The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction

08/20/2026

Big news! Announcing The Carol Shields Prize Foundation Residency at Storyknife Writers Retreat

The recipient will receive a residency at the Storyknife in 2027, as well as $1,000 USD to cover travel and lost wages;

The writer will use the residency to further a literary project;

The recipient will have their own private cabin for work and sleep, as well as three meals per day.

This is a four-week residency in Homer, Alaska, U.S.

There is no need to apply separately to the Shields Prize residency.

Storyknife’s current application period closes on August 31, 11:59pm AKDT.

Check eligibility criteria and apply: https://storyknife.org/how-to-apply/

08/20/2026

Julia Elliott was on TV talking about winning the Shields Prize, and explaining the unifying idea behind her collection, Hellions.

Watch it in full on WIS 10’s channel.

08/18/2026

The early-bird deadline is almost here!

Publishers, submit today:

Submissions to the Prize Submissions are now open.Books published between January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026, must be received on or before Friday October 2, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.Note that submissions received by Friday August 28, 2026 at 11:59pm PST will be eligible for our discounted early bird su...

08/13/2026

August is Women in Translation month.

Let us know in the comments which books written and translated by women you recommend!

Pale Shadows by Dominique Fortier, translated by Rhonda Mullins (Coach House Books), and The Future by Catherine Leroux, translated by Susan Oriou (Biblioasis) are both Shields Prize honorees. 🩵

08/10/2026

“Being a mentee of the Carol Shields Prize has been life-changing for me.”

During our 2026 ceremony, Janielle Browne shared how being a part of the Shields Prize community has impacted her life and development as a writer.

Help us keep our programs in the United States and Canada going, support the foundation today: www.carolshieldsprizeforfiction.com/donate

08/06/2026

The early-bird deadline is near: Friday, August 28.

Publishers in Canada and the United States:

Submit eligible books published between January 1 and July 31, 2026 by October 2.

We are committed to accessibility: if the submission fee is a barrier, contact us about waivers.

The Carol Shields Prize celebrates excellence in fiction by women and non-binary writers in the United States and Canada.

Full guidelines and submission form are up on our website, https://carolshieldsprizeforfiction.com/submissions (link in bio)

08/04/2026

Happy publication day!

The White Hot by Quiara Alegría Hudes, a 2026 Shields Prize Finalist, is out in paperback.

A read that fits perfectly in your beach bag or you state park hiking backpack. 🔥🌳🏖️

@: Quiara Alegría Hudes One World

07/30/2026

“Someone informs me a child has been born. I’m out of it. A new kind of grief wrapping me in its coccon.”

Quiara Alegría Hudes reads from The White Hot at our reading event Celebrating the 2026 shortlist.

Head over to YouTube to watch the full reading.

-along: What are your first impressions of The White Hot?

The Carol Shields Prize Foundation is thankful to the Toronto Arts Council for its support of this event with funds provided by the City of Toronto.

@: Quiara Alegría Hudes Toronto Arts Council Lula Lounge

07/28/2026

We asked Diamond Braxton, the 2025 recipient, some questions about their transformative experience.

Diamond talked about the importance of receiving the residency, and the short story collection she is working on, Tell Me About Your Mother, which she is currently querying.

Read it in full: http://carolshieldsprizeforfiction.com/prizenews/diamond-braxton-hr

“As an emerging writer of color, I have experienced plenty of rejection and moments of not feeling seen, valued, or understood by literary and institutional spaces. Receiving the Carol Shields Prize Foundation Residency at Hedgebrook was an enormous affirmation at a crucial point in my career. This accomplishment reminds me that my work has worth and value, that people see what I am working toward, and that others believe in the growth of my writing.”

07/23/2026

We love this display of award-honored books at Cedar Canoe Books in Bracebridge, ON. Can you spot the 2026 Shields Prize titles?

📚 Cedar Canoe Books