How Leah Mol wrote the story that won the CBC Short Story Prize

Leah Mol is the winner of the 2018 CBC Short Story Prize for Lipstick Day. As the winner, Mol will receive $6,000 from theCanada Council for the Artsanda 10-day writing residency at theBanff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Her story waspublished onCBC Books,you can read it here.

In Lipstick Day, Molreveals what happens when the rush of hormones, peer pressure and teen spirit collide.

In her own words, the Toronto-based writerdiscusses how she wrote her winning story.

Exploring adolescence

"The change that happens between childhood and adolescence and becoming an adult is difficult to describe. I don't think anyone as you're going through it really understands that any change has happened. That's why I try to bring in the ideathat these are still children, butthey're dealing with these huge topics that they can't control.

"I want characterspeople can empathize with. But I try to make my characters as real as I possibly can. I don't want characters who are perfect, who know everything and who are likable in a lot of ways. I think everybody can see themselves in someone who's struggling and feels stuck."

• Read the stories shortlisted for the 2018 CBC Short Story Prize

A weekend writer

"I tend to be a morning writer. I am notprolific. I don't write very much and I tend towrite in spurts. I don't usually write during the week because of work. I try to write for a while on weekends. I go to a writers group on Sundays and we just sit for a couple of hours, write and don't talk. In the group, we sit quietly and do our own thing for two hours. That's always a good way to be productive because you feel like you have to be there and get something done."

• 4 reasons you should join a writers' group

Keepa winning attitude

"I submitted to the CBCShort Story Prize once before at the age of 18. Looking back now, I don't think I was a terrible writer thenbut I had no idea what I was doing. I hadn't writtenthe story for the prize, it was just something that I thought was great. I think it's important to keep sending your stuff out, especially because it totally depends on who's reading it. Getting rejected doesn't mean it's not good, it just means it's probably not a good fit.

"This time, I wrote apiece specifically for the prize.When I saw the names of the judges, I thought I might have a chance because I love them so much and maybe they'd also somehow connect with my style. It worked."

• 7 ways winning a CBC Literary Prize will change your life

Leah Mol's comments have been edited and condensed.