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Queenstown Writers Festival - Short Story Competition.

Dates: Fri, 5 June 2020 - Tue, 1 September 2020 @ Entries Close 1st September 2020.

  • Queenstown Writers Festival - Short Story Competition.

Queenstown Writers Festival has launched a new short story competition for writers in the region.

The competition is open to everyone in the Otago and Southland areas and there are three categories; adults, students in Years 9 – 13 (aged 13 to 18) and primary school students up to Year 8 (aged up to 13).

Best-selling novelist, short story writer and award-winning academic mentor, Maxine Alterio, will judge the adult short story competition. Queenstown-based writer and author of the Lily Max series, Jane Bloomfield, will judge the primary school age competition. Iona Winter, an award-winning poetry and flash fiction writer will judge the high school age competition.

The winning entries will receive prizes; $500 cash for the adult prize winner, a $100 book voucher plus a writing mentoring session with Iona Winter for the high school winner and the primary school winner will receive a $50 book voucher.

Entries will open on 5th June and the word limits and entry conditions are available on the Queenstown Writers Festival website (qtwritersfestival.nz). Entries close on 1st September.

The inaugural Queenstown Writers Festival was held in 2019 and the team behind it say they’re thrilled to launch a short story competition for the region. “It’s great to be able to offer another way for writers and book lovers in the region to get inspired and share their writing,” says festival trustee Bethany Rogers. “Last year’s festival proved that there’s a lot of people in Queenstown (and beyond) who love the written word so we’re thrilled to launch a competition for the area. “All three of our judges were part of the festival and after sharing their writing and passion with our audiences, it’s great to have them back on board.”

Fast Facts

Queenstown Short Story Competition

All entrants must have a home address in the Otago or Southland regions.

Adult Writers (18+)

Judged by Maxine Alterio

Word count: 2000 to 3000

Entry fee: $10

Prize: $500 cash

High School Writers

School Years 9 – 13 (aged 13 to 18)

Judged by Iona Winter

Word count: 1000 to 1500

Entry fee: $5

Prize: $100 book voucher plus a writing mentoring session with Iona Winter

Primary School Writers

Up to school Year 8 (ages up to 13)

Judged by Jane Bloomfield

Word count: 500 – 1000

Entry fee: free

Prize: $50 book voucher

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