Are you a woman who loves to write short stories, or do you already have a compelling short story that is waiting to be shared? The Kind Press invites women writers from around the world to submit their short stories for the 2027 Literary Women’s Writing Prize for Short Story. Created to support and celebrate women writers, this prize is looking for unique unpublished short stories to showcase in the international publication Anthologia 2027.
If you’re not quite sure your short story is ready to be shared just yet, take a look at our Short Story Essentials course. You can start anytime to hone your writing skills for short-form fiction, receive feedback on your writing and develop the techniques needed to create a story you’ll be proud to submit – all before the prize closes!
From The Kind Press website
The 2027 Literary Women’s Writing Prize for Short Story was established to recognise and encourage women’s writing and provide a platform for publication. Awarded annually, the writing prize is open to writers from anywhere in the world.
First prize winner receives $1,000. All shortlisted entries will be published in Anthologia 2027, an international paperback publication by The Kind Press with distribution by Simon & Schuster Australia.
Submit an original, unpublished short story for the opportunity to gain literary exposure and recognition for your writing.
Key dates
- The prize is open for submissions.
- A discounted early-bird entry fee of $33 (GST inclusive) applies from Monday 28 September 2026 to 5pm Sunday 29 November 2026. A general entry fee of $45 (GST inclusive) applies.
- Prize closes for submissions: 12 February 2027, 5pm AEDT
- Shortlist announcement: April 2027
- Winner announcement: May 2027
Application Elements
Entries must be unpublished (anything that has appeared in the public arena, is considered published). Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee. There is no restriction on theme or style.
What to Submit
We accept fiction or nonfiction, including poetry, essays, or mixed-form writing.
Entries must be:
- A maximum of 2,600 words in length (no minimum)
- Poems must be single poems with a maximum length of 50 lines and must not exceed 1,000 words
- Files must be submitted in Word Document format, in Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced with page numbers and the working title of the work on every page.
Eligibility requirements
- Entry is open to women and non-binary writers who identify with the Prize’s purpose to promote women’s writing, in ways that align with the writer’s own gender identity. This includes cis women, trans women and non-binary people.
- Entrants must be 18 years or older as of 1 February 2027.
- Entries to the Prize are accepted as digital files only. Files will not be shared with any outside parties.
- All submissions must be written in English.
Our judging process
A panel of three women, all passionate readers and at the top of their respective professions, choose the winner of the Literary Women’s Prizes. All works will be read by our judges. Judges plunge immediately into reading, basing their deliberations for the longlist, shortlist and winner on three core tenets: excellence, originality and accessibility.
Resubmissions & refunds: Submissions are final and fees are non-refundable. It is not possible to amend or alter a submission that has been entered. If you wish to resubmit an altered work, this can be done as a new additional submission.
Payment Summary
All entry fees go directly toward running the Literary Women’s Prize, including prize money, platform costs, essential admin, PR, judging, legal support, marketing and outreach. The prize simply could not exist without entry fees. If you have any questions about how the prize is administered, please reach out to us.
We carefully vet our projects on literary merit alone for high standards. We reserve the right to review and change the Entry Periods and the Eligibility and Entry Conditions as necessary.
If you’re ready to submit your short story, you can enter via The Kind Press website here.
