Why should young writers and artists enter the NMAs?

[This post has been updated for 2012]

Few moments at the annual National Magazine Awards gala are as satisfying as discovering which talented up-and-comers are named Canada’s Best New Magazine Writer and Best New Visual Creator. Submissions in these categories are open to students as well as young magazine writers, illustrators and photographers whose early work in Canadian magazines shows the highest degree of craft and promise.

The competition is open to work published during 2012 in either print or digital Canadian magazines. Individuals may enter their own work (see the full requirements here), but editors, art directors and teachers are encouraged to nominate the talented young writers and artists they’ve worked with, even discovered.

Here are just a few reasons we think you might want to enter:

1. It’s only $25 (plus HST) to enter these two categories; a hefty discount on the $95 entry fee for most other National Magazine Awards.

2. Students are encouraged to submit, and the awards are open to work published in college and university magazines as well as any other eligible Canadian magazine.

3. Three finalists will be announced for each award on May 1; they and their work will be promoted in NMAF publications and at the NMA gala.

4. While there is only one entry allowed per person, there is no limit to the number of submissions from a single publication.

5. The winner of each category will be announced on stage at the 36th annual National Magazine Awards gala on June 7, in a room full of Canada’s top magazine publishers, editors and art directors.

6. For each winner there is a cash prize — $500 — and the right to call yourself a National Magazine Award winner in every bio for the rest of your life!

7. The winner of each category will be recognized on stage at the gala; they and their work will be promoted in NMAF publications, press releases, promotional campaigns — anything and everything we can do to celebrate emerging creative talent in our industry.

8. The winner of Best New Magazine Writer joins a group of award laureates including Matthieu Aikins, Patrick White, Chantal Srivastava, Jeremy Klaszus, Jonathan Trudel, Matthew McKinnon, Danielle Groen, Jean-François Bégin, Sophie Lees, Kris Demeanor and Larry Frolick.

9. The winner of Best New Visual Creator joins 2011 winner The Coveteur and 2009 winner Byron Eggenschwiler, a multiple NMA winner who also designed the creative for the 33rd National Magazine Awards (left).

10. The greatness of Canadian magazines is sustained by the talented, innovative and dynamic young people who love what they do and work hard to do it. At the National Magazine Awards Foundation we, like the rest of the Canadian magazine industry, want to recognize and celebrate this. We can’t do it without you.

Read more about Best New Magazine Writer and Best New Visual Creator. The submissions deadline is January 16, 2013.