Writing for Children Competition
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Writing for Children Competition
Deadline for entries May 31, 2025
CANSCAIP’s annual Writing for Children Competition is Canada’s largest competition for unpublished children’s writers.
Every entry receives a written evaluation from a traditionally published CANSCAIP Member volunteer reader. Entries advancing to the second round receive another evaluation, and entries on the shortlist receive evaluations from each jury member.
Four $500 cash prizes are awarded to the winning Middle Grade and Young Adult entries, and to the top two Picture Book entries. Two finalists in each category are also selected. The winners and finalists are given time to revise their entries before CANSCAIP submits them to Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Scholastic Canada for evaluations.
We can’t wait to read your story!
Information on eligibility, how to submit, and schedules are below. Complete submission guidelines can be found here.
The Writers' Union of Canada initiated the Writing for Children Competition in 1996, and CANSCAIP has administered the Competition annually since 2014 . The goal of the Competition is to discover, encourage, and promote emerging writers of children's literature in Canada.
Entry FeesCANSCAIP Friends: $40 one entry, $70 two entries, $90 three entries. Non-members: $50 one entry, $85 two entries, $105 three entries. Want to become a Friend to get the lower entry fee? Join before you register. | How to Register | ScheduleMARCH 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 evaluate the shortlist and select winners and finalists. OCTOBER: Winners and finalists announced. NOVEMBER: Evaluations for entries emailed to all entrants. |
Eligible WritersCanadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18. Unpublished or self-published writers with no traditionally published books for any age, and not currently under contract with a traditional publisher. Writers are eligible if prior publication is limited to articles or other content in collections or anthologies, textbooks, magazines or newspapers, legal or academic publications, etc. Writers retain full copyright of their entries. For complete information, 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 in English and can be fiction or nonfiction. Picture Book: submit complete story up to 1,000 words Middle Grade or Young Adult: submit first 1,500 words Text only; no illustrations Previously submitted entries may be resubmitted For complete information, see Submission Guidelines. |