Poetry & Prose Submissions
- Meanjin accepts fiction and poetry submissions from Australian writers for its December 2026 edition.
- Ninth Heaven Literary Journal invites poetry, fiction, essays, visual art, and sound for Issue III: Creation & Festivity until 24 November 2026, reviewing on a rolling basis with a 4–6 week turnaround (Writers SA listing).
- Verge 2027 Anthology (Monash University Publishing) seeks previously unpublished short fiction, creative non-fiction, and hybrid work (up to 2,500 words) or poetry (up to 35 lines) from writers in Australia on the theme of “Ghosts” until 13 December 2026.
- Overland Literary Journal reads poetry submissions (up to 3 poems per quarter) and nonfiction essays (up to 3,000 words) via its Submittable portal, though fiction submissions are currently closed.
- Cordite Poetry Review welcomes unpublished poems, critical essays, and reviews from Australian and international contributors through its online submission manager.
- Kill Your Darlings (KYD) takes rolling monthly short fiction submissions from KYD members via KYD Submittable, paying a minimum of $1,000 AUD per published story.
- Susurrus Literary Arts Magazine invites poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and creative nonfiction for its Winter 2026 issue (Issue 16).
Literary Prizes & Competitions
| Competition / Prize | Closing Date | Form & Length | Entry Fee | Prize & Publication Details |
| Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction | 25 Oct 2026 | Flash fiction (up to 500 words; 3 prompts in 60 hours) | Tiered entry | Cash prizes and print anthology publication |
| SD Harvey Short Crime Story Award | 30 Oct 2026 | Crime fiction or non-fiction (2,000–5,000 words; AU residents) | $35 AUD | Ned Kelly Awards recognition and cash prize (details) |
| The Varnish Prize for Fiction | 30 Oct 2026 | Formally inventive unpublished short fiction (open globally) | See guidelines | Publication with Varnish Online; focus on emerging voices |
| The 2026 Hope Prize | 31 Oct 2026 | Short story or narrative nonfiction on hope/resilience (18+ globally) | See portal | $13,000 AUD prize pool; Simon & Schuster Australia anthology |
| Martha Richardson Memorial Poetry Prize | 31 Oct 2026 | Poetry up to 40 lines on the theme “Night” (rules) | 35AUD(25 members) | $1,000 AUD first prize via Ballarat Writers |
| The Best of Times Short Story Competition #42 | 31 Oct 2026 | Humorous short stories up to 2,500 words | $12 AUD | Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place |
| National Poetry Competition 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | Unpublished poems up to 40 lines (18+ globally) | £9 first poem (£6 extra) | £5,000 first prize, £3,000 second, £2,000 third |
| The Bedford Competition 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | Short stories (to 3,000 words) & poetry (to 40 lines; 17+ globally) | £8.50 (or 3 for £17) | £2,000 first prize in each category (details) |
| Anthology Poetry Competition 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | Unpublished poems up to 40 lines (open internationally) | €18 | €1,000 first prize, publication, and Reedsy membership |
| Aurealis Awards 2026 | 10 Nov 2026 | Speculative fiction by Australians first published in 2026 (including indie/self-published) | Discounted for Writer Centre members | Australia’s premier sci-fi, fantasy, and horror awards across 16 categories |
| F(r)iction Fall 2026 Writing Contests | 13 Nov 2026 | Short story (1,001–7,500 words), flash (to 1,000 words), poetry (to 3 pages) | Via Submittable | $1,000 USD (short story), $300 USD (flash/poetry), plus editorial feedback for finalists |
| Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition | 30 Nov 2026 | Unpublished poems up to 40 lines (open internationally) | €7 (5 for €30; fee-free spots) | €2,000 first prize plus Cork International Poetry Festival reading and accommodation |
| KYD Creative Non-Fiction Prize | 30 Nov 2026 | Experimental essays (2,500–3,500 words) on any subject | KYD membership required | $2,500 AUD first prize, two $1,000 AUD runner-up prizes, and publication |
| Bath Children’s Novel Award 2026 | 30 Nov 2026 | First 5,000 words + 1-page synopsis for unpublished YA/children’s manuscripts | £33 (sponsored entries) | £5,000 prize open to international unagented/unpublished writers |
| Anthology Travel Writing Competition | 30 Nov 2026 | Articles up to 1,000 words on an authentic travel experience | €15 | €300 first prize and publication in Anthology |
| 2027 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize | 1 Dec 2026 | Unpublished commercial adult, YA, or non-fiction manuscripts (up to 80,000 words; Open & Own Voices) | Entry fee applies | Trade publishing contract plus a $3,500 AUD editing and coaching package |
(Note: While listed on several state calendars for 30 November, Perentie Press announced the postponement of the 2027 Perentie Prize, though their Graphic Folk pitch window for public-domain fairytale/folktale graphic novel adaptations opens for the first week of December 2026.)
Visual Art & Photography Calls
- Beyond Words Magazine closes its current submission round today, 24 October 2026, for photography, drawings, paintings, collages, and sculptures to pair with literary work in print (Submittable listing).
- Anthology Cover Art Competition 2026 invites visual artists, illustrators, and photographers worldwide to submit cover artwork by 31 October 2026 (€18 fee; €500 prize and front-cover publication).
- Elaine Bermingham National Watercolour Prize in Landscape Painting accepts entries from Australian artists until 8 November 2026 at 11:59 PM AEST (ArtsHub listing).
- Red Ogre Review accepts visual art, photography, and digital media alongside poetry for its December 2026 issue until 15 November 2026.
- Blue Mesa Review takes fall visual art and photography submissions through November 2026 for cover and interior features ($3 USD reading fee; Submittable discovery).
- Collie Art Prize 2027 (CAP27) accepts entries from Australian artists through 11 December 2026 for its biennial juried exhibition on the theme of “Identity”, featuring a $50,000 AUD acquisitive prize.
Database links.
To see the complete lists click on the buttons, above. Below are limited RSS feeds from lists from my link database.
Writers
Writing&art
- Click to read Everything the artworld doesn't want you to know, by John McDonald, a Substack publication.
- A submission platform that makes finding a home for your work easy. Find calls and submit to magazines, presses, and contests. Submit to many organizations at once directly from your portfolio of work or submit directly to a call.
- Publishing the best poetry and fiction from emerging and established voices since 1966.
- The Greensboro Review Submission Manager Powered By Submittable – Accept and Curate Digital Content
- Run by enthusiasts, FilmNeverDie joined the global movement in film & Polaroid photography back in 2011. Film is a very special medium that holds you back in the moment!
- Wakefield Press is an independent book publishing company based in Adelaide, South Australia.
- Independent literary press based in Sydney.
- Find new book releases, best sellers lists and see when your favorite author is making their next appearance.Simon & Schuster AU is your one stop online book store for book and author news.
- Puncher & Wattmann is an award-winning book publisher supporting quality Australian writing. Contact Puncher & Wattmann for more details.
- Publishing socially conscious and slightly offbeat books. Running workshops in brand voice, writing and editing for anyone who works with words. Creating custom books and publications for businesses and organisations with a story to tell. Loudly independent and proudly South Australian, based on Kau
- cargo.site
- Welcome to Publishing, the home of bold, original writing that excites, entertains and informs new ways of thinking.
- Words for the Queer Revolution