The nationally recognised Sutherland Shire Literary Competition is set to return this year, with organisers expecting a large number of entries from both local residents and aspiring writers from further afield.
Now in its third year, the 2021 Competition aims to recognise the breadth and diversity of literary talent within the Sutherland Shire and across the nation, with added incentives this year for local writers to submit their work.
The competition will open on Monday 22 February 2021, with Council organisers expecting to receive hundreds of entries from budding poets and short story writers.
Sutherland Shire Council is once again offering attractive major prizes of $1,000 and $500 to the top entrants across competition categories of 'Rhyming Poetry', 'Free Verse Poetry' and 'Short Stories'.
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Steve Simpson said he is hoping more local residents will take up the opportunity to become involved in this year's competition by submitting their poems and short stories.
"We have an extraordinary depth of literary talent within our community, and to recognise this, the 2021 Competition allows the independent judges to award additional 'Shire Resident's' prizes of $500 and $250 in each of the three categories," Mayor Simpson said.
"Through our successive Literary Competitions, our Council seeks to strengthen and enhance the love of literature and reading, nurtured and fostered by our incredible Sutherland Shire Libraries as well as our local dedicated writing groups."
Sutherland Shire Literary Competition Sub-Committee Chair – and past winner of the National Henry Lawson Literary Award – Councillor Barry Collier OAM, said our Sutherland Shire competition has already established an excellent reputation on the literary writing calendar.
"While we will attract quality entries from across the country, we also want to showcase literary creativity across the Sutherland Shire," Councillor Collier OAM said.
"I'm sure that many of our local residents have put pen to paper over the past year, and it's now time for them to submit their individual creative works to the 2021 Competition."
The 2021 Sutherland Shire Literary Competition is open to Australian residents aged 18 years and above.
The competition will be open to entrants from Monday 22 February until Monday 19 April 2021.
Visit www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/literarycompetition for Terms and Conditions of entry, Frequently Asked Questions and a look at Previous Competition Reports.
