The contest (sponsored by the university's mstore and the Office of Teaching and Learning Services) invites students to submit responses inspired by the current MacEwan Book of the Year in one or more of three categories: 1) creative project, 2) critical essay, or 3) creative writing.
Submissions are adjudicated by members of MacEwan University's community, faculty, staff, and students, resulting in the distribution of three prizes. Although every effort will be made to reward those entries of high merit, we reserve the right to not award in a category if we feel that there is no entry deserving of recognition.
Categories:
Creative Project
- Creative projects are inspired by the structure, style, themes and characters of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Both individual and collaborative work will be accepted.
- Creative projects can have a visual component in any medium (e.g., book trailers, video performances, visual designs, music, fine art, etc.) – be creative!
- Should be accompanied by a concise written summary outlining the project’s goals – what its creator(s) wanted to achieve – and outlining the relationship of those goals to the MacEwan Book of the Year.
Critical Essay
- An academic essay that analyzes a significant literary or thematic aspect of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Only original, individual, well-documented work will be accepted.
- This may or may not be a research essay.
- There is no strict word limit for submissions; however, the suggested range for essays is between 1,000 and 3,500 words.
Creative Writing
- Original short stories, flash and micro fiction, poetry, prose poems, monologues, one-act plays, and creative non-fiction inspired by the form, content, topic, or style of the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Creative submissions must be accompanied by a one-paragraph introduction contextualizing how the original piece was inspired or informed by the MacEwan Book of the Year.
- Submissions should be in standard manuscript format.
1. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover page that includes the student’s full contact information:
Name
Program and year of study
Mailing address
Phone number(s)
Email address
Word count of submission
Aside from the cover page, do not put any identifying information on your submission.
Your submission should be saved in electronic form (.docx, PDF, .mp4, .mov etc.) and sent as an attachment or shared file to
bookoftheyear@macewan.ca. Please type "Student Contest Entry" in the subject line.
2. Submissions that cannot be submitted electronically should be dropped off in person to the Office of Teaching and Learning Services (CCC 7-266) during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.).
3. Applications must either be submitted electronically or in person to Office of Teaching and Learning Services (7-266) by no later than DATE TBD. Late entries will not be accepted.
4. We expect to announce the winning entries by TBD.
For more information, contact bookoftheyear@macewan.ca.
2019/20 Winning Entries -
for Leanne Betasamosake Simpson's This Accident of Being Lost
Melaina Goos - Creative Project winner: 1. Project rationale; 2. Project posters
2018/19 Winning Entries -
for Michael Crummey’s Sweetland
Laura Aisenstat - Creative Project winner: 1. Project explanation; 2. Project posters
2017/18 Winning Entries -
for Dionne Brand’s Love Enough
2016/17 Winning Entries –
for Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven
Rolando Bautista – Creative Project winner
Jessica Dubauskas – Critical Essay winner
Hannah DeWitt – Critical Essay honorable mention
Sharissa Johnson – Creative Project honorable mention
Janine Heber – Creative Project honorable mention
Jessica Maclean – Creative Project honorable mention
2015/16 Winning Entries
for Kim Thuy's Mãn
Kate Lemke - Creative Project winner
Tatiana Dutka - Critical Essay winner
Nicole Bork - Creative Writing winner
2014/15 Winning Entries
for Patrick Dewitt's The Sisters Brothers
Janelle Foreman - Creative Project winner
Miguel Macaraig - Critical Essay winner
Desiree Billey - Creative Project honorable mention
Mary Douglas - Creative Project honorable mention
Caylee McKenzie - Creative Project honorable mention
Taylor Lund - Critical Essay honorable mention
Paige Wolfe - Critical Essay honorable mention
2013/14 Winning Entries –
for Richard Wagamese's Indian Horse
Jonathan Dyck – Creative Project winner
Rebecca Regan – Critical Essay winner
Elisia Snyder – Creative Project honorable mention
Paulina Van Vliet – Creative Project honorable mention
Farron Wielinga – Critical Essay honorable mention
2012/13 Winning Entries –
for Michael Ondaatje's The Cat's Table
Carrianne Peters – Creative Project winner
Jessica Barratt – Critical Essay winner
Sam Darlington – Critical Essay honorable mention
Carrie Malin – Critical Essay honorable mention
2011/12 Winning Entry –
for Angie Abdou's The Bone Cage
Karla Weder – Critical Essay winner
2010/11 Winning Entries –
for Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean
Kaley Pederson – Creative Project winner
Chelsea Barlow – Critical Essay winner
2009/10 Winning Entries –
for Stephen Galloway’s The Cellist of Sarajevo
Devyn Lowe – Creative Project winner
Steven Horvath – Critical Essay winner
2008/09 Winning Entries –
for Heather O’Neill’s Lullabies for Little Criminals
Heather Skinner – Creative Project winner
Ariel Lekas – Critical Essay winner
