Contest Rules

Power of the Pen Contest Rules:

Power of the Pen Contest Rules:   

• Entrants must be between ages 12-18 and residents of Hamilton or a neighbouring city (a city that neighbours the borders of Hamilton municipal boundaries)
• Each entrant may submit one poem, short story or both in the English and French categories. Each entry requires a separate entry form.
• Short stories must be at most 2,500 words. Poems may be any length.
• Please type entries in Arial 12-point size, double-spaced. Please number all pages and submit as a word document
• Do not put your name anywhere on your work. Your name must be on the entry form only.
• All submissions must be original. If it is fanfiction, the work of inspiration must be named.
• The decision of the judges is final.
• Please email mnichols@hpl.ca to make arrangements to pick-up judged submissions.
• All entries are scanned to ensure originality. Each winning entry is scanned using plagiarism-identifying software. Plagiarized submissions will be disqualified. 
• Please note, entries that do not meet format requirements will be disqualified.

Rules on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use:

We recognize AI tools can be useful when revising writing. Contest participants are only allowed to use AI for technical assistance, such as correcting grammar or enhancing word choice. Using generative AI is not permitted to produce ideas, or create writing or art. On the contest entry form, you must acknowledge if, how, and when you used AI in your work.