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.
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.
