Calgary writer Brenda Damen wins 2020 CBC Short Story Prize

Calgary writer Brenda Damenhas won the 2020 CBC Short Story Prize for her story Gibson.

As the grand prize winner, Damen will receive $6,000 from theCanada Council for the Artsanda two-weekwriting residency at theBanff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Gibson was selected by the jury composed ofDavid Bezmozgis, Alix Hawley and Rawi Hage.

"Gibson is a feat of fearless, poetic and even terrifying storytelling. The narrator, a young woman preyed upon cruelly and brutally by her father, nevertheless finds, through language and the sense data of the natural world, the strength and resilience to survive,"the jury said in a statement.

"This is writing of the first rank which demonstrates just how much a wise, sensitive and clear-eyed writer can do with the short story form."

You can read Gibson here.

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Damen's storywas selected from more than 2,400 English-language submissions.

Gibson is a short story excerpted from a work Damen has been working on for more than 13 years.

• How Brenda Damen wrote the story that won the 2020 CBC Short Story Prize

This is the first writing competition Damen has ever entered.

"This has all been very surreal. I've followed the competition for years, never entering, but always excited to read the finalists. Entering was solely a personal declaration of courage," Damen told CBC Books.

"It's very confirming as a writer. Even being calleda writer is exhilarating. This is the height of everything for me."

• Calling all writers! The 2020 CBC Poetry Prize is open

The other finalists wereLyle BurwellforHighballin',Sarah Fulton forBut Not to Call Me Back or Say Goodbye,Julia Jenkins forI Am Aani LittlecrabandJulia Zarankin forBlack-legged Kittiwake.

The finalists will each receive$1,000 from theCanada Council for the Arts. Youcan read their storiesonCBC Books.

The jury selectedthe finalists from a longlist of 32 writers.A team of writers and editors from across Canada compiled the longlist.

Julie Bouchardis the winner of the French-language grand prize, le Prix de la nouvelle Radio-Canada, for Fin juillet Split Landing.

• Check out the past CBC Literary Prizes winners

If you are interested in entering theCBC Literary Prizes, theCBC Poetry Prizeis now open. The deadline to submit your original, unpublished poetry is May 31, 2020.

CBC Books15:08Brenda Damen reads 2020 CBC Short Story Prize winning work, Gibson

Calgary writer Brenda Damen reads her story, which won the 2020 CBC Short Story Prize, Gibson. Warning: This story includes details of sexual assault readers may find disturbing.