See the updated 2020 contests here! 

As a writer, there is no better way to support a literary magazine and the writing community than to submit your work into a contest.

Writing contests are also a great way to get you focused on completing a piece of work to the quality where you get that little spark of hope that maybe (just maybe) it’s good enough to win, be published — and earn you some sweet sweet spending money.

Looking ahead to 2019 (OMG! Can you believe it’s already the end of another year?), I’m planning to return to my tenacious roots of accumulating rejection letters.

Winning a contest is a big deal because in a world where the hardest part about being a writer is being read. Having a revered peer not only read your work but regard it as worthwhile is something nobody can ever take away from you. That being said, it’s always just someone’s opinion, so whatever, right? The important thing is loving the process, not the accolades. 

Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to have some motivation.

So here is my challenge: enter as many contests as I can in 2019. I hope you will join me in this endeavour. Maybe I shouldn’t encourage you since you will end up being my competition. Either way, that’s not the point. The point is to write more, improve as a writer and yadda yadda. Good luck!!  

Here are 10 Canadian Writing Contests in 2019 (in order of deadline):

The Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction

Prize:

• $1,500 grand prize
• $600 runner-up
• $400 2nd runner-up

Deadline: January 15, 2019

Entry Fee:

• Canadian: $35 CDN
• USA: $40 USD
• International: $45

Max Length: 6000 words

More details at PRISM international

Let Down Your Hair Contest

Prize:

• Grand prize: $1000
• Second prize: $150.
• Publication in an upcoming issue of EVENT
• All entries will be considered for publication

Deadline: January 20, 2019

Entry Fee: $32.95

Max Length: 1,800 words

More details at Event

CBC Literary Prizes – Nonfiction

Prize:

• Grand Prize: $6,000, publication in CBC Books, and a two-week residency at The Banff Centre
• 4 finalists: $1,000 each

Deadline: February 28, 2019

Entry Fee: $25.00 (taxes included)

Length: 2,000 words

More details at CBC

The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest

Prize: $1000

Deadline: March 28, 2019

Entry Fee: $40

Length: No word limit

More details at The New Quarterly

Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction

Prize: $1,000 (CAD)

Deadline: May 1, 2019

Entry Fee:

• Canadian: $25 CAD
• USA: $30 US
• International: $35 US

Length: 3,500 words

More details at Malahat Review

The Grouse Grind Lit Prize for V. Short Forms

Deadline: May 15th, 2019

Prize:

• Grand prize: $500
• Runner-up: $150
• Second runner-up: $50

Entry Fee: $15

Length: 300 words

More details at PRISM international

The Peter Hinchcliffe Fiction Award

Prize: $1000 and a one-year Duotrope Gift Certificate ($50 USD value)

Deadline: May 28, 2019

Entry Fee: $40 

Length: no word limit

More details at The New Quarterly

Room Creative Non-fiction Contest

Prize:

• First prize: $500 and publication in print
• Second prize: $250 and publication in print
• Honourable mention: $50 and publication online

Deadline: June 1, 2019

Entry Fee:

• Canadian: $35 CAD
• USA: $42 USD

Length: 3,500 words

Note: Open to women, trans, two-spirited, and genderqueer people.

More details at Room Magazine

Prism CREATIVE NON-FICTION CONTEST

Prize:

• Grand prize: $1,500
• Runner-up: $600
• Second Runner-up: $400

Deadline: July 31, 2019

Entry Fee:

• Canadian: $35 CAD
• USA: $40 USD
• International: $45 USD

Length: 6,000 words

More details at PRISM international

Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize

Prize: $1,000

Deadline: Aug 1, 2019

Entry Fee:

• Canadian: $35 CAD
• USA: $40 USD
• International: $45 USD

Length: 2,000 and 3,000 words

More details at Malahat Review

Bonus:

Here are some notable writing contests that haven’t posted their set 2019 deadline yet. I will keep you posted when those are up.

Malahat Open Seasons – Deadline Nov 1, 2019

More details at Malahat Review

Prairie Fire Annual Contest – Deadline Nov 30, 2019

More details at Prairie Fire

Annual Lush Triumphant Literary Awards – Contest Opens Jan 2019

More details at Subterrain

Short Grain Contest – Contest takes place from Jan-April

More details at Grain

Know of any other Canadian writing contest? Please share it in the comments.