International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir

The International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir is an annual writing competition organised by Canadian author Alison Wearing, created in honour of Amy MacRae – a gifted memoirist and teacher who died of ovarian cancer in 2020 at the age of 35. Entry fees are donated to Amy’s Living Legacy Fund for ovarian cancer research.

The competition invites writers worldwide to submit original, unpublished works of memoir or personal essay of up to 2,000 words. Entries must use literary techniques such as dialogue, scene, and character to explore personal experience. Travel writing told from a personal perspective is also eligible. Work previously posted on personal websites, Substack, or social media remains eligible, but work published elsewhere does not. Judging is blind, and multiple entries are permitted.

The 2026 contest is judged by Merilyn Simonds, author of 20 books including the memoir Walking With Beth. Longlisted finalists are notified in September, with the winner and shortlist announced in October.

The winning story is published on Alison Wearing’s website and featured in her Memoir Writing Ink course. The winner receives CAD$1,000.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.