the examples in bold listed below:

o Spot by Eric Hill MS (for manuscript) – Word document
o Spot by Eric Hill SYN (for synopsis) – Word document
o Spot by Eric Hill CVR (for cover letter) – Word document
o Spot by Eric Hill ART (for artwork) – jpeg or pdf file/s under 3 MB

* Please put your name and the title of your work in the subject heading of your email.

* Novels are to be submitted as a Word document and should be accompanied by a pitch letter with full contact details and brief author biography. Please also provide a synopsis of no more than a page in length; unless the project is for a series or trilogy, in which case we would expect a succinct outline for each title and acknowledge this might run to more than one page.

* Picture book texts should be submitted as Word documents, with accompanying letter as per the above. Text can be accompanied by artwork but is not necessarily a requirement.

* Artwork submissions and samples should be supplied as scans saved in jpg format with an accompanying covering letter. Please do not send files bigger than 3MB.

* Penguin Books (Australia) undertakes to assess unsolicited manuscript submissions within a three-to four-month period from receipt of email. If you have not received a second response after this period, it may be assumed that we have declined to pursue the submission any further.

* BCYA (Penguin Group, Australia) will not store any submissions beyond this four month period.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: BCYAsubmissions@au.penguingroup.com

For submissions: BCYAsubmissions@au.penguingroup.com

Website: http://www.penguin.com.au/

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The $10,000 Asher Literary Award 2011 for Australian Female Author

Deadline: 1 July 2011

The Asher Literary Award was offered for the first time in 2005 in collaboration with the Literature Board of the Australia Council. This award has been made possible by a generous bequest from Mrs Helen Waltraud Rosalie Asher. Helen Asher was a writer (she also used the name Helen Ulrich) and published one novel, Tilly's Fortunes (Penguin, 1986), and some other shorter works of fiction which appeared in various anthologies.

Helen Asher was a post-WWII German refugee from fascism. Along with her husband Mervyn, she was deeply committed to the artistic and cultural life of their adoptive country, Australia, and both were active in literary circles in Sydney.

Mrs Asher specified that the bequest be directed solely to the creation of an award to be won or received by a female author of a literary work which carries an anti-war message or theme. The value of the award is $10,000.

2011 Asher Literary Award

Applications are invited for the 2011 Asher Award. Entries close on Friday, 1st July 2011.

GUIDELINES

1. The award is open to Australian women writers only.

2. The entrant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

3. Eligible entries must carry an anti-war message or theme.

4. Entries will be accepted in the following genres; fiction, literary non-fiction (defined as works of biography, autobiography, essays, histories, literary criticism or analytical prose but excluding edited and compiled publications), children’s literature, poetry, creative writing for performance, screen or new media.

5. Entries must have been first published, or in the case of drama, first performed, or in the case of screen or new media first displayed/screened, in Australia between 1 July 2009 – 1 July 2011. Full details of publication, performance and screening must be included in the application.
6. Selection will be made on the basis of literary merit.

7. Three (3) copies of the entire application are to be submitted (electronic applications will not be accepted). Each application must consist of: a curriculum vitae with list of previous publications, a 500 word artist statement of project vision and outcomes, copy of actual work (see guideline 4 above).

8. The total prize money is $10,000.

9. Entries close on Friday, 1 July 2011.

10. Please direct enquiries and send the application to

Awards Coordinator, The Australian Centre,
The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010
tel: (03) 8344 4154,
email: awards-austcentre@unimelb.edu.au.

11. Please note application material will not be returned.

Application form >>

Contact Information:

For inquiries: awards-austcentre@unimelb.edu.au

For submissions: awards-austcentre@unimelb.edu.au

Website: http://australian-centre.unimelb.edu.au/

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AustralianPoetry.org Seeking Poetry about Motherhood for Pier Poetry NSW Reading

Deadline: 30 April 2011

Pier Poetry is Australian Poetry's events program in NSW, run monthly at the Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay.

The first event of the series on 8 May (Mothers Day) is on the theme of Motherhood.

To celebrate Mothers' Day, if you have poetry on the subject of 'motherhood', and live in NSW, we would like to feature you at the launch of our monthly events program in NSW.

Please send your poetry on this theme to leah@australianpoetry.org by April 30th and Leah Greengarten, our NSW Director, will select four poets to read at our launch event on May 8th at the Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio at Pier 4/5 Hickson Road Walsh Bay. Event information here.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: leah@australianpoetry.org

For submissions: leah@australianpoetry.org

Website: http://www.australianpoetry.org

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