2025 First Page Student Writing Challenge is on! (Deadline February 28, 2025)

Where do you think our world will be in 150 years? How will issues like climate action or human rights, sustainability or war and peace play out in the future? Tell us a story that explores one of those many issues by entering CBC Books' annual student writing challenge, The First Page. If you are or know a student enrolled in Grades 7 through 12, it's time to get writing and enter this fabulous writing opportunity.

From the CBC Books post,  here's what you need to know:

 

 

Partipants:

• All Canadian residents who are full-time students enrolled in Grades 7 to 12 are eligible. Entries will be judged in two age categories: Grades 7 to 9 and Grades 10 to 12. 

 

 • • •

Entries:

• Write the first page of a novel set 150 years from now, exploring how a modern day current affairs event or trend has played out. 

• Write between 300 and 400 words.

• Include a title (which is not counted in the word limit).

 

  • • •

 

Submission:

• Complete the online submission form via Submittable through CBC Books at 

https://cbcliteraryprizes.submittable.com/submit/319477/the-2025-first-page-student-writing-challenge

• If having difficulties, contact cbcbooks@cbc.ca for assistance.

 

 • • •

 

Deadline:

• February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST 

 

 • • •

Judging and Prizes:

• A team of Canadian literary experts will first select the shortlist. Then writer S. K. Ali (author of books that include Saints and Misfits, Love from A to Z, and Fledgling) will select the winners of the two categories. 

• Winners 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.

 

 

 

Check out previous winners and finalists from across Canada at https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-first-page-student-writing-challenge-past-winners-and-finalists-1.6262657.

  

Good luck to all participants!

 

The 2019 First Page Student Writing Challenge

Get your students in Grades 7 to 12 writing with
CBC Books' 

THE FIRST PAGE 
STUDENT WRITING CHALLENGE

in which two winning entries 

 (one for Gr. 7-9 and one for Gr. 10-12) 

will be selected by

 award-winning YA author
Kelley Armstrong

The Challenge:  
• Write the first page of a novel (any literary genre) set in 2169 with the protagonist dealing with an issue currently relevant  (climate change, diversity, gender, refugees, leadership, etc.) and show how it has played out 150 years from now.
• Write 300-400 words.  Be sure to give your "book" a title.

Eligible Participants:
• All Canadian residents who are full time students enrolled in Gr. 7 to 12 may enter.

Timeline:
• Submit between November 4, 2019 and November 25, 2019

Selection:
• Author Kelley Armstrong will judge the entries based on the following criteria:

• creativity;
• critical thinking; and
• quality of writing

• Shortlists of 10 entries per grade category will be selected from which the winner will be chosen.

Prizes:
• One year subscription to OwlCrate, a monthly delivery of a box of books (winner may select middle grade or young adult)
• The school library of each winner will also receive 50 YA books chosen by CBC.

Full details of this writing challenge are provided at CBC Books 

with rules and regulations available here.

Teachers' guides, writing tips, posters and more are also available at
the CBC Books website for the contest.

The First Page: Student writing challenge from CBC Books

CBC Books has created a writing challenge 

for students in Grades 7 to 12 

and 

the two winning entries 

 (one for Gr. 7-9 and one for Gr. 10-12) 

will be selected by

 award-winning YA author
Erin Bow

The Challenge:  
• Write the first page of a novel (any literary genre) set in 2167 with the protagonist dealing with an issue currently relevant  (climate change, diversity, gender, refugees, leadership, etc.) and show how it has played out 150 years from now.
• Write 300-400 words.  Be sure to give your "book" a title.

Eligible Participants:
• All Canadian residents who are full time students enrolled in Gr. 7 to 12 may enter.

Timeline:
• Submit between November 9, 2017 9 a.m. ET and November 30, 2017 6 p.m. ET

Selection:
• Author Erin Bow will judge the entries based on the following criteria:

• use of language;
• originality of subject;
• expression of a current affairs theme;
• writing style; and
• adherence to the contest's requirements.

• Shortlists of 10 entries per grade category will be selected from which the winner will be chosen.

Prizes:
• One year subscription to OwlCrate, a monthly delivery of a box of books (winner may select middle grade or young adult)
• The school library of each winner will also receive 50 YA books chosen by CBC.

Full details of this writing challenge are provided at CBC Books 

with rules and regulations available here.