After taking a year off, the 10th Elora Writers’ Festival (EWF) writing contest returns to welcome local writers of any age or experience to win prizes for their unpublished short stories exploring the theme “Home.”
Writers in Wellington, Waterloo, Dufferin, and Hamilton-Wentworth counties are encouraged to submit their short stories to the new and revamped 2014 EWF Short Story Contest, a feature of the 20th annual Elora Writers’ Festival taking place on May 25 in Aboyne Hall at the Wellington County Museum and Archives.
The winners will be announced on the festival website at www.elorawritersfestival.blogspot.com, on May 24 at noon.
Prizes will be presented to any winners attending the Elora Writers’ Festival on May 25, but attendance at the Elora Writers’ Festival is not required in order to win a prize.
Contest judges include Kitchener-Waterloo writers Sharon Blomfield, whose travel articles have appeared in many Canadian and international publications, and Heather Wright, author of Writing Fiction: A Hands-On Guide for Teens. Also among the judges are Guelph’s Kira Vermond, whose book for young readers, The Secret Life of Money was nominated for the OLA’s Red Maple award; short story author Lisa McLean; playwright and author Heather Debling; Wellington Advertiser columnist Kelly Waterhouse; and Fergus’ Lisa Dalrymple, author of the children’s picture book Skink on the Brink.
Why this year’s local focus? Past EWF writing contests attracted submissions from writers across North America and around the world, but this year – the festival’s 20th anniversary – the focus is on celebrating the community that has faithfully shared in the annual afternoon of readings by such diverse Canadian literary stars as Nino Ricci, Louise Penny, Terry Fallis, Thomas King, Priscilla Uppal, Jean Little – and so many more.
Entries must be postmarked by April 4.
Mail your story – typed, double-spaced (double-sided is acceptable) – to EWF Short Story Contest, c/o Elora Arts Council, P.O. Box 3084, Elora, ON, N0B 1S0. Include a title page with name, contact information including email, and title of submission.
To ensure blind judging, the author’s name should not appear anywhere on the story manuscript.
Writers of shortlisted stories will be asked to send an electronic copy of their story for final judging.
Submissions to the adult category (20 and older) must include a $15 entry fee.
Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category:
– adult: $200, $150, $100;
– teen: $200, $150, $100; and
– youth: $150, $100, $50.
Visit www.elorawritersfestival.blogspot.com for contest details, News and updates.
For more information, contact Jean Mills at EWFwritingcontest@gmail.com.
