The First Page student writing challenge is coming back!
The First Page is a national writing competition for Grades 7 to 12 students in Canada. Students are invited to write the first page of a novel, imagining how present-day issues and trends have played out 150 years in the future.
The 2025 challenge will be open for submissions starting in February. At the beginning of 2025, we'll announce the official entry period and who will be the judge and readers for this year's competition.
Past judges include Basil Sylvester, New York Times bestselling author Courtney Summers, Sarah Raughley, author of the YA Effigies series, and Governor General's Literary Award-winning author David A. Robertson.
A link to the online submission form will be posted here during the submission period.
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?
The story could be from any literary genre, from mystery or thriller to literary fiction, from adventure or romance to satire or science fiction.
Last year's winners were Anya Thadani for her story Fixed and Hayley Peters for her story Forbidden Realities.
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 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.
HOW TO SUBMIT: During the submission period, a link to an online entry form will be available here. We'll share more details about when and how to submit in early 2025.
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 and M.G. Vassanji.
HAVE QUESTIONS? Email us at cbcbooks@cbc.ca.
