Entering writing competitions, although subjective, pits your words against others. It’s a buzz when one of your articles or stories catches the eye of a judge. The great discipline is to work to wordage, themes and audience, and if critiques are included as part of the competition, then that’s a bonus.
TRAVEL, SHORT STORY AND NON-FICTION WRITING AWARDS
- 2022 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Winner, Best Immersive Travel Experience Story
- 2022 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best Aussie Road Trip
- 2022 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best International Story
- 2021 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best Aussie Road Trip
- 2021 The Nature Conservancy Australia Nature Writing Prize, shortlisted with Meditation in Stone
- 2019 Lane Cove Literary Award for Travel Writing, with On First Seeing Antarctica
- 2019 Lane Cove Literary Award for Short Story, Death by Prawning
- 2017 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Winner, Best Australian Story
- 2016 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best International Story
- 2013 Australian Festival of Travel Writing, Winner, with Opal Odyssey – Travels in Lightning Ridge, NSW
- 2012 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best Australian Story
- 2009 Australian Society of Travel Writers, Finalist, Best International Story
CHILDREN’S WRITING AWARDS
- 2022 Pitch It – shortlisted with Weedy Dandelion
- 2022 Writers Unleashed (FAW) Picture Book Writing competition, shortlisted and Highly Commended with One Woolly Jumper
- 2022 Writers Unleashed (FAW) Picture Book Writing competition, shortlisted with The Splinter
- 2022 CYAll Stars, 2nd place, Chapter Books for Older Readers, with Merlin Houdini MIndweaver
- 2022 StoryLinks Short Story competition, finalist with Queenie’s Jiggly-Jolly Holiday
- 2021 CYAll Stars, 3rd place, with Astrid & Lucy … Bestie or Beastie
- 2019 Writers Unleashed (FAW) Picture Book Writing Competition, 2nd place, with The Great Chicken Getaway
- 2016 CYA conference, 1st place, Chapter Book, with Over Ice Under Sea
- 2016 CYA conference, 2nd place, Chapter Book, with Bug Boy goes Camping
- 2015-16 ASA Edel Wignell Mentorship, with Desknapped … into Treasure Island
- 2014 CBCA Charlotte Waring Barton Award and Mentorship with Random House, with What Tilly Found
- 2014 CBCA Aspiring Writers’ Mentorship, Shortlisted with Ruby and the Writing Shack
- 2014 ASA Emerging Writers and Illustrators Mentorship, with Edwena the Wise and Edwena and the Lost Flame
- 2014 CYA conference, 2nd place, Chapter Book, with Tilly Goes Specking
- 2014 Mary Grant Bruce Award (FAW), Commended, with Tilly Goes Specking
- 2013 Writers Unleashed Picture Book Manuscript Competition, Finalist, with Maestro Mouse
- 2012 CYA conference, 2nd place, Chapter Book, with Desknapped
- 2011 Mary Grant Bruce Award (FAW), Commended, with Leech Creek
- 2011 CYA conference, 1st place, Chapter Book, with Astrid Nine-Names
- 2011 Nairda Lyne Award (FAW), Highly Commended, with The Trouble with Trolls
- 2010 Mary Grant Bruce Award (FAW), Commended, with Ghost Games
- 2010 Celapene Press Charlotte Duncan Award, 2nd prize, with Invisible Gran
- 2010 Nairda Lyne Award (FAW), Highly Commended, with The Magic Spoon