Want to get your work Published? Write a
short story and win an iPad Mini!
Call for Stories:
The Student Perspective: A Survival Guide to University Life
After successfully publishing volume 1 last year, the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC)
along with some diligent student editors are publishing volume 2 of this great student resource.
We are looking for students to write 500-1500 word stories on a variety of categories - on anything from
orientation week to final exams. Students are invited to write personal, anecdotal stories based on their
own experiences of first-year university. Stories should be humorous, insightful, thought-provoking,
helpful to incoming students, and portrayed from a positive outlook. Our primary audience will be
incoming first-year and international students, so please keep this in mind when writing.
The details
Download Last Year’s book for free at: www.smashwords.com/books/view/570126
(This should give you an idea of what type of writing we are looking for)
Stories should be anywhere from 500 to 1500 words in length, should relate to one specific university
experience, and should be carefully proofread. We would prefer stories written from a first person
perspective or written as a journal entry (so you should write using ‘I’ - we want a story from your
perspective).
Written feedback will be given on each story by the editors. Each story will be edited for grammar,
spelling and punctuation before being published. Students are encouraged to make a one-on-one
appointment at the RGASC to discuss editing changes.
Stories that do not fit the criteria will not be included in the final book. Students who have their work
included in the final version of the book will receive a credit either as the story author or in the
acknowledgements (for those who wish to remain anonymous). Publication decisions on the final version
of the book will be made by the editors.
One of the aims of this project is to redistribute this book publicly, either through online or print format.
In order to achieve this, students who choose to participate will be asked to sign a Creative Commons
license allowing UTM to use this work commercially.
Writers should express interest by sending an email to Dr Laura Taylor: [email protected]
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: April 11, 2016
How to get started:
Think back to your first days of your first year at UTM. What do you remember most? What do
you wish that you knew back then that you know now?
Here are some sample topics that you might like to write on (you can write on other topics if you
wish):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Orientation Week
Moving into residence (roommates, living arrangements, etc.
First day of classes
First assignment deadlines
Academic Skills (how to read critically, take notes, write at the university level)
Dealing with the ‘gap’ between the expectations of high school and university
Culture shock (if you are an international student - what surprised you about Canada?)
Getting involved (Clubs, societies, volunteering, sports, etc.)
Campus support (help available on campus and how you used these resources)
Stories about professors (funny stories, not so funny stories, interesting classes)
Mental health issues (dealing with stress, depression, homesickness, etc.)
Academic integrity issues (academic misconduct, learning how to reference, etc.)
What to do when things don’t go right (stories that you think are useful for new students)
Or you can write on any other issue that you would like to highlight. The audience is first year
students, so keep this in mind when writing!
The Contest and the Fine Print
The contest is open to current undergraduate students at UTM. While Graduate students are
welcome to submit stories for publication, they cannot participate in the contest. Final drafts of
stories will be submitted to a panel of faculty and upper level students for review. The top three
stories will be selected by this panel. Prizes are as follows: first prize is an iPad mini, second
prize is a $100 gift certificate, and third prize is a $50 gift certificate.