This Short Story Award is for writers under 18 years for original short stories of creative fiction.
PRIZE MONEY
First Prize for receives $500 gift voucher and Runner-Up $200 gift voucher.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted via the online Submission Form only.
Applicants are required to submit:
- A short story of any genre of between 1,000 and 3,000 words.
- A logline up to 25 words.
- An author bio.
- Complete the online submission form in full and pay the submission fee (see below).
Short Stories are accepted in PDF format only and must be presented according to standard publication formatting:
- Written in English.
- 12 point, Times New Roman font.
- Double line spacing.
- Left aligned paragraphs.
- Paragraphs’ first line indented.
- No extra line space between paragraphs required.
- 3cm margins on an A4 page.
- Page numbered.
Please include the title of your manuscript only in the file name. Do not include your name or any other identifying details on any portion of the manuscript or synopsis, nor should you include the competition name, Heart Awards or Whitsundays Writers Festival.
Your manuscript and submission form details will be disposed of securely 6 months after the Whitsundays Writers Festival completes the selection process.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to the required Award submission format, requested form details, and word limit. If the format and application requirements are not met, submissions may not progress.
Short Story Award
- Submissions for the 2025 Heart Awards will open Monday 14 April and close Monday 14 July 2025. Late entries will not be accepted.
- Submissions must be original, unpublished works of creative fiction (testing for artificial intelligence (AI) input may be made).
- Short Story submissions can be any genre, and exclusively creative fiction work. This reflects that the emphasis of the Heart Awards on finding stories capable of broad appeal.
- The winning story will be selected based on its originality and the vividness of its narrative.
- Stories must be between 1,000 and 3,000 words in length.
- Stories must be written in English.
- Submissions must be presented in 12 point Times New Roman font, double line spacing, left aligned paragraphs, paragraphs’ first line indented, no extra line space between paragraphs required, 3cm margins on an A4 page, and page numbered.
- The submission entry fee for this Award is $25 for Under 18.
- The final number selected for the shortlist are to be at Whitsundays Writers Festival discretion.
Eligibility
- Applicants are required to be Australian citizens living in Australia or abroad, or permanent residents who reside Australia.
- Applicants under 18 years are eligible. If applicants are under 18 years they will need permission from their parent or guardian.
- Acceptable entries are unpublished fiction stories that have not won prizes, publishing contracts, awards or cash in any other competition.
- The story must not have any agreements entered into relating to the funding of the work, publishing or any project based on the work, or interest in the work including any copyright.
- Stories can be any genre, and exclusively creative fiction work. This reflects the Heart Awards commitment to finding stories capable of broad appeal.
- A published author of other work is eligible.
Submissions
- Submissions must be made electronically through the official Festival Awards website.
- Multiple entries are allowed, but each entry requires a separate entry fee.
- The decision of the Heart Award Judging Panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding evaluation or feedback on submissions.
- By submitting your work, applicants acknowledge that Whitsundays Writers Festival reserves the right to use accepted work for reproduction in any Heart Awards publications, on its website and social media, in any editorial or exhibition of the Heart Awards’ selections, and for promotional purposes.
- Whitsundays Writers Festival does not take a percentage of any future option or sale of submitted works, and all rights remain with the author or designer, regardless of their final outcome in the competition.
- Whitsundays Writers Festival does not guarantee the future publishing of stories submitted to the Heart Awards.
- Whitsundays Writers Festival reserves no rights over manuscripts submitted to, or developed during, the Heart Awards.
- Whitsundays Writers Festival allows applicants to submit their short stories and manuscripts to competitions prior to, during, or following their participation in the Heart Awards.
Nominees & Award Winners
- Shortlisted nominees and overall category winners will be promoted, and an image and further author and book information might be requested for publicity purposes.
- The winner and runner-up will receive a gift voucher and certificate.
- The winner will be announced at an event during the 2025 Whitsundays Writers Festival on 12-14 September 2025.
- Award Winners will be required to arrange and pay for their own travel expenses if they plan on accepting the Award in person during the 2025 Whitsundays Writers Festival.
- Vouchers will be distributed at the Whitsundays Writers Festival.
- Successful applicants will be encouraged to promote and support the Heart Awards and Whitsundays Writers Festival through social media, websites, and other forms of media and communications. Successful applicants will also be expected to provide a testimonial for the Heart Awards.
- Any credit offered towards the Whitsundays Writers Festival and the Heart Awards – on social media, websites, or media releases – must comply with any direction given by Festival staff, approved use of correct logo and/or graphics, and the Festival given notification of your intention to credit Whitsundays Writers Festival and the Heart Awards.
- If successful in the future due to exposure or experience gained from the Heart Awards, appropriate credit and acknowledgement of Whitsundays Writers Festival’s role will be expected and appreciated.
KEY DATES
Applications open: 14 April 2025 – 14 July 2025
Shortlist announced: July 2025
Successful applicants will be publicly announced during the Whitsundays Writers Festival, social media channels and email newsletter. Successful applicants will be personally notified via email prior to public announcements.
ENTRY & ASSESSMENT PROCESS
- Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to the required manuscript format and requested submission form details and word limit. If the format and application requirements are not met, submissions may not progress.
- Applications must be made via the online Submission Form. Applicants must submit the complete materials requested in the form.
- Applicants should carefully proof-read, as presentation will be taken into consideration when judging.
- Once submitted, materials and online form details cannot be modified or amended.
- Applications incur a submission fee which contributes to the expenses of the Whitsundays Writers Festival in administering the Heart Awards.
- Applicants may enter more than one manuscript to the Heart Awards. However, each entry will require a new submission and incur a separate submission fee.
- All applicants will be personally notified of the outcome of their application via email.
- Whitsundays Writers Festival will appoint a Judging Panel to assess all submissions.
SUBMISSION FEE
For under 18 years, the submission fee is AUD$25.
- Fee contributes towards administration expenses of Whitsundays Writers Festival in administering the Heart Awards.
- No offline payments will be accepted.
- Please note, Award Winners will be required to arrange and pay for their own travel expenses if they plan on accepting the Award in person during the 2025 Whitsundays Writers Festival.
GET IN TOUCH
If you have further queries regarding the Heart Awards or your application, contact us.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Whitsundays Writers Festival acknowledges the contribution of the Queensland Writers Centre in the development of these terms and conditions.