Short-Long Distance Writing Contest OPEN • Soraya Roberts X NMA • Subs open: comics, CNF, art and photography • Geist on Galiano • Eavesdroppers, see below • Micro-horoscopes (on vacation)
Staff Rumble
Dear readers,
The sun blazes over grant deadlines and a pressing production schedule. Before the Geist team could even gather to divine June horoscopes, our prophecy was laid out; we must focus on putting together Issue 133 and writing applications. Geistly goes lightly this month, with a few important announcements.
Start slathering the sunscreen!
—The Editors
The Geist Short Long-Distance Writing Contest is now open!
Calling all writers and wordsmiths—we are now accepting submissions for The Geist Short Long-Distance Writing Contest!
How it works: Send us a story, 500 words or less, fiction or non-fiction, that spans two or more Canadian time zones. This could mean a physical transition across time zones (like a road trip), or an implied transition between them (like a phone call). The details are up to you—get creative!
Deadline: June 19, 2026.
Winning entries get cash prizes and publication in Geist!
Get all the contest details here.
Looking for inspiration? Check out the winner of the 2025 Short Long-Distance Contest, "Alberta-Bound" by Mark John Hiemstra in Issue 130, or visit our short long-distance archive for more examples of notable stories.
Congrats, Soraya!
Big, loud congratulations to Soraya Roberts, whose feature essay, “Silver & Blue” (Geist 129) is nominated for a National Magazine Award in the Personal Journalism category. The essay is about midlife and the railway system, and takes place on Canada’s only transnational passenger train, The Canadian. You can read the whole thing at geist.com
Gold and silver winners will be announced on June 5 at the National Magazine Awards Gala.
Call for Submissions!
Geist is now open for NON-FICTION and COMICS submissions, as well as ART and PHOTOGRAPHY. Deadline: June 15 at 11:59 pm PT 🐏
We welcome creative, thoughtfully researched and emotionally resonant narrative non-fiction in all its forms. We are especially interested in writing grounded in a sense of place, and fascinating fields of work, practices or hobbies. We love comics that are weird, funny, unexpected or experimental.
For more info, read our submission guidelines at geist.com/submit.
Geist in the Wild
Not one, but two issues of Geist—130 and 131—getting some primo real estate on Gabriola Island, BC.
Anson Ching, Geist board member and occasional correspondent, came across this literary display at The Loose Leaf Tea and Papery, a post office and shop selling tea, cards, stationery and art.
Thanks, Anson!
We Want Your Overheards
We'd never encourage you to eavesdrop, but...
Send us the best one-liners you've overheard—on the street, at the aquarium, in line for pastries—and you might see them in our next issue!
Pssst... want to get creative? Draw a one-panel comic of your Overheard and upload it along with your submission (optional).
Reply via form at geist.com/overheard.
Words and comix by Elsa Chesnel: elsachesnel.com
Micro-horoscopes for the Lit-Lorn
Geist's in-house bootleg astrologers are on vacation 😎
Image credit: Geist Horoscopes drawn by Dayna Mahannah
Geist, 210-111 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1H4.
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