Bright Sparks Contest
Showcase your creative writing talent in our
“Bright Sparks” Short Story Contest!
Are you in Grade 6-8?
Do you like to write stories?
If so, Brain Power’s Bright Sparks Short Story Contest is your chance to enter your creative writing into a contest and maybe even get your story published in a collection!
Story Prompts:
Your task: to write a short story responding to one (1) of the prompts below.
- Your main character is a member of a human crew that has been hibernating in space for 1000 years, and now it is time for them to wake up. What happens next?
- Write a story that takes place in an alternate reality where the entire surface of the Earth is covered in water.
- Choose an important person in history. Write a story about what the world would be like if they had never existed.
Requirements:
Your story must be:
- 700–1000 words
- written entirely by you, the author (no contributions from tutors, AI, or other sources)*
- not written for any other purpose (such as school or another contest)
- not previously published
- saved as a Word document or PDF
- written in 12-point font in either Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
*Please note that this means AI must not be used at ANY TIME during the creation of your story, whether for generating ideas, writing, editing, or any other purpose. Any story that has used AI for any part of its creation will be disqualified.
Prizes:
- First Place: $75.00 CAD
- Two Runners-Up: $20.00 CAD gift card each
- First place winners will receive a trophy.
- All winners will receive a Brain Power swag bag.
- All winning stories will also be published in a collection.
Eligibility:
- You must be a student in Grades 6–8 at the time of the contest deadline.
- Students in any Canadian or U.S. school are eligible, as are homeschooled students living in Canada or the U.S. and studying at the equivalent grade level.
Submissions:
- To be considered for the prize, you must use this form to upload and submit your story by 11:59 p.m. on April 11, 2027. SUBMIT HERE!
Publication:
- Please note that, by entering the contest, you agree to give Brain Power Enrichment Programs permission to publish your story under your name in a collection of winning stories.
Questions?
- Email us at contests@brainpower.ca
