2026 Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

 33rd Annual Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers

 $2,500 PRIZE

 

The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to launch its 33rd annual Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers. The winning entry will be the best Canadian work of up to 2,500 words in the English language, fiction or nonfiction, written by an author with no more than one book published. The deadline for entries is February 16, 2026.    

PRIZE

$2,500 for the winning entry, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines.   

JURY 

Authors David Huebert, Shauna Singh Baldwin, and Léa Taranto will serve as the jury.   

ELIGIBILITY

This competition is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have had no more than one full-length book published in any genre (traditionally or self-published) and who are not currently under contract for a second book. Writers not published in book format are also eligible. Original and unpublished (English language) fiction or nonfiction is eligible. Co-authored pieces are ineligible. Writers may submit multiple entries.

Applicants are welcome to use standard spelling and grammar checks to polish their writing. However, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate, rewrite, or edit written work is not permitted. 

 HOW TO SUBMIT ENTRIES

Entries should be typed, double-spaced, in a clear twelve-point font, and the pages numbered on 8.5" x 11" pages, saved as either a Word document or PDF. 

  • This competition is judged anonymously. Ensure your entry does not include your name or other identifying information (other than the title).
  • Payment will be made online on Submittable when uploading your entry. Multiple entries are accepted, $29 per entry.
  • Payment may be made through PayPal or by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express).
  • Entries must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on February 16, 2026, to be eligible.

 Results will be posted at writersunion.ca in late spring 2026.

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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