The Short Works Prize

Recognizing Excellence in Writing: The 6th Annual Short Works Prize

For Hamilton-area writers, presented in partnership with the Hamilton Public Library and Hamilton Arts & Letters magazine.

Please read the guidelines carefully before submitting.

Writers will be notified of the results by email before the awards ceremony. Winners will read from their works at the awards ceremony on Sunday November 24, 2019.

Eligibility: 

• Writers currently living in areas serviced by the Hamilton Public Library, excluding out-of-town borrowers.
• 2018 SWP Winners in any category must skip a year before submitting again.

Submissions open May 15, 2019 and close October 19, 2019.

• The cost to enter: $0. Entries will not be returned.
• Blind Judging: your name must not appear on any page(s) given to the jurors. Put your name ONLY in your submission form. Failure to follow this rule will result in disqualification.
• Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification. 
• Professionally published authors may submit in 2 of the 3 categories: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction.
• Published authors must not submit to Off-the-Radar.

For published works: your poem, short story, or short essay must have appeared in a magazine, journal, or as part of a multi-authored book in 2018. Published authors may submit to two categories; one piece only per category. Anyone who won a cash prize in 2018 should not enter into any category in 2019.

Off-the-Radar and Young Writers please submit:

• One poem OR
• One piece of fiction OR
• One piece of Literary Non-Fiction

Off-the-Radar for Unpublished Writers over the age of 20 -- If you have never been published, you may submit one poem or one short story or one piece of creative non-fiction. Anyone who won a cash prize in 2018 in any category should not enter in 2019.

Young Writers Prizes for Unpublished Writers 16 - 20 years old -- if you have never been published you may submit one poem or one short story or one piece of creative non-fiction. Anyone who won a cash prize in 2018 should not enter into any category in 2019.

Prize for Memoir Writing Workshop participants. Submissions are made to the Workshop Facilitator.

Submissions:

Enter online on the form below

OR

If you do not have computer access, submit your typed or neatly hand-printed entry to to any Hamilton Public Library branch with the envelope clearly marked Short Works Prize / Attention Marcel Faulkner, Central Library.

Writers will be notified of the results by email before the Awards Ceremony. Readings by the Winners will take place at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday, November 24, 2019

Questions? Call Marcel, 905-546-3200 X3434 or email shortworksprize@hpl.ca.