Scarlet Stiletto Awards A project of Sisters in Crime Australia About The idea for a national award for short stories, written by Australian women and featuring a strong female protagonist, was cooked up over a few glasses of wine in 1994 at a convenors’ meeting in St Kilda, Victoria. The purpose was to support and unearth new talent. This has been achieved in spades. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee range is AUD $20 to $25 (average for contests). Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to women, whether cisgender, transgender or intersex, who are citizens/residents of Australia. Country of Publication & Year Established Australia Established in 1994 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 June 2027* (approx. 258 days from now) through 31 August 2027.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Crime, Historical Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most Subgenres, including: Crime, Historical, Romantic SuspenseLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Other: See guidelines.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: AUD $2,000 first prize.Submissions:Methods: Email. Online form. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @sistersincrimeauX (Twitter) @SistersinCrimeA Support this Publisher: Make a Donation Shop their Store For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Scarlet Stiletto Awards Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. We have not received any submission reports for this listing in the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 31 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only