Vancouver Writers Fest: Youth Writing Contest 2025

Recently, I posted about the Sheree Fitch Prize for teen writers in New Brunswick. So I'm very pleased to share a writing contest for youth from the West Coast. Vancouver Writers Fest also has a writing contest but for BC youth in Grades 5 through 12. Details for entering the contest are posted below as well as VWF website at https://writersfest.bc.ca/youth/youth-writing-contest.

 

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WHO MAY ENTER?

There are two contests open for submissions:

• An elementary school youth writing contest is open to students in Grades 5-7 (in school or home-schooled) who reside in British Columbia
• A high school youth writing contest is open to BC students in Grades 8-12 (also either in school or home-schooled)

 

 

WHAT TO SUBMIT?

The contest is looking for previously unpublished short stories and personal essays: 

• 1,000 word limit (for the elementary school youth writing contest) 
• 1,500 word limit (for the high school youth writing contest)

Formats for entries:

• Use .doc, .docx, or .pdf files
• Use standard margins, 12-point font and double spacing. 
• Do not put your name anywhere in the file itself or in the file name. (Judging is blind.) 

 

 

HOW TO ENTER?

Submit by the deadline of Saturday, May 31, 2025 through the following links:

• For the elementary school youth writing contest: https://writersfest.bc.ca/elementary-school-contest-entry
• For the high school youth writing contest: https://writersfest.bc.ca/high-school-contest-entry

(Links are also posted on the VWF website at https://writersfest.bc.ca/youth/youth-writing-contest) 

HOW WILL SUBMISSIONS BE JUDGED?

Entries will be judged blind. (So don't put your name anywhere in the file uploaded or even in the file name. Your name will be linked through your entry form at the links above.)

 

This year's judges are:

• Jamie Fong, Children’s Librarian at Vancouver Public Library (for the elementary school youth writing contest)
• Shannon Ozirny, Head of Youth Services at the West Vancouver Memorial Library (for the high school youth writing contest)

 

 

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

For the elementary school youth writing contest:

• First prize winner receives $100 and publication in the VWF Books & Ideas Newsletter, plus social media shout-out, and a certificate from Vancouver Writers Fest
• Second prize winner receives $50 and publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter, and a certificate from Vancouver Writers Fest

For the high school youth writing contest:

• First prize winner receives $200 and publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter, plus social media shout-out, and a certificate from Vancouver Writers Fest
• Second prize winner receives $100 and publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter, and a certificate from Vancouver Writers Fest

 

Good luck to all young writers in British Columbia!

 

 

Vancouver Writers Fest (October 18-24, 2021)

The Vancouver Writers Fest is again presenting a stellar list of authors in dozens of virtual, in-person and hybrid events. While many BC readers have been able to partake in the VWF over its 30+ years, virtual events have now opened up possibilities for young readers across Canada to enjoy these same events.  I encourage teachers and parents to check out the plethora of author events at this year's VWF, to be held from October 18-24, knowing that there is something for everyone here.

 

To help get you interested, let me tell you about the events featuring Canadian authors of books for young readers. Then you can head to the festival website, check out this year's Program Guide, look into all their youth events, or book a visiting author as part of their Writers in the Classroom.

 

 

Scheduled Events  

(of Canadian authors for youth)

Monday, October 18, 2021

 

9:30 AM

Caroline Adderson

Sunny Days Inside and Other Stories

Reviewed here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:00 AM

Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson

When You Get the Chance

Reviewed here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2:00 PM

Wab Kinew

Walking in Two Worlds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

 

9:30 AM

David A. Robertson

On the Trapline

Illustrated by Julie Flett 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:00 AM

Jen Sookfong Lee

Finding Home: The Journey of Immigrants and Refugees

 

 

 

and 

Lois Peterson

Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

9:30 AM

Ashley Spires

Burt the Beetle Doesn't Bite!

Reviewed here

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:00 AM

Sarah Raughley

The Bones of Ruin

 

 

and

Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow

Thursday, October 21, 2021

9:30 AM

David A. Robertson

The Great Bear (The Misewa Saga, Book 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:00 AM

Susin Nielsen

Tremendous Things

and 

Peyton Thomas

Both Sides Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2:00 PM

Gordon Korman

Linked

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writers in the Classroom

 

The Vancouver Writers Fest also organizes a program called Writers in the Classroom which provides opportunities for young readers to connect with authors. This year, sixteen authors offer virtual presentations for classes from Grades 1-12. Deadline to apply for an author visit is September 30, 2021 and are booked on a first come, first serve basis, so teachers are encouraged not to delay. Details may be found at https://writersfest.bc.ca/youth#writers-in-the-classroom.

 

Hope young readers get to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to listen to some Canadian authors of books for young people read and speak about their books. 

It's sure to be a great author event.

 

The 2020 Vancouver Writers Fest

The Vancouver Writers Fest, inaugurated in 1988, was named the best large literary festival in Canada by the Canadian Tourism Commission in 2010.  Held this year from October 19-25, 2020, though there are events that extend before and after that special week, the Vancouver Writers Fest hosts countless Canadian (names bolded below) and international authors  of books for adults and youth in interviews and panel discussions. Because the event is completely online this year, it is a great opportunity to visit a stellar writers festival without the travel. Even more special, all Youth events are FREE (or Pay-What-You-Can) to attend, though you must book a ticket at https://writersfest.bc.ca/2020-festival/box-office/. (Tickets went on sale on September 15 so don't wait to get them.)

• • • • • • • •

Here is the listing of YOUTH EVENTS for this year's online Vancouver Writers Fest:


Monday October 19, 2020

11 AM (PST)

This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes: A Morning with Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Gr. 6-9

Details

 

 

 

2 PM (PST)

Hope Matters: An Afternoon with Elin Kelsey
Gr. 8-12

Details

 

 

 

 

Tuesday October 20, 2020

11 AM (PST)

Fatty Legs: On Courage and Bravery with Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton and Christy Jordan-Fenton
Gr. 3-6

Details

 

 

 

2 PM (PST)

The Barren Grounds: An Afternoon with David A. Robertson
Gr. 5+

Details

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

11 AM (PST) 

Hatch & Bloom: A Morning with Kenneth Oppel
Gr. 5-9

Details
 

 

 

2 PM (PST)

I Didn't Do What You Told Me with A. S. King, Sybil Lamb and David A. Robertson
Gr. 8-12

Details

 

Thursday, October 22, 2020

11 AM (PST)

Yorick and Bones: A Morning with Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard
Gr. 3-6

Details

Do check out all the offerings for adults and youth at the Vancouver Writers Fest site (https://writersfest.bc.ca/2020-festival/2020-festival-events/) as there are many more events with well-known Canadian authors of books for adults, as well as with non-Canadian authors of some renown.

The Vancouver Writers Fest 2013 (Vancouver)

As it has for the past 25 years, the Vancouver Writers Fest will revisit Granville Island for six days in October to share books, readings, thoughts, perspectives and self.  This year from October 22 to 27, the Vancouver Writers Festival will host over 100 Canadian and international authors of adult, children's and young adult books.  For more details, check out their website at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/

Below I've listed most of the children's and young adult authors scheduled to appear during the upcoming festival:

• Dan Bar-el, author of Dream Boats, That One Spooky Night, Things are Looking Grimm, Jill
• Rachelle Delaney, author of The Metro Dogs of Moscow, The Ship of Lost Souls, and The Lost Souls of Island X
• Rhéa Dufresne, l'auteure de Arachnéa
• Frank B. Edwards, author of Bug, A Dog Called Dad, Frogger and a biography of Robert Munsch
• Deborah Ellis, author of fiction and non-fiction, including Looks Like Daylight: Voices of Indigenous Kids, My Name is Parvana, The Heaven Shop, and The Breadwinner
• Cary Fagan, children's fiction author of Oy Feh So?, Mr. Zinger's Hat, The Boy in the Box and The Fortress of Kaspar Snit 
• Julie Flett, author of Wild Berries/Pakwa Che Menisu, Owls See Clearly at Night/Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer: A Michif Alphabet/L'Alfabet Di Michif
• Tomson Highway, author of Caribou Song, and numerous adult books
• Shar Levine, non-fiction author of Scary Science: 25 Creepy Experiments, Snowy Science, and Hockey Science: 25 Winning Experiments
• Elizabeth MacLeod, children's non-fiction author of A History of Just About Everything, Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History's Mysteries, Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns and Everything But the Kitchen Sink
• Ashley Spires, author and illustrator of Larf, Small Saul, Binky the Space Cat and Binky Under Pressure
• Kathy Stinson, author of The Man With the Violin, Highway of Heroes, and What Happened to Ivy
• Meg Tilly, children's author of A Taste of Heaven and Porcupine  
• Teresa Toten, YA author of The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B, The Taming, and Me and the Blondes 
• Eric Walters, picture book and middle-grade fiction author of My Name is Blessing, The Matatu, Camp X, and Between Heaven and Earth 
• Frieda Wishinsky, picture book and non-fiction author of A History of Just About Everything, Everything But the Kitchen Sink: Weird Stuff You Didn't Know about Food, Give Maggie a Chance, Canadian Flyer Adventures series, and Where Are You Bear?