Sparks of Imagination
Showcase your creative writing talent in our
“Sparks of Imagination” Short Story Contest!
Are you in Grade 1-6?
Do you like to write stories?
If so, Brain Power’s Sparks of Imagination 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:
Primary Category (Grades 1–2)
Choose ONE of the following prompts.
- Write a story from the perspective of an insect. Include realistic details about an insect’s world and the kinds of things it experiences.
- Imagine you woke up one day to find that you had suddenly become a grown-up. What would happen?
- Write a story about a character who can transport anywhere in the universe—but only three times in their whole life! What would they do?
Foundations Category (Grades 3–4)
Choose ONE of the following prompts.
- Write a story about a character who finds themselves trapped in the video game they were playing the day before. (The video game should be one that you make up, not one that already exists.)
- Write a story about a character who has the power of invisibility—but it comes and goes at random times.
- Write a story about a famous athlete (one who is made up for your story) who finds themself competing against mythological creatures.
Elementary Category (Grades 5–6)
Choose ONE of the following prompts.
- Write a story about a character’s incredible dream that they forget just after they wake up.
- Write a story about a character who wakes up to find that it is their birthday every day.
- Write a story about a character who enters an alternate reality where nobody remembers them.
Requirements:
Length:
- Junior Contest: max. 500 words
- Intermediate Contest: max. 650 words
- Senior Contest: max. 800 words
Your story must be:
- 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: $25.00 CAD
- Second Place: $20.00 CAD
- Third Place: $10.00 CAD
- 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 1-6 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 November 29, 2026. 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
