Creative Writing NZ

The Elsie Locke Writing Prize 2026 is open for entries. 📖 Writers ages 5-13 are invited to create an original piece inspired by NZ history and Elsie Locke’s legacy of peace and the environment. 🌟  Full details on their website below. 🔗 toitoi.nz/elsie-locke

The Anthology Poetry Competition is open for entries. 📖 Submit an original poem (max 40 lines) for a chance to win €1,000 and publication. 🌟 Open to all ages, with no restrictions on theme. Full details on their website below. 🔗 anthology-magazine.com/awards/poetry-…

The Writer's College Short Story Competition is open for entries. 📖 Submit a short story on the theme ‘End of the Line’ (max 2,000 words)🌟 Deadline: 30 September 2026. Full details on their website below. 🔗 thewriterscollege.com/the-writers-co…

Happy Easter from Creative Writing NZ 🐣🌸 We hope the Easter period brings you rest, relaxation, and maybe a little autumn writing inspiration too ✍️🌼 We’ll be back on Tuesday as usual. See you then!

The National Flash Fiction Day NZ 2026 competition is open for entries. ✍️ Open to all NZ citizens. Tell your story in 300 words or fewer for the chance to win up to $1000. Deadline for entry is 30th April 2026. Full details on their website. nationalflash.org/competition/

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize is open for entries on 1st June 2026. 🌸 This year's theme is Nature’s Wisdom and Healing.  Top prize of  £750. Deadline for entry is 14th September 2026.  Full details on their website: gabrielablandy.org/nature-writing…

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is open for entries. ✍️ Enter today for the chance to win $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers. 🏆 Deadline for entry is 6th March. Full details on their website. symphonyspace.org/selected-short…

The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is open for entries. ✍️ Enter your story for the chance to win €500 and the chance to see your work published in a future issue of Anthology. ⭐️ Full details on their website. anthology-magazine.com/awards/memoir-…

The Bristol Short Story Prize is open for entries from writers worldwide. ✍️ Enter an unpublished story for the chance to win up to £1000. The deadline for entry is Friday, 31 January, midnight (BST). 📖🌟 Full details on their website. bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2024/11/27/ent…

The Auckland Writers Festival is back for 2026. 🌟 The festival will take place from 12-17 May. For full details & updates, please visit: writersfestival.co.nz

All of the Feels Poetry Competition 2025 is open to young writers in NZ. ✍️ Categories include Year 4-6, Year 7-9 and Year 10-13. Enter today for the chance to win a $30 Scorpio Books Voucher. 📖🌟 Full details at their website: schoolforyoungwriters.org/competitions

The Cambridge Autumn Festival 2026 Short Story Competition is open for entries. 🍁 Open to NZ citizens of all ages. Submit a short story for the chance to win up to $1,000.  Deadline for entry is Monday, 2 February 2026. Full details on their website.  cambridgeautumnfestival.co.nz/short-story/

Latest News 📚 The RAWA society have released their exciting new workshops for 2026. ✍️ Full details at their website! 🔗 rawafestival.com/workshops

Latest news from our partner website. 📚 The results of the Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025 are live. 📖 Judge WT Paterson has now named the winner, Deborah Levine for her story ‘Oscar Night 1998’. 🌟 Results below! 🔗 creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/

Auckland Council’s Taiohi Writing Competition is open for entries. 🖋️ Open to young people (13-19) in across Tāmaki Makaurau. Submit a short story, personal reflection, or an essay. ✨ Deadline is 1 February, 2026. Full details at their website. 🔗 new.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/en/taiohi-writ…

Autumn Voices Poetry Competition is open for entries. 🍁 Open to senior writers (60+) anywhere in the world. Submit a poem on the theme of PLAY. 🛝 Full details at their website. 🔗 autumnvoices.co.uk/competitions/p…

The Queenstown Writers Festival is taking place from 30 October - 3 November this year. 📖 Featuring special guests including Liam McIlvanney, Olivia Spooner, Grant Robertson & many more. Find out more: qtwritersfestival.nz

Andromeda Short Story Competition is open for entries. 💻✍️ Winners of the competition will be published on their new website. 🌟 Deadline for entry: 25 December. Full details at their website. andromedamagazine.com/submit/

Submissions are now open for the One Teen Story Competition 2025 ✨✍️ •Open to writers 13-19 years old. •Winner will receive publication & $500. •Deadline for entry: 1st December. Full details at their website. 🔗 one-story.com/write/one-teen…

Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2026 | Open for submissions ✍️ Books published between 1 September and 31 December 2025 📖must be submitted by Thursday, 16 October 2025. Full details at their website. 🔗 nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-bo…