U of G’s Amber Allen Shortlisted for CBC’s Short Story Prize

University of Guelph (U of G) librarian, Amber Allen, has been shortlisted for the CBC’s 2026 Short Story Prize. Her work, Pattern Recognition, is a story about a mother seeking a neurodivergence diagnosis for her child, while navigating her own mental health journey, and the lingering influence of her relationship with her mother. “It explores themes of wanting to be seen and accepted, inherited anxiety, and how those challenges can be both intensified and reshaped through motherhood,” said Allen. 

Leaning into vulnerability and finding inspiration 

In 2025, Allen participated in a creative writing workshop that focused on redefining narrative structure, led by guest lecturer, Christine Ottoni, at the U of G Library. “It was a very inspiring session, and I used it to sketch out the earliest version of this story,” said Allen. “I had also been inspired by my writing group to be more vulnerable in my writing, to dig deeper emotionally. This piece and its themes, reflects that balance of vulnerability and craft skills I’ve built over time.” 

Allen has also taken several creating writing courses through the University of Guelph’s School of Continuing Studies. “I kept hearing about the CBC writing contests being well regarded in the industry and a strong launching pad for emerging writers,” said Allen. “I had been working on this piece for a while and decided to put myself out there and enter.” Writing is not a new hobby for Allen – she has been a writer and a lover of books for as long as she can remember. When thinking back to her childhood, growing up in Fergus, Ontario, she describes herself as “always being lost in a book – or trying to write one of my own.” 

Cultivating community with other writers 

Over the years, Allen has sought community alongside other writers. “Writing can be an isolating hobby, so I have always looked for classes and writing groups to stay connected with other writers and keep that sense of community,” said Allen. “This recognition from the CBC has the potential to open connections to an even wider community so it’s very exciting and meaningful to me.” 

A hope for the readers 

Pattern Recognition’s central theme is the tension that lies between hiding and wanting – or not wanting to be found. “I hope that it allows some people to feel seen when reading it,” said Allen. “That it resonates with them whether by reflecting something similar from their own lives or by deepening their empathy for experiences different from their own.”

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Allen is an academic librarian on the Learning & Curriculum Team at the U of G’s McLaughlin Library. At the library, she works with students and researchers of all levels to help them find information to support their work, hosts research related workshops, and conducts one-on-one consultations focused on using tools and information sources.

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