Australian Book Review is reviving the Short Story Competition, with a first prize valued at $2000. There are two other prizes. All three place-getters will be published in the magazine. Stories in English of between 1000 and 3000 words are eligible, as long as they have not been published previously or are not on offer elsewhere. Multiple entries are acceptable. The closing date is May 10. For an entry form go to: http://www.australianbookreview.com.au/competitions/short-story-competition

or call (03) 9429 6700. ABR now publishes short fiction. They welcome submissions from authors.

Oberon Writers' Workshop, Friends of Oberon Library & Burraga Ag Bureau presents the 2nd Oberson Writers' Competition. There are 2 sections: NARRATIVE: 1st $100, 2nd $25 An original piece of narrative writing of 1500 to 2500 words, not previously published. Theme: Water. Fee: $5 per entry, limit of two entries per section. POETRY: 1st $100, 2nd $25

An original poem or suite of poems in any style, 120 lines or less in total, not previously published. Theme: Water Fee: $5 per entry, limit of two entries per section. Each entry must be accompanied by a separate cover sheet with title of entry, writer's name and contact details. Writer's name not to appear on item submitted. Forward entries and fees, cheque or money order, payable to Burraga Ag Bureau, to Ms A Russell, 1303 Isabella Rd, Isabella, NSW 2795. If items are to be returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Entries close 30th June, 2010. Winners will be announced at 51st Burraga Sheep Show & Country Fair on Saturday, 28th August, 2010. For further details phone Anne Russell, 02 6337 0363 or email everanne@activ8.net.au.

Prizes donated by Burraga Ag Bureau, Friends of Oberon Library & Oberon Writers' Workshop

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 and to celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre supported by The Central Western Daily and ABC Central West Radio announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose (Short Story), Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing. Entry forms are available from Central West Libraries branches, by phoning 6393 8120, email: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au or [download here]. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children per entry. The competition closes on Friday 16 April 2010 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 21 June 2010. There are cash prizes to be won and the winning Prose (Short Story) entry will be published in the Central Western Daily.

Crime writer, Four Corners producer and investigative journalist, Sandra Harvey is to be commemorated in an inaugural Ned Kelly Award for Australian crime writing. The award, entitled the SD Harvey Ned Kelly Award will be for short stories in the crime writing genre, either crime fiction or creative nonfiction (eg literary journalism). Sponsors for the award are ABC Four Corners, The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and The Sydney Morning Herald. Lindsay Simpson and Sandra co-authored the continuing bestseller, Brothers in Arms (1989) about the Milperra bikie massacre, the acclaimed My Husband My Killer (1992) and The Killer Next Door (1994) about the Sydney Granny Killer. In 2000 Sandra went on to write The Ghost of Ludwig Gertsch and her last book, Done Like a Dinner with Jennifer Cooke was published in 2007. Lindsay is the Head of journalism and writing at James Cook University. "Crime writing was her first love especially telling the facts using literary techniques. Truman Capote was our mentor." Sandra and Lindsay were recognised in 2007 for their contribution to Australian crime writing by receiving the prestigious Ned Kelly award for Lifetime Achievement in Crime Writing. This was the last occasion Sandra appeared in public before her death in January 2008. The winning entry will be published in The Sydney Morning Herald. Open to all writers. Entries close May 31. See website www.nedkellyawards.com/SDHarvey_guide for entry guidelines and entry form and more about the life and work of Sandra Harvey. Each year we will have a particular word which must have significance to the story and the inaugural word is 'farewell'.

Entries are now open for the Alan Marshall Short Story Award. The 2009 judge for the Award is Sophie Cunningham (author of Geography and Bird and editor of Meanjin). There is the Open Section with $2000 first prize and $1000 second prize for stories up to 2500 words. In the Local Section the prize is $1000 for stories up to 2500 words by writers who live, work or study in the Shire of Nillumbik and the Young Section has a $400 prize for stories up to 1000 words by writers aged between 15 and 19 years. Entries are due 4pm Friday 20 February. Please go to www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au for details and entry form or phone (03) 9433 3359.

The fellowship of Australian Writers North Shore Regional have organised a Super Short Story Competition with an open theme and maximum 700 words. Prizes are: 1st - $100; 2nd - $50, with Highly Commended and Commended certificates. Entry fee is $5 with cheques to be made payable to Fellowship of Australian Writers North Shore Regional. Stamps or coins will not be accepted as payment for entry. Please enclose a business-size envelope SSAE for results. No entry form required. Story text, title and page numbers only to appear on entry, which must have a cover sheet attached containing writer's contact details, title of entry and word count. No clip art or decoration of any kind. Submissions must be the original unpublished work of the author, not having won a cash prize at close of competition and not submitted concurrently elsewhere, typed on single-sided A4 paper, double-spaced. Send entries to: Competition Secretary, 1 / 2 Rogal Place, North Ryde, 2113 or for further information; please phone (02) 9887 1257 or email fawnorthshore@gmail.com Competition closes Friday 31 October.

The winning short story in the 2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards "Exposure" by Margaret Betts of VIC, has been published in today's Central Western Daily (CWD) on page 9 and you can also read it, along with other winning entries, on the Central West Libraries website Reading and Writing page. This story stayed with the judges for a long time afterwards - its evocation of a boy running away to sea and the tragic death of the boy's father following his return. This story is beautifully written, building up the atmosphere of the piece with a skilled control of language and metaphor. The descriptions of the natural world are original and enchanting, emotionally charging the landscape with a sense of dread and foreboding. From details of seaweed, clouds, damaged crabs and wind, to the domestic descriptions of a bed stripped bare – exposing its naked base – an 'iron black skeleton' – this is first class writing. Catch up with the winners of the Children's Writing Section featured in the CWD today too on page 5: http://orange.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/banjo-would-notice-stories-made-of-the-write-stuff/793522.aspx

There is still time and this weekend to get your entries in for the 2008 Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. Entries close on Friday 18 April, 2008. The Awards aim to honour Banjo Paterson, a great Australian writer and favourite son of Orange, with a competition promoting all forms of writing with Australian content. There are four categories: Prose; Open Poetry; Bush Poetry and Childrens' Writing Awards. Entry is $10 and $5 for Childrens' Writing Awards entries. The winning prose entry will be published in The Central Western Daily. Click on our events link for an entry form and conditions or phone (02) 6393 8120.

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, most famous for penning Waltzing Matilda and The Man From Snowy River was born on February 17, 1864 near Orange. To celebrate his birthday Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, Central West Writers' Centre and The Central Western Daily announce the call for entries to the Banjo Paterson Writing Awards. It is important to note that entries into the Prose, Open Poetry and Children's Writing Awards categories of the competition do not have to be in the style of Banjo's writing.

Entry forms can be downloaded from this website and are available from Orange City Library and also from The Central Western Daily at 132 Kite Street, Orange. The competition closes on Friday 18 April 2008 and winners will be contacted by phone on Monday 16 June 2008. Read more about in today's Central Western Daily: http://www.orange.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/writers-asked-to-find-their-inner-banjo/1184621.html