Get writing for Mardi Gras

Organisers of the 2012 Mardi Gras Short Story competition are inviting members and friends of the LGBTI community to submit stories of less than 750 words on the theme ‘Heroes’.

The competition offers the chance for talented writers to have their works published on the Mardi Gras website for the duration of the 2012 festival as well as in LGBTI e-books. Selected authors have also been invited to have their work published in Australian short story anthologies.

With around $6000 in cash and kind on offer, the 2012 competition is expected to be the biggest yet, appealing to both established and new writers. The winner will receive $2000 from the CAL Cultural Fund and a $500 Sydney Writers’ Centre voucher. Prizes for second, third and youth (under 26) have also increased significantly.

“We have been thrilled with the level of support the competition receives from bookshops and writing centres all over Sydney,” festival program manager Sam Sweedman said.

“To now also have the support of the CAL Cultural Fund means we can expect even more entries in what is already a highly popular writing competition. We look forward to seeing the results!”

Entries must be received by 5pm, January 7 2012. Entrants need not identify as LGBTQI, but the story must be LGBTQI-themed.

Winners will be announced and read on February 25 at Queer Thinking.

INFO: www.mardigras.org.au/shortstorycomp