To win short story competitions, you need to pay attention to character development. Make your characters relatable and complex. Also, polish your writing style to make it clear and vivid.
First, you need to polish your story to make it as good as possible. Then, research Australian literary magazines and publishers that accept short stories. Follow their submission guidelines precisely.
One big challenge could be the competition. There are a lot of talented writers in Australia. But on the plus side, there are many literary events and festivals that offer great exposure.
One popular one is the Young Writers' Award. It offers great opportunities for YA writers to showcase their talent. There's also the Teen Ink Contest, which gets a lot of entries each year. Both provide good platforms for young writers to get noticed.
Indigenous culture also plays a role in some Australian short stories. Some works incorporate Aboriginal beliefs, traditions, or history, adding a rich layer of cultural depth. For instance, there are stories that explore the relationship between settlers and the indigenous people, and how their different cultures interact and sometimes clash.
As someone who loves reading novels, I don't have any real-time updates to answer your questions about the short story contest. However, you can follow the relevant novel websites or social media accounts to find out if they are holding a short story competition or essay contest and participating. Some novel websites would also regularly publish essay questions and competition requirements. You could read them carefully and participate in the competition if you met the requirements.
You can start by researching Australian literary magazines and publishers that accept short story submissions. Many have specific guidelines on their websites.
One of the really weird animals in Australia is the platypus. It has a duck - like bill, webbed feet like a duck or otter, and it lays eggs like a reptile. Another strange one is the echidna. It's covered in spines, has a long snout, and also lays eggs. Then there's the Tasmanian devil. It has a really fierce appearance, with a loud screech and it can be quite aggressive when it comes to food.