Thunderbolt Prize

From deep inside legendary bushranger territory...
The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing is a national award for unpublished short-form crime writing.
All genres of crime writing are eligible, from hard-boiled to comic, paranormal to rural, noir to cosy.
Entries welcome from anywhere in Australia and in 2017 we are accepting digital files!
The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Fiction
For a story up to 2,500 words
First Prize: $500
sponsored by The School of Arts, University of New England

The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Non-fiction
for an article up to 2,500 words
First Prize: $500

The New England Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Poetry
for a poem up to 60 lines
First Prize: $500
sponsored by the New England Writers' Centre

The New England Award
for the best entry in any category by a resident of New England
$250
sponsored by Reader’s Companion Bookshop, Armidale.

Emerging Authors Award
for the best entry in any category by a new, unpublished writer (over 18)
$250
sponsored by the Friends of Tamworth Libraries

Youth Award
for the best entry in any category by writers aged under 18.
$150
sponsored by Little Pink Dog Books and Christmas Press

Thank you to our sponsors!

Stuff you need to know...

Entries open: June 17
Entries close: September 21
Winners announced in November.
Fee per entry: $10 for adults, $5 for youth (under 18)
Payment can be made by cheque, direct deposit or by clicking HERE.
Name of bank: Community Mutual
BSB: 932000
Account name: New England Writers Centre Inc
Account number: 618658
* Please note: if you use Community Mutual, please add “S3” to our account number: 618658S9
Please make sure you include your name and NET prize as reference when you make an online deposit.

How to submit...

Hardcopy:
Please post two (2) copies of your work, double spaced and single sided, along with the entry form (below) to:
NEWC
P.O. box 1219
Armidale, NSW
2350
Online:
Email your entry and entry form to newcompetitions@gmail.com with your trybooking reference/receipt number.

Download your entry form below...

2017_newc_thunderbolt_crime_writing_entry_form_v2.pdf
File Size: 899 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Don't forget to read these...

Terms and conditions of entry:
  1. Entry is open to all Australian residents
  2. All works submitted must be unpublished commercially, whether in print or online, must not be on offer to any outlet or have won a prize or be currently entered in any other competition, and must be wholly the original work of the entrant. It is however permitted for work to have been published non-commercially on a blog or website.
  3. *An unpublished writer means not having had any of your work previously published in traditional form in a commercially produced book or anthology, or more than twice in commercial magazines, whether in print form or online. You may have had work self-published or in free online journals.
  4. A completed entry form and entry fee must be submitted with each entry.
  5. As judging will be carried out anonymously, the author's name or other identifiers should not appear anywhere on the work itself. The title on the work must be identical to the title on the entry form.
  6. Two copies of entries to be provided. All entries to be double-spaced and pages should be numbered with the title appearing on every page.Hard copy entries to be printed, double-spaced, on one side of the paper only, on plain white copy paper. 
  7. Manuscripts will not be returned, so please do not send your only copies.
  8. Receipt of entries will be acknowledged by email after the closing date of the competition. This will serve as an official receipt of the entry fee. No other receipt will be issued. Entry fees are non-refundable.  
  9. Entry instructions including word and line limits and details of prizes form part of these terms and conditions.
  10. Winning entries may be published on the website of the Armidale Express, which have first publication rights. Winning entries will also be published on the NEWC website. All copyright remains with authors.
  11. Four judges will be appointed. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence entered into.
  12. Winners will be notified in early November, 2017 and results announced shortly after on the NEWC website.