Category: Fiction writing

8 books on writing recommended by successful writers

There are loads of books out there about writing and it can be hard to find one that really connects with you. They can offer advice or exercises, rules or suggestions, or just provide inspiration. We’ve brought together recommendations from some top authors, writers and publishers on what they... read more

Entries open for 2019 The Banjo Prize

If you are Australia’s next great storyteller then this is for you. HarperCollins Publishers Australia has announced that entries are now open for the 2019 Banjo Prize. From the HarperCollins website: "We’re looking for exciting new Australian voices telling the sorts of stories that we love to read... read more

Candice Fox’s fertile, grizzly world of crime fiction writing

Australia’s bestselling crime author Candice Fox has a massively busy and successful 2019 ahead of her. Described by her collaborator, the world's bestselling author James Patterson, as “A bright new star of crime fiction”, she is New York Times #1 bestselling author and presenter of the Australian Writers... read more

2018 Australian Romance Readers Awards finalists announced

Voting has opened for the 2018 Australian Romance Readers Awards and we are delighted to announce that Pamela Hart (aka Pamela Freeman, AWC’s Director of Creativity) and AWC creative writing alumni Penelope Janu and Joanna Nell are amongst the finalists.   Pamela is a finalist in the Favourite Historical Romance... read more

10 online courses to make you a better writer

There’s nothing like the convenience of online learning to help you fit personal projects around your busy schedule. And if you’ve had the same writing resolutions popping up on your list again after again – why not make 2019 YOUR year to make them happen. Your future self will... read more

The 2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Award is now open

Now in its third year, The Woollahra Digital Literary Award is a national literary award supporting innovation in Australian literature and publishing, encouraging writers producing work in a digital medium. From the Woollahra Municipal Council website: The award seeks submissions of a literary nature that are digitally born – published online... read more

What inspires children’s writer and AWC presenter Sue Whiting

AWC presenter of How to Write for Children and Young Adults, Sue Whiting has had two books published this year, Beware the Deep Dark Forest for 3-6-year-olds and Missing, a middle-grade contemporary mystery novel, both published by Walker Books Australia. Sue is author of more than... read more

10 out of 10 – meet the Furious Fiction superfans!

Back in February 2018, the Australian Writers’ Centre introduced Furious Fiction – a brand new short story writing competition where your 500-word story could win $500AU cash every month – with no entry fee whatsoever! Needless to say, the competition (open to anyone 17 years and over, anywhere on the planet... read more

Calling all unagented authors with fiction manuscripts

If you are an unagented author with a work of fiction, then this is for you. Ebury Press (an imprint of Penguin Books Limited) is open for fiction submissions. From the Ebury Press website: This open submissions period is a chance for unagented authors to get their manuscript to us... read more

Win $20,000 in the Penguin Literary Prize for 2018

Penguin Random House Australia is delighted to announce that the Penguin Literary Prize for 2018 is now open for submissions. From the Penguin website: "Established in 2017 in conjunction with Leading Edge Books, the Prize offers aspiring authors the opportunity to get their work into the hands of booksellers and... read more

Our amazing Pamela’s ‘Amazing Australian Women’

Pamela Freeman, Director of Creative Writing Faculty at AWC has been busy and published another book this year, a children’s book, Amazing Australian Women (Hachette Australia). This bright and colourful book looks at 12 incredible Australian women who have helped shape our country, from politics and the arts, to... read more

Sarah Bailey wins Ned Kelly Award for Best First Novel

A HUGE congratulations to AWC Creative Writing Stage 1 graduate, Sarah Bailey  who has won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Novel, The Dark Lake (2017 Allen & Unwin). The Dark Lake was a bestseller around the world and her suspenseful storytelling about a police procedural set in country... read more

National Young Writers’ Festival announces its 2018 artist lineup

The National Young Writers’ Festival has given us a sneak peek at their 2018 artist lineup and it’s exciting! Guests for the festival, which runs from 27-30 September 2018 in Newcastle, NSW, include: Alison Evans, author of Ida, (who we interviewed) Hella Ibrahim, Egyptian-Australian Muslim editor and... read more

Independent fantasy publishing house now open for submissions

Do you have a fantasy manuscript gathering dust in a drawer? Or maybe you’re currently working on a manuscript and are wondering how on earth you’re ever going to get it published. Well we’ve got great news for you!  Fantasy fiction publisher, Talem Press, an imprint of... read more

Attend the 2018 Romance Writers of Australia Conference

The hottest date in a romance writer’s calendar is fast approaching - the Romance Writers of Australia Conference from 17-19 August 2018. This year the conference is in Sydney’s Sofitel Wentworth Hotel and registrations are open to the public. With workshops from bestselling author Rachel Bailey on The... read more

The short long list of YOUR 21-word stories

To celebrate the recent Shortest Day of the Year (21 June 2018), we asked you to write us a story in 21 words or fewer. It simply had to contain the words “short” and “day” in it. On the day, we received nearly one thousand stories! What follows is a... read more