CBC Nonfiction Prize

The 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize is now closed. Results will be announced in the fall.

Susan Cormier won the 2022 CBC Nonfiction Prize for her essay Advice to a New Beekeeper. 

She received $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and will also attend a writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Cormier's essay was published on CBC Books. You can read Advice to a New Beekeeper here.

RULES & REGULATIONS | FAQ 

WHAT: When the competition is open you can submit your original, unpublished works of nonfiction up to 2,000 words. There is no minimum word count.

WHEN: The CBC Nonfiction Prize is open for submissions between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

WHO: All Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

HOW: While the competition is active, submit online by creating an account through Submittable. A fee of $25.00 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN: The winner of the 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have the opportunity to attend a two-week writing residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point, a cultural hub on Toronto Island, and have their work published on CBC Books. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their story published on CBC Books.

WHAT YOU CAN WRITE: You can submit a memoir, biography, humour writing, essay (including personal essay), travel writing and feature articles.

WHO IS JUDGING: A team of readers from across Canada will read the entries and determine the longlist. The shortlist and winner will be decided by a jury comprised of three prominent Canadian writers.

WHO WON LAST YEAR: Susan Cormier won the 2022 CBC Nonfiction Prize for her essay Advice to a New Beekeeper. 

WANT HELP: Subscribe to the CBC Nonfiction Prize newsletter for writing tips and support along the way. We will send you writing tips, tricks and prompts every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday while the CBC Nonfiction Prize is open.

WANT SUPPORT: Join our Canada Writes Facebook group! It's a place where writers across Canada can connect with each other, support each other and even offer each other feedback.

SUBMIT IN FRENCH: If you're looking to submit to the French nonfiction prize while the competition is active, you can enter here. 

OTHER PRIZES: The 2023 CBC Poetry Prize will open in April and the CBC Short Story Prize will open in September 2023.