Yolk welcomes entries to the inaugural Montreal Fiction Prize, a Canadian award for original short stories written in English. The winner will receive $2,000 and publication in Vol. 4.1; second and third place will receive $500 each and publication (either in Vol. 4.1 or a subsequent issue/digital publication).
The contest is open to all Canadian writers. For our publication, we consider this to be:
- Anyone with Canadian citizenship or permanent citizenship, residing here or abroad
- Anyone that currently resides in Canada
We seek original short stories up to 4,000 words on any subject and in any style. The shortlist will be announced the first week of July, and the winners the following week. The entry fee is $15. Contestants can submit more than one story, but will have to submit them individually and pay the entry fee for each story submitted. Before submitting, we strongly encourage you to read our general submission guidelines (Submittable) and our Frequently Asked Questions (below).
Yolk warmly acknowledges the generous support of the Conseil des arts de Montréal in making this contest possible.
A quote from our Editor-in-Chief, Curtis John McRae, about the prize:
“We’re thrilled to be launching a new Canadian fiction prize to further bolster, and provide new and valuable opportunities for, Canadian writers. I believe that through the continued creation of multiple well-remunerated, prestigious Canadian opportunities, our literary organizations foster a healthy ecosystem for emerging and established writers. This is our humble step in that direction. In coexistence with other prizes, contests, and regular publication opportunities, we hope this will encourage writers in the coming years. We’re proud and excited that Ms. Thammavongsa will be our inaugural guest judge, and we look forward to receiving an exciting batch of submissions.”
Souvankham Thammavongsa is the author of four poetry books and the short story collection How to Pronounce Knife, which won the Scotiabank Giller Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her stories have won an O. Henry Award and appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Granta, and Harper's Magazine. She was born in the Lao refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, and lives in Toronto, Canada.
(Photo credit: Steph Martyniuk)
Q: Is this prize only open to Montreal writers?
A: No. Despite the name, this prize is open to all Canadian writers. For our publication, we consider this to be: Anyone with Canadian citizenship or permanent citizenship, residing here or abroad; and anyone that currently resides in Canada
Q: Can I submit multiple entries to the Fiction Prize?
A: Contestants can submit more than one story, but will have to submit them individually and pay the entry fee for each story submitted.
Q: Is there a theme for the prize?
A: No. Although the winners will be published in a print issue with a theme, the contest is handled separately, and no prize submissions are expected to adhere to a theme.
Q: Can I submit to the Fiction Prize and to regular print consideration?
A: Yes, though you'll have to submit to them separately and pay the separate submission fees.
Q: Can I submit the same story to both the Fiction Prize and to regular print consideration?
A: Yes, though we recommend submitting separate stories to increase your odds of publication.
Q: When will I hear back about my story?
A: The shortlist will be announced the first week of July, and the winners the following week.
Q: Are submissions read anonymously?
A: Yes. Therefore, do not include any personal information in your text. Our editors read anonymously—any submissions including personal information (name, email, etc.) within the text will not be considered.
