Established in 2011, the joanne burns Microlit Award is an annual competition dedicated to nurturing, rewarding and showcasing high quality microliterature up to 200 words in length by Australian writers. Since 2016, the Newcastle Writers Festival has sponsored the local category of the award, regularly programming panel discussions of the microlit form and hosting the launch of the annual Spineless Wonders’ microlit anthology.

This award seeks submissions of microfiction or prose poems, up to 200 words, which reflect on some form or aspect of play – whether playful ideas, language or behaviour. Spineless Wonders will offer publication to the winner and finalists in its annual anthology.

Submissions for the 2023 Award are due by midnight on August 28, 2022.

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