The Vancouver Island Regional Library and Vancouver Island University’s Department of Creative Writing and Journalism have put out the call for submissions to their annual short fiction contest.
With over $2,000 in cash and prizes on the table, Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands writers are encouraged to get their entries in by March 21 for three categories: Adult (19 and over), Youth (13 to 18), and Junior (12 and under).
Last year the competition drew over 100 entries, with winners and finalists hailing from Fanny Bay, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island, and Victoria, among other communities. Chronicle Editor Craig Spence, was among the prize winners in 2015.
“The islands are hotbeds of literary talent,” says Nanaimo Arts Council Executive Director Sarah Schmidt, “and the contest has become an opportunity to celebrate the many writers of all ages who make them their home.
“And we’re particularly pleased that this year we’ve been able to lower the barrier for young people to participate, by removing the entry fees for the Junior and Youth categories.”
Judge of the Adult category this year is VIU Creative Writing instructor and bestselling novelist Robert Wiersema, while VIRL librarians Jennifer Seper and Justin Unrau will judge the Junior and Youth submissions.
The fee in the adult category is $20 per entry. Entry forms are available at isfc.ca and at the Nanaimo Arts Council Creative Space, #4 Commercial St., Nanaimo.
Winners will be announced at a reception in Nanaimo in April. The winning entries in the 2014 and 2015 Islands Short Fiction Contests can be read at isfc.ca.
For further information, e-mail admin@isfc.ca or phone 250-729-3947 (Nanaimo).