COMPETITIONS 2026

The competition opens on the second of April 2026 at 10am AWST and closes on on the 18th of June 2026 at 10am AWST. Ensure your submission is sent within this timeframe. The application form is on the Category page. If there is any issue with your submission then please contact admin@bcpcreative.com.au (mailto:admin@bcpcreative.com.au)

Eligibility • The competition is open to Australia and New Zealand residents aged 16 years and over. • Entries must be the original, unpublished work of the submitting author. • Submissions must not be under contract or consideration elsewhere at the time of entry. Submission Format • Entries must be 1000–1500 words. • Submissions may be a standalone piece, scene, or chapter. • The submitted work must clearly convey a complete narrative moment within the word limit. Competition Categories Entrants may submit to one of the following: • The Catalyst Scroll – Speculative fiction exploring the moment everything changes. • The Heritage Scroll – Memoir or creative non-fiction exploring the legacies that shape who we become. Submissions must align with the selected category. Theme Requirements The Catalyst Scroll • The submission must centre on a moment of change driven by a speculative element. • The scene should capture the point of transformation, not just the aftermath. • The speculative aspect must be integral to the shift. The Heritage Scroll • The submission must explore heritage, legacy, or inheritance. • This may include cultural, familial, environmental, or personal influences. • The piece should demonstrate how these elements have shaped identity, perspective, or experience. Entry Fees • Standard Entry: $30 AUD Submission Requirements • Entries must be submitted via the official competition form. • Manuscripts must be anonymous, with no identifying information in the document. • A separate cover section within the form will collect author details. • One entry per submission fee (multiple entries permitted). Judging Process • All submissions undergo an initial eligibility screening. • Eligible entries progress through multiple reading rounds, including longlisting and shortlisting. • Finalists are assessed through blind judging by a panel of three industry professionals. Judging is based on: • Strength and clarity of the central concept • Alignment with the competition theme • Emotional and/or intellectual impact • Originality • Overall writing craft Prizes 🥇 First Place • $500 AUD • 12 months access to Bushland Pages author support platform 🥈 Second Place • $300 AUD 🥉 Third Place • $200 AUD Additional commendations may be awarded at the judges’ discretion. Key Dates • Submissions Open: 2 April 2026 • Submissions Close: 18 June 2026 (or earlier if capacity is reached) • Winners Announced: 31 October 2026 Rights • Authors retain full copyright of their work. • By entering, authors grant Bushland Castle Productions non-exclusive rights to: • Announce winners • Feature short excerpts for promotional purposes Additional Information • Judges’ decisions are final. • Bushland Castle Productions reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the guidelines.

The Competition Genres are identified in the Individual Competition Pages. The Catalyst Scroll is Spec Fic The Heritage Scroll is Memoir/Creative Non-fiction

Yes co-authored work is permitted.

Yes you can submit multiple entries but each entry will require a separate form.

Accepted formats include [e.g., PDF, DOCX]. Ensure your file adheres to the specified format.

First Prize is $500 Cash Second Prize is $300 Cash Third Prize is $200 Cash

No, once submitted, entries cannot be edited. Please ensure your work is final before submission. If you have any concerns please contact admin@bcpcreative.com.au (mailto:admin@bcpcreative.com.au)

Late submissions will not be accepted. Please ensure your entry is submitted before the deadline.

Yes, authors retain full rights to their work. However, winning entries may be published with the author's permission.

Australians over the age of 16 years old may enter.

The Competition is $30 per entry.

Submissions are judged based on creativity, originality, adherence to the theme, and overall quality of writing. A panel of experienced judges will evaluate each entry in a blind judging round.

Terms and Conditions for BCP Scroll Competition Please note: Bushland Castle Productions accepts all genres of book for review but we retain the right not to proceed with submissions we find are inflammatory, racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. Any decision not to proceed on these grounds is final and no correspondence will be entered into. In the event that the winning entry of the BCP Scroll Competition draw falls within this criteria we shall draw another winner. Statement about copyright: Your Manuscript and all your work is protected under Copyright and in no way will that copyright be encroached upon by the Bushland Castle Productions, in accordance with the copyright laws of Australia. 1. The winning entry must be limited to a textual work only with no more than 1,500 words. 2. The winning entry must be written in English. 3. The winning entry must be submitted in final draft format to Bushland Castle Productions in a word doc or docx format. 4. The winning entry must be submitted to Bushland Castle Productions by no later than the 18th of June 2026. 5. The competition is governed by and construed in accordance with Australian law.

A work is considered published if it has been made publicly available for others to read in any format, including websites, blogs, social media, online platforms, or paid/subscription services. This includes work shared behind a paywall. Personal documents or private workshop sharing are not considered published.