What is a Freelance Writer?

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE AWARDS, FREELANCE WRITERS MUST:

  • Submit work related to the area of social justice

  • Work a minimum of 70% of their time as a self-employed freelance writer

  • Be a continuing resident of Canada

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards 2024 Competition Now Open

Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards for Social Justice Writing

There are two separate awards. The book award is set at $5,000 and the magazine award is set at $2,000. Since the awards can be given before publication and book and magazine publishing timelines can differ, so do the requirements for each award.

Eligibility Requirements For All Magazine or Book Award Submissions:

Residency

Applicant must be a continuing resident of Canada and at the date of application lived in Canada for the last twelve months.

70% Freelancer Requirement

Applicant must be working a minimum of seventy per cent of their work time as a self-employed freelance writer.

Eligible Publication Methods

Submissions to be published in print or on the Internet will be accepted if the writer meets all other eligibility requirements of the Call for Submissions but note that works that are self-published only are not eligible.

Submissions that are to be only self-published are not eligible.

Publicity/Media

Award winners are asked to agree to make a considered effort to acknowledge this prize upon publication and to acknowledge the Dave Greber Freelance Writing Awards in the published work and when interviewed by media about the winning submission.

For All Magazine Submissions:

Writers have two options when submitting magazine articles - 1. Published Articles or 2. Unpublished Articles

The Publication Date of Your Article Determines Which Submission Option to Choose

The magazine submission option chosen depends on whether the article will be published before or after the closing date of the competition on June 28, 2024.

Submission Option 1 - For Magazine Articles Published Before June 28, 2024

  1. For the 2024 competition, the applicant must have completed an article published any time between April 15, 2024 and Friday June 28, 2024 - the closing date of the call for submissions.

Submission Option 2 - For Contracted Magazine Articles That Will be Published After June 28, 2024

  1. For the 2024 competition, if article will not be published until after the closing date of the competition, Friday June 28, 2024, writer must be working on completion for publication of a contracted English language magazine article (non-fiction).

  2. Applicant must submit proof of a publishing contract or letter indicating publishers intent to publish and either a draft of the article being readied for the publication named in the contract or a copy of the magazine proposal sent to the publishers.

Book Submissions:

Timing of Publication

Applicant must be working on completion for publication of an English language book (non-fiction).

Proof of Publishing Contract

Applicant must agree to submit a completed chapter of the book that you are in the process of writing, proof of a publishing contract and a copy of the book proposal sent to the publishers.

Submission Process Requirements For Magazine Options 1 and 2 And Book Submissions

Documentation for all book or magazine submissions must be sent electronically in 2 different PDF document files.

Magazine Submissions

PDF Document 1 Should Contain:

  1. A copy of your magazine article that has been published any time between April 15, 2024 and June 28, 2024 with no identifying information
    Or

  2. A draft of your article being readied for publication with no identifying information
    Or

  3. A or a copy of your magazine proposal sent to the publishers with no identifying information

PDF Document 2 Should Contain:

  1. The first two pages and last two pages of a publishing contract or a letter indicating publisher's intent to publish

  2. A one page description of your life and work

  3. A list of your published works.

  4. Complete contact information (name, address, mailing address, telephone numbers and email address)

Book Submissions

PDF Document 1 Should Contain:

  1. A completed chapter of the book that you are in the process of writing that with no identifying information.

PDF Document 2 Should Contain:

  1. The first two pages and last two pages of a publishing contract or a letter indicating publisher's intent to publish

  2. A one page description of your life and work

  3. A list of your published works.

  4. Complete contact information (name, address, mailing address, telephone numbers and email address)

  5. A copy of the book proposal sent to the publishers

To ensure that both files have been received, the writer must send a separate email indicating that the submission is being sent electronically.

Magazine Awards Conditions:

Awards are made in the form of cash prizes.

One prize will be awarded in the sum of $2000.00. However if there are two entries are of equal merit, an award of $1000.00 will be granted to each writer.

Book Awards Conditions:

Awards are made in the form of cash prizes.

One prize will be awarded in the sum of $5000.00. However, if there are two entries of equal merit, an award of $2500.00 will be granted to each writer.

Assessment

If in the opinion of the jury members no work merits an award, no award will be given.

  • Writers have two options when submitting magazine articles - 1. Published Articles or 2. Unpublished Articles

    The Publication Date of Your Article Determines Which Submission Option to Choose

    The magazine submission option chosen depends on whether the article will be published before or after the closing date of the competition on June 24, 2022.

    more info in full description

  • Timing of Publication
    Applicant must be working on completion for publication of an English language book (non-fiction).

    Proof of Publishing Contract
    Applicant must agree to submit a completed chapter of the book that you are in the process of writing, proof of a publishing contract and a copy of the book proposal sent to the publishers.

    more information in full description on this page

  • Awards are made in the form of cash prizes.

    One prize will be awarded in the sum of $2000.00. However if there are two entries are of equal merit, an award of $1000.00 will be granted to each writer.

  • Awards are made in the form of cash prizes.

    One prize will be awarded in the sum of $5000.00. However, if there are two entries of equal merit, an award of $2500.00 will be granted to each writer.

 Commencement of competition

Monday April 15, 2024

Close of Competition deadline

Friday June 28, 2024 at 5:00 P.M. PST

Submissions should be sent to:

Shirley Dunn
Award Developer
Dave Greber Freelance Writers Awards
1 (587) 897-3377
dunnss@telusplanet.net