CBC First Page Student Writing Challenge
CBC Books' national creative writing challenge for G7-G12
Why It Matters
CBC is Canada's national broadcaster - being shortlisted or winning is nationally recognised and impressive for English, journalism, and humanities programs.
How to Start
CBC Books runs The First Page student writing challenge each year for students in Grades 7-12, judged in two categories (G7-9 and G10-12). You write the first page of a novel set in the future, about 300-400 words. The submission window has recently been in February, so check CBC Books for the current prompt and dates.
Commitment
- Low commitment: a few hours a month, easy to fit around school.
- Best starting grade: G7
- You can enter from G7. Submit every year - improvement over multiple submissions tells a great story.
Programs It Supports
- English
- Journalism
- Creative Writing
- Humanities
Majors it supports
- Journalism – high 70s to high 80s - portfolio component often required
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest CBC First Page Student Writing Challenge as a good fit for their applicants.
- York University – Toronto, ON
Similar extracurriculars
- School Drama / Theatre Production – Perform, direct, or produce school plays
- School Band / Orchestra / Choir – Perform in a school ensemble long-term
- Visual Arts Club / Portfolio Development – Build a body of work in visual art
- Film & Photography Club – Shoot, edit, and produce visual stories
- Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Exams – Canada's national music certification system
- School Play / Musical Director – Direct or stage-manage the annual school production
- Yearbook Editor-in-Chief – Manage a massive year-long design and publishing project
- Mural Painter / Beautification Committee – Design and paint permanent artwork in school hallways
- Improv Team / Comedy Troupe – Compete in local improv games or perform at lunch