The Ampersand Review

Essay Contest 2024


It is time for the second annual Ampersand Review Essay Contest! The Ampersand Review is seeking innovative and thought-provoking creative non-fiction or a personal essay for this prize. Stay tuned for more information on this year’s guest judge.

Submission Guidelines

Who: Any Canadian writer or writer living in Canada. At this time, we are unable to consider international submissions. Please note that we do not consider or publish work written by current students, staff, and faculty at Sheridan College.

What: Creative non-fiction or personal essay that is 3000 words maximum

When: Submit your essay from May 1st - June 30, 2024, at 11:59pm ET.

How: 

  1. Please complete the entry form on our website and pay the entry fee. Submissions that are not accompanied by an entry fee will not be considered.

  2. Once your entry fee has been paid, submit your essay as a Word document and PDF file to ampersandreview@sheridancollege.ca. Essays should be double-spaced and should include the total word count in the submission. 

Entry Fee: $29.95. All entrants will receive a one-year subscription to The Ampersand Review

Prize: The winner will receive $500 and publication in Issue No. 7 of The Ampersand Review. The runner-up will receive $100 and publication in Issue No. 8 of The Ampersand Review

FAQ

Q: Can I submit more than one essay? 

A: Yes, however, each entry will require its own entry form and fee. 

Q: Can I submit my essay elsewhere? 

A: No. All essays submitted to this contest must be exclusively submitted to The Ampersand Review for the duration of the contest. If you need to withdraw your submission at any time, please let us know immediately. 

Q: When will the winner be announced? 

A: November 2024. Details coming soon!

SuBMISSION FORM


The Ampersand Review Essay Contest Winner for 2023:

First Place:

“ggirl in five acts” by Vange Schramek

Second Place:

“Bodymagic: An Anatomy of My Integumentary System” by Mieke de Vries

Third Place:

“Driver’s Test” by Kelsey Gilchrist


The Ampersand Review Essay Contest Shortlist for 2023:

“Orange Juice” by Nilanjana Ray,

“Death is a Deer, Death is a Wolf” by Jess Housty

“Going Down for Air” by Adam Cavanaugh

“The Knot We’re Tied Up In” by Alanna Schwartz

“Bodymagic: An Anatomy of My Integumentary System” by Mieke DeVries

“Must it Be?It Must Be!” by Cecilia Martell

“Black Sheep” by Kathleen Lynch

“ggirl in five acts” by Vange Schramek

“Follow the Arrows” by Chris Banks

“Driver’s Test” by Kelsey Gilchrist"