Writing Contest 2012
2011 Winners Announced!
The first prize winner in the short story category is Vancouver resident Leah Bailly for her story “Spiritus Mundi”. Port Moody resident John Xiros Cooper is the winner of first prize in the poetry category for his poem “O seasons, O cities”. Both Leah and John will receive a cash prize of $500 and have their pieces published in subTerrain magazine.
Second place in the short story category goes to Surrey resident Stephanie Gray for “Pure White Light of Heaven”. Second place in the poetry category goes to Whitehorse resident Joanna Lilley for her poem “Biology Lesson”. Stephanie and Joanna have both been awarded $350 for coming in second.
Leah Bailly's stories have appeared in journals across the US and Canada, including Prism, PANK, Hobart and on CBC radio. This year she's off to Edinburgh to conduct research for her upcoming novel, The Following.
John Xiros Cooper grew up in Montreal but moved to Vancouver thirty years ago. Writing has been his most enduring passion.
Stephanie Gray is a graduate of Kwantlen University. She is currently hard at work on her first novel.
Joanna Lilley has had poems and stories published in a range of journals and anthologies. A Humber School for Writers graduate, Joanna helps to organize the biennial Whitehorse Poetry Festival and is on the editorial board of the online circumpolar magazine, Arctica.
Two hundred and ninety poems and short stories were submitted to the contest this year. Contest judges were poet Gillian Jerome, novelist and poet Evelyn Lau and Assistant Editor at D&M Publishing Shirarose Wilensky.
14th Annual Poetry & Short Story Contest
The Invitation
We invite you to submit your finest prose and poetry to the thirteenth annual Writers Festival Poetry & Short Story Contest, presented by the Vancouver International Writers Festival. Now in its 25th year, the Writers Festival celebrates a world of words each October on Granville Island. We now invite you to contribute your words.
Pick up a pen!
Readers write!
The contest deadline is 5 pm, October 21, the last day of the 2012 Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival. Entries may be dropped off at Book Warehouse locations, or delivered by hand or mail to the Writers Festival office. Entries will be judged by professionals in the writing and publishing industries. Winners will be announced by January 16, 2013.
The Rewards
1st prize - $500
2nd prize - $350
Prizes will be awarded to the top two entries in both the poetry and creative short fiction categories. First place winners in each category will be published in subTERRAIN magazine and all winners will be published on the Festival website www.writersfest.bc.ca.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Originality & imagination
- Emotion
- Focus & clarity
- Organized, fluid writing style
- Authenticity, strength & distinctness of voice
The Rules
1. The contest is open to all writers.
2. Entries will be accepted for previously unpublished work in each category:
- i. Poetry (any style): 500 word limit
- ii. Creative Short Fiction: 1,500 word limit
3. Entries will be judged blind. Please do not put your name on your story or poem. On a separate sheet, include your name, address and phone number and the word count of your piece. For each story or poem, please include a $15 entry fee (Canadian funds only please). Please make cheques payable to the Vancouver International Writers Festival.
4. Drop off your submissions at any Book Warehouse store or mail to or drop off at the Vancouver International Writers Festival, 202–1398 Cartwright St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8.
5. Please submit entries typed (double spaced for short stories), on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper.
6. Please submit two copies of each entry.
7. Please do not send originals; entries cannot be returned.
8. Winners will be selected by a panel of publishing and writing professionals.
9. Entries must be postmarked or delivered by 5 pm October 21, 2012.
