Kill Your Darlings is one of Australia’s leading arts and culture magazines. 

Kill Your Darlings (KYD) is an Australian online literary magazine dedicated to arts and culture, established in March 2010. Founded by Rebecca Starford and Hannah Kent, the magazine publishes new fiction, commentary, memoir, interviews, and reviews. In 2017, KYD ceased publishing its flagship quarterly print magazine to focus on its growing online presence. The magazine also runs several early-career writing awards, provides professional writing services such as workshops, mentorships, and manuscript assessments, and hosts literary events. Additionally, KYD publishes the annual short-story anthology, New Australian Fiction. 

Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings magazine now accepts short fiction submissions from members year-round. (Not yet a member? Join here!) Minimum payment is $1000. We encourage you to read short stories we’ve published to get a sense of the kind of material we like!
Please follow these guidelines:
We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and all levels of experience to submit. All successful writers will be expected to undergo editing with KYD staff. Due to the expected volume of submissions, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful works.
Interested in developing your writing? Check out our writing courses and manuscript assessments.
Please note that Submittable is a separate platform to the KYD website, so you’ll need to create a free Submittable account to submit your story.

Submissions are accepted only from members of Kill Your Darlings magazine.

New Short Fiction

The KYD Poetry Prize is a new initiative dedicated to creating new space for the beauty, experimentation and radical linguistic potential of verse. We seek previously unpublished poems of up to 80 lines from new, emerging and established Australian poets. You must be a KYD Member to enter.

You must be a KYD Member to enter. Read more here: https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/become-a-member/

KYD Poetry Prize

The KYD Creative Non-Fiction Prize celebrates experimentation in essay writing, encouraging writers to push the boundaries of the form with imagination and intellectual rigour.<div><br></div><div>We’re seeking creative non-fiction essays between 2500 and 3500 words, on any subject and in any style (such as memoir, commentary, cultural criticism, reportage, etc.). The winner will receive a prize of $2500, with two runner-ups winning prizes of $1000 each. All essays will be published by KYD.</div><div><br></div><div>The prize will open for submissions in late 2026. You must be a KYD Member to enter.</div>

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New Short Fiction