If you’re an aspiring writer, check out the Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award. $10,000 prize + $2000 for a mentor of your choice. And if you’re worried it’s only for literary types, then don’t. Best-selling romance author (26 million copies and counting!) and Pioneer of Romance Award recipient Valerie Parv is one of the judges. Great opportunity but hurry. Closes 13th October.

And specifically for romance writers, the Romance Writers of Australia and Romance Writers of New Zealand run some of the best writing contests around. Want to see how your writing stacks up against other aspiring writers, earn feedback from published authors and avid readers, or have the opportunity to place your work in front of leading editors and agents if you make the final? Then these contests are for you.

Along with my critique group, the RWA and RWNZ newsletters and online communities, and sweating over a bazillion words across multiple manuscripts, writing contests helped me hone my craft. Without them I doubt I’d be published. Highly recommended.