First Pages Writing Competition

If you want a reader to buy your book or a publisher to offer you a contract, you need to make a good first impression.

The first pages competition is here to encourage unagented writers make their first impression the best it can be.

What do publishers look for in your first pages?

Don’t waste those first pages with exposition and back story. Publisher’s want a hook and ‘voice’ that grabs them as well as meeting a character they want to spend time with. Here is your chance to polish your first pages to perfection and grab a publisher or editor’s attention.

The WINNER of each category will be selected by our publisher judges Alyson O’Brien from Little Book Press (picture book), Kate Whitfield (older readers) from Allen & Unwin and Tash Besliev (themed category) from Affirm Press.

Claire Saxby is the award-winning author of over 30 children’s books. She writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction picture books, chapter books as well as middle-grade fiction. Claire’s award-winning titles include Volcano, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tree, Great White Shark, Iceberg, Dingo, Emu and The Wearing of the Green. More about Claire here.

Kaye Baillie is the award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction children’s picture books and The School Magazine short stories for ages 7+. Many of her picture books have won awards including CBCA Notable Mizuto and the Wind and CBCA Shortlisted When the Waterhole Dries Up which was included in over 80,000 Australian government school and toddler book packs. More about Kaye here.

Sue Lawson is an award-winning young adult and children’s author, with a passion for young people, writing and reading. Sue collaborates with other writers, including Boonwurrung Elder, Aunty Fay Stewart Muir. Together they create books that explore and celebrate Australia’s First Nations’ people and their rich culture and history. Aunty Fay and Sue’s books include best-selling Respect and Always Was, Always Will Be. More about Sue here.

2026 dates

Entries open: 3 May

Entries close: 2 August

Longlist announced: 16 August

Shortlist announced: 23 August

Winners announced: 5 Sept

prizes

Category winner
Publisher ZOOM assessment with Alyson O’Brien (PB), Kate Whitfield (OR) and Tash Besliev (THEME) plus an award certificate

Shortlisted
Judges assessment and award certificate

Longlisted
Award certificate

eligibility

All unagented writers (published or unpublished) can enter. You must hold an event ticket. The manuscript entry cannot be published or under contract.

You can enter as many times as you like as long as each entry is submitted separately with a new add-on ticket.