Susan Hill Writing Prize
Submission Guidelines
Susan Ann Hill (1959-2014) 
was an avid genealogical enthusiast who conducted her research in Cumberland County and was very active as a volunteer in various heritage organizations, encouraging and inspring many Nova Scotia genealogists. She published several books, some with extensive data records, and others as transcriptions of diaries. GANS established this award to encourage those doing genealogy to “take up the pen” and continue Susan's lelgacy of service in researching and sharing our histories.
was an avid genealogical enthusiast who conducted her research in Cumberland County and was very active as a volunteer in various heritage organizations, encouraging and inspring many Nova Scotia genealogists. She published several books, some with extensive data records, and others as transcriptions of diaries. GANS established this award to encourage those doing genealogy to “take up the pen” and continue Susan's lelgacy of service in researching and sharing our histories.
The $250.00 prize is awarded annually, and the winning essay will be publlished in a forthcoming issue of The Nova Scotia Genealogist. That said, GANS reserves the right not to award a prize if it is the opinion of the judging panel that none of the submissions are of sufficient quality to warrant a prize.
Who is eligible to submit an essay to the competition?
The contest is open to both members and non-members; however, members of the judging panel, paid staff, or the Board of Directors are not eligible to submit an entry during the term of their service or employment. Entrants who do not win in one year are eligible to submit a new or re-worked previously submitted essay in a future year.
The contest is open to both members and non-members; however, members of the judging panel, paid staff, or the Board of Directors are not eligible to submit an entry during the term of their service or employment. Entrants who do not win in one year are eligible to submit a new or re-worked previously submitted essay in a future year.
What types of essay topics are acceptable for the competition?
We are looking for a range of genealogical topics with a Nova Scotia geographic focus. Examples of possible topics are your adventures trying to verify an old family story using evidence from other sources; a research brick wall scenario; a family line’s migration pattern; an instructive use of a particular research methodology and your resultant discoveries (i.e. a genealogical case study); interesting events in your family history, or an ancestor’s role in their community. Basically, the story must be true, and documentation must be provided when not personal experience.
We are looking for a range of genealogical topics with a Nova Scotia geographic focus. Examples of possible topics are your adventures trying to verify an old family story using evidence from other sources; a research brick wall scenario; a family line’s migration pattern; an instructive use of a particular research methodology and your resultant discoveries (i.e. a genealogical case study); interesting events in your family history, or an ancestor’s role in their community. Basically, the story must be true, and documentation must be provided when not personal experience.
What are the formatting and technical requirements for the essay?
1. The essay must be between 1500 and 2500 words not including source citations.
2. It must be your original work and not generated, either wholly or in part, by AI.
3. The title, with your name and contact details underneath, should be at the top of the first page.
4. Subheadings can be used in the essay if that would enhance the reader’s ability to follow the narrative arc.
5. Photos and images should be embedded in the text for the initial submission, but authors should also have separate files for the text and the images in the event their essay wins the competition.
6. Essays should be sent in as a word processing program document and as a pdf.
7. Submissions with some emphasis on research methodologies or findings should demonstrate the ability to access and understand various types of records and how to cite those sources correctly and usefully. For guidance in the use and construction of footnotes or endnotes (no in text citations, please) and bibliographic references, preferred resources would be Elizabeth Shown Mills’ Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (2017), or the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
1. The essay must be between 1500 and 2500 words not including source citations.
2. It must be your original work and not generated, either wholly or in part, by AI.
3. The title, with your name and contact details underneath, should be at the top of the first page.
4. Subheadings can be used in the essay if that would enhance the reader’s ability to follow the narrative arc.
5. Photos and images should be embedded in the text for the initial submission, but authors should also have separate files for the text and the images in the event their essay wins the competition.
6. Essays should be sent in as a word processing program document and as a pdf.
7. Submissions with some emphasis on research methodologies or findings should demonstrate the ability to access and understand various types of records and how to cite those sources correctly and usefully. For guidance in the use and construction of footnotes or endnotes (no in text citations, please) and bibliographic references, preferred resources would be Elizabeth Shown Mills’ Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (2017), or the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
How are the submissions judged?
The judging panel will consist of three GANS volunteers, one of whom will be an NSG Editor. Judging will take place over the summer, and the results announced in the Fall/Winter NSG and the September/October newsletter. There is a standard set of criteria against which each essay will be assessed and assigned a score.
These criteria are based on the quality of:
1) the genealogical research,
2) the author’s writing style and grammar usage,
3) how engaging or creative the writing is (depending on the topic),
4) the context and analysis provided for the conclusions, and
5) the sources and citations used.
The judging panel will consist of three GANS volunteers, one of whom will be an NSG Editor. Judging will take place over the summer, and the results announced in the Fall/Winter NSG and the September/October newsletter. There is a standard set of criteria against which each essay will be assessed and assigned a score.
These criteria are based on the quality of:
1) the genealogical research,
2) the author’s writing style and grammar usage,
3) how engaging or creative the writing is (depending on the topic),
4) the context and analysis provided for the conclusions, and
5) the sources and citations used.
What is the deadline for submissions?
The deadline for submissions is June 30th.
The deadline for submissions is June 30th.
How do I submit my essay?
Please download, print and complete the entry form, including your contact information, your signature
agreeing to assign certain rights to GANS for non-exclusive use of the material in the case of your
essay winning the competition, and your signature guaranteeing that your work has not been
generated, either wholly or in part, by AI. Scan or photograph the completed form and then send it
in with your essay as email attachments to admin@novascotiaancestors.ca.
Please download, print and complete the entry form, including your contact information, your signature
agreeing to assign certain rights to GANS for non-exclusive use of the material in the case of your
essay winning the competition, and your signature guaranteeing that your work has not been
generated, either wholly or in part, by AI. Scan or photograph the completed form and then send it
in with your essay as email attachments to admin@novascotiaancestors.ca.
- - -