If you have a powerful short story that explores social justice with heart and originality, this is your moment to be heard. The 2026 Hilarie Lindsay Prize invites women writers from across the country to submit their best unpublished work and honour a remarkable literary legacy. If you’d like support in honing your short story writing skills, Short Story Essentials can help you develop stronger, more confident stories.
From The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. website:
The Hilarie Lindsay Prize is an open competition that challenges women writers nationally to submit an unpublished work of fiction or non-fiction on the subject of social justice.
The Hilarie Lindsay Prize has been established in memory of Dr Hilarie Elizabeth Lindsay MBE OAM (1922–2021). Hilarie was a distinguished Australian writer, mentor, businesswoman, a champion of women, and proud supporter and former president of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. She was also a fierce advocate for social justice, a theme reflected in the breadth of her literary works.
Experiencing first hand prejudice against women, Hilarie, in her early writing life, felt compelled to write under a male pen name. In 1966 and 1967, as Lindsay Dyson, she won the Grenfell Henry Lawson short story competition. So began a lifelong campaign of advocating for the rights of women and a passion to ensure women’s voices were heard, read, and taken seriously in their own right.
She drew attention to the difficulties faced by women who wrote, encouraged Indigenous Australian women to write, and lobbied for the removal of questions of gender and marital status from literary grant applications. At a time when death duties could leave a widow homeless and penniless, Hilarie was instrumental in changing the law on death duties which was a boon to all Australian women.
Hilarie, a multi-award winning author, published over 20 books of prose and poetry. Her best-known work, The Washerwoman’s Dream, (published by Simon and Schuster in 2002) is still in print.
Join us in nurturing the next generation of talented women writers in her name.
The winner will receive a prize of $2,000.
The closing date for this first Hilarie Lindsay Prize is 6:00 pm on 27 February 2026.
For full eligibility details and to submit your entry, visit The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. Prize page.
Whether you’re polishing a powerful narrative or just beginning to shape your words, the Hilarie Lindsay Prize is a wonderful opportunity to share your voice and spark meaningful conversation. Don’t miss your chance to enter – your story could inspire change.
