There is still time to get your creative juices flowing to compete for the Norfolk Literacy Prize.
The Norfolk County Public Library encourages writers and poets to submit their original work for this year’s contest.
Once known as the Write for Fun Contest, The Norfolk Literacy Prize will continue with paperless submissions from recipients.
Writers will have the option to write a short story no longer than 2,500 words or a poem of any length.
“I wanted to kind of rebrand the whole writing contest,” said Belinda Smith, virtual library coordinator at the NCLP.
Smith said the competition was changed from the Write for Fun Contest to the Norfolk Literacy Prize due to previous submissions that covered serious topics.
“I didn’t want the contest to undermine the content that we were getting. I wanted to elevate the prestige behind the writing contest. So, that’s why we changed it to the Norfolk Literary Prize; it’s basically the same writing contest, just bit more grown up.”
There are three age categories for contestants to submit their work: 9 to 13 years of age, 14 to 17 and 18 years and older.
People can submit up to two entries in the short story and poetry categories.
First, second and third place winners will receive a cash prize.
All work must be submitted before the July 31 deadline.
“With the three different age categories we get a huge range of topics within the short story category. We get people submitting short stories that are covering autobiographical, fiction and all kinds of topics,” said Smith.
“Poems submitted cover topics like suicide, love and nature, it’s really whatever the writer is inspired by, we get everything.”
Smith said the library hopes to host an in-person award ceremony in mid-fall at one of NCPL’s branches with a visit from a guest speaker or a panel. Winners will be announced at the event.
Last year, there were 80 submissions. Smith said she hopes that number to double or triple for this year.
Smith said her favorite aspect about the contest is that she gets to connect with people who share a passion for writing and love to show off their work.
“It just really represents Norfolk County and how much talent we have. It’s a contest but there is no competition between the people. Everybody is just so generous in supporting and encouraging each other, it’s so inspiring.”
To upload a submission and for entry details visit ncpl.ca.