The Kind Press
Annual international short story prize for women and non-binary writers, with $1,000 first prize and publication in a Simon & Schuster-distributed anthology.
The Literary Women's Writing Prize for Short Story is an annual prize celebrating and amplifying women's writing from around the world. Open to women and non-binary writers aged 18 and over, the prize welcomes original, unpublished short fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and hybrid or mixed-form writing up to 2,600 words (or single poems up to 50 lines and 1,000 words).
The first prize winner receives $1,000 AUD, and all shortlisted entries will be published in Anthologia 2027 — an international paperback anthology by The Kind Press, distributed through Simon & Schuster Australia. This is a meaningful opportunity to gain literary exposure and reach readers well beyond a standard competition audience.
Entries are judged by a panel of three women on the core criteria of excellence, originality, and accessibility. All submissions are read in full by the judging panel.
There are no restrictions on theme or style. Submissions must be written in English and submitted as a Word document in Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced with page numbers and the working title on each page.
An early-bird entry fee of $33 AUD (GST inclusive) applies from 28 September to 29 November 2026. The standard entry fee is $45 AUD (GST inclusive). Entry fees go directly toward running the prize, including prize money, judging, admin, PR, and distribution.
Note: Works that have been written, edited, or ideated with the assistance of AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude are not eligible. The prize is committed to celebrating entirely human-authored writing.
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