Unpublished authors take note.
The 16th annual Writing for Children competition offers a $1,500 top prize by the Wrtiers' Union of Canada.
The winning entry will be the best Canadian work of no more than 1,500 words in English fiction or non-fiction.
Winners' and finalists' work will be submitted to three Canadian publishers who specialize in children's stories.
Judging the work are writers Don Calame, Hazel Hutchins and Rene Schmidt.
The competition is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have not been published in book format in any genre and who do not currently have a contract with a book publisher.
Illustrations are not accepted.
The cost is $15 per submission. Entries must be postmarked by April 24, 2012 to be eligible.
Go to www.writersunion.ca for more information. Results will be posted online in July 2012.
