Writers Trust of Canada

Writers' Trust McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize

Prize Guidelines

Terms of Reference

The Writers’ Trust of Canada/McClelland& Stewart Journey Prize is awarded annually to a new and developing writer of distinction for a short story published in a Canadian literary publication. This award is made possible by James A. Michener’s generous donation of his Canadian royalty earnings from his novel Journey, published by McClelland & Stewart in 1988.

A $10,000 prize will given to the winner and the journal that published the winning entry receives $2,000. Two finalists each receive $1,000. The prize is presented annually at the Writers’ Trust Awards. 

Submissions

Eligible Canadian literary publications may submit to McClelland & Stewart up to three short stories or excerpts from fiction works-in progress by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The nominated stories must have had original publication in the nominating journal in the previous calendar year.

Please note that submissions made directly by authors are not accepted.

Interested literary publications can find further eligibility criteria and submit stories directly through the Journey Prize Submission Manager here: journeyprize.submittable.com/submit.

For other enquiries, contact McClelland & Stewart at the address below:

Jury Composition

The three-person jury is appointed by McClelland & Stewart and the Writers’ Trust of Canada but acts independently in selecting stories for the Journey Prize Stories, the contents of which constitute a long-list for the prize. The winner and finalists for the Journey Prize are selected by the same jury from among the stories that appear in the current edition of the Journey Prize Stories, published annually in the fall by McClelland & Stewart.