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alumni UBC Short Fiction Contest 2026

Short Fiction
Contest 2026

Are you passionate about writing? Do you have a great story to tell? All alumni are invited to enter The University of British Columbia Magazine’s third annual literary contest! Writers of all experience levels are welcome to submit original short fiction (1,500–1,750 words) that clearly references UBC, whether in the setting, characters, or other elements. The winning entrant will receive a $1,000 prize and have their story published and illustrated in The University of British Columbia Magazine’s Spring 2026 edition. Showcase your creativity and become part of UBC’s literary legacy!*

See last year’s winner and finalists

This contest is presented by alumni UBC in partnership with the UBC School of Creative Writing and the UBC Okanagan Faculty of Critical and Creative Studies.

Questions? Please contact Terrilynn Wong at terrilynn.wong@ubc.ca.

Submit your entry

Name(Required)
Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 20 MB.
Publication status(Required)
Consent(Required)

*Requirements

  • The author must be a UBC graduate.
  • Entries must be unpublished and must not have previously won any awards.
  • UBC faculty and staff are ineligible to enter this contest.
  • All submissions to be submitted online through the website entry form.
  • Entries must be literary short fiction from 1,500 to 1,750 words in length.
  • Entries won’t be accepted if they are: excerpts from novels, works for children or young adults, non-fiction, memoir, scripts, poetry, experimental works or literary forms other than literary short fiction.
  • Entries must include explicit references to UBC, such as through setting, characters, or other elements.
  • Stories must be typed and formatted in 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and single-sided. Entries must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. PT on December 5, 2025.
  • Please submit a cover page that includes the author’s name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and story title. It is essential to ensure the same title is on the first page of the story.
  • Manuscript pages must not contain the author’s name, contact details, or any other identifying information.
  • The use of AI is not permitted. All submissions will be run through artificial intelligence detection software.
  • Stories will be judged by a panel of representatives from the UBC School of Creative Writing, the editor of The University of British Columbia Magazine, and others.

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