Dear Members:
We hope that the new year has treated each and every one of you so far. It's been a busy time for us behind the scenes here at the PEI Writers' Guild and we're excited to share some of the exciting offerings we have for Island writers over the coming months.
Our peiwritersguild.com website has recently been updated with upcoming monthly events, group gatherings, workshops, as well as some new additions (make sure to check out the new PROGRAMS page featuring the Page to Pitch program!) and we're currently working on some other new items soon to be introduced as well, including the development of a provincial writing group directory!
In this January edition of the PEIWG newsletter you'll find:
- Events, workshops, and even more events planned for right around the corner!
- The return of our fierce but friendly Battle Tales writing contest!
- Regional and national writing prize opportunities!
- Page to Pitch screenwriting development program news and updates!
- Monthly PEIWG offerings!
While we do our best to include as much as possible into our newsletter from the PEI literary world and beyond, there are always some things that we're bound to miss, but YOU can help us out! If something catches your eye that could benefit from being in our newsletter, please gather some basic information regarding it and send that along to **newsletter@peiwritersguild.com**. We'll do our best to include it in our very next issue.
Have your voice HEARD - join the PEIWG Board of Directors!
CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS
The PEI Writers’ Guild is inviting folks to submit their interest in being a part of our Board of Directors.
Over the years we've been fortunate enough to have some of the most dedicated and inspiring volunteers who have a great love for PEI writing as members of this Board of Directors, and we're looking to carry that tradition forward. Now couldn't be a more exciting time to join and we hope that you (or someone you know who may be a good fit) consider joining!
Prior board experience is not required. A passion for writing, the arts, and community is.
If you’re interested in learning more about this or putting your name forward, please take a few minutes to fill out the form in the link below!
Events
A Night at The Gallery - Monthly Open Mic!
A NIGHT AT THE GALLERY – OPEN MIC
- Every 4th Thursday of the month
- 7:00–8:30 PM
- The Gallery Coffee House & Bistro
- **82 Great George Street, Charlottetown**
Open to all and FREE to attend.
Join us for our monthly PEIWG Open Mic - a welcoming, supportive evening where writers of all levels and genres are invited to share their work in a casual, encouraging atmosphere.
Please note that reader sign-up is in person!
Writers can add their name to the sign-up sheet at the venue before the event begins.
Each month features a writing prompt for inspiration, but participants are welcome to share any writing of their choice — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, spoken word, or something entirely different.
February’s prompt: “lunar tides”
First-time readers are especially encouraged! You won’t find a more welcoming place to share your work.
Priority on the readers’ list is given to PEIWG members, but everyone is welcome.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Workshops
The Path to Traditional Publishing - workshop with Caitlyn Paxson
THE PATH TO TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING with CAITLYN PAXSON
There are many ways to get a book out into the world, but if you’re aiming to publish with a traditional press, there’s a process to follow.
Join author Caitlyn Paxson as she walks you through her own path to publishing, offering practical insight on:
- Preparing a manuscript for submission
- Finding and querying literary agents
- Understanding what happens after you submit
Participants will also have the chance to begin drafting an agent query letter and ask questions about the business side of publishing.
About the facilitator
Caitlyn Paxson has a background in creative writing and cultural history and has worked as an artistic director of storytelling performances, a harpist, a book reviewer, a 19th-century jack-of-all-trades, a shepherdess, and even a fake Victorian spirit medium.
Her debut novel, A Widow’s Charm, is forthcoming from Doubleday Canada in March 2026.
Event details
- Saturday, February 21
- 12:00–3:00 PM
- The Guild, 111 Queen Street, Charlottetown
Registration fees
- PEIWG members: $30
- Non-members: $40
- Students (under 18): $25
Not a PEIWG member yet?
Membership takes just a few minutes to sign up and includes 15–25% off workshops and programming throughout the year.
Lorna Crozier
LORNA CROZIER VISITING PEI: READINGS & WORKSHOPS
Award-winning Canadian poet Lorna Crozier will be visiting Prince Edward Island this March for a public reading and a series of writing workshops.
Lorna Crozier is the author of more than 20 books of poetry and nonfiction and is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most influential contemporary poets. She is a prestigious Member of the Order of Canada and her writing is frequently taught and anthologized across the country.
Public reading
- Thursday, March 19
- 7:00 PM
- Schurman Market Square, Business Building
Workshops
Lorna Crozier will be offering two half-day workshops on Saturday, March 21, both held in UPEI's Main 335 (next to the English Lounge):
- The Free-Verse Line
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM - Prose Poetry
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Writers are welcome to register for **one or both** workshops.
To register, please email Richard Lemm directly at rlemm@upei.ca.
Further workshop descriptions and requirements will be shared with writers ahead of the sessions.
MONTHLY POETRY CLUB
- Sat, February 7th, 2026 (every 1st Saturday of the month!)
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Voluntary Resource Centre, 81 Prince Street, Charlottetown (new location)
Exclusively for PEIWG members.
If you aren’t a member yet and want to check out Poetry Club, you’re welcome to come give it a try first to see what you think!
This club is for folks who LOVE poetry. We meet on the 1st Saturday of every month at 10:00am at the Voluntary Resource Centre (81 Prince Street, Charlottetown) to discuss poetry that we love.
The Poetry Club has two goals:
- To discuss poetry written by other poets that we love
- To share and discuss one piece of poetry you have written, if you feel like sharing
We start by sharing poems we love by other poets and discussing them together. Once everyone has had a chance to share, anyone who would like to share one of their own poems and receive feedback is welcome to do so. Please bring a book of poetry, a printout, or any piece of poetry you love to share with the group. Sharing your own work is always optional.
If you have work to share at the meeting, please email 1–2 poems to vanessaraebradley@gmail.com by the Wednesday before the meeting.
Not a PEIWG member yet?
Membership gives you access to exclusive programming like this, plus a 15% discount on future writing workshops and ticketed programming. Become a member by clicking HERE!
Monthly PEIWG Writers' Social
- Sat, February 14th, 2026 (every 2nd Sat of the month!)
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Bar1911, 113 Longworth Avenue, Charlottetown
Our organization (and our members) believe that one of the best things a writer can do is simply spend time around other writers. With the help of dedicated volunteers from our membership, we’re excited to host a monthly Writers’ Social in Charlottetown.
This is a casual, drop-in gathering for writers of all backgrounds and genres to connect, share ideas, and help us continue building our writing community over coffee or tea.
This event is FREE to attend and open to PEIWG members and non-members alike.
Outside of Charlottetown or located elsewhere on PEI? Not to worry — we’re working to expand these monthly socials to other parts of the Island in the months ahead.
PEIWG Writing Group!
PEIWG MONTHLY WRITING GROUP
- Sat, February 21st, 2026 (every 3rd Saturday of the month!)
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Bar1911, 113 Longworth Avenue, Charlottetown
Exclusively for PEIWG members
Looking to share your writing, connect with other local and like-minded writers, and grow your craft in a supportive environment? This monthly creative writing group is for writers seeking a consistent community to share their work and receive constructive feedback.
Together, we aim to create a safe space where writers can share, read, workshop, and develop their writing skills.
This writing group is great for writers of any genre including fiction, creative nonfiction, short fiction, scripts, memoir, and more. Poets are encouraged to check out our monthly Poetry Club which highlights poetry! If you don’t have writing to share, not a worry, you’re still welcome to attend, participate, and meet other members of the community.
If you would like to participate in the writing group, please email 3–5 pages (maximum) of writing to Jo at jo.godden79@gmail.com by the Wednesday before the meeting.
Further questions?
Email admin@peiwritersguild.com
Contests, Prizes, Residencies, & More!
Page to Pitch - screenwriting development program RETURNS!
CALL FOR WRITERS: PAGE TO PITCH RETURNS IN 2026
Page to Pitch is a screenwriting development program designed for emerging and experienced writers who are interested in exploring or entering the world of film and television screenwriting and visual storytelling, and in developing projects toward industry-ready pitches.
What to know
- Submissions open in March
- Program begins in May and concludes with a live pitch finale in October as part of Anchor Fest **(formally known as the Charlottetown Film Festival)**.
- 2026 programming includes a minimum of 3 weekend intensives facilitated by nationally recognized writers and industry insiders, one-on-one mentorship, and extensive project pitch development leading up to the program finale.
- $15,000 in project development funding will be awarded to participating writers following the final pitch event.
Many common questions about the program (including eligibility, timelines, and expectations) are answered in the FAQ section of the program page.
Battle Tales 11 is coming!
BATTLE TALES 11 IS COMING
The most glorious and friendliest of somewhat competitive writing contests in the history of all writing contests is returning in the Spring of 2026!!! BATTLE TALES is back for it's 11th edition and we could not be more excited! This annual, friendly writing contest is our high-fun, low-stakes, one-week writing challenge for all PEI writers and we sincerely hope that you join us.
Each and every year writers are given a set of 3 writing prompts and are then challenged to craft an original 2500 word short story (of any genre) that incorporates those prompts creatively, all within a 7-day window. Entries are submitted anonymously and judged entirely on the creativity and craft of their story.
As is our new tradition, the Battle Tales writing contest is guest judged by our previous year's CHAMPION, so that means that our judge this year will be our 2025 Battle Tales Champion...Jennifer Platts-Fanning!
All further contest details will be shared leading up to the Battle Tales contest in the spring, but for now we wanted to remind you to mentally prep for a writing battle!
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: HOLIDAY STORIES ANTHOLOGY
PRESS RELEASE
Contact
Richard Lemm
rllemm@upei.ca
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: HOLIDAY STORIES ANTHOLOGY
Acorn Press invites submissions for an anthology of holiday writing by PEI writers, with a focus on celebrations such as Christmas, Yule, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Eid, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Kwanzaa.
This anthology will be a successor to the highly popular Snow Softly Falling: Holiday Stories from Prince Edward Island (Acorn Press, 2015).
There is no requirement for Island-based content — stories may be set anywhere.
Who can submit
Writers must have a significant connection to Prince Edward Island, such as:
- Born or raised in PEI
- Lived in PEI for at least six months in the past two years
- Another strong connection (for example, a summer residence)
Writers should indicate their PEI connection in their cover letter.
What you can submit
- Fiction or creative nonfiction (including personal essays)
- Maximum of 2 submissions
- Up to 3,500 words per piece
- Maximum of 2 submissions
- Poetry
- Maximum of 5 poems
- Up to 10 pages total
- Maximum of 5 poems
Submission guidelines
- Submissions must be unpublished
- All submissions must be typed and submitted by email as a Word document
- Prose should be double-spaced
- Poetry should be single-spaced
- Include a cover letter with:
- Your PEI connection
- Email address
- Phone number
- Your PEI connection
How to submit
Send submissions by email to the co-editors:
- Lee Ellen Pottie
- Richard Lemm
📧 lpottie@upei.ca
Deadline
Submissions must be received by February 20, 2026 (or earlier).
Short story competition DEADLINE APPROACHING FEBRUARY 15th!
DAVE WILLIAMSON NATIONAL SHORT STORY COMPETITION
The Manitoba Writers’ Guild invites writers across Canada to submit to the Dave Williamson National Short Story Competition — an open call for original, unpublished short fiction.
What to know
- Submissions open Dec. 1, 2025
- Deadline: Feb. 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST
- Entry fee: $25 per story
Eligibility & rules
Stories must be:
- Original and unpublished
- Between 2,500–4,500 words in any fiction genre
- Submitted with no identifying info on the manuscript (blind judging)
- Formatted in Times New Roman, 12-pt, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and page numbers in the upper right corner.
Prizes
- 1st Prize: $1,000 + one-year complimentary membership*
- 2nd Prize: $600 + one-year complimentary membership*
- 3rd Prize: $400 + one-year complimentary membership*
(*Non-Manitoban winners receive Associate membership rights.)
Winners and honourable mentions will be featured in the Manitoba Writers’ Guild anthology Beyond Boundaries.
CBC's "First Page" student writing challenge!
CALL FOR STUDENT WRITERS: FIRST PAGE CHALLENGE
The First Page student writing challenge invites students to imagine what the world will look like 150 years from now — and to write the first page of a book set in that future.
What students need to know: - Write the opening page of a story set 150 years ahead - The protagonist must face an issue that’s topical today - Submissions are open Feb. 1–28, 2026
What winners receive
- A one-year OwlCrate subscription
- 50 YA books for their school library
This challenge is run by CBC Books, with this year’s judge to be announced soon.
CBC Poetry Prize
CBC POETRY PRIZE
The CBC Poetry Prize will be accepting submissions from April 1 to June 1 (4:59 p.m. ET).
This national prize is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory, whether living in Canada or abroad.
At a glance - Submit one original, unpublished poem or a collection of poems - Maximum 600 words (no minimum) - $25 entry fee per submission - Blind judging
What’s at stake - $6,000 and a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for the winner - $1,000 for each of four finalists - Winning and finalist work published on CBC Books
CBC writing prize
CBC NONFICTION PRIZE: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The CBC Nonfiction Prize will be accepting submissions from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2026 (4:59 p.m. ET).
Writers are invited to submit original, unpublished nonfiction up to 2,500 words. Eligible forms include memoir, biography, humour writing, essays (including personal essays), travel writing, and feature articles.
What’s at stake - $6,000 and a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for the winner - $1,000 for each of four finalists - Winning and finalist work published on CBC Books
The CBC Literary Prizes have supported Canadian writers since 1979, with past winners including Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields, Michael Winter, and Frances Itani.
**LOOKING FOR WRITING CONTESTS ACROSS CANADA?**
LOOKING FOR WRITING CONTESTS ACROSS CANADA?
We've found this website to be quite reliable and regularly updated, so feel free to use this as a solid reference point that can help create some deadlines for you and your writing journey!
If you’re searching for writing contests open to Canadian writers, The Canadian Authors Association maintains a regularly updated list of awards and competitions from across the country.
The Canadian Authors Association website list includes contests for: - Fiction and nonfiction - Short story and poetry competitions - Opportunities organized by monthly deadlines
Because details vary by contest, writers are encouraged to review all submission guidelines and rules directly on each organization’s website. This website is consistently updated as new information becomes available throughout the year, so make sure to check in regularly!