Join the region's literary community in a competition for cash prizes during the 15th Annual Okanagan Short Story Contest, now officially open and accepting submissions.
All writers in the Southern Interior of British Columbia - east of Hope, west of the Alberta border, north of the U.S. border, and south of William's Lake - may enter their original, unpublished works of fiction.
Nationally renowned author Erin Moure will select the best short stories from the entries. Winners will be awarded $500 for first place, $200 for second, and $100 for third.
The three winning stories will be published in a limited edition chapbook and celebrated at a reading in the spring of 2013.
"There are a number of great reasons to enter the Okanagan Short Story Contest, one of course being our cash prizes, but one of the best reasons to enter is the chance to be read by this year's judge, Erin Moure, one of the most respected poets in Canada and well beyond," said Sonnet L'Abbe, a lecturer in creative writing and poetry with the Department of Creative Studies at UBC's Okanagan campus. (UBC's Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is one of the contest's sponsors.)
"The Okanagan Short Story Contest has a history of attracting internationally-known judges, and this year is no exception," added L'Abbe. "If you have literary aspirations, or have a story or two sitting in a drawer, send something in."
This year's submission deadline is Jan. 4. Entries must be submitted on 8.5 by 11-inch plain white paper, double-spaced and typed. Stories should be previously unpublished works and should range from 1,000 to 4,000 words.
There are no age limits or limits on the number of entries. Each entry must be accompanied by a $15 entry fee, either a money order or cheque, payable to the University of British Columbia.
Complete contest rules can be found at: okstorycontest.org.