WAR OF THE WORDS WINNERS 2026

The view from within and beyond

The War of the Words is here! A huge thank you to all of the fine writers that submitted stories for consideration. A whopping 63 submissions were received! 

Guest judge paolo da costa, last year's Writer-in-Residence for the Alexandra Writers Centre, was tasked with the daunting job of deciding which writers best captured the theme, The View from Within and Beyond. 

Kiki Yee of At Bay Press has been working tirelessly behind the scenes on editing the volume for us in order to have copies available for sale at When Words Collide this August! 
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If you haven't got your WWC Festival Pass yet, make sure you select the add-on package including the new volume of War of the Words when you do!

And now, congratulations to these exemplary folks who went within and beyond! 

winners

prose

​First Place:
Alice on the Inside
by Emily MacKinnon

Second Place:
The Weight of Salt
by Aspen Noble
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Third Place:
The Gospel of Toast
​by Craig DiLouie

POETRY

First Place      
Sandali                       
by Renato Gandia

Second Place
Truth Lies          
by Lise Mayne

Third Place:    
Passage  
Meaghan Miron

Thanks as always to Avery at Bibliofic Designs for the stunning cover art - to be revealed soon! (not pictured at above). 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY!

If you have your festival pass, just select from the dropdown "I have a pass...I just want top purchase add-ons!"

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honourable mentions

PROSE

Strays Among the Skyways
By Mark Lloyd

Ghost River
by Cara Violini

A Sight of Small Magic
​by Alyssa Cherise

POETRY

The Skeletons I Keep
by Carlie Melody Mae

The Tower Reversed
by C.J. Wilson

Fire Sale
​by Shannon Elizabeth