The Best Australian Yarn

Judges say intimate story about a man in a coma and the nurse who cares for him is a rare gem of a short story in a very strong field.

An intimate story about a man in a coma and the nurse who cares for him is the rare gem of a short story that took out the $50,000 first prize in The Best Australian Yarn competition.

Melbourne author Anson Cameron hadn’t written a short story since the early 2000s. His powerful comeback could land him $50,000.

Judges pore over more than 6000 entries from around Australia to deliver this year’s top 50 entries

Authors across Australia have submitted a staggering 6020 entries to the world’s biggest short story competition, the Best Australian Yarn — up nearly 10 per cent on last year.

Refugee Week and The Best Australian Yarn share the same ambitions - to promote a greater understanding and celebrate the lives of migrants

Australian servicemen played a small but important role in the D-Day landings 80 years ago, which turned the tide of the Second World War in Europe.

Top prize gives Tasmanian author the boost and the time she needs to reinvigorate her love of writing.

There was a time when Sharleigh Crittenden lacked confidence in her writing abilities. Now, she’s penning a novel.

Yes, this contest offers a lot of money but it also offers opportunity, acclaim and a lesson in resilience

Indigenous stories are the bedrock of Australia, and we need to dig beneath the surface to find the hidden gems of our future talent which will transform the nation.

As someone who spends his time immersed in the power of words and stories, Kim Scott finds his role as a judge for The Best Australian Yarn short story competition both daunting and exciting. 

Kim Scott was the first Indigenous author to win the Miles Franklin, an accolade that still sits uncomfortably. But belief in the power of Aboriginal storytelling to heal and connect continues to drive him.

Our hugely successful short story competition has now opened its door to comic creators young and old.

Australia’s most popular short story competition, The Best Australian Yarn, has returned for 2024 with a bigger prize pool, a new addition to the Prize Jury and an exciting new category.