Short Story Competition
Everybody has a story to tell.
Write a story to the theme Under the Water for your chance to win!
Water plays a huge role in all of our lives - we drink it, swim in it, sail across it and get rained on!
There are four age categories to apply for:
| First Five (0 to 5 years) | max 200 words or images | 10 Book Prizes to win |
| Children (5 to 11 years) | max 500 words | 1st Prize - $200 Mastercard gift card 2nd Prize - $100 Mastercard gift card |
| Young Adults (12 - 17 years) | max 1,000 words | 1st Prize - $300 Mastercard gift card 2nd Prize - $150 Mastercard gift card |
| Adult (18+) | max 2,000 words | 1st Prize - $500 Mastercard gift card 2nd Prize - $250 Mastercard gift card |
Enter now
Entries close 5pm, Wednesday 31 May 2023. Terms and Conditions apply, see below for further information.
Previous Winning Stories
2022
Theme: My Backyard
Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| There’s Nothing Sadder Than Chinese Leftovers by Clinton Schmidt | In My Post-Apocalyptic Backyard by James Byrne |
Young Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| The Well by Jake Nona | Danger in the Sky by Dorian Locke |
Children Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| That Day by Elsie Reeve | The Day an Alien Cried in our Backyard by Bethany de Leon |
Read the 2022 winning stories online!
2021
Theme: My Family
Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| Forget Me Knot by Madeline DeLeon | The Un-Funny Moment Club by Katisha Lindee |
Young Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| 20 Years Have Passed by Eleanor Barker | The Girl in The Room by Caitlin Allan |
Children Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| My Family by Evie Clay | Nana Attack! by Bella-Rose Potter |
First Five Category
| Winner | Runners Up |
|---|---|
| My Family by Lachlan Wheadon | My Family
by Isla Quinn Korbin visits the Museum by Korbin Culver |
Read the 2021 winning stories online!
2020
Theme: My Life in the North
Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| A Finding of Solace by Damien Lawardorn | Chalk by Helene Kotzas-Lazaredes |
Young Adult Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| Death Amongst the Wallangarra by Lily Reeves | The Riverside by Ethan Craperi |
Children Category
| Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|
| Grandma's House by Brooklyn Pritchard | A New Cycle by Tien Ern Chan |
View the 2020 winning stories
2019
The Girl in the Mango Tree by Suzy Gilmour – Winner – Adult Category
Arm’s Reach by Courtney Thomson – Runner Up – Adult Category
The Sound of Memory by Emily Price – Winner – Young Adult Category
The Midsummer Night’s Dread by Mikayla Dickinson – Runner Up – Young Adult Category
2017
Mick and Maisie by Wendy Levy - Winner - Adult Category
Uncle Teddy by Jennifer Barret - Runner Up - Adult Category
Fait Accompli by Lara Skerratt - Winner - Young Adult Category
Family Flame by Erin Chin - Runner Up - Young Adult Category
Tree of Life by Huon Evans - Winner - Children Category
Hunter and Prey by Layla Horsington - Runner Up - Children Category
2016
Bindal Boy by Ian McIntosh - Winner - Adult Category
Bleached by Phoebe Evans - Winner - Young Adult Category
Townsville Tunnels by Lindy Collins – Runner Up - Adult Category
Competition Terms & Conditions
Entry to the competition is open to residents of Townsville local government area, with the exception of Townsville City Council employees and their immediate families.
- The competition is for amateur and novice writers only.
- Writers may only submit one entry each.
- All entries must be previously unpublished original fiction works and must not have won prizes, contracts or cash in any other competition.
- Copyright will remain the property of the author.
- All entries must be typed with double line spacing in Microsoft Words with page numbers. Stories that exceed the word limit will be deemed ineligible.
- Manuscripts will not be returned.
- Entries that fail to comply with all the conditions with not be considered. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Winners and runners-up will have their stories published on Townsville City Council's website.
- Winners and runners-up may be required to participate in media opportunities.
