Deadline approaching for writing contest

Calling all writers.

The January 31 deadline is fast approaching for the Nanaimo Short Fiction Writing Contest, co-sponsored by the Nanaimo Arts Council and Malaspina University-College Creative Writing department.

First prize is $500 and second prize is $250. Winners will each receive a Malaspina University-College bursary.

Richard Dunstan, an instructor in Malaspina’s Creative Writing department, said the contest is designed to "encourage and recognize the many talented writers in the community."

All short story submissions must be 2000 words or less. Entries above the word limitation will be disregarded. Submissions must include the word count typed on the first page of the entry along with your name, address, phone number and email address.

Entries must be submitted by January 31, 5:30 pm to the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery in Rutherford Mall, #145, 4750 Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 4K6. Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than January 31.

The contest entry fee is $15 per submission, and entrants may submit as many entries as they like. All entries must be typed and double spaced on one side of standard 8½ x 11 paper. All entries must be previously unpublished material and not currently under consideration in any other contest or competition. Entries will not be returned.

Winners of the Nanaimo Short Fiction Writing Contest will be announced in the spring of 2005. Entries will be judged by B.C. novelist Kathy Page, author of Alphabet, The Story of My Face and other works, who currently teaches fiction writing at Malaspina.

For more information, call the Nanaimo Arts Council at (250) 729-3947.