Entry guide · Australia

Somerset Storyfest National Novella Writing Competition

A substantial fiction challenge for students who can sustain characters, plot and revision across a novella.

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Competition & entry information

Writing: Creative Writing
Location: National
Preparation level: Advanced
Opportunity: Competition

Who can enter?

Australian secondary-school students, including home school; under 19 on 4 December 2026.

What do you write?

8,000–20,000 words.

How to enter

Upload the anonymous manuscript using Storyfest’s online entry form and follow the formatting and fee instructions.

Dates and planning notes

2026: 4 Dec 2026 · 2027 edition
Confirmed date
5pm AEST (Queensland), which is 6pm AEDT in Sydney. Fee in current rules: A$20.
2027: 2027 dates to be announced
Awaiting announcement
Planning placement only. The next edition, entry window and rules must be confirmed by the organiser.

The current rules exclude previously published work and work previously entered in another competition. Best suited to students with an existing long draft.

Official sources

Official website / entry information ↗Rules / entry document ↗

Checked 4 October 2026. Preparation levels are editorial guidance, not a prediction of winning. Recheck the live rules, fees and eligibility before entering.

Turn your target into stronger writing

Prepare with purpose.

Creative Writing · Poetry · Real Stories

Australian Writing
Competition Coaching

For secondary students building their voice and craft through Australian national and local writing competitions.

Preparation focusVoice, structure and expression

Working towardsA suitable target each term

Understand the brief and choose a suitable competition.
Develop stories, poems and personal writing through regular practice.
Learn to revise with purpose and make stronger writing choices.
Build a body of original work over successive competition goals.

What students build: A stronger writing process, purposeful drafts and an original piece prepared for a suitable submission.

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What preparation can develop

Beyond the final submission.

A clearer sense of voice, audience and purpose.
More deliberate choices in structure and language.
The ability to use feedback and revise independently.
A growing portfolio and a next writing goal.

How our coaching works →

Students complete their own work. Coaching respects the organiser’s rules on feedback, editing and AI; where entry editing is restricted, teaching uses separate practice tasks.