Canton Writes entries due March 20

The submission deadline is approaching fast for Canton Writes, the annual town-wide writing contest sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Public Library and the Canton Citizen.

Authors have until Friday, March 20 — about two weeks — to submit their original short stories, poems, or nonfiction/memoir entries for consideration in this year’s contest. Authors must live in Canton and can enter in one of five age groups: early elementary (grades K-2), late elementary (grades 3-5), middle school, high school, and adult. No more than one entry in each category may be submitted, and no entry may exceed 1,000 words.

Entries must be submitted via email in a Microsoft Word-compatible format to cantonwrites@town.canton.ma.us along with a submission form available at library.canton.ma.us.

Every entry should have a title. Authors should not put their name or other identifying information on the entry itself, only on the submission form along with the entry title. Entries will be anonymously judged by an independent panel of educators, writers and readers affiliated with the Friends of the Canton Public Library.

Participants who give permission on their submission form will be published in the Canton Writes 2026 print edition, which will be available for purchase. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded in the short story and poetry categories for each age group, and three winners will be selected in the nonfiction/memoir category with age category a consideration.

Winners will be notified by email and announced in the Canton Citizen. All winners will also have the opportunity to read their work to the audience at an awards night in early June (children and adults will be honored on two separate evenings.)

For a complete list of rules or for more information, please visit the contest page.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 5 2026. Filed under Featured Content. Both comments and pings are currently closed.