Enter now for 2021 NT Literary Awards

Banner for 2021 nt literary awards. Call for submissions. entries open 29 March and close 31 May.

The annual Northern Territory Literary Awards are now open for 2021. Administered by Library & Archives NT, the Awards were established in 1983 as a platform to connect both established and emerging writers more broadly with the publishing world, the NTWC and other local writers’ groups.

The Awards are supported within the writing community and attract entries from all around the Territory. Categories include creative non-fiction, short story, poetry, essay, youth, theatre and flash fiction. Judges are sourced by the Northern Territory Writers Centre (NTWC). 

The works from the winners and finalists, with the exception of the Theatre Awards, are compiled and published in a book. The publication is distributed to winners and finalists, attendees of the Award ceremony and are available for people to collect from LANT. An electronic .pdf copy of the book is made available on the website.

Kindly supported by long-term sponsors: Browns Mart Theatre, Charles Darwin University, Kath Manzie Estate, NT Writers' Centre and ZipPrint. The official categories and prizes for the 2021 Northern Territory Literary Awards are:

Browns Mart Theatre Award

Theatre script with a performance time of more than 30 minutes.
$1,000 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

Charles Darwin University Creative Non-Fiction Award

A factually-accurate work written with attention to literary style and technique up to 3,000 words
$500 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

Charles Darwin University Essay Award

A referenced academic essay on a topic relating to the Northern Territory with a word limit of 3,000 words
$1,000 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

Flash Fiction Award

A blog post, fan fiction, short story, fictional diary entry or fictional letter up to 500 words, limited to three entries per person
$600 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

Kath Manzie Youth Award

An original work of short fiction or a single poem by a person aged 12 to 18 years as of 1 January 2021. Up to three poetry entries per person with a 300 line limit or a short story up to 3,000 words
$600 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

NT Writers’ Centre Poetry Award

A single poem up to 300 lines, limited to three entries per person
$1,000 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

ZipPrint Short Story Award

An original work of short fiction up to 3,000 words
$1,000 plus NT Writers’ Centre membership and masterclass

All writers across the Territory, young and old, emerging or established, are encouraged to enter the 2021 Northern Territory Literary Awards.

Entries are now open and close 31 May 2021. For more information and to apply click here.