Frank Sargeson Prize Short Story Writing Competition 2024

Entries are now open for the Frank Sargeson Prize for short fiction 2024. This annual NZ short story competition is sponsored by the University of Waikato and was originally conceived by NZ writer Catherine Chidgey. The Chief Judge for the 2024 writing competition is Harriet Allan, New Zealand Freelance Editor and Medical Publisher.

Sargeson Prize Short Story Competition 2024

There are two divisions available to enter: the open division and the secondary school division in this writing competition. The first prize winner in the open section will receive NZ $10,000 while the first place getter in the secondary school section will receive NZ $2,000. Both stories by the winning authors will be published in the Reading Room section of the online journal Newsroom.

The Sargeson Prize Short Story Competition is open from 1 April 2024 until 30 June 2024. Entry is free. Only one entry is allowed.

Details of winning entries from 2023 are available to view and a copy of the stories may be downloaded at Sargeson Prize Winers 2023

General Short Story Competition Details

General Entry Details

• Entries will be accepted in the English language only.
• No entry fee is required.
• Preferred method of entry is online.
• Copyright remains the property of the author.
• Entries must be typed and 1.5-spaced in a standard legible font (eg Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, Palatino Linotype).
• Entries must be original pieces of work and unpublished.
• To remain eligible, enries may not have been submitted to other publications, prizes or anthologies for the duration of the Sargeson Prize entry and judging period.

Open Division

• Open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents aged 16 and over.
• 5000 word maximum

Secondary School Division

• Open to students enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school, or home-schooled students, who are aged between 16 and 18 years on the date that competition entries close.
• 3000 word maximum

Winners and place-getters will be contacted by 15 September 2024.

More detailed information and rules of entry can be obtained from the University of Waikato Sargeson Prize page and Sargeson Prize Facebook Page.

Writing Competition Prizes

The Open Division of the Sargeson Prize carries a monetary prize for the top three stories. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $500


Cash prizes will also be awarded to the authors of the top three winning entries in the Secondary School Division along with the offer of an inclusive one week residency at the School of Arts, Waikato University.

First Prize: $2,000
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $500


If you are interested in entering the Sargeson Short Story Competition don't delay in getting started on your story. This will give you plenty of time to polish it in the weeks ahead. While not everyone can be a winner just the experience of committing to writing a story with a competition in mind can be a highly rewarding one and will help you hone your craft as a writer.

New Zealand Romance Writing Competition 2011

New Zealand's annual romance writing competition, the 2011 Clendon Award is now open and receiving entries up to and including 26 February 2011. Romance Writers of New Zealand Inc who administer the Clendon Award are accepting full manuscripts from unpublished New Zealand authors who aspire to become published romance writers.

Manuscripts submitted to the romance writing competition must be between 45,000 and 110,000 words. Submissions can be aimed at a specific market and marked accordingly eg Harlequin Mills & Boon sweet, Intrigue, Superromance, etc. An entry fee of NZ $55.00 applies per entry.

Up to 8 romance writers will read and scrutinize submitted manuscripts. Entrants to the romance writers contest can expect detailed feedback about their work. Manuscripts that make the final cut will be judged by Mary-Theresa Hussey, the New York based executive editor of Harlequin books, the world's leading publishing house of romance fiction.

If you are intending to enter you will need to already be or be prepared to become a financial member of Romance Writers of New Zealand

Submission Guidelines

• Each entry must be the original work of the author and be previously unpublished. Submissions must not have been accepted for any other competition at the closing date of the competition
• Manuscripts must be between 45,000 and 110,000 words in length
• Each entry must be accompanied by the $55 entry fee and the official entry form
  
  Closes: 26 February 2011

Full Submission Guidelines and Entry Form

Entries should be posted to:

Clendon Award
C/- RWNZ, Lothian,
231 Opaheke Road RD4
Papakura, 2584
Auckland
New Zealand

Further information about the Clendon Award can be obtained from the Romance Writers of New Zealand website

Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 NZ Writing Competition

Make sure you don't miss entering the Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 which closes on 30 September 2010. This year's annual New Zealand poetry writing contest will be judged by acclaimed New Zealand Poet, James Norcliffe.

The winner of the Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 will receive a first prize of $250. The second prize is $100 in cash. There are also free yearly subscriptions to the Takahe magazine for the two runners up. Winning entries will be published in the future issues of the Takahe magazine.





The Takahe poetry contest is open to poets from around the world. Work submitted must not have been previously published.

There is no limit to the number of entries an author can submit. The cost per entry is NZ $5.00.

Poets have free reign to unleash whatever they are passionate about as there is no set theme for the poetry competition. Poems are, however, limited to 50 lines. Copyright stays with the poet.

Read the winning poem by Emma Neale from the 2008 Takahe Poetry Competition

Submission Guidelines

1. Each entry must be the original work of the author and be previously unpublished
2. The maximum length of each entry is 50 lines.
3. Entries must be typed on A4 paper and printed on one side only
4. The entrants name must not appear on the manuscript
5. Each entry must be accompanied by the $5 entry fee along with a self addressed envelope for return of results and entries
   Closes: 30 September 2010

Full Submission Guidelines and Entry Form

Entries should be posted to:

Takahe Poetry Competition 2010
PO Box 13-335
Christchurch 8141
New Zealand

Queries about the competition can be emailed to: admin@takahe.org.nz