Prize Guidelines - CREATIVE NONFICTION CATEGORY

Winners: $10,000; Finalists: $2,500

To be eligible for the 2026 award, candidates must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
2. Not have published, or have a contract to publish, a full-length book with a traditional publisher. Self-published books and chapbooks do not count as disqualifying. Publication in anthologies or journals is permitted.
3. Have at least one publication credit an in independently edited literary magazine or anthology. Journalistic sources are also eligible, provided the applicant’s work is literary journalism rather than reportage. This publication credit must be in the genre of the category to which the candidate applies.

Qualifying publication credit details

• Candidates must have at least one publication credit.
• The literary magazine, anthology, or journalistic source must have an independent editorial process (i.e., the work was selected for inclusion by an editor or review board).
• Online literary magazines are eligible, provided they also meet the editorial review requirement. Candidates applying with online publications must supply working links to the piece(s) and the publication’s website.
• Publication credits obtained through educational institution programs (such as in-house program journals or anthologies) are not eligible.

To submit an entry:

• Eligible candidates should submit up to 10 pages, with a maximum 2,500 words, of previously unpublished work.
• Candidates grant Writers’ Trust of Canada permission to publish their work in print and digital formats should they be shortlisted (all rights reserved by the writer). 
• For more information, see our eligibility and submission FAQ.

NOTE: once you click submit, your submission is final and is automatically sent to jurors. Please ensure that you are happy with your submission and that it is in its final form before submitting.

Formatting guidelines: 

• Give your submission one overall title. Include the title at the top of your manuscript and in the file name of your PDF, and ensure both match the name given for your submission. Please do not include a title page.
• Your manuscript must not include your name or any identifying information. 
• Include consecutively numbered page numbers. 
• Do not use large images within your manuscript. 
• Use any font you wish in 11 or 12 point size. 

Submissions for the 2026 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award opened on Tuesday, October 14 and will close on Tuesday, December 2 at 11:59PM PST.

 
Three creative nonfiction finalists will be announced in mid-April 2026. The winner will be announced in June. All applicants will be invited to literary career development webinars in March 2026.

For more information, please visit writerstrust.com or contact:

Devon Jackson, Associate Program Director
djackson@writerstrust.com

Prize Guidelines - POETRY CATEGORY

Winners: $10,000; Finalists: $2,500

To be eligible for the 2026 award, candidates must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
2. Not have published, or have a contract to publish, a full-length book with a traditional publisher. Self-published books and chapbooks do not count as disqualifying. Publication in anthologies or journals is permitted.
3. Have at least one publication credit an in independently edited literary magazine or anthology. This publication credit must be in the genre of the category to which the candidate applies.

Qualifying publication credit details

• Candidates must have at least one publication credit.
• The literary magazine or anthology must have an independent editorial process (i.e., the work was selected for inclusion by an editor or review board).
• Online literary magazines are eligible, provided they also meet the editorial review requirement. Candidates applying with online publications must supply working links to the piece(s) and the publication’s website.
• Publication credits obtained through educational institution programs (such as in-house program journals or anthologies) are not eligible.

To submit an entry:

• Eligible candidates should submit up to 10 pages of previously unpublished work.
• Candidates grant Writers’ Trust of Canada permission to publish their work in print and digital formats should they be shortlisted (all rights reserved by the writer). 
• For more information, see our eligibility and submission FAQ.

NOTE: once you click submit, your submission is final and is automatically sent to jurors. Please ensure that you are happy with your submission and that it is in its final form before submitting.

Formatting guidelines: 

• Give your submission one overall title. Include the title at the top of your manuscript and in the file name of your PDF, and ensure both match the name given for your submission. Please do not include a title page.
• Your manuscript must not include your name or any identifying information. 
• Include consecutively numbered page numbers. 
• Do not use large images within your manuscript. 
• Use any font you wish in 11 or 12 point size. 

Submissions for the 2026 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award opened on Tuesday, October 14 and will close on Tuesday, December 2 at 11:59PM PST.

 
Three poetry finalists will be announced in mid-April 2026. The winner will be announced in June. All applicants will be invited to literary career development webinars in March 2026.

  For more information, please visit writerstrust.com or contact:

Devon Jackson, Associate Program Director
djackson@writerstrust.com

Prize Guidelines - SHORT FICTION CATEGORY

Winners: $10,000; Finalists: $2,500

To be eligible for the 2026 award, candidates must:

1. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
2. Not have published, or have a contract to publish, a full-length book with a traditional publisher. Self-published books and chapbooks do not count as disqualifying. Publication in anthologies or journals is permitted.
3. Have at least one publication credit an in independently edited literary magazine or anthology. This publication credit must be in the genre of the category to which the candidate applies.

Qualifying publication credit details

• Candidates must have at least one publication credit.
• The literary magazine or anthology must have an independent editorial process (i.e., the work was selected for inclusion by an editor or review board).
• Online literary magazines are eligible, provided they also meet the editorial review requirement. Candidates applying with online publications must supply working links to the piece(s) and the publication’s website.
• Publication credits obtained through educational institution programs (such as in-house program journals or anthologies) are not eligible.

To submit an entry:

• Eligible candidates should submit up to 10 pages, with a maximum 2,500 words, of previously unpublished work.
• Candidates grant Writers’ Trust of Canada permission to publish their work in print and digital formats should they be shortlisted (all rights reserved by the writer). 
• For more information, see our eligibility and submission FAQ.

NOTE: once you click submit, your submission is final and is automatically sent to jurors. Please ensure that you are happy with your submission and that it is in its final form before submitting.

Formatting guidelines: 

• Give your submission one overall title. Include the title at the top of your manuscript and in the file name of your PDF, and ensure both match the name given for your submission. Please do not include a title page.
• Your manuscript must not include your name or any identifying information. 
• Include consecutively numbered page numbers. 
• Do not use large images within your manuscript. 
• Use any font you wish in 11 or 12 point size. 

Submissions for the 2026 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award opened on Tuesday, October 14 and will close on Tuesday, December 2 at 11:59PM PST.

 
Three short fiction finalists will be announced in mid-April 2026. The winner will be announced in June. All applicants will be invited to literary career development webinars in March 2026.

For more information, please visit writerstrust.com or contact:

Devon Jackson, Associate Program Director
djackson@writerstrust.com