Thank you to all 2009 poetry and photography contest entrants.

Announcing the first annual Short Story Contest!
Toward The Light - 1st Annual Short Story contest

Tell us a story.

Format: Short stories of up to 3500 words (maximum 2). We only accept entries written in English from Canada or the United States at this time.

Entry Fees :

If you live in Canada: $35 Canadian for up to 2 stories which includes a subscription. Each additional story $15.

If you live in the United States: $43 Canadian for up to 2 stories which includes a subscription. Each additional story $15.

In Canada you can pay by cheque, money order or use your credit card with PayPal. Outside of Canada, you can pay with a bank draft in Canadian funds or use your credit card with PayPal. (see below)

Deadline : must be received by September 1 of this year (now accepting "word" email submissions - please see the guidelines for full directions)

Judges: Judging will be by a panel of judges chosen by the editors.

Winners Announced : late November, 2009

Prizes

First Prize: $200 plus publication in the 2009 winter issue (print and/or digital)

Honourable Mention: $75 plus publication in the 2009 winter issue (print and/or digital)

Prize money may increase depending on number of entries.

Be sure to read full contest guidelines before submitting

A new method of accepting contest fees - PayPal. Use your credit card on a one time basis to pay your fees, then mail your submission to Toward the Light with your paypal receipt number.

Canadian residents: Pay $35 Canadian for a one year subscription to Toward The Light: Journal of Reflective Word & Image that includes submission fee for up to 2 stories
US residents: $43 Canadian for a year’s subscription to Toward The Light: Journal of Reflective Word & Image that includes submission fee for up to 2 stories
$15 Canadian for each additional story

 

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Coming in 2010

Toward The Light - 8th annual poetry contest

Send us poetry that sees in the dark. Personal poetry that integrates the power of light and dark in life, recognizing that neither is a permanent resting place, rather, together they stimulate movement and growth; never a final location. Wherever you are, ignite the fuse of light within you. Notice how darkness can make you wise. In celebration, struggle, joy, depression, transition, and achievement there is light and dark. Write that. We are not looking for rants or lists of profanity; we are looking for a sincere, multifaceted exploration of what it means to choose to grow toward the light.

Details:

Format: Poetry (rhymed or free verse) up to 150 lines. We accept entries written in English from anywhere in the world.

Entry Fees :

If you live in Canada: $28 Canadian for up to 3 poems which includes a subscription. Each additional poem $7.00.

If you live in the United States: $36 Canadian for up to 3 poems which includes a subscription. Each additional poem $7.00.

All funds must be in Canadian currency. In Canada you can pay by cheque or money order. Outside of Canada, you can pay with a bank draft in Canadian funds.

Deadline : must be received by April 1st

Judges: Judging will be by a panel of judges chosen by the editors.

Winners Announced : June of the same year

Prizes

First Prize: $200 plus publication in the summer issue (print and/or digital)

Honourable Mention: $75 plus publication in the summer issue (print and/or digital)

Prize money may increase depending on number of entries.

Be sure to read full contest guidelines before submitting.  click here.
(printable pdf file - you will need Adobe Reader)

2009 Toward The Light poetry and photography contest winners

First place photography:
Stone Lanterns in the Fog by Elizabeth Yeoman

First place poetry:
Crossing by Barbara Parker

Honourable Mention, Photography:
Succulent Shadings by Lynn Tait

Honourable Mention, Poetry:
Fox by Alicia Tumchewics

Toward The Light 2008 - - sixth annual poetry contest

First prize:
K.K. Todorovich of Belen, New Mexico, USA for Chotki (Prayer Rope)

Chotki (Prayer Rope)

wounded birds, women and men
too wounded to call
fall at his door
his hands fold and feed them
and he is praying
them all
well

notes slide under his door
invisible wires
carry questions
reveal proper fear

the furniture of his body
clamors and scrapes
his legs bend to earth
bend, kneel
reaching for humility
bent, his life is kneeling

into his little boat of belief
he’s taken on the souls
of catechumen
souls unprayed for
and the faithful
while he bails
in consideration of their weakness
bails
in consideration of his own
bails
as if alive the silk knots move
infused by the power
that suspends them
move from finger to swift finger
precise knots move

Honourable Mentions:
M.Jennie Frost of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for Near Breaking
Michelle McLean of Lower Brighton, New Brunswick, Canada for Precious Metals

This year's judge was Susan Unger of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. See her work in the upcoming issue.

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Toward The Light 2008 - - third annual photography contest

First prize:
Lynn Tait of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Honourable Mentions:
Debbie Clarkston of Sooke, BC, Canada for Views from the Tressle
Keri Michaud of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada for Sifting Light Rays onto Darkness

2008 photography judge was Gary Nylander of Kelowna, BC, Canada. Gary collaborates with poet Celeste Snowber in the feature Ocean Lover found in the summer 2008 issue.

2008 First Place Lynn Tait Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
2008 Honourable Mention Debbie Clarkston Views from the Tressle
2008 Honourable Mention Keri Michaud Sifting Light Rays onto Darkness

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Past Contest Winners

2007 First Place Poetry: Bruce Strand
For Christ's sake, would you hurry and take the picture

excerpt

. . . When someone says I love
this one or that, there's no escape. It is the photo
that goes in the album, along with the old one.
There is no return or destiny to argue. We all
can fit in the frame (remember there is a zoom)
when someone says I love that one or that,
and go away and say I cannot be the same,
but the camera goes and goes, and all that's
asked is to squeeze together just a bit
and smile. Smile and the light will glint
off your eyes and teeth. Faces tight like apples.
Then walk away. And no one will know the difference.
And maybe someday you'll say that's the day
it started to feel OK. Or I decided to never again.
And quick disbanding with handshakes. And
promises that we wouldn't hold each other to,
but we did after all have the picture. I'll send
you a copy. If it turns out, of course.

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2006 First Place Poetry: Susan Unger
like jazz

excerpt

bodies of music stack and flight, black and white over keys
sound builds thrills warmth weaves in and out
arms guide with tender motion, caressing songs like bodies

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Past Photography Contest Winners

2007 First Place Sandi Wheaton Buddhist Cemetery, Japan
2006 First Place Janice Starko Courage/Embracing the Fear

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