Calls for Submissions and Etc.

In the Indie Writers’ Deathmatch, the top eight entrants selected by Broken Pencil are pitted against each other two by two. The winning story is decided by Broken Pencil readers themselves, through a vote on the official magazine website. Each week, two stories will be pitted against each other in the online arena, where anyone and everyone can read them and vote on which one deserves to reign supreme.

This year the Deathmatch winner gets a prize pack including a consulation with literary agent Sam Hiyate of the Rights Factory, a feedback session with novelist and Globe and Mail columnist Russell Smith and a feedback session with one of Canada’s top independent presses. All this plus publication in Broken Pencil and cash! The top 3 runners-up get $100 and publication in Spring 2013 issue of Broken Pencil Magazine!

Check the Broken Pencil website for complete contest rules and regulations. Deadline to enter: December 31, 2012.

2) Call for Submissions: Closed Caption’s Pirate Aesthetics Zine (UK)

Pirate content isn’t what it used to be. The physical manifestations of illegal content are becoming lost in a world of removable hard drives and usb sticks. In the not-so-distant past we used to embellish our content with marker pens, drawings or even secret messages. From your excessively-decorated mix CDs to those DVDs that have completely useless titles like ‘New Music’ or ‘Top secret bullshit’, we are celebrating the beautiful and the mundane.

Closed Caption are asking for contributors to dig out any of your physical pirated content. This can be anything from VHS tapes, CDs, mix cassettes, DVDs and take a photograph of them and then send it to us at [email protected].

We are looking to publish this collection in zine form and have an exhibition and release party in early February. Deadline for submissions is January 10th 2013.

3) Writer’s Union of Canada: Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers

Winner and finalists will have their stories submitted to three Canadian magazine publishers for consideration.
Entry Fee: $29 per entry. $2,500 Prize. Cheque or money order made payable to The Writers’ Union of Canada.
Eligible Writers: Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, and all writers who have not been published in book format, in any genre and who do not have a contract with a book publisher.

Eligible Entries: Nonfiction and fiction prose; up to 2,500 words, English language. Not previously published in any format. Multiple submissions are welcome.

How to Submit Entries: Hard copy format only, double-spaced, on numbered pages, plain 8.5” x 11” paper, not stapled, with separate cover letter with full name, address, phone number, e-mail address, number of pages of entry, and whether submission is fiction or non-fiction. Please type name of entrant and title of entry on each numbered page. Manuscripts will not be returned.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked March 1, 2013.

Send entries to: SPC Competition  The Writers’ Union of Canada 90 Richmond St. E, Suite 200 , Toronto, ON, M5C 1P1.

4) Residency: Quest Art (Midland, ON)

Quest Art’s Artist in Residence, a brand new program, will provide opportunities for new, emerging, or established artists to create, explore, learn, exchange ideas, and insights within a multi-disciplinary environment.

Applications, which will be reviewed by an adjudicating committee, are now being accepted for month long residencies in January or February 2013.

An application should include a resume or cover letter, and artist statement, a DVD with 10 accompanying images, a list of professional references as well as a non-refundable application processing fee of $25 payable to Quest Art.

Applications can be dropped off at Quest Art in the Midland Cultural Centre or mailed to Quest Art, c/o Ninette Gyorody, 333 King Street, Midland, ON L4R 3M7. Selected residents must provide their own accommodation as this is not a live-in residency.

The residency includes a 700-square-foot facility, one large window facing north, overlooking the Midland Cultural Centre atrium that provides natural light, professional grade easels, a hanging system (4 walls), storage closet with two sinks as well as tables and chairs.

For more information, please call 705-526-ARTS (2787), or visit our website.

5) Residency: Sparkbox Studio Emerging Artist Award (Prince Edward County, ON)

Beginning your career as an emerging artist can be tough, which is why Spark Box Studio is offering FREE RESIDENCIES to fine art students and emerging artists. This residency opportunity is a unique way for young and emerging artists to cultivate new ideas, access a rich library of arts resources, learn about career-building opportunities, and develop an understanding of the art world from a business perspective.

Six emerging artists will receive a one-week (7 days) residency at our studio in Prince Edward County. The selected applicants will be given a private studio space and given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, winners will be provided with living accommodations for their week-long stay. They will also have access to career guidance from owners Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping, along with local community members. The winter residency award runs from February 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013. Please be advised that the award is for 7 consecutive days.

Applying for the Residency Award gives artists the opportunity to practice an essential business skill in the art world: the application process. Deadline for applications is January 1, 2013.

6) Call for Submissions: Bourbon for Blood Poetry Anthology

Winged City Press and Two of Cups Press announce a call for submissions for the forthcoming anthology tentatively titled BOURBON FOR BLOOD, due out in July 2013.

We are looking for well-crafted, full-bodied poems that mention bourbon. From a passing reference or a traditional ode to your favorite distillery – we have no stylistic preferences other than to demand that your work is top shelf.

Submission guidelines: Send up to three bourbon-related poems to [email protected] by Jan 1, 2013.

Previously published poems are accepted for consideration as long as all the required information is provided in the submission. Contributors will receive one copy with the option to buy additional copies at cost. Bios will be requested if your poem is selected.