Resources for new & emerging writers
Are you looking for resources for young writers in Australia? We’ve pulled together some opportunities for learning, places to publish your work, writing prizes and opportunities for 2025, and other avenues to explore.
Whether you’re interested in writing a novel, publishing your poetry or writing true stories about your life, there are so many writing opportunities for new and emerging writers. Explore them below.
Library resources
The Library offers plenty of spaces to dream, brainstorm, write or study – let your imagination take flight in the magnificent Dome, fuel yourself with a coffee in the Russell Street Welcome Zone or claim your favourite desk in the Redmond Barry Reading Room.
The Library holds many books about writing and creativity in the collection, with plenty of options for young writers looking to brush up on their knowledge or develop some new skills:
- Get practical tips on writing poetry, fiction and plays in For the Budding Writer by Roselyne M Jua and Bate Besong
- Get your creative juices flowing with Don’t Forget to Write: 50 Enthralling and Effective Writing Lessons, Ages 11 and Up
- Interested in fantastic worlds? Discover Wonderbook: An Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer
You can access the Library’s e-resources and much more with a free Library membership – sign up here.
From zine workshops to research skills, there’s a huge range of workshops on offer for students – discover our School programs (and don't forget to share the page with your teacher!).
Did you know we also offer memberships just for students that comes with loads of extra benefits? Plus, sign up for a Student membership before 31 March 2025 and you could win an Apple iPad!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and keep an eye on our What’s On page to stay up to date with workshops, events and opportunities for young writers at the Library.
Youth writing competitions in 2025
Young writers under the age of 18 are invited to enter the Calanthe Collective Prize for Unpublished Poetry 2025. Entries close 31 March 2025.
The Casey Fresh Words Young Writers Competition is open to young people who live, study or work in the City of Casey, Victoria, and accepts entries of poetry and prose. Additionally, there is an award for writers enrolled in English as an Additional Language studies. Entries close 21 April 2025.
The Future Leaders Writing Prize is designed to recognise and reward talented young writers. It aims to encourage expressive and creative writing. Australian Year 11 and 12 students are invited to submit a piece of writing between 800 and 1000 words on any topic. Entries close 1 May 2025.
The Boroondara Young Writers Competition is open to young writers who live, work or study in Boroondara, Victoria, and accepts entries of poetry or prose. Entries close 11 May 2025.
Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia's future, the What Matters? Writing Competition is open to school students in Year 5 to Year 12. Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words. Entries close 16 May 2025.
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards are open to school students across Australia, inspiring them to express their thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry. Young writers enrolled in Kindergarten to Year 12 are invited to submit poems of up to 80 lines. Submissions open 1 March 2025 and close on 30 June 2025.
The Moorabool Young Writers Awards are open to young writers from Prep to Year 12, with the theme Write where you are! Submissions open 10 March 2025 and close on 28 April 2025.
The Write a Book in A Day competition challenges teams of young writers across Australia to write and illustrate a novel in just 12 hours. The competition is open to students in Year 5 to 12 and raises vital funds for kids' cancer research. Submissions open 1 May 2025.
The Swan Hill Regional Library Young Writers’ Award is open to students from Prep to Grade 6 on the theme The Day All the Machines Stopped, and from Year 7 to Year 12 on the theme The Day Social Media Disappeared. Entries close 22 August 2025.
Poem Forest is a nature writing prize that invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal habitats and create a poem forest for future generations. Entries open in 2025.
The Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers is a developmental award open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation. The winning writer will receive $500 and publication on the Express Media website. Opening dates for the 2025 prize will be announced soon.
Programs and workshops for young writers in Victoria
Express Media, based in Melbourne, offers a broad range of workshops, programs and publishing opportunities for writers under 30. Express Media also publishes Voiceworks, a national literary journal that features exciting new writing and art by young Australians under 25.
Australian Poetry Slam Youth empowers young people to write and perform their own stories. Organised by Word Travels, APS Youth brings exhilarating performances, interactive workshops and poetry slams to schools, libraries and communities around Australia. Programs are available online or in-person.
Mount Waverley Library runs a Young Writers’ Group for writers aged 11 to 18. Sessions include fun writing activities, meeting other young writers, and feedback on your writing from author Melissa Gijsbers.
Healesville Library runs a Young Writers' Group for writers in Years 7 to 10. These sessions include the opportunity to meet fellow writers, learn new skills and have time to write.
The Young Writers' Club at Bunjil Place Library in Narre Warren is an opportunity for kids to share their love for books, reading and writing. Suitable for children ages 10 and up.
Story Studio offers online and in-person writing workshops in Melbourne for young writers aged 6 to 18, in a fun, immersive and interactive environment.
Words of a Feather offers online and in-person workshops in Melbourne young writers aged 7 to 17, as well as mentorships, story camps and more.