Briarpatch Magazine is now accepting submissions of original, unpublished writing in the categories of short fiction and creative non-fiction (memoir, personal essay, literary journalism) that bring to life issues of political, social and environmental justice. We want writing from the edges – from new writers who have something important to say, or from longtime writers who can show us a new way of seeing things. We want bold and courageous writing that pushes the boundaries between fact and fiction, between journalism and prose, and that deconstructs tough issues in inventive, original ways. With award-winning writers Zoe Whittall and Carmen Aguirre as our judges and $750 in cash prizes to give away, this opportunity is not to be missed! Your $25 entry fee gets you a full year’s subscription to Briarpatch (regularly $28.95), which makes it hard to lose. This fee helps to cover the costs of organizing, promoting and administrating the contest, as well as the cash prizes.

This year’s short story entries will be judged by acclaimed novelist and poet ZOE WHITTALL. She is the author of the Lambda award-winning Holding Still for as Long as Possible, and Bottle Rocket Hearts, which was named a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year and is among the CBC Canada Reads Top Ten Essential Novels of the Decade.

Creative non-fiction entries will be judged by best-selling author, actor, and award-winning playwright CARMEN AGUIRRE. Aguirre’s Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter, which chronicles her story as a young resistance fighter against Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, won the 2012 CBC Canada Reads contest.

Contest winners will be published in Briarpatch Magazine and awarded $300. Honourable mentions will be featured online alongside contest winners at briarpatchmagazine.com and will each receive $75.

The top entry from Briarpatch‘s hometown of Regina will be treated to lunch with award-winning author Sandra Birdsell.

Submissions should not exceed 2500 words.

The deadline for entry is December 1, 2012.

See briarpatchmagazine.com for full contest details.