If I enter two stories, do I pay two entry fees?
Yes. Supply an entry form for each story and attach a cover page to each story.
If I have co-written a story with someone else, can we enter it?
Yes, as long as you are both women and meet the other Requirements of Entry.
Can I enter a story already submitted to another competition?
Yes. However, if successful in another competition, Sisters in Crime Australia must immediately be notified, and the story must be withdrawn from the Scarlet Stiletto Competition.
Can I enter a story that has already been published in Australia?
No.
Can I enter a story that was published overseas but never in Australia?
No.
Can I enter a story not written in the English language?
No.
Does my story have to be in prose?
Yes. Performance scripts, stories in verse, graphics and other non-prose modes of story-telling are not eligible.
Is there a limit to the number of categories in which my story may be entered?
No, but it would be difficult for a story to fit all categories. The judges have the final decision about whether a story fits the category(ies) for which it has been entered.
Can I enter if I am not an Australian citizen?
Yes, but if you don’t hold Australian citizenship you must be resident in Australia.
Can I enter if I am an Australian citizen but am currently living overseas?
Yes.
When will I find out if my story has been shortlisted?
In late October 2026.
Are winners announced before the award ceremony?
No. Prizewinners are announced at the award ceremony in November.
Are shortlisted stories that do not win an award acknowledged in any way?
Authors will be notified whether they have been shortlisted for an award or not.
If my story wins a prize, can I get it published?
Yes, you retain copyright. Sisters in Crime Australia reserves the right to publish or podcast all winning stories each year and to extract excerpts of those stories for publicity and media purposes.
How can I tell if I am a financial member of Sisters in Crime Australia and eligible for the lower entry fee?
Your membership card includes your membership expiration date, which must be on or
after 31 August 2026.
If you joined Sisters in Crime after September 2025, your receipt will be proof of financial
status.
If you cannot find your card, email admin@sistersincrime.org.au to check your membership status. If
you wish to join or renew your membership, go to: sistersincrime.org.au/sisters-in-crime-membership