Little Stories, Big Ideas
We love your stories
Express Media, in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, is proud to present Little Stories, Big Ideas. Little Stories, Big Ideas is a flash writing competition open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.
This competition's theme is: Shimmer.
ENTER YEARS 7-9 CATEGORY
ENTER YEARS 10-12 CATEGORY
Submissions will open on Monday 2 March and close at 11:59pm AEST Sunday 17 May.
Entrants write to a themed prompt in 100 words or less, in any literary style they like. Anything is welcome – prose, poetry, comics, song lyrics, or whatever else you love writing. Entries can include writing for readers of any age.
Entry is free, and winners and runners-up will receive an Express Media membership, Voiceworks subscription, book pack and a masterclass with author Amelia Mellor. Winners of each category will also receive a $250 cash prize.
Little Stories, Big Ideas gives young writers an opportunity to hone their skills and practice the art of brevity. The prize aims to ignite passion for creative writing in Australian secondary school students and inspire young storytellers across the nation to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and get writing.
Little Stories, Big Ideas was first established by Joe Novella, Rebecca Fraser, and Sarah Halfpenny. In 2025, Express Media received custodianship of the prize.
About the Ambassador
Amelia Mellor is an author, teacher and nature nerd based in Melbourne. Her bestselling novels for middle-grade readers include her historical fantasy series The Grandest Bookshop Trilogy and her new Oceanforged series. When she’s not writing or researching, Amelia hangs around in museums and goes looking for treasure on the beach. Find out more via authorameliamellor.com or follow @amelia_r_mellor on Instagram.
“It’s a delight and an honour to be the 2026 Author Ambassador for Little Stories, Big Ideas, administered by Australia’s leading youth literary organisation Express Media alongside The Wheeler Centre. Budding writers often ask me how to become authors – this is your chance! It’s not only an opportunity to expand your creativity and refine your style, but also a way to gain confidence as a creator and have your work read by industry professionals. I’m so excited to see what you create! ”
Prize details
The winner and runner-up in each category will receive:
An online writing masterclass with children’s author Amelia Mellor
A Voiceworks bundle courtesy of Express Media
A YA book pack courtesy of The Wheeler Centre
Their names published in Voiceworks, Australia's premier youth literary journal
The prize winner in each category will also receive:
A $250 cash prize
Tips for entrants
Be BOLD! Be courageous, and creative. You can say a lot in 100 words - you can even say a lot in 10 words. Interpret the theme as creatively as you like, and with your own style and voice. Most importantly - we care more about the message that your writing conveys than whether the grammar is 100% correct. Don’t be afraid to enter, because whether you win or not, you’ve created a piece of original work which is a special thing to be proud of!
