03-04-2025
32 writers from across Canada make 2025 CBC Short Story Prize longlist
Thirty-two writers from across Canada have been longlisted for the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize.
The complete list is:
The longlist was selected from more than 2,300 entries. Submissions are processed by a two-tiered system: the initial texts are screened by a reading committee chosen for each category from a group of editors and writers across the country.
The readers come up with a preliminary list of approximately 100 submissions that are then forwarded to a second reading committee. It is this committee who will decide upon the approximately 30 entries that comprise the longlist that is forwarded to the jury. Works are judged anonymously on the basis of the participant's use of language, originality of subject and writing style.
The jury selects the shortlist and the eventual winner from the readers' longlisted selections. This year's jury is composed of Conor Kerr, Kudakwashe Rutendo and Michael Christie.
The shortlist will be announced on April 10 and the winner will be announced on April 17.
The winner of the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and their work will be published on CBC Books. They will also appear on a future episode of Bookends with Mattea Roach.
Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.
Last year's winner was Vancouver writer Kate Gunn for her story Old Bones. You can read the entire 2024 shortlist here.
The longlist for the French-language competition has also been revealed. To read more, go to the Prix de la nouvelle Radio-Canada.
If you're interested in other CBC Literary Prizes, the 2025 CBC Poetry Prize is currently accepting submissions. You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems from April 1-June 1.
