Awards & Publications
“The most successful and pleasurable writing comes from being in a state of wonder. That fine balance between will and surrender, between skill and letting the pen run free is where the magic lives.”
2024 // Finalist, Canadian Bookclub Awards
2024 // What the Living Do, novel Regal House Publishing 2023 // Mostly Sorry, flash, Waterwheel Review 2023 // Could a Locked Door Save a Marriage, poem, Third Street Writers - Third Street Review 2023 // Word For Word, poem, Funicular Magazine 2023 // Emerging Writers Reading Series, One Way Home novel excerpt 2023 // Ghyu Means Love in Nepali, poem Last Stanza Poetry Journal 2022 // Speaking With the Dead, short story, Quagmire Literary Magazine 2022 // The Guy Who Gave Me a Flower, Beyond Words Literary Magazine 2022 // Zoom Call With an Old Friend, 1455 Literary Arts/Moveable Type 2021 // The Story as it is Told, essay, published in The Blood Pudding 2020 // What I Remember is This, runner-up, WOW! Women On Writing Essay Contest 2020 // Terminal, flash fiction, published online in Big Whoopie Deal 2018 // Drive, 2nd place in K. Valerie Memorial Poetry Contest 2018 // Once We Were Sad, 1st place in WOW-Women on Writing’s Essay Contest, published in Wow 2017 // Misconception, 1st place in The Writing District’s short prose competition, published in The Writing District Magazine 2017 // The Me of Us, Berlin, 1976 published in Room Magazine, issue 40.2 2017 // What the Living Do (First two chapters) 1st place in Lazuli Literary Group’s writing contest, published in Azure Magazine’s Winter issue 2016 // Tender Fruit, 1st place in the 23rd annual Writers’ Union of Canada’s short prose contest 2015 // Misconception, 1st place winner in Scugog Council for the Arts short prose contest 2015 // Running Shoes, flash fiction challenge winner in The Word Weaver 2015 // In Response, Winner, WCYR’s Poetry & Roses contest 2014 // Work Boots on Wall Street, CanWrite! Short Story Competition runner-up, published in the Canadian Authors Association’s CanWrite! Anthology 2015 2014 // Closing Circle and The Soft One, long-listed WCDR prose contest, published in the Renaissance Anthology 2014. 2014 // Second Coming, CAA Leacock Simcoe Erotic Prose Contest 2nd place 2013 // Chicks, 2nd place, published online in Flash Fiction 2013 // Finalist, Poetry & Roses competition, with the poem, Ceremony 2013 // Runner-up in Freefall Writing Competition with Still Life with Coconut 2012 // What’s Left, 1st prize in Whispered Words short prose contest, judged by Antanas Sileika, published in Whispered Words Anthology 2011 // Choose the Hammock, short story published in carte blanche literary magazine, submitted to the Journey Prize and Canadian Magazine Awards 2011 // Four short pieces published in Being Unquiet Anthology Grants 2017 // Ontario Arts Council Recommender Grant 2012 // Ontario Arts Council Recommender Grant 2012 // Writers’ Community of Durham Region Artist Residencies 2024 // 6-week self-directed writing residency, La Porte Peinte, Noyers sur Serein, France 2017 // 10-day self-directed writing residency, Banff Centre for the Arts
What’s Left: “This heartbreaking story of loss is written with restraint and intelligence and contains within it a kind of mathematical puzzle that one is tempted to decipher, although that may not be possible. Utterly devoid of sentimentality, the story invites the reader to put herself in the position of the narrator and imagine the strangeness of loss and character transformation that a physical affliction might cause.”
“Once We Were Sad” is the most gorgeous piece of writing I’ve read in a long time. Your narrative voice is strong! Heartbreak, separation, grief, trust–you captured these images beautifully and in an interesting way. The short beats “The deal was. What the deal was. Was.” LOVE that! Not being able to be with the one you love, and being able to trust, to share, to show someone who you really are. It’s never an easy thing. There is so much depth and beauty to your essay. Thank you so much for sharing it with us! It is in my heart now. Keep up the excellent writing! We can’t wait to read more from you! Write on!
Interviews & Podcasts
Publications
Order from your local bookseller, library, or online here.
* What the Living Do will soon be available in audio format.
“Masterfully, Susan Wadds entices readers with her stunning prose across a rich, complex emotional topography. What the Living Do is a brilliantly crafted portrait of a woman grappling with her demons and the challenges she must overcome to find hope, healing, and redemption. An incredible debut, this novel is moving and unforgettable and will resonate in your soul long after the final page.”-Jennifer Manuel, author of The Heaviness of Things That FloatRead more advance reviews here
REVIEWS
What the Living Do
(First two chapters) 1st place in Lazuli Literary Group’s writing contest, published in Azure Magazine’s Winter issue.
Misconception
1st place in The Writing District’s September short prose competition, published in The Writing District Magazine.
Interview 2017
Winner of The Writers’ Union of Canada’s 2016 short prose contest for developing writers.
What I Remember is This
Runner-up, WOW! Women On Writing Q4 2020 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest, published WOW magazine.
