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2025 Islands Short Fiction Review Entry Rules

Islands Short Fiction Review (ISFR) is open to writers from Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands in three age categories.

Junior – Ages 12 and under
Youth – Ages 13 to 18
Adult – Ages 19 and over for emerging authors. Professional writers and authors with multiple publications are ineligible for this competition.

Short Fiction of up to 2,000 words. Winners share $2,000 in awards!

Online registration is open from: February 24 to 11:59 pm, March 15, 2025.

Submission requirements:

  • The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm (Postmarked by March 15)
  • Your name MUST NOT appear on any part of your submission except the entry form.
  • ISFR is limited to residents of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
  • Judges will accept stories of up to 2,000 words; entries over the word count will not be considered.
  • Entries must not be previously published. Submissions which have placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a previous ISFR event may not be entered again.
  • We accept online entries (doc, docx or pdf formats only).
  • The Nanaimo Arts Council (NAC) will announce the winners in late April and at the Award Ceremony. We will notify participants about the time and date of the ceremony before the event.
  • Winners may be required to submit proof of identity and age to receive an award.

Entry Fees

  • There are no fees for entries in the Junior and Youth categories, but authors are limited to one entry.
  • The Adult entry fee is $10 for members and $35 for non-members for each story submission. Non-members are welcome to join the NAC ($20) and submit an entry at the $10 rate. Go to https://nanaimoartscouncil.ca/memberships/ to join now.
  • Payment must be received before judges will consider a submission.
  • Payment options include: 1) e-Transfer to nacfrontdesk@gmail.com or 2)
    online via the online submission form.

Author Categories & Awards $2,000

Junior Authors

First prize: $75 cash & $75 gift certificate
Second prize: $50 cash & $50 gift certificate
Third prize: $25 cash & $25 gift certificate
All Junior Entries: Certificate of Achievement

Youth Authors

First prize: $125 cash & $75 gift certificate
Second prize: $100 cash & $50 gift certificate
Third prize: $75 cash & $25 gift certificate
All Youth Entries: Certificate of Achievement

Adult Authors

First prize: $650 cash
Second: $350 cash
Third: $250 cash

NAC will present the winners at an award ceremony and reading. Results will be announced via press release, on social media, online at www.nanaimoartscouncil.ca, and in the NAC newsletter. Subject to permission from the authors, NAC will publish the first, second and third place stories in each category on the NAC website. Questions? Please contact nacfrontdesk@gmail.com.

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