Events & Workshops

The Guild Prize is an exclusive writing contest for our members. This contest is open to any current Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild member living in Saskatchewan or elsewhere. The Guild Prize is a contest that runs twice a year: in the Fall (flash fiction) and Spring (poetry) with a new theme for each round.

The Fall 2023 contest genre will be flash fiction, defined as fiction at or below 500 words.  Submissions must be received on the theme of “secrets.”

The stories we’re interested in for the Guild Prize in Flash Fiction reflect on the theme of “secrets.” This might include reflections on the act of keeping a secret, finding out a secret, how and why secrets form between people, family secrets, the consequences of secrets, or what makes a good secret. Any way you conceive of secrets is welcome.

The winner of The Guild Prize will receive an award of $250 plus paid publication in the Fall 2023 issue of Freelance (released October 2023).

Contest Guidelines

This contest is open to current Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild members who may be living in Saskatchewan or elsewhere.

Members may submit up to three flash fiction entries.

The fee for entry is $10 for one entry or $25 for up to three entries.

Each entry must be original, unpublished, not submitted elsewhere for publication or broadcast, nor accepted elsewhere for publication or broadcast, nor entered simultaneously in any other contest or competition.

Work that has appeared online is considered published and is not eligible.

Entries must be submitted with a completed online application form. Up to three entries may be submitted with the application form.

All entries in this contest will be judged anonymously, on merit alone.

Do not print, type, or write your name on the text pages of your entry.

The judge’s decision is final.

Entries must follow these guidelines:

• Entries must be in English
• Be 500 words or less
• Use plain text fonts (i.e. Times New Roman, Arial or Courier) in black
• 12-point font
• Double-spaced with 1-inch margins
• Do NOT include your name
• Must be in Word doc files – we will not accept PDF, Google docs or other formats
• Mailed, faxed or paper entries will not be accepted  
• Each flash fiction story must be attached to the application form as an INDIVIDUAL Word file. For example, for three entries, there should be three individual files

Please submit payment online, or call the SWG Office at 306-791-7740 to make alternate payment arrangements.

The winning entry will be published in the Fall 2023 issue of Freelance and will be paid current Freelance rates for their publication. The name and title of one honourable mention will be named in the Fall 2023 issue of Freelance.

The name of the judge will be announced when the winner is announced.

Submission and payment is a two-step process.

First: Fill out the below form, hit "Submit Now".

Second: Make your payment in the payment section on this page. Note, if you wish to enter three entries, choose the appropriate payment option.