2026 Microfiction Competition Entry Form

Calling all young writers! Brisbane Writers Festival and The University of Queensland present the annual schools’ microfiction competition, open to Queensland-based students. The 2026 prompt is the 2026 youth program artwork by Rachel Tribout (see below).

You are invited to respond to the prompt in no more than 120 words, using any written format (verse/prose). Shortlisted entrants will be invited to present a reading of their microfiction at the awards ceremony during the festival. The winner will receive a book pack for their school and a cash prize: $1,000 for the senior category and $500 for the junior category.

Entries close end of day Sunday, 13 September.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Consent disclaimer
I acknowledge that:​

• Should my entry be shortlisted, I provide permission for my name, school name, and my entry (or excerpts of) to be published in print and/or online by Brisbane Writers Festival, The University of Queensland, and/or Brisbane Writers Festival media partners. Author names will be credited on all publications.
• I agree to receive communications from The University of Queensland. I may opt out of communications at any time.
• I agree to receive communications from Brisbane Writers Festival. I may opt out of communications at any time.
• I have read and understood the Terms and Conditions.
• Entrants under the age of 18 must receive parental or guardian consent to participate. Parental/guardian consent must be given on the entry form and a valid phone number for the parent or guardian must be provided.

Terms and Conditions:
This competition is conducted by us, Brisbane Writers Festival.
You may participate in the competition only on these Terms and Conditions.

• You may only participate if you are currently enrolled as a Queensland school student and living in Queensland at the time of entry.
  
• You cannot participate if you are a BWF employee or an immediate family member of one of our employees. An immediate family member is a spouse, ex-spouse, de-facto spouse, child, step-child, parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother, sister, step-brother, or step-sister.
• The competition is a game of skill in which chance plays no part in determining the winners.
• The competition is FREE to enter.
• You are responsible for any costs associated with accessing the competition, such as Internet access, scanning, uploading or other fees or charges.
• To enter, you must complete the Entry Form at bwf.org.au/microfiction, including all the required details, and submit your entry within the word limit during the competition period. We will not accept emailed, posted, incomplete, indecipherable or late entries.
• The competition period commences at 8:00pm AEST, 5 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST 13 September 2026.
• You may submit only one entry for the whole competition. It must be within the word limit prescribed (maximum 120 words). It must be your original work and must be previously unpublished. It can be in the form of prose or poetry.
• Once you have submitted your entry it is final and you cannot withdraw or edit it. 
• By entering the competition, you grant permission for and license us to publish your story (along with your name or pen name) on the BWF website, in the BWF newsletter and on social media platforms.