Awards, Contests and SubmissionsThe Writer's Circle of Durham Region offers a detailed listing of contests across Canada but here are a few to inspire you! Also check out Book and Magazine Awards & Prizes. Please note that inclusion on our website is not an endorsement of any contest or market. We encourage our readers to thoroughly research all contests or markets before submitting work and it’s recommended that you read one or two copies of the publication in question to make sure your writing "fits" publication requirements and guidelines.
DEADLINED CONTESTS & CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS:
ROCK—PAPER—SCISSORS: YOUTH & CHILDREN’S POETRY CONTEST
Website: http://www.wcdr.org/wcdr25/index.php?cat=17
Deadline: Contest is coming in Fall 2008 – check the website for updates. Full details will be added over the summer. A unique new poetry challenge for young poets in both the children’s and youth categories. Young poets will be asked to write poems on a specific topic that has yet to be decided. Note: This contest replaces the Dan Sullivan Youth and Children’s Poetry Contest, which will no longer be offered in its original format.
SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUNG WRITERS’ CONTEST
Deadline: August 11, 2008
Website: http://www.spl.surrey.bc.ca/Programs+and+Services/
Programs+and+Classes/Young+Adult+Writing+Contest/default.htm
Writers ages 12-18 start your pens, pencils, computers, and imagination to compete in the Surrey Public Library's annual Writing Contest. Enter a short story, poem, or comic. Be creative, have some fun and win great cash prizes. This year, 1st Prize has been increased to $125 from $100 in honour of the Library's 25th anniversary. Please go to the website for contest rules and entry form. More info: call Gayle at 604-598-7431 or email: gjharris@surrey.ca.
31st ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL 3-DAY NOVEL CONTEST
Deadline for registration: postmarked by August 29, 2008
Website: http://www.3daynovel.com/
Registration now open for the 31st Annual International 3-Day Novel Contest. Can you produce a masterwork of fiction in three short days? Now is your chance to find out.This year's 3-Day Novel Contest will run Labour Day Weekend, August 30 – Sept. 1, 2008. Registration must be postmarked by August 29th. All writers are welcome to enter, anywhere in the world. The 3-Day Novel Contest is a thrill, a grind, and an awesome creative experience. It has inspired thousands of first drafts and countless good ideas. How many crazed plotlines, coffee-stained pages, pangs of doubt and moments of genius will this year’s contest bring forth? And what will you think up under pressure?
Grand Prize: Publication - 2nd Prize: $500 - 3rd Prize: $100 and a literary prize pack for each short-listed entrant. Be sure to read the rules and the FAQ at the website.
THE WORD ON THE STREET FESTIVAL – SPOKEN WORD POETRY SUBMISSIONS
Deadline: August 29, 2008
Website: http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/vancouver.php
The Word On the Street Festival invites poets to read their work at The Poet's Corner, Library Square, on Sunday, September 28, 2008 in Vancouver. Poets will be given a 7-minute spot to perform in, between the hours of 12:00pm and 5:00pm. Please send submissions to*: Poet's Corner, c/o 442 Cardiff Way, Port Moody, BC V3H 3T1. Include a SASE if you wish your material to be returned. Artists are also strongly encouraged to send a CD of their performance. Or submit via email to: rcarcee@yahoo.ca with a link to online recordings and/or videos of your work.
*Or see us at the Wax Poetic/Coop Radio table at the Summer Dream Festival (Sat. July 26 at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park, noon to 8 pm) - we’ll take submissions there too!
MONTREAL PUBLIC POETRY FESTIVAL - CALL FOR POETS
Deadline: Friday August 29, 2008
Web: www.publicpoetry.wordpress.com
The Montreal Public Poetry Festival is now accepting applications from poets to participate in this year's event entitled "Pure Lines" scheduled for September 26 to 28. The festival follows a "fringe" format and is being organized by Public Poetry/Poesie Pulique. More info: www.publicpoetry.wordpress.com. To receive an application form, send an email to publicpoetry@gmail.com and include the words "application form" in the subject line.
MOMCAFÉ SUMMER WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: from July 9 to August 31, 2008
Website: http://www.momcafe.net/Home
Please Mum, a popular children’s clothing chain with 95 stores across Canada, is offering a $500 shopping spree for the winner of the momcafé summer writing contest. Entries must be 500 words or less and there are five categories to choose from: The Great Canadian (Very) Short Story, Against All Odds, Life Lessons, If I Ruled the World and Mom-moments. Entries will be posted and judged online. Check website for all details. You can read the entries-so-far at http://www.momcafe.net/resources/writing_contest.
16th ANNUAL SURREY INTERNATIONAL WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
WRITING CONTEST
Deadline : 4:00 pm Friday, September 5, 2008
Website: http://www.siwc.ca/contest/index.php
--2008 SiWC Contest Categories--
** SIWC Storytellers Award - 3500-5000 words
** Non-fiction Award - Maximum length 1500 words
**SIWC Poetry Award - One poem per submission; 36 lines maximum
Please go to the website for full information, and submission guidelines.
subTERRAIN MAGAZINE THEME ISSUES
Deadline: September 15, 2008 – for Issue #51 (Winter 08)-the "religion" issue
Website for all info & submission guidelines: http://www.subterrain.ca/subterrain/guidelin/index.htm
New-age creeps and pious geeks need not apply, so leave your crystals and Jack Chick tracts at the door. We're looking for fresh ideas and interpretations of religion, spirituality, and good ol' "god." What or who do you worship and why? Does organized religion have a place in a rational society? Do you pray, or just shout out the name of your fave deity when you're getting it on? subTerrain wants to know. When submitting, please identify this theme issue on the envelope. Feel free to interpret these themes in unique and unusual ways. Theme issues will still feature "regular" work, so please continue sending us your submissions, theme-related or not. All other regular submission guidelines still apply (see website).
CANADIAN AID LITERARY AWARD CONTEST
Deadline: September 15, 2008
Web: www.canadianaid.com
Submit your fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry or children's book manuscript not previously published as a printed book. The winning author will receive a trade book publishing contract with the contest sponsor BookLand Press. Blind judging. Entry fee: $45 per manuscript; multiple entries allowed. See website for all details.
THE SUMMER DREAM POETRY CONTEST
Deadline: September 15, 2008
Website: www.pandorascollective.com/contest.html
Sponsored by Pandora's Collective. Winners announced Oct 1, 2008. Check website for guidelines.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SCI FI AND HORROR
Deadline: postmarked no later than October 31, 2008
Web: www.edgewebsite.com/books/tess13/t13-guidelines.html
Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing announces Tesseracts Thirteen, a Dark Fantasy and Horror edition, is now open for submissions. The 2009 anthology asks for Dark Fantasy and Horror genre short fiction or poetry, 5000 words or less. You may submit starting now. The anthology will arrive on shelves in trade paperback form, in August 2009. And as always, the anthology is open to Canadians, landed immigrants, long-time residents, and expatriates.
Address, essential formatting, and complete submission details are available on the website. Postal addrfess: EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, Box 1714, Calgary, AB, T2P 2L7, Canada. Tel: 403-254-0160.
34TH ANNUAL CEILIA LAMONT LITERARY CONTEST
Deadline: October 31, 2008
Invites BC residents to submit poetry and prose – unpublished works:
- Poetry up to 36 lines -- Prose to 1000 words
A poetry judge and a prose judge will do blind judging. Prizes of money and certificates will be given at our evening of awards. For information and rules of the contest contact Carol: 604-501-0934 or ca2003@shaw.ca; or Robin at the Arts Council: 604-536-8333 or whiterockartscouncil@telus.net.
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH – NaNoWriMo Deadline: Midnight on November 30, 2008 Website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. Participants begin writing November 1. Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved. In 2007, we had over 100,000 participants. More than 15,000 of them crossed the 50k finish line by the midnight deadline. All details on the website.
THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA
SHORT PROSE COMPETITION FOR DEVELOPING WRITERS
Deadline: Usually some time in November – check website
Website: http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_shortprose.asp
$2,500 Prize - Entry Fee: $25 per entry Eligible writers are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants; all writers who have not been published in book format, in any genre and who do not have a contract with a book publisher.
- Nonfiction and fiction prose; up to 2500 words, English language; not previously published in any format.
Entries need to be typed or computer-printed, double-spaced, numbered, 8.5 x 11 paper, not stapled. Send a separate cover letter with full name, address, phone number, e-mail address, number of pages of entry, and whether submission is fiction or non-fiction. Please type name of entrant and title of entry on each numbered page. Manuscripts will not be returned.
Note: Check the website for full submission rules. Send entries to: SPC Competition, 90 Richmond St. E, Suite 200, Toronto, ON, M5C 1P1.
Prose and Poetry Prizes 2008
12th ANNUAL THE NEW WRITER MAGAZINE POETRY & PROSE CONTEST
Website: http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm
Deadline: November 30, 2008
Major annual international competition for short stories, novellas, single poems, poetry collections, essays and articles. Cash prizes from a total fund above £2,000 as well as publication for the prize-winning writers in The Collection, special edition of The New Writer magazine each July.
Short Stories, Novellas/Serials - stories up to 4,000 words, serials/novellas up to 20,000 words on any subject or theme, in any genre (not children's). Single Poems and Collections - single poems up to 40 lines and collections of between 6 - 10 poems. Essays, Articles, Interviews - covering any writing-related or literary theme in its widest sense up to 2,000 words. Be sure to check the website for full information, contest rules, and information about prizes. Last year’s winners are listed at http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizewinners.htm.
subTERRAIN MAGAZINE THEME ISSUES
Website for all info & submission guidelines: http://www.subterrain.ca/subterrain/guidelin/index.htm
Deadline: February 6, 2009 – for Issue #52 (Spring 09)-the "form" issue We're looking for (you guessed it) a variety of forms here, both old and new: haiku, sonnets, ghazals, polemics, satires, flash/sudden fiction, and more! Discussions and interpretations of "form" are also encouraged: configurations, shapes, castings, compositions, patterns...let your twisted minds run wild. When submitting, please identify the theme issue for which you're submitting on the envelope. Feel free to interpret these themes in unique and unusual ways. Theme issues will still feature "regular" work, so please continue sending us your submissions, theme-related or not. All other regular submission guidelines still apply (see website).
February 2009
CAA CANWRITE! CONTEST
Check the Canadian Authors’ Association website http://www.canauthors.org/cwcontest.html for information on their annual CanWrite! contest (short stories 1500 words). The 2008 contest would have been the 6th annual – but the 2008 contest was cancelled. Check later in the year to see if this is going ahead for 2009. Prizes were quite good, including free attendance at the CAA annual conference and prizes of $500, $200, and $100 for first, second and third place winners.
THE MALAHAT REVIEW - 2009 LONG POEM PRIZE
Deadline: postmarked no later than February 1, 2009
Web: http://web.uvic.ca/malahat/long_poem_prize/info.html
Canada’s premier literary magazine, invites entries from Canadian, American, and overseas authors for the 2009 Long Poem Prize. Two awards of $500CDN each are given, plus payment at the rate of $40CDN per printed page upon publication. Judges: Margo Button, Brian Bartlett, John Pass.
Guidelines (see website for full details): A single poem or cycle of poems with a minimum of 10 published pages to a maximum of 20 published pages. A published page is up to 32 lines (or less), including breaks between stanzas. No restrictions as to subject matter or aesthetic approach apply. Entry fee: $35CDN for Canadian entries $40USF for American entries $45USF for entries from Mexico or outside North America.
THE MALAHAT REVIEW - 2010 NOVELLA PRIZE
Deadline: postmarked no later than February 1, 2010
Web: http://web.uvic.ca/malahat/novella_contest/info.html
Canada’s premier literary magazine, invites entries from Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere for the 2010 Novella Prize. One prize of $500CDN is awarded, plus payment at the rate of $40CDN per printed page upon publication. Previous winning entries have also won or been nominated for National Magazine Awards for Fiction and the O. Henry Prize. The Novella Prize is offered every second year, alternating with The Malahat Review’s Long Poem Prize.
Contest Guidelines: (Check website for complete details). Enter a single work of fiction, with a minimum length of 10,000 words and maximum length 20,000 words. No restrictions as to genre, subject matter, or aesthetic approach apply.
Entry fees: $35CDN for Canadian entries $40USF for American entries $45USF for entries from Mexico or outside North America.
THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA - POSTCARD STORY COMPETITION
Deadline: Usually some time in February – check website
Website: http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_postcard.asp
$500 Prize - Entry Fee: $5 fee per entry, cheque or money order made payable to The Writers' Union of Canada. What is a Postcard Story? Are you up for the challenge? The challenge is to create a dramatic, short, snappy piece in only 250 words. You can use humour, poetry, dialogue…anything goes! The winning entry will be published in postcard format. Note: Check the website for full submission rules.
THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA
2009 WRITING FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION
Deadline is usually some time in April – check website.
Webite: http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_writeforchildren.asp
$1,500 Prize - Entry Fee: $15 per entry, cheque or money order made payable to The Writers' Union of Canada. Entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three publishers of children's books. Check website for eligibility of writers. Any writing for children up to 1,500 words, English language; not previously published in any format.Note: Check the website for full submission rules.
BYRON’S QUILLS AWARD FOR POETRY
Deadline: Usually April 30th but check website
Website: http://www.quillspoetry.com/byrons_quill.html
1st prize $1,000 ~ 2nd prize $250 ~ 3rd prize $100
Entry fee is $20 (Entrants receive one copy of the Quills Annual Canadian Poetry Magazine available in Autumn). Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine invites entries to its Annual Byron's Quill Award for Poetry. Contest is open to poets residing in Canada only. Entrants may submit up to 3 unpublished poems. Additional entries have a reading fee of $5 per poem. Poems will not be returned. Length of each poem must not exceed 60 lines/300 words. Must fit on one 8.5" x 11" single-sided page. Please submit 4 copies of each poem. Poems must be typed. No hand-written submission will be accepted. Judging is blind.
Entrant's name, address, e-mail and phone number must not appear on the poems, but instead on a separate sheet that also lists the titles of the poems entered. Judge's profiles can be found at www.poets.ca. Deadline for entry each year is April 30th (post-marked). Winners will be announced and published in the Annual issue of Quills published in June. No e-mail entries accepted. Post mail with cheque made payable to Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine: PO Box 21660, Vancouver, BC V5L 5G3. Please check website for full submission rules.
“LUSH TRIUMPHANT” CONTEST – subTERRAIN MAGAZINE
Website: http://www.subterrain.ca/subterrain/contests/index.htm
Deadline: generally May 15 each year – check website
subTerrain's Annual Literary Awards Competition - (“We've rolled all our contests into one exultant frenzy of activity.”) Three categories: Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, and Poetry.
Other contest/calls for submissions resources:
FundsForWriters - contest listings: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/contests.htm
Possible contests resource:
The Canadian Writers' Contests Calendar - http://www.cwj.ca/cwcc.htm
"80 pages of detailed information on Canadian writing contests, awards and prizes, organized month by month according to their deadline dates. This reference makes much-needed information available for writers and gives them an incentive to polish and disseminate their work. By promoting the contests it also helps our literary magazines to stay afloat." (from the website)
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ONGOING SUBMISSIONS (no deadlines):
Freehand Books
Website: http://www.broadviewpress.com
Freehand Books is a new literary book publishing operation by Broadview Press of Calgary and Guelph. The new press aims to discover and publish new and established writers of literary fiction, poetry, memoir, biography, and creative non-fiction on a variety of timely topics. Submit manuscripts with SASE to: Freehand Books, #412 - 815--1st Street SW, Calgary T2P 1N3. (posted Dec 7-07)
Blooming Tree Press
Website: http://www.bloomingtreepress.com/contact.php
Blooming Tree Press is looking for picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult submissions. Check the website for guidelines. (posted Dec 7-07).
Chateau Lane Publishing
Chateau Lane is currently seeking submissions about compelling real-life stories of starving writers and their colourful and dramatic financial struggles. Of particular interest is the subject of student loans and the adversity caused by the harsh and austere 10-year prohibition on bankruptcy discharges for student loan debts. Submissions should not exceed 3,000 words. For further information or you may send your submission by email to: dpwelbanks@shaw.ca, or call at 604-728-0968. Please do not send attachments.
Boxcar Poetry Review
Website: http://www.boxcarpoetry.com/
Seeks top quality poetry, artwork, photography, interviews, and reviews.
Chick Lit Review
Website: http://chicklitreview.org/writersguidelines.aspx
Accepting original chick lit short stories (max. 2500 words) and review of published chick lit novels (max. 500 words). Pays $50 for short stories and $25 for reviews. See website for full submission details.
Ramble Underground
Website: www.rambleunderground.org/underground_winter06_005.htm
Ramble Underground seeks fiction and poetry for that demonstrates "literary bravery and honesty." Include a brief bio. See website for details.
Ruined Music
Website: www.ruinedmusic.com/
Seeking stories about songs that are now ruined for you. Submit online. Biweekly ‘zine Ruined Music seeks witty, heart-wrenching, zesty essays about songs you can no longer stand (because of a breakup, a bad date, a talent show disaster, or other traumatic experience). Submit true stories: 700-1000 words. See website for details.
55 word stories
Website: www.birdandmoon.com/55words/guidelines.html
Seeking vivid, unique, and quirky stories. The catch? They have to be exactly 55 words long. See website for details.
Vallum magazine
Website: http://www.vallummag.com/submission.html
Semi-annual contemporary poetry magazine now accepting poetry reviews and essays. Honourarium paid upon publication. See website for details.
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See Places for Writers for more links to calls for submissons, etc.:
http://www.placesforwriters.com/
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Contest winners ... See who brought home the prizes:
Frank O'Connor Prize - Find out who's on the shortlist for this year's Frank O'Connor prize, the richest literary award for a collection of short stories. Website: http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2132846,00.html
Winners of the 2008 CBC Literary Awards…
Website: www.cbc.ca/literaryawards in the "Winners" section (left menu).The winning works will be published in Air Canada's enRoute magazine between March and August 2008. Links to the electronic versions of the texts will be added every month. And you can listen to the winning works. They are available as a podcast at www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge. The works of CBC Literary Award-winning writers from 2001 to 2006 (first prizes) have also recently been collected in The Mind's Eye, published by ECW Press. The book is available in bookstores and via cbcshop.ca at http://www.cbcshop.ca/CBC/shopping/product.aspx?Product_ID=ERDOC00184&Variant_ID=MINDE8328&lang=en-CA.
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Disclaimer: It is the sole responsibility of the user to verify the accuracy and authenticity of any contests, awards, submission calls or any other such posting found on this page. After receiving an entry for the list, we check out the website and reject obvious contest scams but please note that the Federation of British Columbia Writers does not claim any responsibility for misleading or inaccurate postings.
Incorrect information on postings can be directed to the Fed office at bcwriters@shaw.ca.
Scams:
Here are several websites with valuable information on contest scams:
§ "Contests and Vanity Anthologies” -
http://www.sfwa.org/Beware/contests.html
§ Writers’ Digest - ”The Truth About Writing Contests” -
http://www.writersdigest.com/article/?p_ArticleId=5262
§ Victoria Strauss’s “Literary Contests: Facts and Fakes” -
http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss/contests.html
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