THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA ANNOUNCES WRITING FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION 2008

The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to launch its 12th annual Writing for Children Competition, which invites writers to submit a piece for children up to 1,500 words in the English language that has not previously been published in any format. A $1,500 prize will be awarded to an unpublished Canadian writer, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three publishers of children’s books.

The deadline for entries is April 24, 2008.

Writing for children is one of the most highly competitive genres in literature, and this competition is an entrée into this important field.

“Writing for children helps to craft young minds, and at its best turns them into life-long readers,” says Deborah Windsor, the Union’s Executive Director.

The Union initiated the Writing for Children competition to discover, encourage, and promote new writers of children’s literature. The Competition has grown in popularity since its inception, last year attracting over 650 submissions from every region of Canada.

The Union is proud to announce an esteemed group of jurors for the 2008 Writing for Children Competition. Damien Fière is a former political ghostwriter and advisor who is currently working on a soon-to-be published biography of Eleanor Roosevelt and a novel. Métis writer Jacqueline Guest’s fast-paced sports books feature many main characters of First Nations, Inuit, or Métis background, who in addition to handling sports-related problems, also face issues common to every child such as bullying, blended families, and physical challenges. Multi-award-winning Tim Wynne-Jones is a two-time recipient of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature, and has written numerous works for children, young adults, and adults, from novels to librettos and songs.

To be eligible, submissions must be written by Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who have not been published in book format in any genre and who do not have a contract with a book publisher. Any text, fiction or nonfiction, up to 1,500 words, in the English language, that is original and not previously published in any format, is eligible. A typed, double-spaced entry in a clear 12-point font on white paper, not stapled or exceeding maximum word length, along with an entry fee of $15 (cheque or money order) per submission, should be sent to:

The Writers’ Union of Canada
90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5C 1P1.

The deadline for submissions is April 24, 2008. Submissions on computer disk or faxes will not be accepted. For complete rules and regulations, please go to http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_writeforchildren.asp.

The Writers’ Union of Canada is our country’s national organization representing professional authors of books. Founded in 1973, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well being of all writers. For more information, please visit http://www.writersunion.ca.

For additional information:

Nancy MacLeod, Competitions Coordinator

The Writers’ Union of Canada

416-703-8982 Ext. 226