Deadline: June 30, 2024
Applications are open for the Sargeson Prize Short Story Competition 2024. First offered in 2019, the Sargeson Prize is New Zealand’s richest short story prize, sponsored by the University of Waikato. Named for celebrated New Zealand writer Frank Sargeson, the Prize was conceived by writer Catherine Chidgey, who also lectures in Writing Studies at the University.
There are two categories for the competition:
- Open Division
- Secondary Schools Division
Prizes
Open Division
- First Prize: $10,000
- Second Prize: $1,000
- Third Prize: $500
Secondary Schools Division
- First Prize: $2,000
- Second Prize: $1,000
- Third Prize: $500
Eligibility
Open Division
- Open Division is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents aged 16 and over who are writing in English. Published and unpublished writers are welcome to enter.
- Entries must be single stories of no more than 5000 words.
- They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.
Secondary Schools Division
- The Secondary Schools Division is open to students enrolled at a New Zealand secondary school, or home-schooled students, who are aged between 16 and 18 years on the date that competition entries close.
- Entries must be single stories of no more than 3000 words.
- They must be original, unpublished pieces of work.
Application
Entries will close at 11.59pm (NZST) on 30 June 2024. Entries received after the closing date or not otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions will not be accepted. The University of Waikato takes no responsibility for lost, damaged, misdirected, late, illegible or incomplete entries.
For more information, visit Sargeson Prize Short Story Competition.
