Do you sometimes feel like your stories are sitting in a drawer? Perhaps you have a killer poem or a heartfelt essay. Even so, it can be challenging to find how to share your work and get seen. Consider entering a few creative writing contests. They provide validation, exposure, and even a potential award! Hopefully this guide will help you navigate the minefield that is the Canadian creative writing contest world.
Reasons to Enter Creative Writing Contests in Canada
Writing contests in Canada have a lot of benefits. It’s more than an opportunity to win. These contests also help you become a better writer, meet other writers and get your work in the public eye. So why should you invest your time in these contests?
Improving Your Confidence and Your Craft
Competitions boost your confidence. I’m sure it is not nice to have your work to be reviewed by experts! Even making it through as a finalist can feel incredible. Also, it challenges you to make your writing sound its best. Try to use any feedback, if you don’t win, as a way to grow.
Actionable Tip: Learn not to be demoralized by rejection. Instead, consider it an educational opportunity, one that will make you better at your job.
How to get exposure and recognition
A contest win can lead to opportunity. Your work could end up in a literary magazine. You could encounter agents or editors who can advance your career. Other contests provide mentorships with established writers as part of the prize. These connections can be exceptionably valuable.
Real-World Example: Consider Heather O’Neill, a Canadian writer. She gained early recognition through literary contests. This helped kickstart her successful career writing novels and short stories.
Potential Prizes and Funding
Who doesn’t love a nice prize? Most Canadian writing competitions provide cash prizes. It buys you a writing course, sends you to a conference, or simply gives you time to write.” Some contests even come with a residencies, which is where you go to live and write within a dedicated space.
Actionable Tip: Review the rules closely before entering any contest. Be clear about the prizes and what you have to do to win them.
How to Identify the Appropriate Creative Writing Contest for You
Not all competitions are created equal. Finding the right fit requires research. Consider your genre, your level of experience and what you want to get from the contest. Here are a few tips to help narrow your search.
Genre-Specific Searches
Are you a poet? A short story writer? A playwright? Consider contests that focus on the specific genre you write. This increases your chances of winning. Your works will be compared to other similar works. You will be happy to know that you can find loads of great resources online.
Here’s an actionable tip: Visit sites like the League of Canadian Poets or the Writers’ Union of Canada. They frequently include genre specific contests.
Eligibility Requirements
Read the fine print. Some contests are restricted to Canadian citizens. Others have age restrictions. Before you submit your work, make sure to meet all the requirements. A failure to meet the eligibility criteria could result in instant expulsion.
Actionable Tip: Write out a list of all the eligibility requirements. Make sure you conform to all of them before clicking send.
Skill Level Considerations
Some contests are aimed at new writers. The rest are for more established writers. Know where you stand in terms of skill. It could be disheartening to enter a contest that is beyond your ability. Search for competitions that align with your skill level.
Actionable Tip: Search for contests that are only for new writers if you’re a newbie.
Here is our look at the top creative writing contests in Canada to watch for.
There are quite a number of good writing contests in Canada. Here are some of the most reputable and noteworthy. These competitions usually have great prizes and exposure. They are worth checking out.
CBC Literary Prizes
The CBC Literary Prizes are some of the highest-profile in Canada. They accept short stories, poetry and creative nonfiction. The stakes are high, and winning can catapult a writing career. Deadlines are usually in the winter.
In the real world: Winners of the CBC Literary Prizes have gone on to successful careers publishing books and winning all sorts of other awards. It also suggests how great an asset it can be to win the CBC prize.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada Awards.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada has an array of awards for several genres. That’s fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Prize winners in Canadian literature. The Writers’ Trust is dedicated to supporting Canadian writers.
Actionable Tip: Review past winners to get a sense of the writing styles the judges gravitate toward. This can help you determine if your work would be a good fit.
League of Canadian Poets Contests
If you are a poet, the League of Canadian Poets has a number of contests. These contests reveal the best of Canadian poetry. This is an excellent venue to promote the work of poets. The League of Canadian Poets offers support and resources for poets at any point in their careers.
Actionable Tip: Find submission guidelines and eligibility details on the League of Canadian Poets website.
There Is No Charge For Submitting To This Art
Entering a contest means more than just submitting your work. It’s a matter of marketing yourself. Here’s how to help your submission stand out. It is often just simple things that do a lot.
Polishing Your Manuscript
Your book was a limited edition. Be sure to edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation errors. Get others to read it and tell you what is happening. Then a well-polished manuscript demonstrates you care about your work.
Practical: Find a friend or pro to read your manuscript. New eyes can spot errors that may have escaped your attention.
Adhering to Submission Guidelines Exactly
Follow the rules. Contests have formatting requirements, word count limits, and deadlines. Disregarding these guidelines can get your submission rejected at once. Utilize detail extremely well.
ACTIONABLE TIP: List the contest guidelines and check them off one by one. Double-check that you’ve satisfied every requirement before you submit.
How To Write A Really Good Cover Letter
Your cover letter is your opening statement. Caution: Your data will not be older than 2023. Emphasise your manuscript’s strengths. Tell us why your work is a good fit for the contest.
Tip that you can act on: Highlight the strengths of your manuscript in the cover letter. Make the case for your work being worthy of their attention as simple as possible for the judges.
Not Just a Contest: How to Build Your Writing Career
Then there is a writing contest. For it to be an opportunity to work on your writing career. Here’s how to make the most of your participation. You can take this one contest entry and use it as a jumping-off point to achieve more and better.
Building Networks and Making Connections
Competitions can be a way of meeting other writers. Attend events and workshops. Be part of online writing communities. If you would like to explore, check out my full article on Linkedin.
Actionable Tip: Join online writing groups and be active in them. Go to literary events in your community.
Building a Portfolio
Showcase your work. Build a website or online portfolio. Submit examples of your writing and a bio. Portfolios visually show people your talent.
Actionable Tip: A professional website→ INK IT SHUT with a page or two that makes it easy for people to find your best work and contact you.
Conclusion
Well, entering Canadian creative writing contests can change the game for you. They can push you out of your comfort zone, and make you better. They also allow you to showcase your work. So go ahead and get out there, and submit. You never know what is going to happen.
Actionable Tip: Research contests starting today. Seek one relevant to your genre and skill level.
