If you have a short story idea waiting to be told, the 2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition is a wonderful opportunity to bring it to life. This annual competition run by Hawkeye Publishing invites writers to craft an original short story of up to 1,000 words, with cash prizes, publication in an anthology, and the chance to be recognised for strong storytelling and emotional impact. If you’re looking to refine your storytelling skills before submitting, our Short Story Essentials course is a great way to develop stronger structure, characterisation and narrative impact so your fiction is competition-ready.
From the Hawkeye Publishing website:
The 2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition is now open!
- The competition closes at 6PM AEST Friday 7 August, 2026
- Maximum 1,000 words
- Theme: I'm Glad You Called
- $18.50AU entry (payment required within 24 hours of submission)
- First prize: A ticket to the Children and Young Adult (CYA) Conference for 2026 (valued at $410), $200 Cash Prize. Anthology cover based on the winner’s story.
We’re looking for stories with powerful beginnings, rising tension, and a climax that resonates, to the theme of I'm Glad You Called.
That simple phrase – I’m Glad You Called – can hold relief, dread, gratitude, humour, or even regret, depending on who says it and why. Perhaps you’ll consider stories where the call changes something – perhaps it interrupts a life-altering decision, reconnects estranged people, delivers unexpected news, or arrives from someone the caller never expected to hear from. You might explore different genres: a suspenseful late-night call that prevents a disaster, a romantic reconnection sparked by a wrong number, a speculative tale where the call comes across time or from beyond, or a quiet, emotional story where the act of reaching out is the true turning point. Focus on the emotional shift contained in that one sentence – what it meant before the call, and how everything feels after it’s spoken.
Feeling inspired? Happy writing. We look forward to reading your entry.
Before you enter the competition, we strongly suggest you check out our previous years' winning entries.
Judges are looking for the following:
- Writing ability: correct tense, point of view, minimal redundant words and adverbs, show not tell.
- Story arc: rising tension, climax, resolution.
- Adherence to the competition theme.
- Spelling & Grammar.
- Layout conforms to the competition guidelines.
Who is Sydney Hammond?
Syd Hammond appeared to be like any ordinary guy. But those who loved him, knew different. He was so much more than ordinary. Syd was born in 1937 and died in 2007, aged 70. As a teenager he taught himself to play guitar. When rock-n-roll first sounded on radio there wasn’t sheet music to follow. Syd and his mates crowded into booths at record stores. They listened keenly to identify their instruments. He hand-made his first electric guitar. He was one of the first Brisbane musicians to play music on TV.
In 1964, Syd received a bravery award for capturing one of Queensland’s most wanted criminals – Bernard Morrow. Driving in his police patrol car, Syd noticed a drunk driver. He pulled him over, and casually suggested the gent go to the police station to sleep it off before he drove any further. Bernard Morrow complied. At the station, with Bernard sleeping it off, Syd sat at a desk and a WANTED poster caught his eye. Staring back at him were the eyes of the man already locked in the cell. He orated with glee the story of luck getting him a bravery award.
Syd portrayed a quintessential Aussie spirit of larrikin, ‘give it a go, mate’, mateship, and do the best you can for your family. Syd loved Australia. He believed in standing up for what you believe in. He believed that music, art, humour and stories are the drumbeats that bring people together.
Tragedy struck in 2000 when his daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, John, were murdered by an intruder. The grief and injustice ran deep. When tragedy strikes we’re reminded of what really matters in our lives. When families are so harmed they often look to transform their heartbreak into community support for others to find the positive.
The Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition to honour his memory was founded by his family. For Carolyn, Syd’s daughter and the Director of Hawkeye Publishing, words are held with reverence. The ability to articulate to be meaningful, thought-provoking and entertaining fosters community, understanding, change, healing, and celebrating all that should not be taken for granted.
Words are powerful, and our wish with this competition is to acknowledge talented wordsmiths and give writers the opportunity to be heard.
To learn more and submit your short story, head to the Hawkeye Publishing competition page here.
