Young Adult Writing Contest
Win cash prizes and get published!
Are you between 12 - 18 years old? Love writing, drawing, or poetry? Enter your work in the 26th annual Young Adult Writing Contest!
Deadline for entries is August 6, 2013.
*Attend a writers' workshop! Events calendar
Categories & Prizes
Entrants can submit once to each of the three categories. That means, you can submit up to one short story, one poem, and one comic. No entry fee!
All entries will be judged on originality and style, including grammar and spelling. Entries that do not meet the criteria below will be disqualified without notice.
Short Stories
Short stories must be no longer than 1,500 words, typed and double spaced on 8½ x 11" (letter size) pages with page numbers. Do not illustrate your story. Your name must not appear anywhere on your work. Submissions must be online.
| Ages | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize |
| 12-14 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
| 15-18 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
Poems
Poems must be no longer than 36 lines, typed on 8½ x 11" (letter size) pages with page numbers. Write your poem in any form (sonnet, ode, haiku, etc). Do not illustrate your poem. Your name must not appear anywhere on your work. Submissions must be online.
| Ages | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize |
| 12-14 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
| 15-18 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
Comics
Comics must be done in black and white only, and may be 4-7 pages long on white 8½ x 11" (letter size) pages with page numbers. If you are submitting a hand-drawn comic, please visit the library in person to submit to information staff. All other entries must be done online. Your name must not appear anywhere on your work.
| Ages | 1st Prize | 2nd Prize | 3rd Prize |
| 12-18 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
Rules For Entrants
- Entrants must be born between 1995-2001. Absolutely no exceptions.
- This contest is not open to employees of the Surrey Public Library and their immediate family.
- Entrants must have a valid Surrey Libraries' card, in their name. Find out how to get a library card.
- All submissions must be the author's orginal work, and unpublished elsewhere.
- Entrants can submit 1 item per category. That is, any combination of 1 short story, 1 poem, and 1 comic. Entries beyond this number will automically disqualify you.
- Entries must meet the criteria of form stated under "Guidelines & Prizes" above (e.g., length, pagination, etc).
- The author's name must not appear anywhere on the work (name in entry form only).
- All entries must be submitted be the deadline of Tuesday, August 6, 2013.
- Entries must be submitted online (with exception to hand drawn comics which may be submitted in person to information staff at any Surrey Library).
- Entries will not be returned or critiqued. Please keep a copy of your work for yourself.
If you move or change your name, please contact Gayle at 604-598-7431 or gjharris@surrey.ca.
Entry Form
>> View the winners of the 2012 Young Adult Writing Contest
>> More writing contests for youth.
Thanks to our sponsors
- The Leader Newspaper
- Surrey International Writer's Conference
- Black Bond Books
- Dave Hayer, MLA
- Rotary Club of Surrey
- Lois Peterson, author
- Fastsigns
- Imperial Hobbies
- Chapters, Strawberry Hill
- Surrey Central Safeway
- Bread Garden Catering