• The first contest entry is free to Children's Writer subscribers who include their Account Number on page one of their manuscript.
• There is no charge for your first manuscript entry if you are a current subscriber to Children's Writer. Additional entries require a reading fee of $15.

• Non-subscribers may enter by submitting a reading fee of $15 (credit card, check or money order accepted).
• The fee will also entitle you to an introductory eight-month subscription to Children's Writer. GST added for Canada.

• You may submit your entries either online or by mail. Please be sure to read and follow the directions carefully for the method you select.
• We cannot return submissions, please retain a copy of your manuscript.
• All manuscript submissions must meet the entry deadline outlined in each contest.

Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced. Please put your name, address, and account number (if a subscriber) on the first page of your manuscript, and your name on all following pages.

To see an example of how to format your contest entry, please click here.

No entries containing violence or derogatory, racist, or sexist language or situations will be accepted, at the sole discretion of the judges. No employees or relatives of employees or former employees of the Institute or its divisions are eligible.

Obtain Official Entry Form or make online submission
You may submit your entry either online, using our safe and secure entry page, or by regular mail. If you choose to submit online, you'll need to complete your manuscript and save it to a file on your computer.

If you need to pay a reading fee you will be directed to the payment section first.

Children's Writer Subscribers (online submission): To submit a free entry online, you will need your Children's Writer account number, which is located in our email to you or on your Children's Writer mailing label in the name/address block. For subscribers who are students, it is the same as your student number. Please click here to continue.

You will be directed to the Free Entry section.

Non-subscribers (online submission): If you do not subscribe to Children's Writer, your online entry is welcome. Please click here to continue.

You will be directed to the section requiring the payment of a $15 reading fee.

For Mail-in Entries: To submit manuscript entries through the mail, please click here to obtain an entry form.

Judges: All entries will be read by faculty and editorial staff members of the Institute. Winners will be notified by mail approximately 105 days after the close of the contest. Once the winners are announced, all entries are released for submission elsewhere.

Winners: The winners will be announced in Children's Writer, which receives first rights to the prize-winning manuscripts, after which all rights revert to the authors.