AUSTRALIAN SHADOWS AWARD

The reading period for the 2012 awards is now open. This year's reading period will conclude on 28th February 2013, however, works must still be published within the 2012 calender year to be eligible for this year's awards. 

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

• All entries must be works of fiction first published within the calendar year of consideration (e.g. 2011 for the 2011 awards).

• In the case of work translated from another language, eligibility will be determined by the year of first publication in English.

• The work may be published in any text format: print, electronic, or audio.
• The work may be traditionally published or self-published.
• The author/editor must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, New Zealand, or Oceania (hereafter referred to as 'Australia' for convenience).

• In the case of collaborations, works co-written with or co-edited by a non-Australian are eligible (although only the Australian collaborator may claim prizes if that work wins).

• The work must have horror/dark fiction content either as a focal point or an integral element of the work (i.e. the intent of the work must be to disturb or inspire fear in the reader). Eligible genres/sub-genres include horror, dark fiction, dark fantasy, and paranormal fiction.
• In the case of anthologies and collections, some mixed genre stories may be allowed, but the predominant genre/theme of the anthology/collection must be horror. The Awards Director has the discretion to rule ineligible any work based on genre (i.e. if the work is not dark/horrific enough).

ANNUAL READING PERIOD

• 1 May to 28 February.

CATEGORIES:

Novel

• At least 40,000 words.

Long Fiction

• Between 7,501 to 39,999 words.

Short Fiction

• Up to 7,500 words.

Collection

• Three (3) or more short stories by a single author.
• No minimum or maximum word count.
• May contain reprints (i.e. previously published short stories) or originals.

• Reprint-only collections are eligible in the year the collection as a whole is first published. Second or subsequent editions (in any format) or the publication of a new edition by a different publisher are ineligible unless different stories are included.

Edited Publication

• Three (3) or more short stories by two (2) or more authors; edited by one or more editors.
• No minimum or maximum word count.
• Includes anthologies and individual magazine issues.
• Horror/dark-themed special issues of mixed-genre magazines are eligible.
• May contain reprints (i.e. previously published short stories) or originals.
• Reprint-only anthologies are eligible in the year the anthology as a whole is first published. Second or subsequent editions (in any format) or the publication of a new edition by a different publisher are ineligible unless different stories are included.

ENTERING WORKS

• Authors, editors, and publishers should email the Awards Director (australianshadows@australianhorror.com) with the title, author, publisher, and publication month of their work. The Awards Director will then advise the author/publisher of the judging panel's postal addresses. It is recommended works should be posted to the judging panel within 14 days of entry to avoid judging delays.
• In the case of works eligible for electronic entry (short fiction or works only available in electronic form), these may be emailed to the Awards Director (australianshadows@australianhorror.com) as a PDF attachment (preferred). Other e-book formats may be entered after consultation with the Awards Director and judging panel.
• Entry is free.

[View the complete Australian Shadows Awards rules here]