Awards, Contests and Submissions
The 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.
The Writer's Studio at Simon Fraser University has created a 51-page guide, created from tips collected by The Writer's Studio alumni, entitled "The Writer's Studio Guide to Publishing in Literary Magazines and Entering Contests". You can download it from their informative website (http://www.thewritersstudio.ca/) or by clicking this link.
Deadline contests and calls for submissions
February 7
AMAZON.COM BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD
Website: http://www.amazon.com/abna
This award offers authors of unpublished or self-published English-language novels a chance to win one of two $15000 publishing contracts with Penguin USA, and distribution of their novel on Amazon.com. Submissions will be accepted from writers around the world until Feb. 7th or until 5,000 entries have been recieved in each category. Call for Submissions
February 10
WORDWORKS MAGAZINE – “LAUNCHED”
If you are a Fed member who has published a book since September 2009, take advantage of an opportunity to have your work showcased in the Fed’s Literary Magazine. Just email your book information by attachment to the Fed office as “LAUNCHED Submission” – fedbcwriters@gmail.com. Include: Publicity bio, publisher’s copy, cover image in jpeg format, publisher name, year/month of publication, ISBN, and price. February 15
ISLAND WRITER MAGAZINE
Website: http://www.victoriawriters.ca
The Victoria Writers' Society seeks submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, as well as articles & interviews on the craft of writing, for the summer issue of Island Writer Magazine. Submissions are accepted from writers on Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands. February 14
POSTCARD STORY COMPETITION
The Writers' Union of Canada is hosting its 11th annual competition. A Postcard Story is a short story of 250 words or less. Grand prize is $500. Open to all writers of all genres. February 28
ROSE & CROWN 2010 NEW NOVELS COMPETITION
Website: http://www.roseandcrownbooks.com/comprules.html
Your book must never have been published in any form and you must own all rights to the work. Open to anyone of any age, worldwide. Manuscripts must be a minimum of 40,000 words and a maximum of 150,000, on any subject as long as they are in keeping with the described aims of the Rose & Crown imprint - Christian Inspirational Romance. Cost: £18. First prize £200, second prize £100, plus guaranteed publishing contract offers for both. March 20
FISH ONE-PAGE STORY PRIZE 2010
Website: http://www.fishpublishing.com/annual-one-page-story-prize.php
Flash fiction is a wonderfully entertaining thing to read and a challenging thing to write, but the readers of the Fish Anthology love it; this is another chance to get a story, however small, into the anthology. Maximum length 300 words. Entry fee: €12 (online entry), €15 (postal entry). First Prize: €1000. March 30
FISH POETRY PRIZE 2010
Website: http://www.fishpublishing.com/annual-fish-international-poetry-prize.php
No restrictions on style or theme - but poems must be in English and less than 200 words. Entry fee: €12 (online entry), €15 (postal entry). First prize: €1000. March 31
FREEFALL POETRY & PROSE CHAPBOOK CONTEST
Website: http://www.freefallmagazine.ca/pdf/ChapbookContestRulesforWebsite.pdf
Winners will have their work published in a limited edition Chapbook and receive 25 copies. Poets: submit up to 15 pages of poetry. Prose: submit fiction or creative non-fiction up to 5000 words. Complete a contest entry form and include the $10 reading fee. March 31
BRISTOL SHORT STORY PRIZE
Website: http://www.bristolprize.co.uk
Stories can be on any theme or subject and entry can be made online via the website or by post. Entries can be previously unpublished with a maximum length of 3,000 words. Entry Fee: £7 per story. First Prize: £500 plus £150 Waterstone's Gift Card. Call for submissions
April 1
WITNESS: BLURRING BORDERS (VOLUME XXIV)
Website: http://witness.blackmountaininstitute.org/submit/
Witness is published annually in November. In addition to general submissions, for this volume they are seeking work that addresses border crossing (both literal and figurative), immigration, and diaspora communities. Unsolicted manuscripts are welcome between September 1st and April 1st, 2010; submit your unpublished work through their online submission manager. Please limit submission to one story, one essay, or five poems at a time; there is no word limit. Pays: $10 per printed page. Check the website for full details. April 1 - June 30
DELACORTE YEARLING CONTEST FOR A FIRST MIDDLE-GRADE NOVEL
Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/writingcontests
For an unpublished manuscript, 96-160 pages, suitable for readers 9-12 years old, set in North America (either contemporary or historical). Further details on website. Prize: $1500, publication, and $7500 advance against royalties. April 15
EMERGING FROM THE SHADOWS POETRY CONTEST
Open to Canadian poets who have never won first prize in a poetry contest
Poems may be on any theme in any style, maximum 36 lines (counting stanza spaces). Poems may be previously published but may not have won any previous contest prizes. Blind judging: no author id anywhere on same page of poem; include a cover page with name, address, phone number, and email, along with poem title(s). Prizes: 1st - $25 and 1-year membership to Ontario Poetry Society; 2nd - 1 year membership; 3rd - $10; 12 honorable mentions. All prize winners will also recieve a Fancy Certificate. Cost: $5 for up to 3 poems, additional poems $2 each. Mail entries and payment to: The Ontario Poetry Society, 31 Marisa Court, Thornhill ON, L4J 6H9. Include SASE for winners list. April 30 (Register by March 15)
COFFEE SHOP AUTHOR
Website: http://www.coffeeshopauthor.com
Coffee Shop Author is a writing contest for authors wishing to hone their craft and enjoy writing at the same time. Authors register with Coffee Shop Author and secure the endorsement of their favourite coffee shop. They then pledge to write the bulk of a novel, short story collection, poetry collection, or work of creative non-fiction at the coffee shop between November 2009 and April 2010. Registration begins November 1st, 2009 and continues until March 15, 2010. Manuscripts must be submitted by April 30, 2010. Fee: $30 (includes registration, vinyl decal for your coffee mug, and blog space to share your experiences with the world). First Prize: trip for 2 to Fernie, BC, registration in the Fernie Writers Conference, one week accomodation in Fernie, and the chance to have your work published by Oolichan Books. April 30
SHORT STORY CONTEST AND POETRY CONTEST
The contest is open to everyone, but eligible San Luis NightWriters will be entered in a drawing for a scholarship to the 2010 Central Coast Writers' Conference. Entries must be based on the theme: Trust/Betrayal. Prizes: 1st - $75, 2nd - $50 (for both short story and poetry). Entry fee: $10 for first story/poem, $5 for each additional entry. Email SLOnightwritersevents@yahoo.com for more information. May 1
MALAHAT REVIEW - FAR HORIZONS POETRY CONTEST
Website: http://www.malahatreview.ca/far_horizons_poetry/info.html
Authors who have not yet had their poetry published in book format (a book of 48 pages or more) can submit up to three poems per entry, max. 60 lines each. Fees: $25 CAD for Canadians $30 USD for US entries $35 USD for entries from elsewhere. Enquiries: malahat@uvic.ca. Check website for complete contest details. May 15
SUBTERRAIN LUSH TRIUMPHANT LITERARY AWARDS
Website: http://www.subterrain.ca
Submit fiction of up to 3000 words, creative non-fiction of up to 4000 words, or suites of up to 5 poems. Cost: $25 (includes subscription). Prize: $750 in each category, plus paid publication. May 31
2010 HAIKU INVITATIONAL
Website: http://www.vcbf.ca
While the cherry blossoms bloom from March through May, you are invited to write your haiku with fresh inspiration. The poems will be judged throughout the summer and winners announced in the fall, to be featured at the 2011 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Visit the website for more information. May 31
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY: 1ST BOOK COMPETITION
Website: http://www.thewritersstudio.ca
The Writers Studio at Simon Fraser University seeks original book-length manuscripts by emerging Canadian writers who have not previously published a book. The winning manuscript (in each of the three contest categories of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry) will be published by Anvil Press of Vancouver in 2011. Complete info online. August 1
MALAHAT REVIEW - CREATIVE NON-FICTION PRIZE
Website: http://www.malahatreview.ca/creative_non-fiction_prize/info.html
Submit one work of creative non-fiction between 2000-3000 words in length. No restrictions about subject matter or approach. Prize: $500, plus $40/page on publication. Fees: $35 CAD for Canadians, $40 USD for US entries, $45 USD for international entries. Enquires: malahat@uvic.ca. Check website for complete contest details. November 1
MALAHAT REVIEW - OPEN SEASON AWARDS
Website: http://www.malahatreview.ca/open_season/info.html
Submit work in any of three genres: poetry, short fiction, or creative non-fiction. Poetry: up to 3 poems/entry (max. 100 lines each). Short fiction & creative non-fiction: one piece, maximum 2500 words/entry. Prize: $1000 prize offered in each category. Fees: $35 CAD for Canadians, $40 USD for US entries, $45 USD for international entries. Enquiries: malahat@uvic.ca. Check website for complete contest details.
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Other contest or calls for submissions resources:
* FundsForWriters - contest listings: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/contests.htm. * Possible contests resource
The Canadian Writers' Contests Calendar. Website: 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) _____________________________________________________
Ongoing submissions (no deadlines):
EveryDay Fiction - needs 365 stories a year
Continuous submissions
Web: http://www.everydayfiction.com/
Every Day Fiction is looking for very short (flash) fiction, of 1000 words or fewer. This online literary magazine originates in Vancouver. They say, "there's no such thing as too short. If you can tell a story in 50 words, have at it!" Accepts multiple submissions, but with caveats, so read the submission guidelines carefully - http://www.everydayfiction.com/submit-story/. 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). Boxcar Poetry Review
Website: http://www.boxcarpoetry.com/
Seeks top quality poetry, artwork, photography, interviews, and reviews. Chateau Lane Publishing
Chateau Lane seeks 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. 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. 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. 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). Mother Tongue Publishing
No specific deadline
Website: http://www.mothertonguepublishing.com/
Mother Tongue Publishing is seeking a finished (or almost), literary non-fiction ms. Memoir, essays, letters, etc., by a BC writer. Send enquiries only to: mona@mothertonguepublishing.com or write to: Mother Tongue Publishing Ltd., 290 Fulford-Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island BC ,V8K 2K6. More info: Tel: 250-537-4155 Fax: 250-537-4725. 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.
Recliner Books
Continuous submissions
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