The Stygian Seal
Where Terror Gets Its Trophy
The Stygian Seal is a writing prize celebrating the best in Canadian dark fiction published in The Stygian Zine each year. This annual award recognizes exceptional craft, originality, and the power of storytelling that stays with readers long after the final page.
The Prize
Winner Receives:
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$150 CAD cash prize
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Stygian Seal certificate
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Digital winner seal for website and social media
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Stygian Media t-shirt
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Featured in our website winner circle
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Get interviewed for our YouTube channel
Eligibility
Authors published in The Stygian Zine during the calendar year are automatically entered for consideration. There is no separate entry fee or application process. If your work appears in our January or July issue, you're in the running.
Winner Announced
October 31
Selection Process
Winners are selected by an expert panel of judges based on craft, originality, and impact. Our judges look for work that pushes boundaries, honours the genre, and demonstrates a mastery of storytelling that reflects the best of Canadian dark fiction.
Growing Together
As Stygian Media grows, so will this prize. Our goal is to increase the cash award and expand recognition opportunities in the coming years. With community support, we hope to make The Stygian Writing Prize one of the most prestigious awards in Canadian horror fiction. The more we publish, the more we can give back to the writers who make this publication possible.
Past Winners
2026 winner to be announced October 31, 2026