Little Stories, Big Ideas: 'Friction'

Express Media is proud to present Little Stories, Big Ideas, a flash writing competition open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.

This competition's theme is: Friction.

Submissions open on 21st April and close at 11:59PM AEST Monday 30th June.

Entrants must write to the theme in 100 words or less, in any literary style they like. Anything is welcome – prose, poetry, comics, song lyrics, or whatever else you love writing. Entries can include writing for readers of any age. . 

The prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing and poetry in the minds of Australia’s secondary school students, and to encourage them to pursue writing and publishing opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

How to Enter

1. All entries must be received by 11.59PM AEST, Monday 30th June.
2. A maximum of 2 entries may be submitted.
3. Each entry must be submitted via the submissions portal, with one entry per submission form. DO NOT put multiple submissions in one word or PDF document.
4. Submissions may be in any literary style of your choosing.
5. Entries can include pieces written for readers of any age group.
6. All entries must be typed and double-spaced.
7. Submittable accounts must be created in the entrant’s own name and list the entrant's contact details.

Conditions of Entry

1. Entries must be original works, written entirely by the entrant, and must not infringe upon anyone else’s copyright or intellectual property rights.
2. AI and LLM-based machine learning services must not be used. If AI is used in any form the entries will be automatically disqualified.
3. Entries must not, either wholly or partly, have previously been published in print or online (with the exception of an entrant’s personal blog or website).
4. The name of the entrant should not be included anywhere on the submission; it should only be entered in the submission form.
5. All members currently serving on the Express Media board; and/or all paid, permanent staff of Express Media, are ineligible to enter.
6. Entries are only accepted from secondary school aged students (between the ages of 12 and 18 inclusive).
7. Entrants under 18 years of age must have permission from a parent/guardian/teacher to enter the prize.
8. Two winners will be selected: one from Year 7-9, one from Year 10-12.
9. The judges’ decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into about the judgements or the judging process

Express Media reserves the right not to consider a submission if the conditions of entry above are not complied with.  Note: Entrants must acknowledge and agree to these terms upon submission. Parent/guardian/teacher of the entrant must confirm permission for entry upon submission.

PRIZE DETAILS

The prize winner in each category will receive:

• A writing masterclass with author Rebecca Fraser
• A free STARTER+ web hosting package and domain name from Nexigen
• A one year Express Media membership and Voiceworks subscription
• Publication of their work on the Express Media website
• Their names and an acknowledgement printed in Voiceworks, Australia’s premier youth literary journal.

For more information please email Mia Nie, Express Media Creative Producer, creativeproducer@expressmedia.org.au