By entering the Writer’s Spark Coaching Competition, entrants accept and agree to be bound by the Competition Rules set out

herein, and accept the decisions of Sheelagh Caygill, Fiona Fenwick, and Brain.fm (collectively, the “Releasees”), as final and binding, without right of appeal, in all respects, including, without limitation, as to eligibility and/or disqualification of entries.

 

Entries that are incomplete, irregular, have not paid the $6 CDN entry fee, have been submitted through illicit means, or do not conform to or satisfy any condition of these Competition Rules shall be disqualified.

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1. Competition Dates

The winner will be selected within a two-week period following the close of the competition at 11 a.m. MST on Friday, December 19, 2025. Prize must be scheduled and commenced within 6 (SIX) months of winner notification, with delivery completed within 12 (TWELVE) months. The Brain.fm one-year gift card will be delivered immediately following the winner's submission of the Winner Release Forms.

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2. Entry

The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition accepts entries from any country. Your entry must be written in English. Coaching sessions and editing will be conducted in English.

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To participate in the Competition, entrants must:

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> Have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction and/or country of residence.​

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> Submit an answer to Question One between 500 and 1000 characters on why you deserve to win. Judges Sheelagh Caygill and Fiona Fenwick will evaluate your entry on the basis of your answer to this question.​

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> Submit an answer to Question Two of between 400 and 700 characters describing of your project. Include the genre, subject, whether you've started your project, and your deadline, if you have one, and any other relevant information. Note that the facts you supply in this answer will not influence the judges decision, and are for information only. See Section 4. below for information on how the entries will be judged.

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> Be working on a lengthy writing project, such as a book, that will cover the length of prize delivery, which can be anywhere between a few months and six months, depending on your schedule and Fiona's and Sheelagh's schedule. ​

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​​​> Pay the entry fee of $6 CDN when you submit your entry.

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​​​> Have read and agreed to the Competition Rules.

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​​​> Must not be related to, a close personal friend of, or an employee of the Releasees.​

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Limit: One entry per person or per writing team.

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3. The Prize

There is one prize to be won by one entrant. The prize is made up of:

a. Two one-hour coaching sessions with Fiona Fenwick. There must be a minimum of one month (30 days) between the first and second coaching session. You can send Fiona questions or updates between your coaching sessions. Note that Fiona will send the winner a maximum of five emails between coaching sessions.

b. A gift card for one full year of Brain.fm. This will be delivered to the winner as soon as they have signed and returned the Winner Release Forms.

c. Two hours of editing with Sheelagh Caygill. The maximum length of text to be edited or reviewed for feedback is 1,000 (ONE THOUSAND) words. If you wish, you can divide this editing part of the prize into one hour editing and a one-hour Zoom call with Sheelagh.

d. A Writers Reveal Q&A interview published on Oncreativewriting.com, and mentions in our newsletter and on our social media platforms.

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Sheelagh and Fiona will make every effort to be flexible with the winner for the delivery of the prize. We understand that you have commitments and may not be able to begin immediately. The Writer’s Spark Coaching Competition prize must be accepted as awarded and is not transferable and no cash or any prize substituted.

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4. Winner Selection Process and Notification

​The Competition winner will be selected on the strength of their answer Question One: "Why do you deserve to win this competition?". Sheelagh and Fiona will consider how well the answers are written, and this includes spelling and grammar, as well as your use of language, writing style, and the persuasiveness of your answer. Note that Question Two asking about your writing project is for information only.

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The winner will be notified by email and must respond within 7 (SEVEN) days to claim their prize. Prize delivery will be scheduled at mutually convenient times for the winner and service providers. ​

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5. Licenses

By participating in the Writer's Spark Coaching Competition, entrants agree to abide by these Competition Rules and the decisions of the judges with respect to all aspects of the Competition. All photographs and related text entered in the Competition shall remain the property of the respective entrants. In consideration of the opportunity to enter the Competition, each entrant grants On Creative Writing and Fiona Fenwick a non-exclusive license to use their entry, name, and photograph for promotional purposes related to this specific competition and its results, including on websites, newsletters, and social media, for a period of two years following the competition end date. Please see section 8. below for more information on Photographs.

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For the winner: By submitting your entry, you grant On Creative Writing and Fiona Fenwick a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce and publish an excerpt of your answer Question One their websites and social media platforms for promotional purposes. You grant On Creative Writing and Fiona Fenwick the following rights:

• The exclusive, worldwide right to reproduce, and publish your entire answer to Question One for one year, after which the license becomes non-exclusive.

• The right to create an audio recording and to broadcast readings of your answer to the first question on their websites and podcast platforms on which the On Creative Writing podcast is distributed.

• The right to use your name, photograph for promotional purposes related to the competition, without any additional payment.

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6. False statements and plagiarism

Entrants must meet all conditions and not make any false statements. If it is discovered that an entry contains false information, is non-compliant, or is plagiarized, the participant will be disqualified and their entry fee will not be refunded. The judges' decision in these matters is final. 

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7. Professional Services Disclaimer

Professional Services Disclaimer: The coaching, editing, and other services provided as part of this prize are offered for educational and developmental purposes only. The Releasees make no warranties or representations about the effectiveness of any advice, feedback, or services provided. Winners acknowledge that:

a) All coaching and editing services represent the professional opinions of the service providers and are not guarantees of publishing success, improved writing, or any specific outcomes;

b) Winners are solely responsible for their own writing decisions and any actions taken based on advice received;

c) The Releasees shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of, reliance upon, or inability to use the services provided, including but not limited to lost profits, lost opportunities, or claims related to writing, publishing, or career decisions;

d) Winners understand that writing and publishing involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and that professional advice does not guarantee any particular results;

e) The services provided are not intended as legal, financial, or therapeutic advice, and winners should seek appropriate professional counsel for such matters as needed.

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8. Your Competition Photo and Personal Bio

The winner of the Writer's Spark Coaching Competition will be asked to send us a photo and short personal biography. These will be used on Oncreativewriting.com and on Fionafenwick.com, on these two website's social media platforms, in newsletters, and anywhere we deem appropriate in relation to the competition.

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Your biography must be truthful and not plagiarize from other published biographies. You are welcome to include your website and two social media links in your biography.

 

Your Competition Photo must comply with the following specifications (the “Photo Entry Specifications”): a. be a good quality headshot photo and be of you and show your face clearly. Reproducing, modifying, enhancing or altering a third-party's pre-existing work does not qualify as your original creation; b. your photo must not violate the rights of any third-party, including, but not limited to copyright. For example, your Competition Photo must not defame, infringe or violate publicity or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person's, entity's or organization's personal or proprietary rights, including but not limited to, intellectual property rights. Your Competition Photo must not contain trademarks, logos, or trade dress, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, not have been submitted to another competition or contest, or won any other award; d. be in “good taste” and in keeping with the Releasees brand imaging and must not be explicit, offensive, obscene, or profane, and must not be derogatory toward any ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, profession, or age group, or promote any activities that may be unsafe or dangerous, as determined by the Releasees, in their sole and absolute discretion; not contain any commercial content that promotes any product or service; not defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about any person or entity or products; not be false, inaccurate or misleading; not violate any law or regulation; not be libelous, threatening or harassing; not instigate others to commit illegal activities or violate human rights.

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9. Restrictions

• All submissions are final: no changes or substitutions are allowed

• No handwritten manuscripts, fax texts, mailed in envelopes or emailed texts will be accepted

• Texts will not be returned and feedback or editorial comments will not be given on the works

• Any communication with the judges will disqualify the entrant as it will compromise the judging process.

• On Creative Writing may reject any entry if, at its absolute discretion, it considers the entry to contain inappropriate content.

• ​Any entry knowingly or unknowingly containing any viruses, works, or other software or elements interfering with computers and networks will be disqualified.

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10. General​

BEFORE BEING DECLARED A WINNER, the potential winner will need to (i) confirm compliance with these Competition Rules; (ii) acknowledge acceptance of the Prize as awarded; (iii) agree to release the Releasees from any and all loss, harm, claims, cost, expense (including legal and other professional expenses), demands, damages, actions or causes of action whatsoever which the potential winner, his/her heirs, executors or administrators may or thereafter have against any of the Releasees in respect of or relating to participation in the Competition, participation in any Competition-related activity or the acceptance, use or misuse of the Prize, and (iv) must complete and return the Winner Release Forms to Oncreativewriting.com

 

If the eligible winner: (a) declines the Prize; or (b) fails to return the properly executed Winner Release Forms within the specified time; or (c) fails to submit a photo, short bio, and a few details about their writing; or (d) does not respond within 7 (SEVEN) days from the sending of an email to requests for Zoom sessions, then he/she/they will be disqualified (and will forfeit all rights to the Prize) and the Releasees reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to select an alternate eligible entrant. If the winner fails to receive a Prize in accordance with these Competition Rules, an alternate winner will be drawn. Any such alternate potential winner will be required to comply with these Competition Rules, including the above requirements related to the declaration and release.​

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The Releasees reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual (and all of his or her entries) who tampers with the entry process.

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The Releasees accept no responsibility for loss, damage or claims caused by or resulting from the Competition or a Prize. By participating and accepting a Prize, a winner consents to the use of his/her name, address (city, province/territory, and country), photograph and entry without further remuneration or notice, in connection with any publicity carried out by or on behalf of the Sponsor with respect to the Competition.

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The Releasees will not be liable for any failure of any mail system, courier, website or social media application and do not assume any responsibility for incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry information, technical malfunctions, human or technical error, printing errors, lost, delayed or garbled data or transmissions, omission, interruption, deletion, defect or failures of any telephone or computer lines or networks, computer equipment, software or any combination thereof. The Releasees are not liable for (a) late, lost, delayed, not received, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, stolen, fraudulent or illegible entries (all of which shall be automatically void and not eligible for the Prize); (b) failure to receive entries due to transmission failures, busy signals, traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or technical failures of any kind, including, without limitation, malfunctioning of any network, servers, access providers, hardware or software, whether originating with sender or recipient; or (c) any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Competition and breaches of privacy due to interference by third-party computer "hackers". Entries are subject to verification by the Releasees. Entry materials/data not satisfying the entry requirements or that have been tampered with or altered are void.

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The Releasees reserve the right to terminate or amend this Competition at any time and in any way, without prior notice. The Releasees shall not be held responsible for any problems, errors or negligence that may arise or occur in connection with the Competition.​

 

No correspondence will be entered into except with the selected entrant(s). The Competition is subject to all applicable Canadian federal, provincial and municipal laws.

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The Releasees respect your right to privacy. Personal information collected from entrants will only be used by the Oncreativewriting.com to administer the Competition and, only if consent is given at the time of entry, to send entrants newsletters from Oncreativewriting.com. For more information regarding the manner of collection, use and disclosure of personal information, please visit the Privacy Policy at Oncreativewriting.com.

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