The Double-Take Novelette Award

Call Out for Submissions

Double take — n. a surprised second look, either literal or figurative, at a person or situation whose significance had not been completely grasped at first. 

Will your writing make us look twice? As publishers of flash fiction, micro memoir and novellas, we are especially fond of writing that pushes boundaries and doesn’t conform to conventional standards or structures of storytelling. 

The Double-Take Novelette is the first award of its kind in Australia and abroad. Shorter than a novella, but longer than a short story, the novelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words) is the middle-distance runner of writing: long enough to require lungs and legs for narrative endurance but short enough to demand an exacting skill for pace, structure and precision of language.

As a publisher headed by TWO editors, and a strong belief that two is better than one, along with our goal of offering as many publishing opportunities for writers in WA as possible, we are hoping to be dazzled and to see DOUBLE with this award. That’s right: TWO WA authors will be awarded $2500 and a publishing contract with Night Parrot Press (dependent on funding). 

For more information on how to donate to the funding of the award—to support Night Parrot Press in the editing, publishing and release of these novelettes in TANDEM go to the Australian Cultural Fund link HERE.

May the best PAIR win!

Submission Details

Opening date: 12 July 2024

Closing date: 10 November 2024

Word limit: 7,500 to 17,500 words

Winners announced: February 2025

Prize: $2500. Editing and publishing with Night Parrot Press (dependent on funding).

Entry fee: $25

Please read the rules below before submitting your entry. If you have any questions, please get in touch via our contact page. 

Night Parrot Press Novelette Award Rules

Eligibility

  1. New, original work of fiction or nonfiction. Entries must be an original, previously unpublished work of fiction or nonfiction.
  2. Any genre. The judges are looking for novelettes in any genre including literary, romance, thriller, speculative, memoir, creative non-fiction, novelette-in-flash.
  3. Western Australian authors. The usual place of residence must be in Western Australia.
  4. Novelettes will be between 7,500 and 17,500 words.
  5. English language. The novelette will be written primarily in English language, or English and First Nations language.

Format

  1. The full novelette manuscript will be between 7,500 and 17,500 words.
  2. Entries will be set in Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing.
  3. The fee for entry is $25. Night Parrot Press does not allow simultaneous submissions and the novelette cannot be with another publisher.Entries must include your name, address, email and telephone number. You must declare that you were born in or are currently residing in Western Australia.Entries must include a short bio (max 200 words)
  4. Please format the filename of your entry as follows: Surname_First initial_Title of your story.

Submission

  1. Entries should be made via nightparrotpress@gmail.com. 
  2. Entries must be received before 11:59:59 p.m. 10 November 2024.
  3. A maximum of one novelette can be submitted per author. 
  4. Authors may use a pseudonym.
  5. Entries will be acknowledged. (If you do not receive a confirmation email, and you have checked your spam, please contact us.)
  6. Entries will not include any text that is defamatory, lacking in moral integrity, or in breach of copyright law. Any use of AI software in the creation of your entry will result in an immediate disqualification. 
  7. Entrants are responsible for completing the submission process correctly. Should the entrant run into difficulty, they must contact Night Parrot Press.

Payment

  1. An entry fee of $25 is payable to Night Parrot Press.
  2. Entries must confirm that the transfer has been made to Night Parrot Press. Your story will not be read if you have not paid the entry fee.

EFT Details

Night Parrot Press

BSN: 066-125 ACCT: 1049 1046

Amount: $25

Reference: ‘Novelette’ and your surname

Determination of winners

  1. All entries will be read and judged by an external judge and members of the Night Parrot Press team.
  2. No editorial feedback will be offered.
  3. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.