Contests
We are running two contests for our Fall Issue, open to undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan. The deadline for applications are November 3rd, 2025. Students can submit to one or both contests in addition to submitting work for consideration in the magazine. However, students are only allowed to submit one entry to each contest.
The grand prize is a $20 USask Bookstore gift card. Runners-up will receive publication in the magazine.
Sci-Fi Short Story Contest
The best science fiction considers worlds, present and future, located at or beyond the limits of current knowledge and technology. We are looking for your best very short science fiction stories (150 words or less).
- You must be an undergraduate student at the University of Saskatchewan
- All short stories over 150 words will be disqualified
- Your submission must be your own work (i.e., no GenAI use allowed)
- Members of IMR are not eligible for the grand prize, although their work may be published in the magazine alongside other contest entries.
The fiction editors will compile a shortlist consisting of the best submissions. The shortlisted stories will be shared with the whole editorial board, who will read and vote for their favorite piece. The pieces will be judged anonymously.
The short story with the most votes will be declared the winner, and will receive a $20 USask Bookstore gift card alongside publication in the Fall Issue.
All shortlisted pieces will be published in the magazine with the artist’s name and a short bio.
Cover Contest
Our Fall Issue needs a cover that is eye-catching and relevant to our theme, “ChatGPT Turns 4.” We are looking for submissions that will grab viewers’ attention and connect to the variety of pieces within the magazine.
- You must be an undergraduate student at the University of Saskatchewan
- Your submission must be your own work (i.e., do not submit AI-generated artwork)
- Members of IMR are not eligible to submit their work to this contest.
We’ve provided the following guidelines to help you create an entry that is more likely to be chosen as a cover:
- Dimensions: 8.5″x11″ OR capable of being cropped to 8.5″x11″ without making the piece feel unbalanced (please submit uncropped art, though)
- Interesting but not unsettling or shocking: we want our magazine cover to be inviting to readers and be a good representation of the variety of work in our issue
- No copyrighted materials!
- Helpful, but not required: Negative space where text (e.g., magazine logo) can be placed
Our Layout & Design Editor will be responsible for choosing a cover that works well with the contents of the magazine. This judging process will be done in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief, the Associate Editor, and the Visual Art Team. The entries will be judged anonymously.
The winner’s piece will be selected as the magazine’s cover (please note, some parts of the art will be covered with text). Another picture of the piece, without any necessary design edits, will be published somewhere in the magazine with the artist’s name, artist’s statement, and a short bio. Finally, the winner will receive a $20 USask Bookstore gift card.
We will publish the artwork of runners-up in the magazine with each artist’s name and a short bio.