Australian Writers' Centre blog

10 short story competitions to enter in 2017

We’re well into the year now and your resolution to fulfil your writing dreams may have slowed under the weight of other priorities. But don’t let that goal to write slip away – instead start slow and stretch your creative muscles by entering short story competitions. Short stories are... read more

Q&A: Impression vs impersonation

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we're making... read more

Dorothy Hewett Award 2017 for an unpublished manuscript

Do you have a completed, unpublished manuscript living in your bottom drawer (literally or figuratively)? Does it have a connection to Western Australia? The Dorothy Hewett Award is for unpublished manuscripts and the winner gets a cash prize of $10,000. Plus, the winner will be offered a publishing contract... read more

WIN: Your fave book on a t-shirt with Litographs!

Okay, so you know how it’s great to GET INSIDE your favourite book and hang out there? Well this week we’re giving you the opportunity to literally (litorally?) do that with a very cool prize – thanks to the folks at Litographs! “What’s a litograph?” you ask? Well... read more

25-word Short Story Challenge: Winner and top 50!

Back on the shortest day of the year, we put out a simple challenge to you – write us a 25-word story. The only rule was that it contain the words “violin” and “victory”. The rest was up to you. The one we judged our favourite would win free access... read more

Q&A: Loath vs loathe

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week it's all... read more

WIN: “A Monster Calls” book + film packs x 10!

Thanks to Entertainment One, this week we have 10 prize packs of A Monster Calls book + double film passes to give away. The Carnegie Medal-winning novel by British-American author Patrick Ness was released in 2015 and the film adaptation will be released this month on 27 July 2017... read more

Word of the week: Callipygian

Callipygian (adjective) [kal-uh-pij-ee-uh n] Believe it or not, this means “a well rounded bum”! So you would say “Kim Kardashian has made a business out of trading off her callipygian figure.” Listen to Valerie and Allison chat more about this and more on the world of... read more

Q&A: Throws vs throes

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we're catching... read more

WIN: 10x vouchers for movies and TV with Dendy Direct!

Winter is here. And thanks to our generous friends over at the TV/movie streaming service Dendy Direct, we have a prize perfect for these blanket snuggling days. Ten prizes in fact – of $20 vouchers to access quality movies and TV via the Dendy Direct platform! Dendy is all about... read more

Q&A: Curb vs kerb

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we’re kicking... read more

WIN: 10 double passes to new film “Paris Can Wait”!

This week, thanks to nos amis at Transmission Films, we have 10 double passes to new film Paris Can Wait to give away. It opens nationwide on 20 July 2017. It’s the feature film debut of Eleanor Coppola – the 81-year-old wife of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Of... read more

Lane Cove 2017 Literary Awards are now OPEN!

The 2017 Lane Cove Literary Awards are now open. There’s a possible prize pool of over $7,000. Entries are open to Australian writers aged 16 and up. There are several prize categories and opportunities for a range of aspiring writers. So, don’t be shy! From the media... read more

Word of the week: Lubricious

Lubricious (adjective) [loo-brish-uh s] According to the book 500 Words Your Should Know: "Another word for lewd, lascivious or indeed libidinous, though this is more formal than any of them. It's from the same Latin root as lubricate and lubricant, with their implications of slipperiness and reducing... read more