With the amazing support of Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust, Same Same but Different are again running a short fiction writing award. From 2020 it celebrates the life and work of our founder, Peter Wells.

First prize is $1000 cash for the winning story, $500 for the runner up and $500 cash for the best writing from a promising young writer aged under 25. This makes it one of the leading short fiction competitions in Aotearoa. That it is only for LGBTQI writers offers an incredible opportunity to upskill and show your writing talent. Short fiction is demanding and we are looking for quality writing.

The contest history includes The Wallace Foundation Short Fiction Contest, which was first awarded in 2016, after a couple of years as the express writing contest.  It gives New Zealand LGBTQI writers an opportunity to prove their creative skills and to publish and publicise their work in a safe and supportive environment. At the Auckland Writers Festival in 2019, Queer American Writer, Alexander Chee encouraged us all to write stories and enter contests because in doing so we find our own voices and gain satisfaction irrespective of the result of the competition.

You have only a few weeks to submit your entry (or entries) for this year’s Wallace Foundation Short Fiction Contest. The prize money has been increased this year: a first prize of $1000 for the winning story, $500 for the runner-up and $500 for the best entry by a promising young writer aged under 25.
Stories must be original, unpublished works of fiction and may be on any theme. The word limit is 2000 words. Entries must be submitted by 31 March 2019.

Peter Wells has stepped aside as a judge to focus on enjoying the life he has left. The judges this year are experienced writers Brendan Weir and Paula Boock, with the winners to be announced in May during the Auckland Writers Festival.
For further information on how to submit your
entry, please review the full list of rules and conditions below.