Junior Writing Competition

Submit poetry, short stories, comics, or other writing-based creative work for your chance to win the Spruce Grove Public Libraries’ Junior Writing Contest.

Contest Details

Young writers can submit one entry to each of four contest categories: short story, poetry, comics, and other category. Entry is free! Winners receive a prize package, and a spot at our Local Author Fair on November 5.
The contest will open on September 1, 2022. Submit your entries using the online submission form. The contest closes on September 30, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
Entries to the contest are judged by a jury of industry professionals. Points are awarded for originality and style, as well as grammar, spelling, and overall presentation. Be sure to read all the contest details and rules below before submitting—entries not complying with these requirements will not be eligible.

Submit Your Work

Short Story

Short stories can be up to 1,500 words. No illustrations or drawings are allowed in the short stories category. Entries must be typed (Calibri, 12 font) and submitted online as a Word document. Word is available on public computer stations at the Spruce Grove Public Library.

Poetry

Poems can up to 36 lines (excluding title). Write your poem in any form (free verse, sonnet, ode, haiku, etc.). No illustrations or drawings are allowed in the poems category. Entries must be typed and submitted online as a Word document. Word is available on public computer stations at the Spruce Grove Public Library

Comics

Comics can be hand drawn or digital. Comics can be 4-8 pages in length (including cover), and must be on unlined-white, letter-size (8½” x 11") paper and include page numbers. Comics must be submitted online in high resolution .pdf or .png format. Scanners are available to use for free at the Spruce Grove Public Library.

Other

This category welcomes any work that is NOT a short story, poem, or comic. It can be creative non-fiction, essay, a play, a screenplay, song lyrics, a picture book manuscript, or more. We encourage original creative entries--please refrain from submitting school essays. We welcome any writing-based exploration that does not exceed 1500 words. Text-based work must be submitted as a Word document. Word is available on public computer stations at the Spruce Grove Public Library. If your work contains illustrations or images, they must be scanned in high resolution .pdf or .png format which can also be done for free at Spruce Grove Public Library.

Rules For Entrants

• Submit your work on this page starting September 1. Please bookmark this page and check back then.
• To be eligible for the 2022 contest, you must enter one of the three age categories: 5-8 OR 9-12 OR 13-17 years old.
• This contest is open to local authors including the City of Edmonton, the Greater Edmonton Area (Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, Leduc, Devon), and the Tri-Region Area (Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and Parkland County)
• You can submit up to one item per category. That is: any combination of 1 short story, 1 poem, 1 comic, 1 other. To avoid disqualification, do not submit more than one entry per category.
• All entries must be your own original work. Fanfiction, retellings, or work based on existing stories, video games, movies, and other media are not eligible.
• Your work must not have previously appeared or been published anywhere in print or online.
• You are allowed to address mature themes, but based on the library classification system, we reserve the right to rate explicit and gratuitous content as inappropriate for the 13-17 audience.
• Entries must meet the criteria stated above (e.g., word count, page size, online submission).
• To ensure judging remains blind, your name must not appear anywhere on the entry itself (not on pages or in the file name). Your name will be submitted in the entry form only.
• Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy of your work for yourself.
• All entries must be submitted by September 30, 2022 at 11:59 PM.
• By entering the contest, you consent to having your name and work published in print and online. We are unable to make winning entries anonymous.

Plagiarism Procedure

Alberta libraries have a responsibility to guarantee and facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge, opinion, creativity and intellectual activity including those which some elements of society consider unconventional, unpopular, unorthodox or unacceptable. Similarly, to protect the intellectual property of its creators, Spruce Grove Public Library exercises zero tolerance for materials that have been plagiarised and rigorously adheres to the Canadian Copyright Act.
All entries require the writer to complete a declaration that their work is their own and no content in their entry has been plagiarised or is a reproduction of previously published material in any format.
All finalist and winning entries are checked using a plagiarism checker before they are sent to the judges.
Should plagiarism occur in this contest, the entry will be immediately disqualified, and the writer’s parents/guardians will be notified.

Prizes

One winner from each age category will be selected. Winners will receive a prize package, and a spot at our Local Author Fair on November 5.

Community Craft: Pysanky Decorating Kit

Beading Workshop- Orange Shirt Day Pins

Friday September 23 from 1:00-4:00pm.

Ages 18+

Registration is required; spaces are limited

About the Artist:

Jessica Desmoulin was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on September 18, 1978. She is Ojibway of the Pic River First Nation. As a child she lived in Rochester, Alberta and later in Sparwood, British Columbia. After the birth of her second child, Jessica developed an illness that left her unable to work outside the home. Jessica took this opportunity to approach her art seriously and began to paint canvases and occasionally buffalo skulls. She credits the love and support of her family for allowing her the chance to explore her love of art. Jessica currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta. "I try to put myself into my art through the use of intuition and emotion. I am a self taught beader. My mother and I taught ourselves to try and reconnect with our culture”

Art Classes from the Allied Arts Council

Alberta Culture Days Events Page

Check out all the amazing events planned for Alberta Culture Days. Here you will find in person, self guided, live stream and digital recordings. Find an event near you.