Writers Comp Terms and Conditions

These terms apply to the 2026–27 Byron Shire Echo and Creative Mullumbimby Short Story Competition, the Mullum Moth. By entering, you agree to them.

1. The organisers

The Byron Shire Echo and Creative Mullumbimby Short Story Competition 2026–27 (the “Competition”) is organised jointly by:

(together, the “Organisers”).

Opens: 12:01 am AEDT, Tuesday 1 December 2026.
Closes: 5:00 pm AEDT, Sunday 31 January 2027.
Entries received after the closing time will not be considered. The Organisers accept no responsibility for entries not received for any reason.

Entry is open to all residents of Australia at the time of entry.
We especially encourage writers who live in the Northern Rivers and Byron Shire, or who have a connection to Mullumbimby, and who could attend the live event in Mullumbimby if selected as a Finalist.
Employees and family members of The Byron Shire Echo or Creative Mullumbimby Inc. may enter. Judges may not enter.
There are two categories:
- Adult: entrants aged 18 or over at the closing date.
- Under 18: entrants aged under 18 at the closing date. Entrants under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian to enter.

Format: entries must be an original work of short fiction, written specifically for this Competition.
Theme hook: every story must include a magpie. It can feature in any way, for example as a character, a birdsong, a tattoo, a painting or a memory.
Word count: between 500 and 1,500 words, inclusive, excluding the title. Entries outside this range will be disqualified.
Maximum entries: two (2) entries per person across both categories. Each entry requires its own entry form and fee.
Originality: the entry must be the entrant’s own work and must not have been previously published (in print or online) or be under consideration for publication elsewhere.
No AI: entries must be written by the entrant without the use of generative artificial intelligence tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini) to write, draft or rewrite any part of the story. Basic spelling and grammar checkers are permitted. The Organisers may check entries for AI-generated content and may disqualify any entry they reasonably believe breaches this rule.
Language: all entries must be written in English.
Submission: entries must be submitted through the official entry form at creativemullum.org.au/writers-comp or the JotForm entry page. Entries sent by email or post will not be accepted.
Anonymous judging: please do not include your name anywhere in the story text itself. Your details are collected separately through the entry form.

Adult entry: $10.
Concession entry (pension, student, unemployed or low income): $5.
Under 18 entry: free.
Current financial 2027 members of Creative Mullumbimby: free.
2027 Creative Mullumbimby membership plus one adult entry: $25.
Fees are paid through the entry form and are non-refundable, including for entries that are disqualified or withdrawn.

All eligible entries will be assessed by a panel of judges made up of local writers and industry experts, selected by the Organisers.
Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, quality of writing, narrative strength and use of the magpie hook.
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Ten (10) Finalists, across the two categories, will be selected and notified by email or phone in March 2027.

Adult category: one (1) First Prize of $1,000 AUD.
Under 18 category: one (1) First Prize of $500 AUD.
Finalist prizes: the remaining Finalists will each receive a prize sourced from local businesses, which may include vouchers, gift certificates, courses or goods. The value of these prizes will vary.
People’s Choice: a People’s Choice award may be decided by audience vote at the live event.
Winners will be announced at the Mullum Moth live event and published on the Organisers’ websites.
Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash (except the cash prizes). Cash prizes will be paid by bank transfer within 30 days of the event. Prizes for entrants under 18 may be paid to a parent or guardian.

Copyright in each story remains with its author.
Publication permission: by entering, each entrant grants The Byron Shire Echo and Creative Mullumbimby Inc. a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual and irrevocable permission to publish their story, if it is selected as a Finalist or for publication, in The Byron Shire Echo newspaper, on echo.net.au, on creativemullum.org.au, and in related promotional material, with the author credited.
Finalists’ stories will be published on The Byron Shire Echo’s website within eight (8) weeks of the Finalists being announced. Other selected stories may also be published.
Because the permission is non-exclusive, authors remain free to publish their story elsewhere after the Competition.

Finalists will be invited to a live storytelling and awards night, the Mullum Moth, in Mullumbimby NSW in early April 2027. The date and venue will be announced on creativemullum.org.au.
Finalists are encouraged, but not required, to attend and read their story (or an excerpt) aloud. Finalists who cannot attend remain eligible for prizes.
The event may be photographed, filmed or recorded, and these may be used to promote the Competition and the Organisers. Finalists who would prefer not to be recorded can let us know before the event.
The Organisers will not cover travel, accommodation or other costs for Finalists to attend.

The information you give on the entry form is used to run the Competition: to process your entry, contact you about it and announce results.
If you choose “Yes” to the email list question on the entry form, your name and email address will be added to the mailing lists of both The Byron Shire Echo and Creative Mullumbimby Inc. to hear about future events, programs and news. You can unsubscribe at any time.
We will not sell or share your details with anyone else. See our Privacy Policy.

The Organisers may disqualify any entry that does not comply with these terms, or that is plagiarised, defamatory, offensive or otherwise unsuitable.
If, for reasons beyond their control, the Competition cannot run as planned, the Organisers may vary, suspend or cancel it, or change dates, with notice on creativemullum.org.au.
These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia.
Contact: marketing@creativemullum.org.au, or The Byron Shire Echo, 6 Village Way, 64 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby NSW 2482.

Last updated November 2026.