Writing for Children Competition
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Writing for Children Competition
Registration for 2023 Writing for Children Competition opens March 15 | Deadline for entries is May 31
CANSCAIP’s annual Writing for Children Competition is now open for entries! Canada’s largest competition for children’s writers welcomes submissions from unpublished and self-published writers. The deadline for entries is May 31.
Your Competition entry could win a $500 cash prize, awarded to the winning Middle Grade and Young Adult entries, and to two winning Picture Book entries. Two finalists in each category will also be selected. CANSCAIP sends the finalist and winner entries to Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Scholastic Canada for their consideration.
Entries can be up to 1,500 words. Every entry gets a written evaluation by a traditionally published CANSCAIP Member volunteer. Entries advancing to the second round get another evaluation, and entries on the shortlist get evaluations by each jury member.
We can’t wait to read your story!
Information on eligibility, how to submit and schedules is below. Submission guidelines can be found here.
NEW for 2023: The identities of the writers will not be provided to the Competition's readers. To ensure anonymity DO NOT include your name or any identifying information on your entry document.
The Writers' Union of Canada initiated the Writing for Children Competition in 1996, and since 2014 CANSCAIP has administrated the Competition annually. The goal of the Competition is to discover, encourage, and promote emerging writers of children's literature in Canada.
Entry FeesCANSCAIP Friends: $30 one entry, $50 two entries, $75 three entries. Non-members: $40 one entry, $70 two entries, $90 three entries. Want to become a Friend to get the lower fee? Join before you register. | How to Register | Schedule for EntriesMARCH to MAY: Writing for Children Competition open for submissions. Entry deadline midnight May 31. JUNE: First round readers evaluate entries and select those that advance to the second round. JULY: Second round readers evaluate the entries that advanced and select the longlist. AUGUST: Longlist announced. Readers evaluate the longlist and select the shortlist. SEPTEMBER: Shortlist announced. Juries select evaluate the winners and finalists. OCTOBER: Winners and finalists announced. NOVEMBER: Written evaluations for entries sent to everyone who entered. |
Eligible WritersCanadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18. Unpublished writers with no traditionally published books for any age, and not currently under contract with a publisher. Self-published authors are eligible. Writers are eligible if prior publication is limited to stories, articles or poems in collections, anthologies, textbooks, magazines, etc. For details, see Submission Guidelines. | Categories for EntriesPicture Book (PB) Middle Grade (MG) Young Adult (YA) Fiction or non-fiction entries are eligible in all categories. For details, see Book Categories. | Eligible EntriesEntries must be unpublished, not represented by an agent, and not under contract. Picture Book: submit complete text up to 1,500 words Middle Grade or Young Adult: submit first chapter plus additional chapters/excerpts up to 1,500 words Submit text only with no illustrations Word or PDF document in 11-point or 12-point font, double spaced Previously submitted entries can be resubmitted For details, see Submission Guidelines. |