The Emerging Writers Reading Series is a monthly reading series that takes place on the second Monday of the month from September to June. EW is dedicated to professionally serious writers still establishing themselves. Our readers have gone on to win awards, place their work, publish books, and gain further recognition as the up-and-coming writers of Canada. The EW Reading Series is organized by writers Deepa Rajagopalan and Anna Lee-Popham.
Our events were entirely held online for the last season, with great success. We expect to go back to the Glad Day Bookshop in Downtown Toronto sometime in the new season, subject to public health and safety guidelines.
EW Call for Submissions 2024-2025
We are currently accepting submissions from readers.
Deadline: December 4, 2024
Submission Guidelines
We accept fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, spoken word, playwriting, screenwriting, and hybrid submissions. Submit 3-5 poems OR 3-5 pages of prose. Excerpts OK. Submissions don't need to be exactly what you’d like to read but should be in a similar vein. Video/audio reading samples can be submitted for spoken word submissions.
We book shows months in advance and are currently booking for the 2025 season. If there is a particular month you are away, indicate this in your cover letter.
We will contact potential readers throughout the year.
Eligibility
All writers residing in Canada who have not yet published a major book (novel, poetry collection, short story collection, non-fiction book).
EW does not have the budget to pay for travel expenses, but writers from other parts of Canada that are visiting Toronto are still encouraged to submit. We will also host several events online, so please indicate if you would only be available for an online reading. Writers who have read at EW in the past should not resubmit within two years. This allows EW to avoid booking repeat readers, keeping their shows full of fresh, emerging voices.
EW is dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented writers who continue to experience systemic barriers in their writing careers. Black, Indigenous and Racialized writers, 2SLQBTQ+ writers, and writers living with disabilities are encouraged to submit.
Payment
Each reader will be paid an honorarium of $150
About
The Emerging Writers Reading Series is dedicated to the professionally serious writer who has yet to publish a book. Our readers have gone on to win awards, place their work, publish books, and gain further recognition as the up-and-coming writers of Canada. The EW Reading Series is organized by writers Mackenzie Wiebe and Emily Kellogg. www.ewreading.com