Your Guide to Summer Magazine Writing Contests

Summer is here and so are the writing contests. Quite a number of great magazines are hosting contests, awards and other opportunities for writers new and seasoned. Naturally, the chance of winning should not be your sole motivation; just by entering you’ll acquaint yourself with (and probably get a subscription to) a great magazine, plus you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of having put your hard work, creativity and talent out into the world.

Matrix Magazine: LitPop Awards
Sections: Poetry; Fiction; Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: July 1, 2012
Prize: Round-trip ticket and accommodation to POP Montreal Festival in September; publication in Matrix
Entry Fee: $25
Details: http://www.matrixmagazine.org/litpop/

This Magazine: Great Canadian Literary Hunt
Sections: Fiction; Poetry; Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: July 31, 2012
Prize: $750 plus publication for winners; prize packs for second and third place
Entry Fee: $25 (includes subscription)
Details: http://this.org/contribute/great-canadian-literary-hunt/
Also: This Mag editor talks about Creative Nonfiction and the workshops included with this year’s GCLH.

The Walrus: Poetry Prize
Sections: Poetry, juried prize and people’s choice prize
Deadline: July 31, 2012
Prize: $5000 and publication (juried winner); $1000 (people’s choice winner)
Entry Fee: $25 (includes subscription)
Details: http://walrusmagazine.com/poetryprize/

Antigonish Review: Great Blue Heron Poetry Prize & Sheldon Currie Fiction Contest
Sections: Poetry; Fiction
Deadline: July 31, 2012 (Fiction); August 31, 2012 (Poetry)
Prize: $600 (first); $400 (second); $200 (third); publication
Entry Fee: $25 (includes subscription)
Details: http://www.antigonishreview.com/

Malahat Review: Constance Rooke Nonfiction Prize
Sections: Creative Nonfiction
Deadline: August 1, 2012
Prize: Publication in Malahat Review; interview with winning author
Entry Fee: $35 (includes subscription)
Details: http://web.uvic.ca/malahat/contests/creative_non-fiction_prize/info.html
Also: Malahat Review has a number of writing contests throughout the year

Geist: Erasure Poetry Contest
Sections: Poetry (in an unusual way)
Deadline: August 1, 2012
Prize: $600 (first); $250 (second); $150 (third); publication in Geist; prize packs for HM
Entry Fee: $20 (includes subscription)
Details: http://www.geist.com/articles/erasure

Other contests, further on the horizon for 2012 and 2013: 
PRISM International: Writing contests
Prairie Fire: Writing contests
Fiddlehead: Literary contests
WCDR Amprosia prose competition
CBC Literary Prizes
The New Quarterly: Writing contests
Grain: Writing contests
Event Magazine: Writing contests
Writers Union of Canada Awards