Contest summary from Winning Writers:
>Highly recommended free contest gives AUS $40,000 and publication by Vagabond Press for a poetry manuscript, 50-80 pages, by an Australian woman. The work should broadly deal with Australian culture in some way; otherwise there are no restrictions on subject matter. Open to female-identified Australian citizens aged 18+ living anywhere in the world. Enter online.
Contest details
- Sponsor: The University of Sydney
- Category: Poetry manuscript
- Submission length: 50-80 pages
- Entry fee: No fee
- Awards: AUS $40,000 and publication by Vagabond Press
Guidelines and submission information (Contest's Submittable page)
This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers
Hey there! Here's some poetry reading for whenever you need some Keats, cause we all do sometimes. Listen here
Hit the gas, Hit the smoke, I'm the bubby, You're the bloke.
Go AU
Contest description from Winning Writers:
>Highly recommended free contest gives prizes for the best book published during the preceding calendar year in a variety of genres. Contest is open to authors who either are citizens or permanent residents of Western Australia. There is a top prize of A$60,000 (The Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship) designed to assist a Western Australian writer, of any style or genre, to develop their writing practice and give them the time to create new work. A prize for Writing for Children of A$15,000 will be awarded for a work of prose, poetry, or narrative nonfiction written for children (0-12 years old), in any genre, by an author residing in Western Australia. An Emerging Writer prize of A$15,000 is open to first-time published authors residing in Western Australia. See website for more details.
Contest details
- Sponsor: The Western Australian Government. Competitions managed by the State Library of Western Australia
- Category: Poetry, fiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, children's
- Submission length: Full book
- Entry fee: No fee
- Awards: $60,000 AUS (The Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship); $15,000 AUS (Writing for Children); $15,000 AUS (Emerging Writer)
Guidelines and submission information
This contest has been vetted and approved by Winning Writers
This is super weird, but I'm writing a thesis where a major component is poetry about flowers (don't judge, lol). Trying to use flowers from around the world, one being the Banksia. Also trying to use traditional poetry from the area, so I wanted to write it in the style of Australian bush poetry. I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that you really can't understand this style of poetry unless you're Australian, but I'd really love it if someone could give me advice on how to make it more bush-y. This is a very rough draft so I'm not interested in comments on the quality of the poetry or anything like that, but I will say it is focused on the ability of Banksia flowers to regrow from a fire and the fact that animals feed on the nectar. Appreciate any and all comments relevant to my need, even if there is a small change in language that would make it sound more like it comes from an Australian person. Thank you so much!! (I know formatting is going to be fucked to hell, not much I can do about it.)
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Against the Aussie shrubland scape,
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a charred house falls down to ash.
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Leathered seeds make a quick escape,
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in the dust begin the onerous task.
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They’ll build a new home, bottom to top.
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They’ll fill each vacant room.
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Gold and crimson adorning the crop,
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the flames of destruction reflecting in the plumes.
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Honeyeaters and striped gliders come seeking
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nectar from this hospitable fruit.
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Ambrosia for the little lives who, drinking,
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do not wonder at the distance from head to root.
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And when the sun finds this contender to its brilliance,
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another fire may be set along the wind,
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and the young seeds, brandishing bold resilience,
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will begin rebuilding once again.
