Kill Your Darlings offers a range of writing prizes and awards designed to support the development of early career writers, providing them with financial support, the opportunity to work with industry professionals and assistance in creating publishing pathways in the future. 

Creative Non-Fiction Essay Prize

Save the date—our popular Creative Non-Fiction Essay Prize will open on Monday, 1 September 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with announcements.

Please note: To submit your work to the Creative Non-Fiction Essay Prize, you must be a KYD member. Along with helping us fund writing prizes and other programs, your membership includes course discounts, exclusive creative resources, professional development opportunities and industry-expert guidance on your pathway to publication. 

 

 

KYD School Writing Prize

Deadline extended! Submissions to the 2025 KYD School Writing Prize close on Friday, 8 August 2025. The KYD School Writing Prize gives a voice to young Australians. Find more information about the prize here.

Flash Fiction Prize

Flash Fiction is a genre that challenges writers to be faster, punchier and more focused in their storytelling. ‘Arrive late, leave early’ is a useful way of shaping these narratives. Some of our favourite writers of this form include Lydia Davis, Naguib Mahfouz, Jamaica Kincaid, Franz Kafka and Augusto Monterosso. 

Submissions are now closed. Read about the 2025 prize winners here.

Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize

KYD is a proud partner journal for the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize. With a stellar line-up of international judges, winners receive an incredible Italian residency, manuscript assessments, cash prizes and more. Read more.