Little Stories, Big Ideas ‘Portal’ is now open for submissions!
Express Media, in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, is proud to present another round of Little Stories, Big Ideas – a flash writing competition open to Australian secondary school-aged students across the nation.
This competition's theme is: Portal.
Submissions open on 3rd August and close at 11:59PM AET Sunday 11th October.
Entrants must write to the theme 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. Please read the competition guidelines on the submission page carefully.
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!
A word of encouragement from 2026 Prize Ambassador Amelia Mellor:
“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! ”
Little Stories, Big Ideas was first established by Joe Novella, Rebecca Fraser, and Sarah Halfpenny. In 2025, Express Media received custodianship of the prize.