WFNB 2025 Writing Contests: Opportunities in the Community

Daniel S. Burton 

Writers, the 2025 Writers Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) Writing Competition is nearing its deadline! The WFNB seeks to inspire, encourage and reward unpublished writing, so throw your hat in the ring! Submit your manuscripts to info@wfnb.ca by March 31, 2025. 

With eight extraordinary opportunities awaiting, the contest categories cover a vast stretch of literary formats: 

1. The David Adams Richard Award for a story collection, novella, or novel extract from 15,000 – 30,000 words
2. The Douglas Kyle Memorial Award for a single story of 2,000 – 4,000 words
3. A now free submission opportunity to the Sheree Fitch Prize for Teen Writers of a story or poem (prose up to 4000 words or a poem up to 100 lines) by writers age 13 – 18
4. The Dawn Watson Memorial Prize for a single poem up to 100 lines
5. The Alfred G. Bailey Prize for a poetry manuscript of 48 – 96 pages
6. The WeyMedia Books for Young People Prize for short stories or poems for children, middle grade or young adult (YA) readers up to 4500 words. 
7. The Gwen L. Martin Memorial Prize for a nonfiction prose manuscript of 1500 – 3000 words
8. Finally, the GL Screenwriting Award for short film scripts up to 15 minutes in length, produced or unproduced. 

Some form of the New Brunswick Writing Competition has been around since the year of WFNB’s conception. The contest and organization have been fostering supportive opportunities uniquely for New Brunswick writers since 1985, making 2025 their 40th anniversary!

In a conversation with WFNB Executive Director Rhonda Bulmer, we discussed the goals of the NB Writing Competition and the opportunities its many categories present. 

The yearly submission opportunities prove to be a valuable practice. Bulmer said, “The NB Writing Competition aims to give New Brunswick writers the opportunity to practice the process of submission, and to aim to work to a deadline. It also benefits writers who would like to practice writing in new forms.” 

The story of local writer Thomas Chamberlain proves the power of these community-based contests. In 2023, Chamberlain earned an Honourable Mention. In 2024, he came in second place after working with an editor and developing relationships within the New Brunswick writing community. His work and involvement led up to this year, when the writer received a book contract from Galleon Press, a New Brunswick publishing house! Chamberlain credited his Honourable Mention in the NB Writing Competition for his feeling of belonging in the community and the confidence and freedom to work with others to improve. 

Bulmer claims, with the contest’s goals in mind, “this is the best news, and this is why [the WFNB] do what [they] do… to provide the tools for emerging writers to develop their craft.”

The New Brunswick Writing Competition has the WFNB’s aspirations at heart — something essential and caring for young writers, especially those beginning their careers. And, in the case of contest applicants, remember: Creating community through words isn’t just a slogan. Each writer has unique stories to tell — including you. Your perspective is important and the first step to sharing it is to submit! 

Winning or placing in a competition presents even further opportunities for growth. Bulmer reported, “If a participant wins the competition, or even receives an honourable mention, it allows them an extra endorsement to place on query letters when they submit to literary magazines or publishers. And as you can see from Thomas’s story, winning at any level increases a writer’s confidence in [their] work, while also increasing the chances of being offered a book contract.” 

So do not waste time: make sure to follow their guidelines, manuscript style, and send in your stories. Submit for fun, for experience, or to join an enriching community. Your career could start now.