DUT Writing Centre Creative Writing Competition 2026
This call is open to DUT undergraduate students ONLY.
Prizes: Writing Retreat for 1st; 2nd and 3rd prize winners and other amazing prizes
THEME: Colours
What is colour and how do we respond to it?
We live surrounded by gorgeous glowing technicolour; our manmade and natural worlds are experienced in vivid multicolour, arising from our perception of reflected light. Bright or dull, light or dark, in a variety of hues, colours enhance our human experience and take our moods and feelings on journeys across emotional and temporal landscapes.
The way we speak of colour and use colours to speak for us is a deep and connecting human experience. What happens when there is little or no colour – in situations of darkness, blindness and deprivation? How do we perceive, imagine and make sense of the world then?
Colour brings depth to artistic, social and cultural experiences and expressions. It enhances the imagery of our socio-political realities and our personal identities. Our bodies, histories and experiences are encoded in colour, sometimes visibly sometimes invisibly.
SUBTHEMES:
*Explore one subtheme*
As you write your creative, short story, opinion piece/essay, and poetry, choose a subtheme below, and alongside it a colour, to guide you:
· Culture and identity
· History and politics
· Language and communication
· Education and development
· Human rights
· Power and justice
· Religion and beliefs
DUT Writing Centre invites you to submit your work to our annual creative writing competition. The theme of ‘Colours’ is broad and we invite you to explore it through either writing a short story, a poem and/or an opinion piece/essay. Participants are encouraged to use language creatively as used in society. A short story or opinion piece/essay should be no longer than 3 000 words and a short poem not longer than one page (1.5 spacing, 12pt, Times New Roman). Please forward your submissions to Ms Shahieda Kraft no later than the 28th of September 2026.
Winners will be announced on the 23rd of October 2026 at a ceremony (details to follow).
Winners may be invited to a writing retreat to revise and edit their submissions, with a view to creating an anthology.
To increase your chances of doing well, we encourage you to consult with writing centre tutors at your respective campus. Furthermore, two free-of-charge workshops will be facilitated at a date to be announced. Further details will be shared on our Facebook page. The aim of the mentorship workshops is to give the competition participants an opportunity to hone their creative writing skills through working closely with seasoned writers.
Welcome to the City Campus Writing Centre!
Please note that we take both ONLINE and IN-PERSON bookings. Please be sure to specify how you prefer to meet. We look forward to connecting with you on MS Teams or face-to-face in Room CD0102 first floor City Campus. Please check your DUT4life emails for the link to your tutoring session where our team of experienced writing consultants is available to help you with any writing assignment, from brainstorming ideas to refining final drafts.
To ensure that you receive personalized attention and support, we encourage all students to book a consultation and upload your work. This will allow us to better understand your needs and help you achieve your writing goals in your session.
