Entries open for National Student Contests (Canada)

Deadline: 30 November 2024

Stay tuned for the 19th annual National Student Contests for Canadian students in kindergarten through grade twelve.

Categories

There are 2 categories under the National Student Contests which are as follows:
- Short-Story
- Poetry

Topics

Short-Story:
- If you are having trouble thinking of something to write about, here are some short-story topics you may wish to explore:
- Think about life as someone or something else. Try writing from that person’s or thing’s point of view and what you imagine life may be like for them.
- Give life to a mysterious person. You see a man/woman/child across the street. Why are they there? What is their secret?
- You see a scratch on the floor, the broken window across the street, the dent in your dad’s car how did it get there? Is there a logical explanation or something more fantastic?
- Think about a close friend or family member. Take them on an adventure.
- Think about fables and fairy tales. Try to create one of your own.
- Look at a photograph in a newspaper or magazine. Invent a completely new story to go with it.
- Write about funny things that happen when you least expect them.
Poetry
- Here are some poetry topics you may wish to consider:
- The seasons.
- Family members and their adventures.
- Favorite sports or hobbies.
- School: homework, subjects, teachers, peers, etc.
- Emotions: describe a sad day, a happy day, etc.
- Animals: your pets or wild beasts!
- An inanimate object’s perspective.
- Holidays and other special events.

Prize Information

Over $5,000 is awarded in cash prizes to schools and students who participate.
Bonus prizes: Schools will receive one bonus entry for each student entry they submit.
Each contest:
- First Prize (school): $300
- Second Prize (school): $200
- Third Prize (school): $100

Eligibility Criteria

Each year they hold two contests, which are open to Canadian students in kindergarten through grade twelve.
Educators may wish to use one or both of these contests as a project in coordination with their English curriculum, or students may enter on their own (though school information and a contact must be provided so they can verify they are a student and keep the contest fair).

Application Requirements

All work must be original and will be checked for plagiarism.
Entries should not have been previously published (online postings should be removed prior to submission).
Please do not submit work already sent to other contests or publishers for consideration (aka no simultaneous submissions).
Students may submit one entry to each contest (one poem AND one story).
They prefer entries to be submitted online. If mailing entries, each entry should be typed on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of white paper using black ink, 11-pt Arial (or another plain font) without graphics.
Peer editing is allowed (in the same grade or younger).
Parents/teachers/older siblings are welcome to type out the work of younger writers, but should not make corrections other than spelling necessary for comprehension as they do so.
Poems must be 32 lines or less.
Short stories must be 450 words or less. They should be fiction or fictionalized (change the names of real characters). No essays, reports, or fanfiction please.
At this time, entries should be in English.
All mailed entries should be accompanied by an entry form or reasonable facsimile.
Please retain a copy of all work submitted as they are not able to return anything.
Any style or subject is welcome, though they remind students the audience should always be considered and the books will be found in elementary school libraries.
Homeschooled students are welcome to participate and are eligible for any student awards; however, home schools will not receive the educator/school portion of any award.
If you are entering through a tutor or extracurricular program rather than your regular school, please put the tutor or program’s contact information rather than your regular school. The teacher contact should be reachable at the school address you provide.