To enter, writers must be 18 years or older by the submission deadline of 31 October 2025.

There are no geographical restrictions. The Hope Prize is an international competition, open to writers from anywhere in the world.

The deadline for receipt of entries is 11:59pm EST on 31 October 2025.

Please note:

We welcome writers at all stages of their journey.

You don’t need a publishing history or formal training. You just need a compelling story and the skill to tell it well. We believe great writing is rooted in curiosity, sharp observation and literary instinct, not credentials. Whether this is your first submission or your fiftieth, we’re excited to read work that moves us, challenges us and stays with us.

Entry Fee

•  Early bird fee: $20 AUD for entries received by 11:59pm on 30 June 2025
•  Standard fee: $30 AUD applies to entries received after this date
  (Submittable accepts entries worldwide and will automatically process payments in your local currency.)

Prize Pool

The total prize pool is $13,000 AUD, allocated as follows:

•  First prize: $10,000 AUD
•  Second prize: $2,000 AUD
•  Third prize: $1,000 AUD 

100% of your entry fee goes directly toward running The Hope Prize, including prize money, platform costs, essential admin, PR, judging, marketing and outreach.

📖 Submission Guidelines

•  Stories must be no more than 5,000 words in length (no minimum)
•  Submissions must be in English, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman
•  Writers may enter as many stories as they like, however each story must be submitted separately, with its own entry fee
•  Do not include your name or personal details in the submission document — titles only. This ensures blind judging.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome short stories that are either fiction or narrative nonfiction.
Fiction can be entirely imagined, while nonfiction may draw from real life, including memoir, as long as it's crafted with a strong narrative arc and emotional resonance.

Please note: we’re not looking for poetry, essays, opinion pieces, or reportage. 

Submissions must not have been widely published before — this includes online and in print media.

Stories should speak to themes of hope, courage, and resilience, as experienced or expressed by you, the author.

You can visit our website and Instagram @hopeprize for more prize details and inspiration. You can also read the 2024 Hope Prize anthology to explore last year’s shortlisted stories.

Publication

The winning entries, along with a selection of highly commended stories, will be published in an anthology by Simon & Schuster Australia. All royalties from the anthology will be donated to CAMFED, The Campaign for Female Education.