To win short story competitions, you need to pay attention to character development. Make your characters relatable and complex. Also, polish your writing style to make it clear and vivid.
As someone who loves reading novels, I don't have any real-time updates to answer your questions about the short story contest. However, you can follow the relevant novel websites or social media accounts to find out if they are holding a short story competition or essay contest and participating. Some novel websites would also regularly publish essay questions and competition requirements. You could read them carefully and participate in the competition if you met the requirements.
One popular one is the Young Writers' Award. It offers great opportunities for YA writers to showcase their talent. There's also the Teen Ink Contest, which gets a lot of entries each year. Both provide good platforms for young writers to get noticed.
Start with a unique and captivating idea. Make your characters relatable and the plot engaging. Pay attention to the language and keep it concise and vivid.
African Canadian short stories often explore themes of identity, discrimination, and the search for belonging. These stories give a voice to a community that has faced unique challenges in Canada.
One characteristic is the use of Canadian settings. For example, stories set in the vast Canadian wilderness or small, snowy towns can create a unique backdrop for humor. Another is the portrayal of Canadian cultural idiosyncrasies. Like how Canadians interact during winter sports or their polite but sometimes overly so manners. Also, many funny Canadian short stories often have a sense of self - deprecating humor, where the characters or even the narrator might poke fun at themselves or Canadian stereotypes.
Many Canadian author short stories also deal with themes of cultural identity. Canada is a multicultural country, and these stories might explore how different ethnic groups interact and co - exist. They can also look at the identity of native Canadians and how it has been shaped over time.
Many famous Canadian short stories often have a strong sense of place. For example, stories set in the Canadian wilderness will describe the harsh yet beautiful landscapes vividly. They also tend to deal with themes of identity, whether it's national identity, cultural identity, or personal identity. And there's often a focus on the relationships between people and nature, as Canada has such vast natural areas.
One characteristic is the presence of the Canadian landscape. Since Canada has long, cold winters, snow - covered scenes are often described, like frozen lakes and snow - laden forests. Another is the strong emphasis on family and community. Canadian Christmas short stories usually show families coming together, sharing meals, and exchanging gifts. Also, they might incorporate elements of Canada's multicultural society, with different cultural traditions being part of the Christmas celebration in the story.