Official Rules

The Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize for Short Fiction is administered by Backhouse Press.

The competition is open to writers aged 18 or older worldwide.

Submitted work must be original, previously unpublished short fiction written primarily in English. Self-translations into English are eligible provided the entrant is the author of the original work, holds all necessary rights to both the original and translated versions, neither version has been previously published, and the English-language translation is the work of the entrant.

Co-authored or collaboratively written works are not eligible. Each submission must be the original work of a single author.

Entries must be between 1,000 and 5,000 words, excluding the title.

The entry fee is $25 CAD per story. Writers may submit more than one story, but each story requires a separate submission and fee.

Simultaneous submissions are permitted. If a submitted story is accepted for publication elsewhere, the writer must withdraw it promptly.

Previously published work is not eligible. Works that have been made publicly available in whole or in substantial part, whether in print or online, are considered previously published and are not eligible. This includes publication in personal newsletters or subscription-based platforms such as Substack. Sharing a work privately with beta readers, writing groups, editors, or a limited personal mailing list does not constitute publication.

A work that has previously won, placed, or been shortlisted for another literary prize or competition remains eligible provided it has not subsequently been published and the entrant retains all rights necessary to enter the work and, if selected, grant Backhouse Press the publication rights specified in these Rules.

Entries will be judged blind. The writer’s name, biography or other identifying information must not appear anywhere in the manuscript file.

Manuscripts should be double-spaced in a readable 12-point font and submitted as DOC, DOCX or PDF.

The competition opens for submissions on October 20, 2026.

The submitted story must be the entrant’s own work. Generative AI may not be used to generate or substantially rewrite the submitted story. Standard spelling, grammar, formatting and accessibility tools may be used.

Employees of Backhouse Press, individuals directly involved in administering or judging the prize, and their immediate family members are not eligible.

Winners will be notified privately before the public announcement.

First prize is $1,000 CAD, second prize is $300 CAD, and third prize is $200 CAD. The first-, second- and third-place winners will also receive publication in a forthcoming Backhouse Press anthology, subject to execution of a separate publication agreement.

International entrants are eligible for all cash prizes. Prizes will be awarded in Canadian dollars (CAD). Backhouse Press will make reasonable efforts to remit payment through an available international payment method. Winners are responsible for providing the information necessary to receive payment and for any currency-conversion, intermediary-bank, receiving, tax, or other fees applicable in their jurisdiction. Where legal or banking restrictions prevent payment through the usual method, Backhouse Press and the winner will arrange a reasonable alternative method where legally permissible.

Additional shortlisted stories may be invited for anthology publication at the sole editorial discretion of Backhouse Press.

Copyright remains with the author. Entry into the competition grants Backhouse Press only the limited permission required to receive, store and evaluate the work for the purposes of the prize.

If a story is selected for publication, publication rights will be governed by a separate contributor agreement.

Entry fees are non-refundable except if the competition is cancelled by Backhouse Press or where otherwise required by law.

Backhouse Press reserves the right to disqualify an entry that does not comply with the published rules.

There is no minimum number of eligible entries required for the competition to proceed. Once the competition has opened and begun accepting paid entries, the advertised prizes will be awarded, except where the competition must be cancelled due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Backhouse Press. In the event of cancellation, entry fees will be refunded.

The decisions of the judges are final.

The public winner announcement is planned for April 2, 2027.

Readers and judges must disclose personal, professional, editorial, teaching or mentorship relationships with an entrant when they become aware of one. Because manuscripts are blind, many conflicts will not be apparent until later. Any conflicted reader or judge will be recused from evaluating that story.

Backhouse Press may request clarification where authorship is reasonably in question.