Guidelines & FAQ

Everything you need before you send it in.

A clearer, friendlier home for the contest rules, writing expectations, and quick answers.

Submission Guidelines

Before you submit

Open to students
800-1500 words
Original work only
One submission per student
Must be respectful and school-appropriate
Citations required for factual claims
AI-generated submissions are not allowed.

Important Dates

Contest timeline

Submissions Open June 15, 2026
Submission Deadline September 14, 2026
Results Published On this website
Biographies Optional for the top 10%

Our Reviewers

Who reviews the work?

All submissions are carefully reviewed by university instructors at UVic and UBC, high school teachers in Vancouver, and award-winning student writers.

Our reviewers have strong backgrounds in academic writing, creative writing, and research.

FAQ

Common questions

Who can enter?

The contest is open to students of all grades! Feel free to submit!

What can I write about?

Submissions may use research, creative storytelling, or a mix of both. A new topic will be posted on the website at the start of each contest term.

Can I submit poetry?

The current placeholder guidelines are designed for 800-1500 word prose submissions. Poetry writing is a piece of work we are exploring to expand in our future contests.

Can I use AI?

AI-generated submissions are not allowed. We will be thoroughly checking over work for AI detection. Any person that violates this rule will be disqualified and will be banned from submitting in future contest.

How do I submit?

Use the Jotform submission link on this website. The form asks for your preferred name, school, grade, school email, and article submission.

When are winners announced?

Results will be published on this website. The exact publication date can be added once confirmed.