The New Brunswick Writing Competition |
The program celebrates eight categories of unpublished writing in the genres of novel, short story, single poem, poetry manuscript, books for young people, and stories by teens, as well as unpublished short film script, and narrative non-fiction. The only requirement: You must be a New Brunswick resident to participate in our provincial competition. If you live outside of the province, you must be a member of the WFNB.
The New Brunswick Writing Competition began in 1985, the same year as the WFNB's date of incorporation. It’s been held annually ever since, awarding thousands of dollars in prizes over the decades. Many past winners have since achieved national and international publishing fame.
Come to the
Friday, May 30, 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Free and Open to the Public
Junior Ballroom, Crowne Plaza, Fredericton
Come help celebrate the winners of this year's writing competition at a literary soiree, as part of WFNB’s annual WordSpring writing festival. This event is free and open to the public, including a cash bar and refreshments, entertainment by Leo LaFleur with cellist Leandra Gold, and a book table.
6:00 to 6:45 pm: Reception
Music By: Leo LaFleur with guest cellist, Leandra Gold
6:45 pm: Welcome by the board
7:00 to 9:00 pm: Award Readings
May 15, 2025 – The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) has announced the winners of its annual New Brunswick Writing Competition. The winners will be celebrated at a literary soiree on Friday evening, May 30, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, as part of WFNB’s annual WordSpring writing festival. This event is free and open to the public, including a cash bar and refreshments, entertainment by Leo LaFleur with cellist Leandra Gold, and a book table.
The program celebrates eight categories of unpublished writing. Peer judges-who are chosen from outside of the province - consistently report that submissions display a diverse spectrum of high-quality writing talent in the province, which make the choice difficult.
The finalists are as follows:
The David Adams Richards Prize for fiction
Judge: Sue Murtagh
First Place: Kelly Alcorn (Rollingdam), Delilah’s on the Radio
Second Place: Denise L. McClure (Grand Falls) Helyn of Dumnonia
Third Place: A.D. MacDonald (Saint John) The Bigness
Douglas Kyle Memorial Prize
Judge: Vernon Oickle
First Place: Erin Brandt Filliter (Fredericton), Some Sunny Day
Second Place: Casey Shelley (Saint John) Private Number
Third Place: Gemma Marr (Saint John), Soft Launch
Honourable Mentions:
Hannah State (Fredericton) An Immortal Kindness
Neil Sampson (Durham Bridge) Far Side of the Sun
Ruth MacLean (Riverview) Never Again
Michael De Vos (Quispamsis), The Driving Away Song
Mike McCaustlin (Saint John),The Formula of Sound
Trent Pomeroy (Rothesay), The Ways We Talk
The Alfred G. Bailey Prize for Poetry Manuscript
Judge: Kathy Mac
First Place: Carol Shillibeer (Glace Bay, NS) _language be like_
Second Place: Melanie Craig Hansford (Hampton),Take Your Wild and Hang It on a Nail
Third Place: Roger Moore (Island View), Clepsydra
Honourable Mentions:
Frederick Mundle (Moncton), Moments in Time
Gerald Arthur Moore (Moncton), Rat Romeo
The Dawn Watson Memorial Prize for Single Poem
Judge: Anita Lahey
First Place: Susan Dean (Alma), The Door to My Heart
Second Place: Frederick Mundle (Moncton), Once a Man
Third Place: Bryn Harris (Grand Manan), The Thing Missing
Honourable Mentions:
Susan Dean (Alma), Reverence
Mira Dietz Chiasson (Sackville), Ulla
The WeyMedia Books for Young People Prize
Judge: Jocelyn Shipley
First Place: Manju Varma (Moncton), The Mommy Magic
Second Place: Kyla Brewer (Fredericton), Salmon Seasons
Third Place: Odette Barr (Petit Cap), The_Tay_Tracks_Trilogy
The Sheree Fitch Prize for Teen Writers
Judge: Jacqueline Halsey
First Place: Quinn Mallaley Ryan (Johnville, NB), Dooly
Second Place: Nadirah Enitan-Adelakun (Moncton, NB), She
Third Place: Mallory Pitzner (Quispamsis, NB), The Gift of Mortality
Honourable Mentions:
Athena Whitman (Lutes Mountain) The Angel and The Devil
Lilyana Page, Murker
Maya Bishop (Moncton), A Journey
Sarah Langille (Grand Bay-Westfield), The Family Tradition
Madeline Bowie (Fredericton), The Corn Maze
Tyler Prasad (Kingsley), Resses and Rex
Athena Whitman (Lutes Mountain), Little Ball of Rage
The Gwen L. Martin Memorial Prize for Non-Fiction
Judge: Jon Tattrie
First Place: Shane Neilson (Cambridge, ON), McDonaldsing into the Future-Death
Second Place: Trent Pomeroy (Rothesay), Inconsequential Souls
Third Place: Cheyenne Kean-Lemery (Sackville), Fred’s House
The JL Screenwriting Award
Judge: Kehinde Olorunyomi
First Place: John Mundle (Mundleville), Patient Watch
Second Place: Carlee Calver (Fredericton), The Lions are Calling
Third Place: Nancy Kenny (Halifax), Moncton The Final Frontier
The WFNB congratulates all the winners, and all writers who submitted to the competition. The New Brunswick Writing Competition began in 1985, the same year as the WFNB's date of incorporation. We’ve held it annually ever since, awarding hundreds of prizes over the decades. Many past winners have since achieved national and international publishing fame. It opens every year on January 1.
-30-
How to Submit
| Submission Categories
|
Entries will not be considered until both the manuscript and payment have been received.
|