Together with the Peninsula Writers' Club, we are inviting local emerging writers to apply for the Mayor's Short Story Writing Awards.
The Awards aim to encourage and support Mornington Peninsula writers of all abilities, celebrate our diverse talent and showcase local stories and voices.
Held for the first time in 2021, the Awards proved to be a huge success with 115 hopeful local writers submitting their creative fiction stories.
This year, writers are invited to incorporate Soar as a theme or word to form inspiration for their stories.
Soar: to fly or glide through the air, to rise or increase quickly, to rise to great heights.
Applications are now open and close 8pm 22 July 2022.
Applications will be shortlisted for judging in August by a panel from the Peninsula Writers' Club and our Arts and Culture team. Winners will be announced in September 2022.
Award categories and prizes:
8 – 12 years judged by author Coral Vass
500-word limit / short creative fiction only
$500 prize and bookstore voucher
13 – 17 years judged by Samantha-Ellen Bound
1000-word limit / short creative fiction only
$500 prize and bookstore voucher
18+ years judged by Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh and author Garry Disher
2,000-word limit / short creative fiction only
$1,000 prize, bookstore voucher and two-week Police Point Artist Residency
Awards founder Peninsula Writers' Club is the only not for profit incorporated writing organisation on the Mornington Peninsula, representing and supporting emerging, aspiring, and established writers of all abilities and writing genres.
How to enter and eligibility criteria
Open to Mornington Peninsula residents only. To enter your own short story, go to: mornpen.vic.gov.au/writingawards. Please read all terms and conditions.
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh:
"Together with the Peninsula Writers' Club, we hope these Awards help to rekindle the joy of writing and increase literacy for our young people, as well as support our local creative community.
"I would like to acknowledge the support of our prize sponsors Antipodes Bookshop, Rosebud Book Barn, Farrell Bookshop and Petersen's Bookstore – we are so grateful for their support in contributing bookstore vouchers to enhance the Mornington Peninsula Shire's $2000 prize money and Police Point residency."
