OutStanding Short Story Competition

The 2026 OutStanding LGBTQIA+ Short Story (750 words or less) Competition is now open!
The theme for this year’s competition is:
“There is no Theme*”
* You can write about anything you want.
Entries can be submitted from now using the link below.
Entries close at 11.59pm Sunday 30 August
Winners will be announced at our Winners Event on Sunday 27 September (More details to follow).
First Prize: $1000
Plus, other prizes to be announce soon.
Best of luck, we can’t wait to read your amazing stories!
Gail, Robert, Stafford and Nicky
—

—

Thank you to our Sponsors.

The OutStanding committee would like to thank our Patron Alex Greenwich MP for his continued support, the Family and Friends of Madeline Shaw, RGA Reinsurance, Nicole Baker-Bryson, Writing NSW, our generous donors, and our longtime website management and web host sponsor “The Hairy Goat Cult” for their ongoing support and commitment.
Check them out at:  https://thehairygoatcult.au/

 

 

The OutStanding committee; Gail Hewison, Robert Tait, Nicole Baker-Bryson & Stafford Hamilton

LATEST NEWS

Get to know the Miniature* Very Short Story Competition 2026 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story 2025 Competition winners here.

Get to know the Miniature* Very Short Story Competition 2025 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story 2024 Winners here.

Get to know the Miniature* Very Short Story Competition 2024 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2023 winners here.

Get to know the Miniature* Very Short Story Competition 2023 winners here.  

Get to know the Miniature* Very Short Story Competition 2022 winners here. 

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2022 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2021 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2020 winners here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2019 winners here.

Read the Kindle edition of ‘Lightning Flash: OutStanding Queer Australian Writing 2019’ here.

Get to know the OutStanding Short Story Competition 2018 prize winners here.

Read the Kindle edition of ‘Next Big Thing: 2018 Winners’ here.

Read the Kindle edition of ‘It’s Complicated: 2017 Winners’ here.

Listen to the OutStanding Short Story Competition podcast here.

 

Would you like to donate to The Outstanding LGBTIQA+ Short Story Competition? Do it here


1376445334_facebook_circle_black1To get all the latest details about the OutStanding LGBTQIA+ short story competition, follow us on Facebook.

OutStanding acknowledges the traditional owners of the land now known as Australia, over which sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, as the rightful custodians of the land on which we live and work. We acknowledge Elders past, present, and emerging. We would also like to acknowledge the struggles of LGBTI First Peoples and thank them for their part in the broader struggle for full human rights.  Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.  We also acknowledge the contribution of Maori people in the ongoing prosperity of Aotearoa (New Zealand).