Category: Prize Results

The July 2026 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words.

The April 2026 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words. The competition drew 293 entries from around the world looking for a slice of the AU$4,000 prize money. That’s 141,511 words for our judges, Ed, Amanda, Elise and Dean, to read. For reference, that’s about the…

The January 2026 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words. The competition drew 323 entries from around the world looking for a slice of the AU$4,000 prize money. That’s 156,415 words for our judges, Ed, Amanda and Dean, to read. For reference, that’s about the same…

The October 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word BOOT. 2. included the action of ‘kissing goodbye’. 3. broke the writing rule ‘Show, don’t tell’. Read all the stories that made the shortlist.

The July 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word CRANE. 2. included the action of ‘burning something’. 3. broke the writing rule ‘use active voice’. Read all the stories that made the shortlist.

The April 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word SEAL. 2. included the action of ‘wiping out’. 3. broke the writing rule ‘kill your darlings’. Read all the stories that made the shortlist.

The January 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word RING. 2. included the action of ‘opening a door’. 3. broke the writing rule ‘write what you know’. Read all the stories that made the…

The October 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word PALM. 2. included the action ‘telling a lie.’ 3. broke the writing rule ‘avoid head-hopping.’ Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…

The July 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word TABLE. 2. included the action “stealing something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid purple prose.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…

The April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word DATE. 2. included the action “picking a winner.” 3. broke the writing rule “always use said.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along…

The January 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 500 words, which: 1. included the word PUNCH. 2. included the action “spilling something.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid clichés.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with comments…

The 2023 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenged writers to create an original piece of fiction of no more than 600 words, which: 1. included the word RITE. 2. included the action “crossing a line.” 3. broke the writing rule “avoid all adverbs.” Read all the stories that made the shortlist, along with…