In 2025, the prize moves back to Alberta.

This prize is intended to support current and future work. This award will, we hope, spur the winner to finish a project, carve out time to think creatively, take risks, research trips, workshops, sabbaticals or retreats, and perhaps even tackle a difficult project. But prize winnings can also be used to pay bills or hire a babysitter. The recipient of this award will be able to make whatever decision is best for him/her/them.

And the accountability for winning? Almost nothing. Two times during the winning year, we will metaphorically knock on the winner’s door (mid-way and towards the end) to ask, how is your writing going?

This prize is not a book prize. It is a writing prize for an engaged prairie writer, given in recognition of a body of work. What defines an engaged prairie writer? For the determination of this prize, it is a writer of tremendous range and depth, who has traditionally published at least four books of fiction, poetry and/or nonfiction; who has built a strong reputation and presence within the literary community; and who shows promise to continue publishing high quality work for years to come. They must also have lived in the province of nomination for at least five years.

And though this is indeed a prairie prize in that it hopes to elevate prairie writers while cultivating appreciation for, and understanding of the Western Canadian landscape, people, history and culture, the writer’s work is not limited to the celebration of wide open skies, bleakly oppressive winter landscapes, or the land and its people over the years. We recognize that prairie writers have many different stories to tell.

Here are the nomination guidelines:

• Writers may NOT self nominate, so we invite members of the writing community to nominate a deserving writer with a one page letter stating why.

• To be eligible for nomination, a writer must have at least four full-length traditionally published books of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction AND be active in the writing community.

• Authors must have lived in the province of nomination for at least five years. In 2025, the prize will go to an Alberta author.

• In 2025 nominations open April 1 (it was March 1 in past years) and close at May 15 at midnight. The winner will be announced on June 24.

• Anyone wishing to be considered for this year will need to be nominated between these dates. If an author had been nominated in previous years, they will need to be nominated again to be eligible for this year.

• Please include the contact phone number for the nominated writer.

To submit your letter of nomination or if you have questions, please email us at grindstoneprize@gmail.com

Lisa Murphy Lamb - Prize Manager
Jun Lee - Marketing