Write Your Inner Storm · FAQ
Before you send your story.
Answers to common questions about entering, payment, Reader access, and publication. Read the official rules for the full terms.
What counts as an inner storm?
Something personal from your inner life that could have an impact when shared: a challenge, an inspiration, a realization, an open question, or a change in how you see yourself or the world. Your story can be quiet, joyful, uncertain, or unfinished. It does not need to involve hardship or a literal storm. These are possibilities, not separate categories.
Who can enter?
Open worldwide to eligible individuals who are 18 or older, or the age of majority in their place of residence if that is higher (for example, 19 in British Columbia), except where participation, payment, award receipt or operation of the invitation is prohibited or restricted by applicable law. English does not have to be your first language. Employees of the Organizer, judges, and the immediate family and household members of either may not enter. You are responsible for ensuring that participation is lawful in your jurisdiction. The Organizer may decline an entry and refund its payment where accepting it would violate applicable law, sanctions, payment restrictions or regulatory requirements. Entrants must not be persons or entities with whom the Organizer is prohibited from dealing under Canadian sanctions or other applicable trade restrictions. Entries or award payments may be refused where required by law. The official rules give the full eligibility requirements.
What should I submit?
One original essay of 1,500–2,500 words, in English, written in the first person about your own true, lived experience. Include the introduction and declarations requested by the form. Photos are optional. You may enter once. Translation or editing assistance is allowed while you remain the author. AI tools may help you organize your own ideas, translate your own writing, or check spelling and grammar. The experience, reflection, and essential authorship must remain yours. Fabricated experiences, wholly AI-generated narratives, and plagiarism are not eligible.
What are the awards?
Five cash awards of CAD $200 each (CAD $1,000 in total) go to the five highest-ranked eligible entries. These awards are available to eligible entrants worldwide, with no regional allocation. All five awards will be given, provided at least five eligible entries are received. Cash award recipients also receive publication on StormIt with editorial support. Up to 10 finalists (including the five cash award recipients) receive publication on StormIt, editorial support, and a digital finalist certificate. Finalist recognition carries no additional cash award.
How are entries judged?
A panel of at least three judges scores each eligible entry independently on published, weighted criteria: authenticity and strength of lived experience (30%), insight and reflection (25%), narrative effectiveness (20%), potential to connect with or help readers (15%), clarity, structure and craft (10%). Finalists and cash award recipients are selected entirely on the basis of skill using the published judging criteria. No element of chance is used. Reader Scores, reactions, comments, reading time, shares, popularity and submission order are shown for community interest only and never affect judging. If overall scores are tied, the higher mean score on the first-listed criterion ranks first, then the second-listed criterion. If still tied, the panel conducts an additional comparative review using the published criteria. A tie is never resolved by chance. The number of entries is not known in advance. Each eligible entry is evaluated against the same published criteria. The panel’s decisions on ranking are final, subject to eligibility verification under these rules.
Who judges the entries?
A panel of at least three judges with editorial or writing experience, appointed by the Organizer, evaluates eligible entries independently using the published criteria. Each criterion is scored out of 100 and multiplied by its published weight; the mean of the judges’ weighted totals determines an entry’s overall score and ranking. Judges must disclose material conflicts of interest and must not evaluate an affected entry; the Organizer appoints a replacement so each entry receives the same number of independent evaluations.
What should I consider when writing about other people?
By entering, you confirm that your entry is your original work, is substantially truthful to the best of your knowledge, does not knowingly contain false or defamatory statements about identifiable people, and does not unlawfully infringe another person’s copyright, privacy, confidentiality, publicity or other rights. You agree to indemnify the Organizer against third-party claims that arise because this confirmation was untrue. Take care when writing about other people. Consider changing names or identifying details, and do not include another person’s home address, private contact information, financial information, medical records, confidential records or other sensitive personal information unless you have a lawful and compelling reason to do so. The Organizer may redact or change identifying details to protect third parties, or decline to publish an entry, without changing your meaning.
Who formats my essay and photos?
The StormIt team will take care of layout and formatting for entries selected for publication, without changing your words or what your photos show, except that identifying details may be redacted to protect third parties under the Official Rules. Only editorially selected entries are published; not every submission will be published. Publication is separate from award selection and does not mean an entry is shortlisted, a finalist, or a winner.
How much does it cost to enter?
CAD $10 per entry. After completing your entry and declarations, the submit button takes you to Stripe Checkout to choose an available payment method. The payment also includes six calendar months of StormIt Reader access.
Can I get a refund of the entry fee?
The CAD $10 entry fee is non-refundable, except where required by law. If StormIt ever cancels the edition, every paid entry is refunded in full.
How do I use the complimentary Reader access?
Every successful entry payment receives six calendar months of complimentary StormIt Reader access, beginning when payment is confirmed, for the original entry email. Sign in or create an account with that same email and verify it to use the access. The benefit does not renew automatically or create a recurring charge. Complimentary Reader access has no cash value, cannot be transferred or exchanged, and does not increase your chances of receiving an award. An existing paid subscription is unchanged: there is no subscription credit or extension, and the six-month benefit runs from the entry payment date.
When is my entry accepted?
Your entry is accepted for review after payment succeeds and you confirm the link sent to your entry email. Opening Stripe Checkout or returning from it is not enough. If payment is interrupted, return to your saved payment page to continue with the same entry. If the email link expires, request a fresh link from that page. Do not pay again for the same entry.
Do I keep copyright, and can StormIt publish my entry?
You keep copyright. By submitting, you give StormIt the non-exclusive permissions described in the Official Rules to review, format and, where selected, publish your entry and submitted photos. This includes publication on StormIt’s public submissions pages. Publication permission is part of entering. The team handles layout and formatting, without a separate approval step. Publication is not guaranteed and follows successful payment, email confirmation, and editorial and safety review. You can choose a public pen name; your contact email and private verification details stay private. Contact us with corrections or concerns.
Will every entry be published, and does publication mean I am a finalist?
After payment and email confirmation, your entry is considered for publication through editorial review. Only editorially selected entries are published; not every submission will be published. Publication is separate from award selection and does not mean an entry is shortlisted, a finalist, or a winner.
When do entries close, and when are results announced?
Entries close December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern. Finalists and winners will be announced in the first week of January 2027.
How can I get help with my entry?
Email writeyourstorm@stormit.ca with your entry title and the email address used to enter. Contact us for payment or email confirmation problems, accessibility support, or any publication concern.