Four times a year, the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction challenges writers to create an original piece of flash fiction based on two typical writing prompts plus one anti-prompt.

What’s an anti-prompt? It’s a call to break a specific rule of writing. You know, those things you must never do if you hope to be a successful writer? Well, this is your chance to prove ‘em wrong.

Participants will compete for AU$2,000 in cash prizes, including AU$1,000 for the winner, cash prizes for the entire shortlist and two bonus ‘wildcard’ prizes.

The next competition will commence at midday 12.00pm AEST Friday 19 April 2024 (Sydney, Australia time). Entrants will have until midnight AEST on Sunday 21 April 2024 to submit a 500-word piece of original fiction in response to the given criteria.

When the competition kicks-off, the prompts will be announced by email. Entrants will receive details about how and where to submit their entry when the competition opens.

The competition is open to all ages and levels of ability all over the world. Parents and guardians should note, however, that entries are not censored, and young entrants may be exposed to themes and language inappropriate for their age.

Choose from one of these entry options for a chance at one of 8 cash prizes:

• NQW Prize Entry Ticket Only ($25) – This Entry Ticket grants you access to the April 2024 Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction Participant Lounge where you’ll find the Competition Entry Form and Participant Forum.
• NQW Prize Entry Ticket + Personalised Feedback ($90) – This package offers all the benefits of an Entry Ticket plus two pages of personalised critique from the judges (and hosts of the Not Quite Write podcast), Ed and Amanda. Ed and Amanda will revisit your entry after the competition winner has been announced and provide written critique on your story’s strengths, as well as opportunities for improvement.
• NQW Prize Entry Ticket + On-Air Feedback ($125) – This one is not for the faint of heart! The Daredevil Package offers all the benefits of an Entry Ticket plus detailed critique from the judges, Ed and Amanda, “LIVE” on the podcast. After the competition, Ed and Amanda will read your entry on the podcast for the listening pleasure of Not Quite Write audience members around the world. Then they’ll unpack the good, the bad and the ugly for all to hear.

We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives.