Congratulations Katherine, Christina and Wendy

Congratulations to the winners and runner-up of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick’s children’s writing competition!

Here’s the official list (and the official name of the prize):

The WeyMedia (Money Genius) Books for Young People Prize

Judge: Brian Henry

First Place: The Blue Jogging Suit (picture book) – Katherine Adlam, Peterborough, Ontario           

Second Place:  Annie Dobbler, Animal Cobbler (nonfiction graphic novel script) – Christina Foster, Fredericton     

Third Place: Mortimer Murphy and the Best Science Project Ever (juvenile fiction) – Wendy Kitts, Shediac

Honourable Mention: The Wrong Book (picture book) – Christina Foster, Fredericton

It was an honour judging this contest – and difficult, as so many of the entries were fresh and brilliant. So, congratulations to everyone who entered!

Congratulations also to the winners of all the other awards (fiction, poetry, nonfiction, etc. – complete list here). Congratulations as well to everyone who entered the contest and to the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) for arranging it – well done, one and all! ~Brian

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See where else your fellow writers are winning accolades and getting short pieces published here (and scroll down).

See new books by your fellow writers here (and scroll down).

See all my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day  retreats here. ~Brian

Contests and markets for Kid Lit, Poetry, Nonfiction, Memoir, Short Stories, etc.

Event Magazine

2026 Non-Fiction Contest

Deadline on my birthday – October 15, 2026 😉

Genre: Creative Nonfiction. Writers are encouraged to explore the form.

Prizes: $3,000 in total, plus publication in EVENT: $1,500 First Place; $1,000 Second Place; $500 Third Place.

Entry Fee: $34.95 per entry; includes a one-year subscription (or renewal) to EVENT and all applicable taxes and shipping

New Student Entry Fee: $19.95 per entry; includes a one-year subscription (or renewal) to EVENT and all applicable taxes and shipping

Full contest details here.

EVENT will open for regular submissions in July and August (and then again in December and January.

Fiction: They look for compelling characters and voice, fresh plots, and narratives that move us. Full details and eligibility requirements on Submittable.

Poetry: They look for arresting imagery, polished language, emotional impact, and lyricism without pretension.

Reviews: Read sample reviews on their website for an idea of their format and style, and before writing or submitting, please contact their Reviews Editor at: eventmagreviews@gmail.com 

Nonfiction: The creative nonfiction EVENT publishes mainly comes through their annual Non-Fiction Contest. The 2026 contest is now open for entries. They look for real-life experiences told as riveting narratives with distinct voices.

Submission guidelines here.

Anthology Short Story Competition

Deadline July 1, 2026

Anthology Magazine is a modern, inspirational and beautifully designed magazine that features luxury goods and services such as exciting travel destinations, fine interiors, the latest in fashion and beauty and the best in arts and culture… Because beautiful things belong in print.

With a combination of high-profile interviews, fabulous fashion spreads, exotic travel stories, and the latest from today’s most innovative practitioners across arts and culture, Anthology is at the forefront of current trends.

Anthology established its short story competitions to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication. Open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.

Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: €18 per entry
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: First prize of €1,000 and publication in a future issue of Anthology: second prize of €250; third prize of €150

Full contest details here.

Anthology also offers awards for poetry, photography, cover art, travel fiction, flash fiction, and personal memoir – so whatever you’re writing, you might check them out here. 

The International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir 

Deadline July 1, 2026

Memoir writing, or personal essay, is defined as a work of creative nonfiction that illustrates a personal experience using literary techniques and narrative devices such as dialogue, character, setting and scene.

Rather than simply recounting past events, successful memoir tends to offer a higher perspective on that past, use personal experience as an illustration of universal themes and/or endeavour to derive meaning, understanding or wisdom from the story it sketches. The quality of the writing is as important as the content of the story.

Note: Travel writing told from a personal perspective does qualify as memoir.

This is a prose competition, so poetic prose (or prose poetry) is eligible, but poetry that is not prose is better submitted to a poetry contest. (Still not sure if your work qualifies? If your work looks like poetry, then that is what it is.)

Submissions must be no longer than 2,000 words. There is no minimum word count requirement. An excerpt of a longer unpublished work is eligible, so long as it works as a stand-alone piece.

Entry Fee: $25 per submission, payable in the writer’s home currency (including AUD, NZD, GB£).

Proceeds from the contest are donated to Amy’s Living Legacy for ovarian cancer research.

Full contest details here.

The CBC Poetry Prize

Deadline: June 1 at 4:59 p.m. ET

ET. Make sure you read the complete rules and regulations before submitting. If you are ready to submit, you may do so here.

The winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and their work will be published on CBC Books.

Four finalists each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and their work is also published on CBC Books.

The prize is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence, whether living in Canada or abroad.

You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems. The submission will be judged as a whole and must be a maximum of 600 words (including titles). There is no minimum word requirement.

Work that has been published online or in print or recorded for broadcast is considered "previously published" and is not eligible.

While the competition is active, submit online by creating an account through Submittable. A fee of $25 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.

Full contest rules here.

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Note: Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian

 

CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition 

Deadline May 31 2025.

Every entry receives a written evaluation from a traditionally published CANSCAIP member volunteer reader. Entries advancing to the second round receive another evaluation, and entries on the shortlist receive evaluations from each jury member.  

Four $500 cash prizes are awarded to the winning Middle Grade and Young Adult entries, and to the top two Picture Book entries. Two finalists in each category are also selected. The winners and finalists are given time to revise their entries before CANSCAIP submits them to Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Scholastic Canada for evaluations. 

Writers retain full copyright of their entries.

Entries must be in English and can be fiction or nonfiction.

Picture Book: submit complete story up to 1,000 words

Middle Grade or Young Adult: submit first 1,500 words

Text only; no illustrations for all entries

Previously submitted entries may be resubmitted

Eligibility:

Canadian citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18.

Unpublished or self-published writers with no traditionally published books for any age, and not currently under contract with a traditional publisher. 

Writers are eligible if prior publication is limited to articles or other content in collections or anthologies, textbooks, magazines or newspapers, legal or academic publications, etc.

Entry fee:

CANSCAIP Friends: $40 one entry, $70 two entries, $90 three entries. 

Non-members: $50 one entry, $85 two entries, $105 three entries. 

Want to become a Friend to get the lower entry fee? Join before you register.

Complete submission guidelines here.

***

Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian

See all upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

"Writing Kid Lit" – a free workshop in St. Catharines

The St. Catharines Public Library presents: 

Writing Kid Lit – a free workshop

In person: Saturday, October 3
10 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Merritt Branch Library
221 Glendale Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario
On the north side of the Niagara Pen Centre, next to the Dollarama (Map here)

This workshop is for adults (or teens) interested in writing Board Books, Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade books, or Young Adult novels, whether fiction or nonfiction, traditional text or a script for a graphic book. Whether you want to write the next best-selling children’s books or just want to create stories for your own kids, this workshop is for you. Learn how to write stories kids and young adults will love and find out what you need to know to sell your book.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, taught creative writing at Ryerson University, and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.  

See reviews of and works inspired by Brian's classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Registration will open about September 1. Register through the library website here.

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

Get your manuscript ready to submit

Manuscript evaluations

As a book editor, my job to help you make your manuscript as good as it can be. That’s what I’m trained to do. I work with all sorts of fiction and personal stories for adults. In kid lit, I work on everything from board books, to picture books, to middle grade and young adult books, both fiction and nonfiction.

My aim is to tell you what’s working, what’s not, and to explain how to make your manuscript live up to your vision.

For a manuscript evaluation, I’ll have a long Zoom meeting with you to discuss your work’s strengths and weaknesses and to explain what you need to do to develop it to its full publishing potential. 

In addition to the evaluation itself, I’ll mark up your manuscript with detailed comments in the margins and on the backs of pages so that you can see exactly where you're doing something right and where you could make your work stronger, and how to fully develop your manuscript so it’s the very best it can be.

In addition to full manuscripts, I’m also happy to help with shorter projects, such as writing query letters or working with you on your picture book(s) or strategizing on aspects of your manuscript or ideas. But that, I can do throughout the year. In the summer – starting in June – I have time to work on several complete, novel-length projects.

So, if you’d like a spot for your manuscript on my summer schedule, please let me know – as soon as possible, while those spots on my schedule are still open.

What previous clients say:

"Brian’s the real deal.  He isn't just an inspiring teacher – he's plugged into the publishing world! He got me an agent who sold my first novel, to publishers around the world.  My 13th novel, The Awakening – a YA urban fantasy – hit number 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list."

~ Kelley Armstrong, Aylmer, Ontario (Currently, Kelley has about 60 books published)

Hello, Brian. I’m writing to thank you for your help and advice in both tweaking the manuscript and crafting the query letter for my novel, THE NAME’S GEORGE. I’ve had four requests for the full manuscript as well as one request for a partial. I'm thrilled and hopeful that I can write you again soon with news that I’ve secured an agent. Thanks again and all the best,
Shauna Clinning, Oakville, Ontario [P.S. Shauna did get an agent.]

Brian, You helped me re-work my query letter. Before that, I'd queried dozens of agents, and guess how many of them asked to see my manuscript? None. After you helped me rewrite, I sent my new query to six agents and all of them asked to see my full manuscript. It was like I discovered the secret password.  Thank you so much,
~ Sohan S Koonar, Windsor, Ontario. 

“Brian Henry is a skilled query doctor – I've had a look at some queries he's worked on with authors. He took a query that would have been an immediate "Pass" and transformed it to a compelling query that made me want to read the book right away. I highly recommend Brian to any author who is struggling with getting manuscript requests and needs to take their query to the next level.”

~ Michelle Johnson, Literary Agent and Founder of Inklings Literary Agency

P.S. If you want to know how to write a query that’s gets a yes from an agent, you can also come to one of my “How to Get Published” workshops. See here.

Rates: 

For very short works: Query letters and picture book manuscripts

$80 per hour, plus hst. Assume it will take me about an hour to read and to write in suggestions and edits or to rewrite your query, as needed, and then (included in that time) I’ll email you your edited work and we’ll chat on the phone about it.

For short works, to 52 pages (13,000 words): $55, plus $5 per page. 

For example, three 5-page short stories costs:

Each story: $55 + 5 x $5  = $80 + 13% hst = $90.40 x 3 = $271

For longer works, over 52 pages: $210 + $2.00 per page. 

For example, a 200-page manuscript costs:

200 x $2 + $210 = $610 + 13% hst = $689.30

Note: Rates are based on standard length manuscript pages of 250 words. So “per page” means “per 250 words.” Every 1,000 words counts as 4 pages. To calculate the number of standard size pages, multiply your word count by 4 divided by 1,000. For example, a 75,000-word manuscript is 75 x 4 = 300 standard pages. A 50,000-word manuscript is 50 x 4 = 200 standard pages.

Also, add 30 cents per page (includes hst) to partly cover the cost of printing your manuscript and mailing it back to you. 

The easiest and cheapest way to send your manuscript is to email it as an attachment.

And the easiest way to pay is by Interac e-transfer or go old-school and mail your cheque separately.

To reserve a place on my summer schedule, email me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Note: Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian

See all of my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

All three agents at 5 Otter Literary will open for submissions this summer

Casandra, Olga, and Ali

5 Otter Literary

Toronto, Canada

https://fiveotterliterary.com/

5 Otter Literary is a full-service, international literary agency founded by long-time friends and publishing industry colleagues, Olga Filina, Casandra Rodgers, and Ali McDonald, who all previously worked together at The Rights Factory.

5 Otter represents literature across all audiences, categories, genres, and formats, for traditional publishing as well as audio, translation, and film/TV. Olga is currently open for submissions, and this summer, all three of them will be.

Ali McDonald – literary agent and partner

Ali has been an internati0nal literary agent for 15 years and has represented many award-winning and bestselling authors and illustrators. Specializing in children’s and young adult literature, she works on projects ranging from concept and novelty books, board books, picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and new adult fiction and nonfiction, to graphic novels for all ages.

Her clients include international bestselling author Laura Nowlin (If He Had Been With Me, If Only I Had Told Her, and This Song is (Not) For You), and critically-acclaimed author Matteo L. Cerilli (Lockjaw, Something’s Up With Arlo, Bad in the Blood, and Fathom Fall), among select others.

Ali will open for submissions this summer. In the meanwhile, get the jump on other writers; come and hear exactly what Ali’s looking and maybe get her critique of your query letter at our online “How to Get Published” workshop on June 13. Details here.  

Cassandra Rodgers – literary agent and partner 

Cassie has worked with a diverse group of clients on both adult fiction and nonfiction projects. Her clients’ books have been featured in publications such as Oprah, New York Times, and USA Today.

Focused exclusively on adult work, Cassandra is looking for upmarket commercial fiction, historical fiction, and suspense. On the non-fiction side, she is looking for fresh views on topics such as politics, history, science, finance, and sports. Inspiring and meaningful memoirs are always on her wish list.

Cassandra will open for submissions this summer.

Olga Filina – literary agent and partner   

Olga brings over twenty years of book industry experience to her work as an agent. From bookseller and buyer at national and independent bookstore chains, to director of literary festivals, library board member, publishing consultant, independent editor, book reviewer, and founding member of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents, Olga has the specialized knowledge to find the best direction for her clients’ work.

Among fans of Quick Brown Fox, Olga is best known as Kristy Jackson’s agent. Kristy’s first Middle Grade novel, Mortified, was a finalist for a 2024 Governor General’s Award (see here). She's since published a second middle grade novel, Touching Grass (see here), and had two more contracted (see here).

Olga is currently looking for narrative and prescriptive nonfiction projects across all categories, literary and book club fiction, historical fiction, crime, mystery, suspense, and memoir with exceptional writing, focusing on underrepresented voices.

In the children’s space, she is looking for middle grade fiction with memorable characters, contemporary YA, and nonfiction across all categories.

Query Olga at: olga@fiveotterliterary.com

Include the first ten pages of your manuscript or your proposal in the body of the email. No attachments unless requested.

See the 5 Otter submissions page here.

Note: For information about our upcoming “How to Get Published” workshop, where you’ll have a chance to meet a literary agent, see here. 

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. If you're searching for a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post: here.

Join us this summer for “Intensive Creative Writing”

Intensive Creative Writing

Offered online at 2 different times:

Tuesday evenings 6:30 – 9:00
First readings emailed June 30.
Classes: July 7 – August 18 (or to Aug 25 if the class fills up)

Wednesday afternoons 12:30 – 3:00
First readings emailed July 2.
July 8 – August 19 (or Aug 26 if the class fills up)

Note: We also have an online “Writing Personal Stories” course this summer on Tuesday afternoons, July 7 – Aug 18. See all upcoming classes, workshops, and retreats here.

Intensive Creative Writing is not for beginners; it's for people who are working on their own writing projects. You’ll be asked to bring in several pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand-alone pieces, such as short stories or essays. You bring whatever you want to work on. 

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group, and in addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada's most popular blog for writers, taught creative writing at Ryerson University (now called Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.  

Read pieces about ~ or inspired by ~ Brian's retreats, courses and workshops here (and scroll down).

Fee: $256.64 + hst = $290

To reserve your spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See all upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here.

Get new postings from Quick Brown Fox delivered to your In Box as they go up. Subscribe to my Substack here. ~Brian