Timeline:

  • Contest opens Friday, September 1, 2023, and closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 23, 2023.

Entry Fee: 

  • $20 Canadian per contest entry of either fiction or poetry, payment via PAYPAL only.

Awards: 

  • Cash prizes for first ($200), second ($100), and third-place ($50) will be awarded in each category.
  • All winners and 20 runner ups will work with a professional editor to be published in an annual contest anthology book as well as participate in a book launch event featuring author readings.
  • All entries will receive a copy of the contest anthology eBook as a mini prize!

Rules for Fiction Entries

  • Submissions can be in any genre (literary, horror, speculative, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.). There is no theme; all we ask is that you surprise and delight us!
  • Formatting: All entries will be read blind. Please do not include identifying information such as your name or email in your story. Please use 11 pt. Arial or Calibri or 12 pt. font Times New Roman, double-spaced.
  • Word count: 2,500 (minimum) to 3,000 (maximum), not including your title.
  • File type accepted: Word file (doc, docx).
  • Language: Majority of entry should be in English.

Rules for Poetry Entries

  • We’re accepting all forms of poetry for this contest, including lyrical, formal, free verse, visual, experimental, concrete, haiku and other micro poetic forms, and spoken word, etc.
  • Formatting: All entries will be read blind. Please do not include identifying information such as your name or email in your story. Please use 11 pt. Arial or Calibri or 12 pt. font Times New Roman, double-spaced.
  • Word count: Poems should be no more than 50 lines, including line breaks (but not including the title).
  • For spoken word entries, please submit an audio file (mp3) along with a written (typed) version of the poem. As with all submissions, spoken word poems should be 50 lines total including line breaks. The total length of the recording of each poem should be less than two minutes. Spoken word submissions can include up to two poems per entry.
  • File types accepted: Word (doc, docx), pdf or mp3.
  • Language: Majority of entry should be in English.

Additional Rules for the competition:

  • No previously published work or AI generated work! Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but please let us know as soon as possible if your story has been accepted elsewhere.
  • Submissions containing harmful stereotypes and perspectives, including racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism or ableism, or any other discriminatory content, will be disqualified.
  • Open to Canadian citizens and residents only.