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.
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.
Start with a unique and captivating idea. Make your characters relatable and the plot engaging. Pay attention to the language and keep it concise and vivid.
One common theme is national pride. Many stories will show Australians celebrating their country's unique identity, whether it's through flag - waving or enjoying local traditions. Another theme is community. People come together on Australia Day, so stories often feature friends and families gathering for barbecues or parades.