Australia’s premier short story awards for crime fiction written by Australian women.
Back to How to Enter
It is critical you read this information before entering. Information supplied here and in How to Enter forms part of the terms and conditions of entry.
Who can enter
- The competition is open to all women, whether cisgender, transgender or intersex, who are citizens/
residents of Australia. - The Award for Best Young Writer is open to writers under 19 years of age as at 31 August 2025.
- Sisters in Crime Australia convenors and judges are ineligible to enter.
Categories offered
These are the categories offered in 2025. All entries are automatically entered for General. Note that if you are entering any other category this should be noted on the cover sheet. Each category has a prize for the best entry.
| Art and Crime | Body in the Library | Cross-genre |
| Forensic Clue (see photo) | General | Great Film Idea |
| Malice Domestic | Most Satisfying Retribution | Mystery with History |
| Thriller | Young Writer |
Conditions of entry
- The Award for Best Story Inspired by a Forensic Clue must be in response to the photograph below.
- All work must be original, not generated by AI, and unpublished (self-publication included).
- Entries must be submitted under the author’s real name, not a pseudonym.
- Entry fee(s) must be paid by 11.30 pm on 31 August 2025 through Eventbrite. See How to Enter for details.
- There is a maximum of two entries per author.
- Authors must notify Sisters in Crime Australia promptly if their story is published (self-publication
- included), is shortlisted in another competition, or wins a prize in another competition. Sisters in Crime Australia reserves the right to withdraw the story from consideration.
- Entries must have a crime/mystery theme, and the main character, whether hero or an anti-hero,
- must be female (cisgender, transgender, or intersex).
- Story length is 5000 words maximum (excluding cover page); there is no minimum word limit.
- Entrants in the Best Young Writer Award must show proof of identity. Student ID is ideal.
- Sisters in Crime Australia reserves the right to use shortlisted stories for publication, podcast, or promotional purposes. Copyright remains with the author.
- The judges’ decisions are final. Judges reserve the right to not award a prize in any category
Best Story Inspired by a Forensic Clue
This is the photograph to inspire your story if you wish to enter this category.
