Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest

Illustration of a hand holding a pencil.

Open call to judges

Ottawa Public Library (OPL) is looking for local authors and storytellers to participate in our annual youth writing contest for 2027. If you are passionate about writing and storytelling and have a strong desire to work with young writers, we invite you to apply to be a judge for the 2027 contest.

 

OPL is looking for contest judges who:

  • Live in the National Capital Region or Host Nations areas

  • Are a published author or professional storyteller of similar status

  • Write for youth audiences or have a strong experience working with youth

  • Have a strong desire to work with youth

  • Can commit to the contest timelines and workload

Strong experience with a contest category is an asset.

 

Judging duties will include:

  • Delivering two (2) writing workshops [60 minutes] at OPL branches or online during the months of January and February.

  • Participating in the judging portion of the contest in March and April.

  • Attend the book launch party in fall 2027 to meet the winners in person and celebrate the publication of the anthology.

     

Judges will be paid an honourarium for participating in the contest.

For a detailed description of the Awesome Author’s Judge Role, please review this document.

 

Key Dates:

Application Period: July 27, 2026 to September 5, 2026

Selection Period: September 5, 2026 to September 29. 2026

Judging applicants will be contacted in early October to discuss selection results and next steps.

 

Application to Judge 2027 Contest

This application will open on July 27, 2026.

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About the contest

The Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest gives young writers, between the ages of 9 and 18, the chance to win awesome prizes, get published and share their talent with the world! This contest would not be possible without the generosity of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association. 

 

Awesome Authors 2027

Contest rules and regulations specific to Awesome Authors contest. This contest is also subject to the Ottawa Public Library’s Contest Rules: OPL contest rules 

  • The contest starts January 11, 2027.

  • Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, February 28, 2027, 11:59 pm. 

  • Open to all youth residing in Ottawa, ages 9 to 18 (must not yet have completed high school) with a valid library card. 

  • Submission by outside residents with a non-resident card (family membership) or Indigenous Library Membership with OPL will be accepted. 

  • There is a limit of one (1) entry per person, per category. The six categories are: short story, poetry, comic, nouvelle, poésie, and bande dessinée. 

  • Winners will be notified by email in May. Please use an email inbox that you are monitoring regularly.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be used to generate ideas, writing, or art for the contest. AI tools that correct spelling or grammar can be used in revising your entry. In the contest entry form, you will be asked if, how and when you used AI in your entry. 

 

All submissions must: 

  • include the title of the piece on each page; 

  • NOT include the author’s name within the submission or file name; 

  • be new, original, previously unpublished work; 

  • NOT use AI generation for ideas, writing or art; 

  • be in French or English; 

  • be submitted electronically through the form on this page. 

 

Poems and short stories must be:  

  • 1000 words or less; 

  • typed and submitted electronically; 

  • written by a single author. 

 

 Comics must be:  

  • drawn on one of the OPL templates, printed on one side of an 8.5” x 11” page; OR drawn using digital tools using 8.5" x 11" format and following the OPL templates; 

  • original drawings only; 

  • one to three pages maximum; 

  • scanned (must be at least 400X400dpi - photo will not be accepted) and/or saved as a PDF, JPG or PNG files and submitted electronically directly on this webpage; 

  • created by one author/illustrator, or two co-authors/illustrators.

 

Please remember: 

  • Complete the online entry form once for each entry (if entering multiple categories). 

  • All winning entries will be checked for plagiarism and use of AI.  

  • Entries that do not follow the above guidelines will be disqualified without notice.

     

Prizes 

  • Winners of 1st, 2nd or 3rd place will see their work published in an anthology featuring the winning entries and be invited to a celebratory book launch in the fall. 

  • Winners of 1st place will receive a Kobo Clara e-reader.  

  • If the 1st place comic entry was created by co-authors (comic book authors only) the two authors will each receive an e-reader. 

  • A participant can submit one work in each category but can only receive one physical prize. For example, a prize of 1st place in the BD category and 1st place in the Short Story category would result in the single prize of an e-reader. 

  • If a 1st place winner was a winner in the 2025 or 2026 contest and already received an e-reader, an alternate prize of similar value will be substituted.  

All submissions must be submitted via the webform. If you would like help with the online form, please visit your local OPL branch, Bookmobile stop or call InfoService (613-580-2940) during operating hours for assistance. Scanning is available at any library branch. If you are under the age of 16, permission from a parent/guardian is required to participate.