Are you an aspiring writer looking for a platform to showcase your talent and potentially earn cash prizes? Look no further than CommuterLit’s writing contests.
With four exciting contests per year covering a range of genres and themes, there is something for every writer to explore and engage with. Whether you are passionate about love stories, poetry, flash fiction, or horror, there is a contest suited to your interests and creative vision.
So fire up your imagination, and get ready to share your stories with the world through CommuterLit.
Submission Guidelines For CommuterLit’s Writing Contests
Before diving into the specifics of each contest, it is essential to understand CommuterLit’s general submission guidelines. While these may vary slightly from contest to contest, here is a breakdown of what you can expect:
- Each contest has a maximum word count limit, so make sure your submission adheres to these guidelines.
- Pay close attention to the submission window for each contest. Submissions made outside of this window will not be considered.
- Ensure your submission follows any formatting requirements specified by CommuterLit. This may include font size, spacing, and file format.
- Submissions must be original works created by the author. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.
- Submissions must be written in English.
- Some contests may allow multiple submissions, while others may have limitations. Check the specific guidelines for each contest.
What They Want
CommuterLit welcomes submissions that captivate, entertain, and provoke thought. Here is what they are looking for in each contest:
1. Valentines Week: Love stories with a maximum word count of 4,000. Whether it’s a tale of romance, heartbreak, or unrequited love, submissions should evoke the essence of Valentine’s Day.
2. Poetry Week: Poems or series of poems with a maximum word count of 1,000. From traditional forms to experimental verse, CommuterLit embraces a wide range of poetic styles and themes.
3. Flash Fiction Week: Flash fiction stories with a maximum word count of 500. These short and impactful narratives should pack a punch, delivering a complete story in a limited space.
4. Halloween Week: Scary stories with a maximum word count of 4,000. Whether it’s supernatural horror, psychological thriller, or spine-tingling suspense, submissions should send shivers down readers’ spines.
What They Don’t Want
While CommuterLit encourages creativity and diversity, there are certain types of submissions they prefer to avoid:
1. Explicit Content: Submissions containing explicit or gratuitous violence, sexual content, or offensive language may be disqualified.
2. Derivative Works: Avoid submitting stories that heavily rely on existing intellectual properties or mimic the work of other authors.
3. Poorly Edited Work: Make sure your submission is polished and free of grammatical errors and typos.
4. Unfinished Stories: Submissions should be complete and self-contained narratives, rather than excerpts or unfinished drafts.
Eligibility Criteria
- Participants must be of legal age to enter the contests.
- While CommuterLit primarily caters to Canadian writers, their contests are open to international submissions.
- Writers with previous publications are welcome to submit their work, provided it meets the contest’s theme and guidelines.
- Some contests may allow multiple submissions from the same author, while others may limit entries to one per person.
- There is no entry fee.
Author Rights
By submitting your work to CommuterLit’s contests, you retain the rights to your original content. However, by accepting the cash prize, you grant CommuterLit non-exclusive rights to publish your work on their platform. This allows them to showcase the winning entries to their readership while ensuring that you receive recognition and compensation for your efforts.
Payment
CommuterLit offers cash prizes to the top submissions in each contest:
1. First Place: CA$100
2. Second Place: CA$50
3. Honourable Mentions: CA$25 (awarded to three submissions)
Winners will receive their cash prizes through the specified payment method outlined by CommuterLit.
Deadline For CommuterLit’s Writing Contests
Each contest has a specific submission window, so be sure to submit your work before the deadline:
1. Valentines Week: Held in February, with submissions typically accepted in January.
2. Poetry Week: Submission window from March 25 to April 15, with winners announced the week of April 25-29.
3. Flash Fiction Week: Submission window from May 6 to May 27, with winners announced the week of June 3-7.
4. Halloween Week: Submission window from September 30 to October 21, with winners announced the week of October 28 – November 1.
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