Author Paddy Richardson is the judge for the Writer 2026 competition, which has the theme “Small things: Overlooked details and ordinary moments”.
The University’s annual creative writing competition opens for entries today, with the prompt: Small things – overlooked details and ordinary moments.
Entries are now open for Writer 2026.
Writer 2026 is open to Otago staff, students and alumni, with each invited to submit one entry – either a poem or a short story – inspired by the prompt.
One of the competition’s organisers, Nicola Cummins, a Senior Teaching Fellow in the English and Linguistics Programme, says this year’s prompt invites writers to explore how larger meanings can emerge and reverberate from minor details.
The competition was established in 2019 as part of the University’s 150th celebrations and has proven to be very popular. This year’s judge is Paddy Richardson, the Dunedin author of eight novels and two collections of short stories.
Not only does she have awards, fellowships and residencies under her belt, including being a former University of Otago Robert Burns Fellow, she is also an experienced teacher and judge of creative writing. She is a mentor and assessor for the New Zealand Society of Authors Creative Writing Programmes and has judged awards such as The Ngaio Marsh Award, the Michael Gifkins Unpublished Novel Prize and the New Zealand Heritage Book Awards.
Paddy says she is both delighted and honoured to be asked to judge the University of Otago’s writing competition and is excited and intrigued by the prompt.
“I’m always drawn to how small details and events which may seem insignificant can resonate with writers and inspire writing. I’m hoping for a variety of responses and looking forward to reading them.”
Nicola says she is thrilled to have a writer of Richardson’s calibre as a judge.
“I have admired Paddy’s writing for many years and have long appreciated her skill with developing an unexpected narrative from what reads at first like a small, domestic detail. She is the perfect judge for this year’s Writer prompt.”
“Write your first draft with your heart and edit with your head. Make time for your writing and believe in yourself.” – Paddy Richardson
Paddy’s advice to entrants is to “read, read, read!”
She adds: “Write your first draft with your heart and edit with your head. Make time for your writing and believe in yourself.”
Co‑organiser, University Publications Editor Lisa Dick, says the competition always highlights the depth of writing talent within Otago’s staff, student and alumni communities.
“It’s an honour to be involved in a competition that brings the University community together – from staff and students across our campuses to our alumni spread around Aotearoa New Zealand and the globe.”
She adds that it is exciting that this year’s Writer prompt is once again being shared with the University’s photography competition, launching next week.
“Seeing a prompt interpreted in a variety of ways, through writing and photos is truly inspiring.”
The winning entries will be published across multiple platforms, including print and radio, as well as social media.
The competition opens for entries, today [13 July] and closes at midnight on Thursday 17 September. Winners will be announced on Thursday 8 October.
The competition is supported by University Book Shop, Otago University Press, Dunedin City of Literature, Otago Access Radio, the Dunedin Athenaeum (tbc) and the Otago Daily Times – with prizes for each of the category winners.
Find out more about the competition
More about Writer 2026
Further information can be found below or on the English and Linguistics programme website: Writer 2026: Creative writing competition for staff, students and alumni
Who can enter?
The competition is open to all staff, students and alumni of the University of Otago.
What’s the deadline?
Entries are due on or before midnight on Thursday 17 September 2026.
How do I submit a story or poem?
Email your entry as an attached word document to bulletin.comp@otago.ac.nz
Please label your entry “Writing competition” – and let us know which category you are entering, e.g.: “Writing competition alumni poetry”.
Can I submit any story or poem?
Short stories and poems must relate in some way to the competition’s writing prompt: “Small things – overlooked details and ordinary moments.”
Stories and poems must be original and previously unpublished (entries will be run through the University’s plagiarism checking system Turnitin). Works should not have been published previously nor have been used for assessment in a creative writing course or paper.
What is the word limit?
Poems can be of any length (within reason), stories must be no more than 2,500 words (though we stress this is an absolute maximum not an aim, any length up to 2,500 will be accepted).
How many entries can I submit?
Just one entry per person across poetry or short fiction, student, staff or alumni categories. You must choose which of the six categories suits you best.
Can my entry be in te reo Māori?
Yes. However, to assist the judge it would be helpful if you included a translation into English.
Who is the judge?
Writer Paddy Richardson backed up by a small support team which will include Otago Publications Editor Lisa Dick and English and Linguistics Programme Senior Teaching Fellow Nicola Cummins.
What will happen with my poem or story?
By entering, you grant permission for us to post your writing to the University website and Facebook page and other social media, and for your writing to be printed by external media and on posters around campus if selected as a winner in this year’s competition.
Still have questions? Please contact the competition team: Email bulletin.comp@otago.ac.nz