Contests

This year the Postcard Story Contest asks you to flex both your literary and artistic muscles--create your own postcard and write a story inspired by the image (or vice versa). We've posted some helpful Postcard FAQs to make the entry process even easier. There's still time to get your entries in! The new deadline is February 15, 2012, 11:59pm PST.

Rules and Guidelines:

1) Create a postcard using photos, drawings, images, elbow macaroni or other objects of inspiration. Please ensure that all appropriated images are either in the public domain or that you've obtained permission from the artist. 

2) Write a story inspired by the postcard, no more than 500 words. Entries can be fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry. The relationship between image and text can be as subtle or as strong as you like, as long as the contest judges can see the connection.

3) Send us the image and story. You can enter online or snail mail entries to:

Geist Postcard Contest

#210 - 111 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC   V6B 1H4

Winning entries will be published in Geist and on geist.com. Honourable mentions will be published on geist.com. For inspiration, read last year's First Prize winner, Glamour, by Leslie Stark, or visit our postcard story page for more winning entries.

Contest Details:

First Prize: $250 and publication in Geist and on geist.com

Second Prize: $150 and publication in Geist and on geist.com

Third Prize: $100 and publication in Geist and on geist.com

Honourable Mentions: Swell Geist gifts and publication on geist.com

(Please note that more than one prize per category may be awarded.)

How to enter:

ONLINE: Click here. You will be prompted to upload your story, image and pay your entry fee.

BY MAIL: Type your postcard story on standard paper, in at least 11-point type, and attach the image with a paper clip (no staples, please). Judging is blind, so ensure your name doesn't appear on the story or the postcard. Include a cover letter with the following details and entry fee of $20 (includes a one-year subscription or subscription extension). Additional entries are only $5. Entries without an accompanying cover letter or entry fee will not be accepted.

Cover Letter Details:

Your name

Story title(s)

Address

Phone number

Email address

How you found out about the contest

(Your personal information is kept confidential and will be used by Geist only to contact you.)

Send your entry by mail, with a cheque for the entry fee, to:

Geist Postcard Contest

#210 - 111 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC  V6B 1H4

Entries must be postmarked no later than February 15, 2012.

Questions? Check out our Poscard Story Contest FAQs here.

Still unsure? Please email geist@geist.com or call 1-888-434-7834 with your queries.

THE FINE PRINT

Winning entries: Geist takes first serial rights for print and non-exclusive electronic rights to post the text and image at geist.com. All other rights remain with the author.

All publication rights for non-winning entries are retained by the entrants.

Postcards will be returned only if requested.

Geist contests are open to all entrants except Geist staff, contract employees, board members and executives of the Geist Foundation.