Applications closed.
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 – 11 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 – 11 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 around the future and our place in it.
The Brief
Write an original piece of creative or journalistic writing of up to 500 words on the theme Transforming our World.
Who can enter
Years 9 – 11 students
Prizes
- Winner receives $500 cash, 2 x Festival Sunday passes and Publication in Byron Writers Festival quarterly member magazine, northerly
- Two runners-up receive $150 cash each
Applications for Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize have closed.
Winners notified on Tuesday 16 July 2024.
Presentation of Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize at Byron Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day on Thursday 8 August, 2024.
Proudly supported by Southern Cross University
Click image to download PDF Poster
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 Festival Kids Big Day Out pass
- Publication in the Byron Writers Festival’s quarterly 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.
Applications for Susie Warrick Young Writers Award have closed.
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 Festival Kids Big Day Out pass
- Publication of winning story in the Byron Writers Festival’s quarterly magazine, northerly
- A runner up will receive 1 x Byron Writers Festival Kids Big Day Out pass and have their story published on the Byron Writers Festival blog.
Applications for Jesse Blackadder Prize have closed.
Key Dates
- Submissions open: Monday 8 April, 2024
- Applications close for Susie Warrick & Jesse Blackadder prizes: Friday 5 July, 2024
- Applications close for Southern Cross University prize: Friday 12 July, 2024
- Winners notified: Tuesday 16 July, 2024
- Presentation Southern Cross University Student Writing Prize – Secondary Schools Day, Thursday 8 August, 2024
- Presentation Susie Warrick and Jesse Blackadder prizes – Sunday 11 August, 2024 at Kids Big Day Out
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.
APPLY HERE FOR SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY STUDENT WRITING PRIZE
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.