The Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival, also known as Wordfest, has got quite the exciting literary competition going. The Anne Green Award, named for the festival's founding director, will go the "artist whose project explores and challenges the traditional form of story and narrative". If you're a Canadian, you are eligible, and if you win you get $3,000, you get to present your award-winning work at Wordfest, and get pampered as a festival artist with airfare and accomodation.

So what is a project that explores and challenges the traditional form of story and narrative?

The criteria leaves a lot open to interpretation and that's exactly how Wordfest wants it. The committtee is hoping to receive "a wide range of submissions in varying formats and languages". Rather than have me skew an interpretation of the details and lead everyone down some mistaken path to oblivion, go to wordfest.com and get the full picture.

There are two more things I can say for sure: 1) the deadline is May 15th, and 2) last year's Anne Green Award winner (in its inaugural installment) was Edmonton poet Kath MacLean. Click here to watch her award-winning video poems "Doo-Da" and "There Was A Young Man". You can also get into Kath MacLean's work by checking out her book 'Kat Among the Tigers' available now on library shelves. Click the book cover above to place a hold.

While we're on the subject of submissions calls, don't forget the June 30 deadline for the Alberta Views 2013 Fiction Contest.

And also the annual deadline to submit to FreeFall magazine for their Fall Open Issue is April 30. Click here for FreeFall's submission guidelines.

60+ Events. 6 days...

DON'T MISS THIS ONE:

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Event #36 - POETRY OFF THE PAGE

October 12, 2012

9:30-11pm, Vertigo Theatre Centre, Studio

Ken Babstock • Ivan E. Coyote • Phil Hall • A.F. Moritz • Sandy Pool

Award-winning and prolific, Canadian “page poets” use the stage as the page, transforming their readings into a charged event for a truly dynamic experience. Hosted by Lorna Crozier. TICKETS.

Methodist Hatchet	Missed Her	Killdeer	The New Measures	Undark
Ken Babstock	Ivan E. Coyote	Phil Hall	A.F. Moritz	Sandy Pool

Festival starts October 9! Click here for the complete lineup.

It’s kind of scary to think that a month and a half has passed since we first posted about Wordfest’s exciting postcard story contest, TumbleWord. Is June really half over? Is summer slipping away from us before it even officially starts?

Yes.

But that's ok. Before solstice sweeps us into a painfully short season of hailstorms, during which the Calgary Stampede will enjoy its 100th year, Wordfest is helping the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth celebrate with a "mini-festival" that launches this Monday, June 18, and runs through to June 20. It's Wild West Wordfest. For 3 days the festival known for bringing readers and writers together is gonna bring readers and riders together, and the lineup looks great...

(...all Wild West WordFest events are FREE.)

Wild West WordFest Launch

Monday, June 18

5:30pm, Motion Art Gallery, Eau Claire Market

Festival kicks-off with the winners of the TumbleWord writing contest and a reception. Hosted by Kris Demeanor.

Stories of the West - Tuesday, June 19

Noon, Community Room, Eau Claire Market

Spend your lunch hour with storyteller Anita Crowshoe and her amazing stories of our unforgettable heritage. Hosted by Dr. Yvonne Trainer.

Cowboy Wild - Tuesday, June 19

7pm, Art Gallery of Calgary

David Campion and Sandra Shields present from Cowboy Wild, a photography book that reflects on the myths of the Stampede and the meaning of the West. Introduction by Brian Rusted.

Nook Note* A book this beautiful might belong in your personal library, but just so you know, Cowboy Wild is available at the library... Click book cover to place your hold!

...and the grande finale, taking place right here at the Central library...

Cowboy Cabaret

Wednesday, June 20

7pm, John Dutton Theatre, Calgary Public Library

Doris Daley, Bob Dyck, Bruce Innes, Hannah Stilwell, Yvonne Trainer, Sheri-D Wilson and other special guests close out Wild West WordFest with a cowboy cabaret, featuring spoken word and song! Hosted by Donna Livingstone.

Please RSVP to news@wordfest.com

See y'all there!