The link to the entry form will be available starting January 12, 2026. 

About the contest

The Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest gives young writers, between the ages of 9 and 18, the chance to win awesome prizes, get published and share their talent with the world! This contest would not be possible without the generosity of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association. 

Awesome Authors 2026 

Contest rules and regulations specific to Awesome Authors contest. This contest is also subject to the Ottawa Public Library’s Contest Rules: OPL contest rules 

• The contest starts January 12, 2026. 

• Submissions will be accepted until Saturday, February 28, 2026, 11:59 pm. 

• Open to all youth residing in Ottawa, ages 9 to 18 (must not yet have completed high school) with a valid library card. 

• Submission by outside residents with a non-resident card (family membership) or Indigenous Library Membership with OPL will be accepted. 

• There is a limit of one (1) entry per person, per category. The six categories are: short story, poetry, comic, nouvelle, poésie, and bande dessinée. 

• Winners will be notified by email in May. Please use an email inbox that you are monitoring regularly. 

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be used to generate ideas, writing, or art for the contest. AI tools that correct spelling or grammar can be used in revising your entry. In the contest entry form, you will be asked if, how and when you used AI in your entry. 

All submissions must: 

• include the title of the piece on each page; 

• NOT include the author’s name within the submission or file name; 

• be new, original, previously unpublished work; 

• NOT use AI generation for ideas, writing or art; 

• be in French or English; 

• be submitted electronically through the form on this page. 

Poems and short stories must be:  

• 1000 words or less; 

• typed and submitted electronically; 

• written by a single author. 

 Comics must be:  

• drawn on one of the OPL templates, printed on one side of an 8.5” x 11” page; OR drawn using digital tools using 8.5" x 11" format and following the OPL templates; 

• original drawings only; 

• one to three pages maximum; 

• scanned (must be at least 400X400dpi - photo will not be accepted) and/or saved as a PDF, JPG or PNG files and submitted electronically directly on this webpage; 

• created by one author/illustrator, or two co-authors/illustrators.

Please remember: 

• Complete the online entry form once for each entry (if entering multiple categories). 

• All winning entries will be checked for plagiarism and use of AI.  

• Entries that do not follow the above guidelines will be disqualified without notice. 

Get writing tips   

Register for a workshop hosted by a local author and contest judge! They will share their knowledge and experience with you! You can also visit our YouTube Channel to discover other tips from our judges. 

For ages 9 and up 

Youth Writing Workshop: Poetry with Apollo the Child 

• Saturday January 10, 2026 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am 

• Manotick Branch 

Youth Writing Workshop: Comics with Éric Péladeau  

• Saturday January 10, 2026 from 2 pm to 3 pm 

• St-Laurent Branch 

Atelier d’écriture pour les jeunes : Atelier d'écriture pour humains, robots interdits avec Pierre-Luc Bélanger 

• Saturday January 17, 2026 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am 

• Vanier Branch 

Atelier d’écriture pour les jeunes : Atelier d'écriture pour humains, robots interdits avec Pierre-Luc Bélanger 

Amelinda Bérubé 

Amelinda Bérubé writes about ghosts and monsters and other things that go bump in the night. She is the author of three novels for young adults, The Dark Beneath the Ice, Bram Stoker Award nominee Here There Are Monsters, and The Ones Who Came Back Hungry. In her other lives, Amelinda is a mother of two and a passionate gardener. 

Pierre-Luc Bélanger 

Pierre-Luc Bélanger is an Ottawa author who has published several novels and short stories for teens. His works have garnered many nominations and literary awards. He hopes to share a love for reading and writing with youth. Pierre-Luc finds inspirations through travelling, spending time outdoors and going on everyday adventures. 

Éric Péladeau 

Éric has dreamed of being an author since childhood. With backgrounds in graphic design, animation and cartooning, Éric has been working as a creative freelancer for 20 years. In publishing, he has collaborated on nearly two hundred books. His encounters have led him to touch several facets of the literary world. Several of his books have been nominated or won literary prizes. In 2024, his novel "Le club des échasses" won the Prix Littéraire des enseignant.e.s de français du Québec. 

Prizes 

• Winners of 1st, 2nd or 3rd place will see their work published in an anthology featuring the winning entries and be invited to a celebratory book launch in the fall. 

• Winners of 1st place will receive a Kobo Clara e-reader.  

• If the 1st place comic entry was created by co-authors (comic book authors only) the two authors will each receive an e-reader. 

• A participant can submit one work in each category but can only receive one physical prize. For example, a prize of 1st place in the BD category and 1st place in the Short Story category would result in the single prize of an e-reader. 

• If a 1st place winner was a winner in the 2025 contest and already received an e-reader, an alternate prize of similar value will be substituted.  

All submissions must be submitted via the webform. If you would like help with the online form, please visit your local OPL branch, Bookmobile stop or call InfoService (613-580-2940) during operating hours for assistance. Scanning is available at any library branch. If you are under the age of 16, permission from a parent/guardian is required to participate.