Little Stories, Big Ideas: 'Shimmer'

Express Media, in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, is proud to present Little Stories, Big Ideas: a flash writing competition open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.

This competition's theme is: Shimmer.

Submissions open on 2nd March and close at 11:59PM AEST Sunday 17th May.

Entrants must write to the theme in 100 words or less, in any literary style they like. Anything is welcome – prose, poetry, comics, song lyrics, or whatever else you love writing. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

How to Enter

All entries must be received by 11.59PM AEST, Sunday 17th May.
A maximum of 2 entries may be submitted.
Each entry must be submitted via the submissions portal, with one entry per submission form. DO NOT put multiple submissions in one word or PDF document.
Submissions may be in any literary style of your choosing.
Entries can include pieces written for readers of any age group.
All entries must be typed and double-spaced.
Jotform accounts must be created in the entrant’s own name and list the entrant's contact details.

Conditions of Entry

Entries must be original works, written entirely by the entrant, and must not infringe upon anyone else’s copyright or intellectual property rights.
AI and LLM-based machine learning services must not be used. If AI is used in any form the entries will be automatically disqualified.
Entries must not, either wholly or partly, have previously been published in print or online (with the exception of an entrant’s personal blog or website).
The name of the entrant should not be included anywhere on the submission; it should only be entered in the submission form.
All members currently serving on the Express Media board; and/or all paid, permanent staff of Express Media, are ineligible to enter.
Entries are only accepted from secondary school aged students (between the ages of 12 and 18 inclusive).
Entrants under 18 years of age must have permission from a parent/guardian/teacher to enter the prize.
The prize is divided into two age categories: Year 7-9, and Year 10-12.
One winner and one runner-up will be chosen from each category.
The judges’ decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into about the judgements or the judging process
Express Media reserves the right not to consider a submission if the conditions of entry above are not complied with. Note: Entrants must acknowledge and agree to these terms upon submission. Parent/guardian/teacher of the entrant must confirm permission for entry upon submission.

PRIZE DETAILS

The winner and runner-up in each category will receive:

An online writing masterclass with the Prize Ambassador.
A Voiceworks bundle courtesy of Express Media.
A YA book pack courtesy of The Wheeler Centre.
Their names published in Voiceworks, Australia's premier youth literary journal.

The prize winner in each category will also receive:

A $250 cash prize.

For more information please email Mia Nie, Express Media Creative Producer, at creativeproducer@expressmedia.org.au

Submission Details

Full Name*

First NameLast Name

E-mail*

example@example.com

Phone Number*

Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City/SuburbState

Postcode

Name of Parent, Guardian or Teacher*

First NameLast Name

E-mail*

example@example.com

Phone Number*

Are you a teacher submitting on behalf of a student?*

YesNo

School Name*

Year Level*

Year 7Year 8Year 9

Consent from Parent, Guardian or Teacher*

I, the Parent, Guardian or Teacher of this Entrant, give consent for this submission to The 2026 Little Stories, Big Ideas.

Demographic Data

The following questions are asked so Express Media can better understand the young people we engage with, to ensure we're providing the right support and development opportunities. Completing this information is optional, and your responses are not shared.

This information is not considered during the judging process.

Do you identify as any of the following?

Culturally or linguistically diverse personAboriginal or Torres Strait IslanderA person with a disabilityFrom a rural or regional background

Your entry to Little Stories, Big Ideas

Title*

Enter a title for your piece

File Upload*

Acceptable file types: .pdf, .doc, .docx

Conditions of Entry*