True Stories Contest

Presented by Cedar Farmers Market

True Stories Contest

Welcome to the inaugural 2021 True Stories Contest from the Cedar Farmers Market!

We are offering $850 in cash prizes to local aspiring writers.

This all-ages creative writing contest is open to all residents of Ladysmith, the City of Nanaimo, and the Regional District of Nanaimo. Submissions must be true non-fiction stories that fall within the themes of the farmers market, such as: Grow, Make, Eat, Build, Forage, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship.

Prizes

Grand Prize: $400
1st Runner-Up: $200
2nd Runner-Up: $150
Best Student Submission: $100

* Students born in 2003 or later are eligible for all prizes

Read the press release here.
Check out our ‘Topics & Prompts’ here.
Check out our full rules and guidelines here.

Poster Art

Artwork by Lindsay Ford of Bread and Clutter books.

Guest Judges

The True Stories Contest shortlist of submissions will be judged by well-known local literary figures: New York Times bestselling author, Chevy Stevens; author and illustrator, Lindsay Ford; Take5 magazine’s publisher and editor, Marina Sacht; and BC bestselling author, Hayley Healey.

Important Info

Deadlines
Contest Open: October 7th, 2021
Contest Closed: November 30th, 2021 11:59 PM PST

Rules Overview
Submissions must be 1,000 – 2000 words, original and unpublished non-fiction, and written by the submitter.

Rights
Participants retain rights to their submissions.
Participants grant us (Cedar Farmers Market) allowance to share their short stories for publication and publicity, including online, on our website, and on our various social media platforms.

Entry Fee: None
Submissions per person per year: 1

Program Objectives

● To engage the local population, students and adults alike, in writing and in the creative arts.
● To create an online event that is accessible to all local residents, regardless of health barriers and regardless of the varying COVID-related restrictions on events.
● To encourage local residents to think about the goals and topics that are the driving principles of the farmers market, such as sustainability, farming & growing food, arts &
culture, skill-building, entrepreneurship, etc.
● To promote local literacy.
● To promote local aspiring writers; to convert aspiring writers to ‘published writers’.
● To inspire and engage youth.

Writing Topics & Prompts

Submissions must be true non-fiction stories that fall within the themes of the farmers market, such as: Grow, Make, Eat, Build, Forage, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship.

Check out our ‘Topics & Prompts’ here.

Ready to Submit?

Check out our rules and guidelines here.
Please note, entries must be in .pdf format.

Questions? [email protected]

Stories MUST be entered below and will not be accepted via email.