LibGuides: Readers' Cafe: Writing Competitions

Insight Creative Writing Competition

Insight Creative Writing Competition 2025

We’re excited to let you know that entries for the 2025 Insight Creative Writing Competition is OPEN from 20th March 2025 for Years 7 to 12

Here is a quick reminder of the guidelines we have made to help students get even more creative with their entries.

All year levels have an upper limit of 1400 words. There is no minimum word limit.
We accept other creative writing forms in addition to short stories, including poems, scripts and more.
This year’s theme (Soulmates) is optional, giving entrants the freedom to write about anything that inspires them.

This competition is open to high school students around Australia as we aim to ignite a passion for creative writing and inspire the voices of the future.

Entering the competition is free and all entrants will have the chance to share in over $3000 worth of cash prizes!

All shortlisted entries will also be judged by acclaimed Australian authors. Past judges have included Alice Pung, Nam Le, Cath Moore, Michael Pryor, Will Kostakis and Jack Henseleit. This year’s shortlist judges will be announced in the coming months, so make sure you follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see the official announcement!

Over the past seven years, we have had the pleasure of reading more than 2000 creative pieces from high school students around the country. If you’re a budding writer in high school, we’d love to see your work.

2025 Important Dates

Competition Opens: 20 March
Competition Closes: 1September
Longlist Announcement: 1October
Shortlist Announcement: 22 October
Awards Ceremony: TBA

To download the submission form and view all conditions of entry, please click below.

DOWNLOAD CONDITIONS OF ENTRY AND SUBMISSION FORM

Hatchette Writing Prize and other useful links

Express Media - here for young writers
This site includes a link to the Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation. The prize recognises writing excellence in three categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction and Poetry. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
Short Story And Other Writing Competitions
Lists upcoming competitions that you might like to enter. They are listed by submission closing date, not when the competition is open.
Australian Writers Competitions
If the entry conditions don't specify it, then generally you can submit the same entry to different competitions at the same time - but if your entry places in one then you should inform the organisers of the other competitions. It is then up to them whether your entry is disqualified or not.
Dymocks Beyond Words Writing Competition
The Dymocks Beyond Words Competition is searching for Australia’s most creative and talented young writers! Open to primary and high school students across Australia, all entrants will be in the running to win a share of our $20,000 total prize pool. The competition is FREE to enter and OPEN THEME – which means you can write about any topic, and in any genre you like! The key to winning is passion and creativity – we are looking for unique ideas, compelling characters, and stories that make us laugh, cry, gasp or cheer. Within 500-1500 words, give us the story you’ve been waiting to share with the world!