To win short story competitions, you need to pay attention to character development. Make your characters relatable and complex. Also, polish your writing style to make it clear and vivid.
As someone who loves reading novels, I don't have any real-time updates to answer your questions about the short story contest. However, you can follow the relevant novel websites or social media accounts to find out if they are holding a short story competition or essay contest and participating. Some novel websites would also regularly publish essay questions and competition requirements. You could read them carefully and participate in the competition if you met the requirements.
One popular one is the Young Writers' Award. It offers great opportunities for YA writers to showcase their talent. There's also the Teen Ink Contest, which gets a lot of entries each year. Both provide good platforms for young writers to get noticed.
First, you need to polish your story to make it as good as possible. Then, research Australian literary magazines and publishers that accept short stories. Follow their submission guidelines precisely.
Start with a unique and captivating idea. Make your characters relatable and the plot engaging. Pay attention to the language and keep it concise and vivid.
One big challenge could be the competition. There are a lot of talented writers in Australia. But on the plus side, there are many literary events and festivals that offer great exposure.
Indigenous culture also plays a role in some Australian short stories. Some works incorporate Aboriginal beliefs, traditions, or history, adding a rich layer of cultural depth. For instance, there are stories that explore the relationship between settlers and the indigenous people, and how their different cultures interact and sometimes clash.
You can start by researching Australian literary magazines and publishers that accept short story submissions. Many have specific guidelines on their websites.