Harry Hartog “IF” Short Story Prize 2021

Open to all secondary school students enrolled in the 2020 calender year in the Hunter, Upper Hunter, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie Regions. Entry is Free.

First Prize in Each Category: $200 Harry Hartog Voucher
Second Prize in Each Category: $100 Cash Donated by Hunter Writers Centre

Harry Hartog "IF" Short Story Prize winners 2020

How to Enter

There are so many ways to build a story around the word “if.” We want to find out what stories the word “if” inspires in your mind. Write a story that’s 1200 words or less in any genre to let us know.
The senior category is open to students who were enrolled in years 10 – 12 in 2020 and the junior category is open to those enrolled in years 7 – 9 in 2020. Both categories are open only to students within the regions of the Hunter, Upper Hunter, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie regions.
Entries open as of December 1st, 2020. Winner to be annouced at the IF Maitland Festival during the weekend of May 28 – 30, 2021.
To enter you must use the downloadable template below. Any entries not matching the template guidelines will not be considered. All entries must be submitted using the form below and must be either .doc or .docx files. By entering, you are consenting for IF Maitland to print your story online, in an anthology of finalists or in other promotional materials as the committee sees fit. Copyright remains with the author and the author is free to submit to any publication after the date of the festival. The story must not be revealed publicly before then.
Entries are open now, and will close at midnight, April 17th. Entries received after this date will not be considered.
The decision of the judges is final and no corrrespondence will be entered into.

The Judges

A panel of judges will select a shortlist of 20 stories in each catergory that will then be passed on to the finalist judges to choose the winner and runner up in each catergory

Sue Whiting

Author/Editor

Sue Whiting is a children’s and YA author and editor who has worked in publishing for two decades. Sue was senior commissioning editor and publishing manager for Walker Books Australia for many years before leaving in 2016 to concentrate on her writing.

Michael Tippett

Writer

Winner of the 2018 NYC Midnight Short Story Competition & facilitator of the Hunter Writers Centre Speculative Fiction Group. His short story, Cherub, won the Hunter Writers Centre Members’ Prize and People’s Choice Award in the 2015 Grieve Project.

Harry Hartog "IF" Short Story Prize for Secondary Students

  • DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • (if home schooled just write 'Home')
  • Accepted file types: doc, docx, Max. file size: 256 MB.
    Stories must be no longer than 1200 words and must be .doc or .docx files