The 2023 First Page student writing challenge is now closed for submissions

The 2023 First Page student writing challenge is now closed for submissions.

Got questions? Email cbcbooks@cbc.ca and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

A team of readers made up of YA and middle-grade authors from across Canada will select 10 finalists from each category. 

Courtney Summers will select two winners, one from each category, from the shortlists. Summers is the bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including Cracked Up to Be, All the Rage and Sadie. Most recently, she published the YA thriller I'm the Girl. 

• Entering the First Page student writing challenge? Judge Courtney Summers has some advice for you!

Both winners will receive a one-year subscription to OwlCrate, which sends fresh boxes of books to young readers across Canada on a monthly basis. In addition, each winners' school libraries will receive 50 free books.

You can read the complete rules and regulations here.

How will the world leaders of today impact the world of tomorrow? Who will be the biggest name in pop culture in the future? How will climate change impact the protagonist's life?

Last year's winners were Joshua Zhuang in the Grades 7-9 category for his story Fugees, and Victor Li in the Grades 10-12 category for his story Still Water.

THE CHALLENGE: We want Grades 7 to 12 students to give us a glimpse of the great Canadian novel in the year 2173. Your challenge is to write the first page of a novel set 150 years in the future, with your protagonist facing an issue that's topical today and setting the scene for how it's all playing out in a century and a half.

• Read about all of the First Page's past winners and finalists here

Last year's winners were Joshua Zhuang for his story Fugees and Victor Li for his story Still Water.

Find more details about the 2023 competition below.

WHAT YOU CAN WRITE

Your entry can be 300-400 words in length. Your entry also needs a title, but the title is not included in the word limit. Your entry can be written in any genre.

WHO CAN ENTER

This contest is open to all Canadian residents who are full-time students enrolled in Grades 7 to 12. Entries will be judged in two age categories: Grades 7 to 9 and Grades 10 to 12.

PRIZES

The finalists will have their stories published on CBC Books and the winner of each category will receive a one-year subscription to OwlCrate, which delivers monthly boxes of books and literary-related goodies. The school library of each winner will also receive a donation of 50 books.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

CLICK HERE FOR THE CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS

TEACHER GUIDES: Visit Curio.ca for discussion questions and writing tips from Canadian writers, like Cory Doctorow, Linwood Barclay, Fonda Lee, Cherie Dimaline, Erin Bow, Katherena Vermette, Cory Doctorow and M.G. Vassanji.

HAVE QUESTIONS? Email us at cbcbooks@cbc.ca.

WANT MORE STUDENT WRITING CHALLENGES? Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to find out about our creative writing challenges.