F – Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Writing Competition. Theme: “Detour/s”

Competition Details:

2023 Theme: Detour/s

First prize $250AU Hawkeye Publishing Gift Voucher + anthology cover based on the winner’s story.
Short-Listed and Long-Listed announced.
TOP 40 published in an anthology – free copy to all published entrants.

(Sponsorship Opportunities Available – Contact Carolyn)

Closes 6PM Monday 1st August 2023

Maximum 1,000 words 

Theme: Detour/s

$15AU entry

We’re looking for stories with powerful beginnings, rising tension, and a climax that resonates, to the theme of DETOUR. Short stories about alternative routes, roads less travelled, unexpected journeys, that examine lessoned learned, cautionary tales, surprising endings, friends made along the way. Play with unconventional storytelling, or tell a story that plays with ‘epic journey’ tropes. What obstacles can keep your characters from reaching their goals? Have they reached their ending yet? Has something lead to a possibility they would have never otherwise imagined?

Sometimes the way forward isn’t simple, and often it’s these detours through life that make for compelling, hopeful, significant, surprising, or comical stories – stories that linger on characterisation, resilience, unorthodox experiences, and new ways of looking at the world. That stick with us after the last sentence is done.

Judges are looking for the following:

• Writing ability: correct tense, point of view, minimal redundant words and adverbs, show not tell.
• Story arc: rising tension, climax, resolution.
• Adherence to the competition theme.
• Spelling & Grammar.
• Layout conforms to the competition guidelines.

Read this feature from the 2020 competition for notes from the judges on what made the published 40 stand out from the field.

Want an insight into the types of stories that win first prize and get published in our anthology?

Then grab a copy of the 2021 Anthology, Jump and find out. Details here.

Prize Pool :

• Winner: $250AU Hawkeye Gift Voucher + Anthology front cover design based on winner’s story.
• Shortlisted (2nd – 4th placed) names published.
• Top 40 stories will be published in an anthology. All those published receive a free copy of the anthology.

Shortlisted (Top 10) and Longlisted (11-40) finalists names will be published on www.hawkeyebooks.com.au.

Judges can’t wait to read your stories!