May, 2025
Event Details
The Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is an annual short fiction competition organized by the Australian Book Review. The competition is open to anyone. This is the sixteenth time the
Event Details
The Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is an annual short fiction competition organized by the Australian Book Review. The competition is open to anyone. This is the sixteenth time the Jolley Prize has run and it is one of the world’s leading prizes for short fiction.
The Jolley Prize is worth a total of $12,500 and is for an original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English.
Stories can be on any subject and in any style. Entries must be a single, original story of 2,000 to 5,000 words, written in English.
Previously published, prize-winning, or broadcast stories will not be accepted.
Prizes
• 1st prize: AU$ 6,000
• 2nd prize: AU$ 4,000
• 3rd prize: AU$ 2,500
The three shortlisted stories will be published in the August or September 2025 issue of Australian Book Review and on the ABR website.
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
Sudowrite
We’re keen to encourage quality, so we recommend writers refine their stories before submitting using Sudowrite – a creative writing tool designed to help you rewrite, expand, and enhance your prose with ease. Whether you need help overcoming writer’s block, finding the perfect phrase, or strengthening your story, Sudowrite offers tools that support your creative flow. Visit their website to explore Sudowrite — free trials are available.
