The Liar's 2026 Writing and Design Contest is Now Open!
Capilano University’s literary magazine, The Liar, IS BACK! We are opening our annual Writing and Design Contest to solicit submissions for our 2026 issue. This year's theme is Haunted. Haunted, as in the things that keep you up at night: obsessions and the obsessed, the things you carry with you always. What is it that is ever-present, always waiting, always lingering at the back of your mind, ephemeral and enveloping, all at once? Whether it is beautifully haunting, or something that lives in your nightmares, we invite you to submit your original work—short stories, prose, poetry, art, etc.—that will haunt us too.
Writing and Design Submissions are eligible for a $500 prize in their respective categories. Each winner will appear online and in our print issue. Both winners and all finalists will be featured in the 2026 edition of The Liar. Prize money is provided by Capilano University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
We also accept Miscellaneous Submissions that need not adhere to our theme. Miscellaneous submissions are not eligible to participate in the contests but may still be published in this year’s Liar. We also welcome miscellaneous submissions from writers and artists who are not CapU students.
The submission deadline is October 31st at 11:59pm.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- This year’s theme is The Haunted Issue.
- Up to three (3) submissions per person per submission category (Writing and Design). Please submit each piece as a separate document.
- We only accept online submissions via our Submittable portal. Include your active student number and your preferred return email address.
- Please type all written submissions and only use the .DOC, .DOCX or .PDF formats.
- Please submit all design submissions in high resolution (300dpi or higher) .JPG, .TIFF or .PNG formats.
- We accept only new and unpublished submissions.
- We accept simultaneous submissions. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please let us know.
- Any work created using Generative AI will not be accepted.
- All submissions will be judged blind.
- Content warnings can be included at your discretion.
We accept writing submissions of up to 2,000 words.
Hybrid-genre, creative non-fiction, literary essays, creative journalism and personal essays are welcome, however we do not publish academic essays.
Hybrid and cross-genre works in poetry are welcome.
We accept poetry and prose translations into English. Please include the original author’s name, the title and the language it was originally published in the body of your submission email.
This contest is only open to currently enrolled students of Capilano University. Please include your active student number and your CapU email address with your entry.
Do not include your name on any uploaded materials as they will be judged blind.
Submit all writing as .PDF, .DOC or .DOCX.
We accept visual art including photography, traditional, digital, hybrid, and experimental work.
All art should be submitted in high resolution (300dpi or higher) with the extension .JPG, .TIFF or .PNG.
This contest is only open to currently enrolled students of Capilano University. Please include your active student number and your CapU email address with your entry.
Do not include your name on any uploaded materials as they will be judged blind.
Works submitted to this category are not eligible for the contest but may still be published in The Liar.
Submitters who are not CapU students must submit their work in this category.
This category should also be used for works by CapU students that do not fit this year’s theme.
Do not include your name on any uploaded materials as they will be judged blind.
Writing submissions should be in .PDF, .DOC or .DOCX formats.
Art submissions should be in high resolution (300dpi or higher) with the extension .JPG, .TIFF or .PNG.
We accept work for print and/or online publication in this category.