Applications open 1 May
Student Writing Prizes
Are you a young writer? Do you know someone who is? Our student writing awards celebrate young creative voices of the Northern Rivers with cash prizes, Byron Writers Festival passes and publishing opportunities up for grabs. It’s time to get writing and share your voice.
This year we have three student writing prizes:
Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize – Years 9 – 12 students
Susie Warrick Young Writers Award – Years 7 & 8 students
The Jesse Blackadder Prize – Years 4 – 6 students
Entrants of all competitions must live within the Byron Writers Festival footprint, from Taree in the south, Kyogle in the west and Tweed Heads in the north.
Click on the headings below for prize details. Scroll to the bottom of the page for key dates, application guidelines and links.
- Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize (Years 9 – 12 students)
- Susie Warrick Young Writers Award (Years 7 – 8 students)
- The Jesse Blackadder Prize (Years 4 – 6 students)
Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize
The Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize, proudly supported by Southern Cross University, aims to stimulate and showcase youth thinking and writing.
The Brief
Write an original piece of creative or journalistic writing of up to 500 words on any theme.
Who can enter
Years 9 – 12 students
Prizes
- Winner receives $500 cash, 2 x Festival Sunday passes. The winning piece will be published in Byron Writers Festival member magazine, northerly
- Two runners-up receive $150 cash each
Winners will be notified on Tuesday 15 July.
Presentation of Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize will take place at Byron Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day on Thursday 7 August at Bangalow Showground.
Proudly supported by Southern Cross University
In memory of Susie Warrick, this award celebrates the art of the short story and supports emerging young writers in furthering their career.
The Brief
Write an original short story up to 500 words on any theme.
Who can enter
Years 7 – 8 students.
Prizes
Winner will receive
- $500 cash
- 1 x Byron Writers Festival Sunday pass
- Publication in the Byron Writers Festival magazine, northerly
- A runner up will receive 1 x Byron Writers Festival Sunday pass and have their story published on the Byron Writers Festival blog.
Presentation of the Susie Warrick Young Writers Award will take place at Byron Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day, Thursday 7 August at Bangalow Showground.
Celebrating creativity and imagination in young writers, The Jesse Blackadder Prize was created in 2020 in memory of Jesse Blackadder, much loved Board member, author and founder of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.
The Brief
Write an original short story of up to 500 words on any theme.
Who can enter
Year 4 – 6 students
Prizes
Winner receives
- $300 cash
- 1 x Byron Writers Festival Sunday Kids Program pass
- Publication of winning story in the Byron Writers Festival magazine, northerly
- A runner up will receive 1 x Byron Writers Festival Sunday Kids Program pass and have their story published on the Byron Writers Festival blog.
Presentation of the Jesse Blackadder Prize will take place at Byron Writers Festival Sunday Kids Program on 10 August at Bangalow Showground.
Key Dates
- Submissions open: Thursday 1 May
- Applications close: Monday 30 June
- Winners notified: Tuesday 15 July
- Presentation for Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize & Susie Warrick Young Writers Award – Secondary Schools Day, Thursday 7 August
- Presentation for Jesse Blackadder Prize – Byron Writers Festival Sunday Kids Program, 10 August
Submission Guidelines
1. Write and polish an original piece of writing.
2. Include the title in the header of your story and in the file name.
3. Submit your story as a word document or PDF (Arial 12-point font preferred).
4. Submissions are judged anonymously. Your name should not be included anywhere on your story or filename – it should only be entered in this submission form.
5. Entries are limited to one submission per person.
About the Awards
The Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize, proudly supported by Southern Cross University, aims to stimulate and showcase youth thinking and writing around the future and our place in it.
Susie Warrick was a much loved staff member at the Northern Rivers Writers Centre (now Byron Writers Festival). The Susie Warrick Young Writers Award was established to honour her memory, celebrate the art of the short story, and to support emerging young writers in furthering their career.
The Jesse Blackadder Prize was created in 2020 in memory of Jesse Blackadder, much loved Board member, author and founder of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.
Prizes are generously sponsored by Southern Cross University, the Warrick Family, Hilarie Dunn and the Byron Writers Festival Jesse Blackadder Memorial Fund.
If you have any enquires, please email [email protected]
For some valuable tips on entering Writing Competitions click here.