If you love a gripping mystery, a clever twist or a story that keeps readers guessing until the very last moment, the 2026 SD Harvey Short Crime Story Award is an opportunity to put your crime-writing skills to the test. The award celebrates short crime fiction and invites Australian residents to submit an unpublished story of 2000–5000 words, with entries judged on elements including story structure, characterisation, plot, dialogue and that all-important ability to tell a ‘ripping yarn’.
If you’d like to sharpen your crime-writing techniques before submitting, our Crime and Thriller Writing course can help you develop the skills to create compelling characters, build suspense and craft page-turning stories.
From the competition website
How to Enter
- Entries to the SD Harvey Short Crime Story Award must be fictional stories but can be based on fact
- Multiple entries are accepted
- The author must reside in Australia
- Please note you will only be able to submit an entry on the date the award opens: October 1
- By signing the submission form you are guaranteeing the submissions is solely the author’s original work and not the work of another person or AI
- Stories must be unpublished and between 2000-5000 words.
- The broadest definition of the crime story will be considered eligible, but should include one or more elements that are normally associated with the genre, i.e. suspense, intrigue, mystery, conflict, crime, punishment or investigation.
- Entries will be judged on story structure; characterisation; ‘ripping yarn’ and dialogue/quotes and plot
- The judges' decision is final
- Entry fee: $35
SUBMISSION DATES & RULES
- Entries open on October 1 and close on October 31. Submissions can be lodged when entries open.
- Winner will be announced on November 30.
- All work must be unpublished and should be a work of fiction.
- Please abide by the word limit (2-5000 words) as this may render an entry ineligible.
- Please note we have a policy of two strikes and you are out – ie if you have won the prize twice, you are not eligible to enter.
- In submitting an entry you will be required to acknowledge the story is original and not created by AI
- Please email questions to the organising committee: [email protected] and we will try to answer as soon as we can.
Go to the competition website to enter.
But if your crime story idea isn’t quite ready to submit, why not take the opportunity to sharpen your skills first? Our Crime and Thriller Writing course will help you master the techniques behind gripping plots, compelling characters, suspense, twists and page-turning stories to keep your readers hooked.
