Canada Writes is "a new home for original writing," according a press release the CBC issued today. It's a place where "all kinds of writers" can "have their work read, published and recognized by the entire country." The site includes writing challenges (the current one is autobiography-related), workshops, and resources (links to writers' organizations), and the CBC is also promoting it as a place for writers to connect. For French-language readers and writers, there is an equivalent site called Zone d’écriture.

Three Literary Prizes (what used to be the Literary Awards) are the centrepieces of the hub. These include the Short Story Prize (opening September 1; submission deadline is November 1); the Creative Nonfiction Prize (deadline is Feb. 1, 2012); and the Poetry Prize (submissions accepted from March 1 to May 1, 2012). The cash prizes, provided by Canada Council for the Arts, total $60,000, with $6,000 going to the writers who place first in each of the three categories. The winners' work will appear in enRoute magazine and online at Canada Writes and will air on CBC Radio One.

Canada Writes also publishes original writing by some big-name authors and other notable Canadians: a series on the relationship between writers and editors includes posts by Ken Sparling and Mark Kingwell. Another post features writing tips from singer-songwriter Feist, who has an album coming out in a month, the post notes... coincidentally.

Does this sound like a site you'd visit on a regular basis, or do you see it as a promotional tool for the CBC? Have you submitted work for the Literary Prizes/Awards in the past, and will you do so this year?