Welcome to the PEIWG Weekly Bulletin! This is published and circulated through the PEIWG mailing list on groupspaces.com. It contains announcements of events in PEI and around Canada that may be of interest to the members of the PEI Writers’ Guild and to PEIWG mailing list subscribers.
If you want to share any announcements, articles, interesting or useful links that you think other subscribers will be interested in, send them to mimrlith@yahoo.com; this weekly is sent out on Sunday or Monday every week, so please do not send announcements that need to be sent out immediately.
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PEI LOCAL
Winter’s Tales Authors Series
Nature Poet in a Time of Environmental Crisis
He has often been called Canada’s finest living English-language poet. No, not Leonard Cohen. And you won’t spot Don McKay garbed in urban black, rather, in parka, watch cap or khaki fedora, and hiking boots on a headland trail on the Newfoundland coast. But Don McKay’s poetic music, imagery, and metaphors are every bit as luxuriant, unique, and memorable as Cohen’s, and his insights into the natural world and human mind and spirit are spellbinding. He has mastered the art of writing poetry that is both clearly accessible and exquisitely crafted, that seamlessly blends elegant and everyday language.
Don McKay, birdwatcher, rockhound, baseball aficionado, warm and generous human being, and poet extraordinaire will read from his works at Confederation Centre Art Gallery on Monday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m.
As a poet, essayist, and teacher, McKay has been a primary inspiration in Canada for what is loosely called “eco-poetics.” For those who love nature poetry, his writing is essential reading. Moreover, though nature is omnipresent in his writing, human experience is rarely absent. His poetry doesn’t rely on blatant environmentalist “messages.” Instead, he gracefully reveals his own and others’ experience of the natural world, from the wilderness to the city and suburb, even in a Canadian Tire store! Often, through his poems, we experience the natural world on its own terms, apart from the impact of civilization. Often, he shows us the interaction of nature and our human needs, tools and striving, euphoria and discontents. McKay sees his writing as “nature poetry in a time of environmental crisis.”
Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, and raised in Cornwall, McKay taught creative writing and English for nearly three decades, including at the University of Western Ontario and University of New Brunswick. He has published twelve poetry books of poetry, twice won the Governor General’s Award for Poetry, and won the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2006. His influence on Canadian poetry includes his roles as co-founder of Brick Books, one of Canada’s leading poetry presses, editor of the literary journal The Fiddlehead, and associate director for poetry at the Banff Centre for the Arts Writing Studio. He has edited many books by fellow poets.
In 2008, McKay was made a Member of the Order of Canada, and now lives in St. John’s. His reading is co-hosted by the UPEI English Department and Confederation Centre Art Gallery, with funding from The Canada Council for the Arts. Admission is free. A book signing and reception will follow.
For photo: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/node/571
Also: check Google images – there’s a fine one of him in a watch cap on a Nfld. headland trail
For more information: Richard Lemm / UPEI English Department / 566-0592
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CAPE BRETON STAGE COMPANY SEEKING SCRIPTS
For production in their 2012 Sydney Spaces Festival
A non-profit theatre co-op, The Cape Breton Stage Company has been producing original, local work in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality since 2007. This summer, we will produce three plays in community venues in Sydney, Nova Scotia. We will select plays whose content somehow reflects the mandates or concerns of the hosting community groups.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
Original, preferably unproduced, scripts by Atlantic Canadian playwrights. We prefer full-length plays (90-120 minutes) for small casts (1-4 actors), with simple production requirements. Local content is a plus. Please send only complete drafts (no summaries or partially completed scripts).
Relevant themes may include anything related to the following:
Addiction
AIDS and HIV
Community building
Food services
Homophobia
Literacy / libraries
Mental & physical disabilities
Mental & spiritual wellness
Parenthood
Physical fitness
Sexual identity
Work placement
Playwrights whose scripts are selected will receive payment in box office royalties.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Email your script (Word or PDF format preferred) to info@capestage.ca. Include “Summer Nights Script Search” in your email’s subject heading.
You may also mail your script to the following address. If you want your script returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Cape Breton Stage Company
PO Box 481
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Canada B1P 1T0
Please include your contact info, along with a brief bio (100 words).
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: March 30, 2012.
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Opportunity to Teach
The Seniors College PEI is looking for individuals interested in teaching writing classes in Summerside beginning fall 2012. Classes usually run eight weeks for one morning or afternoon per week [20-24 hours total]. There are fall, winter, and spring semesters; often a course is offered for one semester, but some are more; the honorarium is $300 per semester.
Last year the college offered life writing, and that was a big success — sadly there was no follow up. What would be great this time is a course in creative writing, as well as a return to life writing. The Seniors College PEI is open to ideas and suggestions.
Interested parties, please contact
Nonie Fraser
Summerside Steering Committee
Seniors College PEI
Email: nefraser@eastlink.ca
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BOOK AWARDS SHOWCASE ISLAND ARTS AND CULTURE
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI — The 2012 Prince Edward Island Book Awards will celebrate our province’s authors and publishing industry, says Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Henderson.
“Prince Edward Island’s authors tell stories that help define and showcase our province, our communities and ourselves,” said the minister. “These awards not only recognize the quality of Island publications, they raise the profile of Island books and introduce them to new reading audiences.”
Nominations are now being accepted for this year’s awards, in the following categories: poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The deadline for nominations is March 15, 2012.
The Prince Edward Island Book Awards are held every two years and are open to authors, editors and book producers who reside in the province. In addition to a cash award, recipients receive a handcrafted commemorative award.
Applications and more information can be found at http://www.gov.pe.ca/tourism/bookaward.
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Interested writers from the Atlantic Maritimes are invited to write for Stephen Patrick Clare’s new ARTS EAST e-magazine and website.
Assignments may include CD/book reviews, interviews or coverage of music, drama, visual art, mixed media, etc. events.
Ideal for writers and aspiring journalists who are trying to gain experience and have a published on-line byline, media tickets and similar perks as compensation.
Interested writers can e-mail Michelle Brunet or Stephen Clare at novamedia@gmail.com
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PEI MODEL FOREST NETWORK PHOTO CONTEST
(for writers who’re also photo buffs or know photo buffs)
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI — The Prince Edward Island Model Forest Network, in partnership with the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, is holding a special forest-themed photo contest over the fall and winter.
“The members of the Model Forest Network are encouraging people to head outside and capture images that reflect how they perceive and use our public and private forest lands,” said Richard Gill, chair of the Model Forest Network. “Whether enjoying wildlife, walking, hunting, working, snowshoeing or biking, we are looking for images that reflect the importance of Island forests.”
Prince Edward Island’s landscape is renowned for its blend of fields, water and forests. This landscape attracts amateur and professional photographers who want to capture images of what the Island means to them.
While the Island’s beaches, farms and small communities often receive the most attention, forests are often featured for their lush greens in spring and summer, vibrant red, orange and yellow of fall, and the white stillness of winter. Some photographers also try to capture the hundreds of ways people use and connect with forests every day.
The contest is designed to promote awareness and appreciation of all types of forests including urban and rural, and public and private forests. Themes could also include how forests meet various economic, social, recreational, cultural, ecological and aesthetic needs.
“We are interested in Island photographs of almost anything forest-related,” said Mr. Gill.
The contest includes a special outdoor photography workshop that will feature tips and demonstrations on how to improve outdoor photography. It will be held Saturday, October 22, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Central Forest District office,170 Beach Grove Road, Charlottetown.
The contest runs from October 22, 2011 to February 29, 2012. Prizes will be offered for the winning photographs. For workshop information, contest rules and for details about prizes, visit http://www.peiforests.ca or contact Greg Ridgway at (902) 368-4800 or at gregmodelforest@gmail.com.
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CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
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BYWORDS.CA SUBMISSION CALL
DEADLINE: March 15 for the April issue
Bywords.ca considers previously unpublished poetry from emerging and established poets for our online monthly magazine. We consider work by current and former residents, students and workers of Ottawa. We also publish poems by contributors to our predecessor, the Bywords Monthly Magazine. FOR SUBMISSION INFORMATION VISIT www.bywords.ca and click on Guidelines. Amanda Earl, Managing Editor
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Black Canadian Poetry
Black Canadian Poetry is seeking submissions of new and unpublished works of poetry for a national anthology devoted to answering the question, “What is Black Canadian Poetry?” The anthology will establish a poetic tradition of page and stage poetry by people of African descent living in Canada. We are encouraging all English speaking, French speaking, and people of African descent working in foreign dialects and languages to contribute to this project. Since our anthology will be published in English, it is our aim to introduce Black Canadian poets to an international English speaking audience. After this, we hope to find a publisher for the French edition of the anthology in order to introduce English/French speakers and poets of African descent working in foreign dialects and languages in Canada to an international French speaking audience.
Submissions for the anthology should be submitted in English and associated with the following categories: spoken word, dubpoetry, hip-hop, slam, performance and page poetry. We ask that poets translate their work into English before submitting and state clearly that it is a translation from the specific language of the poet.
Poetry contributions welcome from writers that are African, Afro-Caribbean, African-American, Afro-Indigenous, African-Canadian or people living in Canada who identify as Black. Submissions welcome from all provinces and territories. Submissions from emerging, mid-career and established poets are welcome. Each anthologized contributor will receive two copies of the book.
Submissions to Black Canadian Poetry should be no more than three poems, 500 words for one poem, or a combined total of 800 words or less for multiple submissions.
Poetry must be submitted in English or translated to English. In the case that the poem is translated from the French, please state this clearly on the submission.
Submissions should be printed double-spaced with a 12-point font.
Submissions should be new works or previously unpublished works of poetry.
Along with submissions please include:
-name of the poet;
-title of the poem;
-genre of the poem: spoken word, dubpoetry, hip-hop, slam, performance and print;
-province/territory of the poet.
Please remember to include your full name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number, title of poems, genre, province/territory and name of the poet with each submission.
Please send 4 copies of your submission with an enclosed SAE to the following address:
BCP Editors
Black Canadian Poetry
PO BOX 1741
Gibsons, BC
V0N 1V0
Please direct comments and questions to
blackcanadianpoetry@gmail.com
For further information please visit
blackcanadianpoetry.com
(e-mail submissions will not be accepted)
Deadlines for submissions is March 1, 2012.
The anthology will be published by Frontenac House Limited in 2013.
Thank-You!
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BIBLIOTHECA FANTASTICA
SUBMISSION PERIOD: Dec. 15 2011 – March 31, 2012
Anthology from Dagan Books is looking for “Stories having to do with lost, rare, weird, or imaginary books, or any aspect of book history or book culture, past, present, future, or uchronic. Any genre. Although the fantastical is not essential per se, stories should evoke a sense of the fantastic, the unknown, the weird, wonder, terror, mystery, pulp, and/or adventure, etc.”
Full details on their site http://daganbooks.com/2011/11/14/new-anthology-bibliotheca-fantastica-opens-for-submissions-dec-15-2011/
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TESSERACTS SIXTEEN
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Feb. 29, 2012
From Edge Publishing, recently released the guidelines for the latest volume in their speculative anthology, which will be edited by Mark Leslie. They’re looking for stories and poems that “focus on art, music, literature and cultural elements which are integral to the story. ” This anthology is only open to Canadians citizens (including ex-pats), landed immigrants (aka permanent residents) and long time residents.
http://www.edgewebsite.com/books/tess16/t16-guidelines.html
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BIFF BAM POP! ANNOUNCES OPEN CALL FOR SHORT
HORROR/THRILLER/SUSPENSE ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE: 11:59 P.M. APRIL 1, 2012
Now accepting submissions for the inaugural BIFF BAM POP! Short Story Anthology.
Writers must submit their original prose before 11:59pm April 1st, 2012 deadline. A panel of BIFF BAM POP! representatives will review every submission received, and those selected will be published in the Short Story Anthology to be released this Fall.
Submissions can be sent to: biffbampopsubmissions@gmail.com (RTF or Microsoft Word files). Please see the official submission guidelines for complete information about submitting to the BIFF BAM POP! Short Story Anthology.
About BIFF BAM POP! Established in August 2008, Biff Bam Pop! is a website devoted to the world of pop culture, from comic books and video games, to movies, books, and music. For additional information, visit www.biffbampop.com.
For more information, please contact: Andy Burns, Editor-In-Chief, BIFF BAM POP!
647-234-2112/andyburns2112@gmail.com
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VALLUM 9:2 – URBAN LANDSCAPES / HIDDEN CITY
Deadline: 10 April 2012
The cityscape has fascinated people since the flâneurs of Paris and beyond. An explosion of mechanical and other structures surrounds us. But what is unseen, underground or hidden often eludes us. What are some of these hidden aspects of the cityscape or the urban landscape? No electronic submissions. Please mail submissions to: Vallum, P.O. Box 598, Victoria Stn, Montreal, Quebec, H3Z 2Y6, Canada
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JACKPINE PRESS CALL FOR PROPOSALS
DATES: Wed. February 15, 2012 9:00 a.m.- Mon. April 16, 2012 5:00 p.m.
PO Box 7731, Station Main, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 4R5
JackPine Press accepts proposals for collaborations of text and design to be launched as limited edition hand-bound chapbooks in Fall 2012 and beyond. Chosen creators receive funding with which to acquire all necessary materials and undertake the printing of the text and …visual content. Chapbooks are then assembled by the creators themselves, in consultation with the JackPine Press collective.
The most important part of any proposal is the prototype. This is the physical version of the chapbook itself as envisioned by you. The prototype is the means by which the collective is able to assess whether or not the prospective contributors will be able to devise a design that can be successfully replicated while continuing to meet JackPine’s standards. In addition to the prototype, please also send a statement of intent, each collaborator’s CV, and a projected budget.
The deadline for projects intended to launch in Fall 2012 is APRIL 15th 2012.
The deadline for projects intended to launch in Spring 2013 is OCTOBER 15th 2012.
FOR COMPLETE AND DETAILED SUBMISSION GUIDELINES, PLEASE VISIT:
www.jackpinepress.com/guidelines.php
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
I FOUND IT AT THE MOVIES
DEADLINE: March 31, 2012
Forthcoming anthology, I Found It at the Movies, seeks new and previously published poems inspired by cinema. All styles and approaches welcome. Seeking poems that reference specific films or actors, genres of film, the act of movie-going or video-watching, or the intersections of movies and life. Editors: Ruth Roach Pierson and Sue MacLeod. Publisher: Tightrope Books (spring 2013). Please submit from one to five poems (1 to 5), as attachments, to filmpoems@gmail.com. You’ll receive acknowledgment upon receipt, and the selection process will be complete by October 2012. Please include full publication details for any poems which have appeared or been accepted elsewhere.
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The Malahat Review‘s East Coast Issue
Deadline: May 15, 2012
In the fall of 2012, The Malahat Review and The Fiddlehead will celebrate the writing of each other’s regions, with the former publishing an East Coast issue and the latter a West Coast issue. Writers with strong connections to either or both regions are invited to submit to the issue that will best provide their work the most apt and safe harbour.
The Malahat Review invites submissions from East Coast writers (East Coast includes all four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador). Submissions of poetry, fiction, personal essay, memoir, cultural criticism, and literary journalism are welcome.
Please see the full guidelines on our website prior to submitting: http://www.malahatreview.ca/east_coast.html
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Call for Submissions
Editor Sandra McIntyre with Roseway Publishing (Nova Scotia & Manitoba) is seeking short story submissions for an upcoming anthology of political fiction. “Political” is open to interpretation—stories can be about politics, whether overtly or obliquely, or political by virtue of their stance, voice, point of view, or underpinnings.
Stories should be 4000 words maximum. There is no minimum length. Short graphic fiction is welcome. Simultaneous submissions are okay. Multiple submissions are okay. Submissions of previously published stories are okay. Canadian authors only.
Payment: $100 for “anthology rights” (print and electronic rights).
The deadline for submissions is: June 1, 2012.
Send stories by email to sandra@sandralit.com
Send stories by mail to:
Sandra McIntyre
c/o Roseway Publishing
32 Oceanvista Lane Black Point, NS B0J 1B0
To receive confirmation that your story has been received, please include an email address or a SASE with your submission.
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The Travel Itch
The travel itch is an irresistible on-line read and the next best thing
to experiencing Canada and the world firsthand. It offers fresh Canadian perspectives on travel that entertain and inform while agitating the itch to go. We are hunting for original travel articles from blossoming and bloomed Canadian writers about their travel experiences at home or abroad. We’re also seeking gripping travel images and film, book and restaurant reviews.
Submission guidelines are at
http://www.thetravelitch.com/pages/submissions.html.
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GEIST EMERGING WRITER OF THE MONTH
An enlightened online space for new writers to test-drive their work.
How it works: Emerging writers are invited to submit short written works online. Geist chooses and publishes one piece each month on a dedicated web page. Geist readers and like-minded people are then invited to comment on the featured work.
Who is eligible?
- Canadian students enrolled in secondary or post-secondary courses and/or writing workshops are eligible.
- The writer should have no more than 2 short works published in established print or online magazines, books or websites. (Blogs, zines and in-house school publications are exempt.)
- For full details: http://www.geist.com/gewm
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COMPETITIONS
SUMMIT STUDIOS
HUMOUR WRITING CONTEST
Summit Studios, a small Canadian publishing company known for its humour anthologies has organized a story contest to gather new material for four new anthologies to be published in 2012 and 2013. The contest runs until February 29, 2012.
This time around we’re giving away $3,000 in cash prizes to nine winners in four distinct categories, including a $1,000 Grand Prize. The previous Grand Prize winner was Lois Gordon of the Writers’ Circle of Durham Region for her story “Antler Girls,” which appeared with some two dozen other stories in the 2010 anthology “Never Trust a Smiling Bear.”
Anyone who is interested can visit our web site (www.summitstudios.biz) to download Story Contest Guidelines and to familiarize themselves with the types of stories we like to publish. They will find several previously published stories under some of the author profiles in our Writers’ Spotlight section.
For writers who do not win a prize, there is still a good chance we will publish their story if it fits our parameters. Writers maintain copyright to their work, and we pay a minimum $100 honorarium for every story that we publish.
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Join the hive, bee a team at this inaugural
Spelling Bee for Adults
On Thursday, March 8th, 7-11 pm, Murphy’s the Cable Wharf Restaurant will be a buzz with spellers, and adult spellers at that. This first-time fundraiser for The Word On The Street Halifax will raise money to support the festival’s celebration of reading, writing and literacy.
Each year this free community event plays host to over 12,000 people on the Halifax Waterfront. More than 55 Canadian authors share their work with the public. We promote and encourage a passion for reading and a love of words. Supporting this Bee is the perfect way to have fun and contribute to the literacy of your community.
“The board of directors and I wanted something interactive rather than a silent auction/sit-down dinner,” says Executive Director, Colleen Ritchie. “We have 8 teams registered and more interest every day.” Only 30 teams will be accepted
Join our host, CBC’s Carmen Klassen to battle for spelling supremacy. Author Ryan Turner will be our pronouncer and Jeremy Webb will lead the judges’ team. Murphy’s has come on board as our venue sponsor and will provide snacks and a cash bar. They are also entering a team as is Waterfront Development. The winning team will receive prizes and bragging rights.
“The Department of Pharmacology at Dalhousie University team is eager to participate in this Spelling Bee. As researchers, we strive for precision in written language. Unfortunately, spelling errors run rampant in many kinds of publications, from scientific literature to mass media. We are excited to support an event that C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E-S the English language”, comments Jean Liu, MSc student.
How can you participate – gather 4 worker bees, three spellers and a team captain to represent your organization or business. Team registration is $400 and includes team admission, team play, food, and a chance at the championship! Organizations can pay to register a team or can raise the team registration via pledges. Pledge sheets are available by request at Halifax@thewordonthestreet.ca
“The IHSE Bee-Dazzlers are looking forward to participating in the “bee” as literacy is the cornerstone of what we teach and what we believe. Our team and the cheerleaders are keen to support this fun event that speaks to part of our larger mandate…. and if we are going to talk the talk (of the importance of literacy) we should walk the walk!” says Kimberly Elliott, Executive Director.
You compete as a team so you won’t be on stage alone! If you don’t want to hit the stage as a speller purchase a ticket and attend as a spectator and cheer on your colleagues. Spectator tickets are $30 and include delicious food and door prizes.
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TEN STORIES HIGH SHORT STORY COMPETITION
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MARCH 31, 2012.
First Prize – $300 Second Prize – $200 Third Prize – $100
The Niagara Branch of the Canadian Authors Association is holding its “Ten Stories High” Thirteenth Annual Short Story Competition, open to all Ontario residents. Stories can be of any genre but must be previously unpublished, and between 1,000 and 3,000 words in length.
No personal essays, memoirs, children’s literature or non-fiction please. For first Canadian rights, the top ten finalists will have their stories published in an anthology in the fall of 2012.
This year, story evaluations will only be offered to the winning entries.
Judging is blind with an impartial, final judge. CAA-Niagara reserves the right to reject excessive profanity and explicit sexual or violent content. Submissions will not be returned. However, entrants without internet access may include a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive contest results.
Entries must be typed and double-spaced with the title appearing on each numbered page.
Please include a separate sheet with your name, address, phone number, email address, precise word count and title. Also, please indicate where you heard about our contest. The entrant’s name must not appear on the manuscript itself.
The entry fee is $15 per story, non-refundable. Multiple entries are welcome.
Cheques should be made payable to the Canadian Authors Association – Niagara and mailed with your submission to:
Canadian Authors Association – Niagara Branch, “Ten Stories High,”
39 Pelham Town Square, P.O. Box 1069, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0.
Results will be announced on-line at www.canauthorsniagara.org later that summer.
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CANADA WRITES
THE CBC´S NEW ONLINE HOME FOR WRITING
Canada Writes is the CBC´s home for original writing, including the CBC Literary Prizes. This is your chance to get your work read, published and recognized throughout the year.
Canada Writes features:
* fun writing challenges (where you can win prizes)
* online writing workshops
* writing tips, feature articles and interviews with writers from all genres
* original fiction and essays by your favourite Canadian writers
* and the prestigious CBC Literary Prizes (short story, poetry and creative
nonfiction competitions)
Please note that CBC Literary Prizes are now three separate competitions with
different deadlines. Three contests to enter:
- The CBC Literary Prize: Short Story Competition
The CBC Literary Prizes recognize the best in original, unpublished writing by Canadians.
- CBC Poetry Prize.
- CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize. Competition opens March 1; deadline May 1.
- Visit http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/literaryprizes/ for full contest details
The First Prize winner in each category will win $6,000 from the Canada Council
for the Arts and publication in Air Canada´s enRoute magazine, as well as on
our website. Four runner-ups will also be chosen and receive $1,000 each.
You can read about the other changes to the prizes at
http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/literaryprizes/index.html
For more details, please check out http://www.cbc.ca/canadawrites
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SUMMIT STUDIOS SHORT STORY CONTEST
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 29, 2012
Small Newmarket-based publishing company, Summit Studios, is calling for submissions to their contest to gather new material for four new anthologies that they plan to publish in 2012 and 2013. The contest will be running until February 29, 2012. This is the third such contest they’ve hosted during their eight year tenure. Writers can visit their web site http://www.summitstudios.biz to download Story Contest Guidelines and to familiarize themselves with the types of stories they like to publish. You will find several previously published stories under some of the author profiles in their Writers’ Spotlight section.
For writers who do not win a prize, there is still a good chance they will publish their story if it fits their parameters. Writers maintain copyright to their work, and they pay a minimum $100 honorarium for every story that they publish.
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THE NEW QUARTERLY NICK BLATCHFORD OCCASIONAL VERSE CONTEST
DEADLINE: Postmarked February 28, 2012
$1,000 for one glorious poem written in response to an occasion, personal or public – poems of gratitude or grief, poems that celebrate or berate, poems that make of something an occasion or simply mark one. Another $1,000 in prize money will be distributed as the judges fancy. The best of what we see will be published in The New Quarterly at our usual rates, and posted on our website. For full details, see www.tnq.ca/contests
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SPECIAL APPEAL BY THE NEW QUARTERLY ON UBC
SITE FOR ENTRIES
Dear friends of The New Quarterly,
The deadlines for this year’s contests are rapidly approaching, but we are still very low on entries (last year we received 221 poems, and with just 1 week to go before the Occasional Verse deadline, we have not yet reached 100).
The deadline for our Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest is February 28 (though if we do not reach our target by that time, we will be extending the deadline). Details can be found at http://tnq.ca/nick-blatchford-occasional-verse-contest
The deadline for our Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest is March 28. Details can be found at http://tnq.ca/edna-staebler-personal-essay-contest
This year, we’ve also launched a new fiction contest for writers who have not yet published a novel or collection. The deadline is May 28. http://tnq.ca/peter-hinchcliffe-fiction-award
Details about all of TNQ’s contests can be found at http://tnq.ca/contests
Thank you for your help. I wish you all the best with your own writing.
Regards, Melissa Krone, Managing Editor The New Quarterly: Canadian Writers and Writing
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SUMMER LITERARY SEMINARS
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 6 MARCH 2012!
Summer Literary Seminars is excited to announce that our annual unified (Montreal, Lithuania and Kenya) literary contest has expanded! It will be held again this year in affiliation with The Walrus and Black Warrior Review. Joining us will be the dynamic online magazines Joyland, Branch, and DIAGRAM; We are also thrilled to announce two exciting new prizes, sponsored by the Center for Fiction and SLS creative partner Graywolf Press. Judging the contest are award-winning writers Mary Gaitskill (fiction), Tony Hoagland (poetry), and Ander Monson (non fiction). UPDATE: our new contest partner, the St. Petersburg Review will be publishing a poetry and fiction selection as part of the SLS-SPR Editor’s Choice Award, as well as free program tuition for those winners. http://www.sumlitsem.org/contest.html
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POETRY CONTEST:
UN DITO NELL’OCCHIO 2012
If you enjoy writing poetry and you are enamored of the Italian language and culture, don’t miss the opportunity to win a free course of Italian language in Italy. > To participate, enter a poem on the topic IMPRESSIONS/EXPRESSIONS to the poetry contest organized by the Language School IL FARO for a chance to win a two-week language course in the beautiful sea-town of Caorle (near Venice). The authors of the two most notable Italian poems will win a two-week free* course at the School IL FARO for the summer 2012+. Send your poem on the topics IMPRESSIONS/EXPRESSIONS to : unditonellocchio@gmail.com (closing date 24 March 2012) To be eligible to participate you need to be 18 or older. Not a native speaker of Italian, living outside of Italy. All poetry will be published in our blog “Un dito nell’occhio”. The winners will be announced on 4 April 2012. In bocca al lupo! *The prize covers exclusively the cost of the course. Accommodation and travelling are not included. The winners may select a course between 11 June 2012 and 28 September 2012. Centro di Lingua e Cultura Italiana IL FARO, via Eraclea 2, 30021 Caorle (Venezia) tel. +39 333 8927127 fax: +39 0421 3115 http://www.ilfarolingua.it/english/home.html
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The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest
The New Quarterly is proud to announce The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest. Deadline: Postmarked March 28, 2012 $1,000 for one winning essay of any length, on any topic, in which the writer’s personal engagement with the topic provides the frame or through-line. Our only restrictions are that the work be unpublished and the writer be canadian. Entry fee: $40 per submission. Each submission includes a one-year subscription (or extension) to the new quarterly, one of canada’s liveliest literary magazines. For full details, see www.tnq.ca/contests
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Capital Crime Writers’ Short Story Contest
The 2012 Capital Crime Writers’ Short Story Contest open to all residents aged 18+ in the NCR. Stories must be original, unpublished works of fiction featuring a crime with a 3500 word limit. The deadline is Monday, April 2nd and entry fee is $10.00 ($25 if you request a written critique). An awards ceremony will take place in June. First prize: $150.00. For additional information and instructions, visit www.capitalcrimewriters.com (under Contests).
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Grain Magazine’s 24th Annual Short Grain (with Variations) Writing Contest
Grain Magazine’s 24th Annual Short Grain (with Variations) Writing Contest is accepting entries until April 1, 2012 (postmarked).
Grain awards $4,500 in cash prizes! Winning entries will be published in the pages of Grain! The entry fee is $35 which includes a FREE one-year subscription to Grain Magazine! Our judges are counted among Canada’s finest writers! One entry fee allows you to enter a maximum of two entries in either of two categories: Poetry in any form to a maximum of 100 lines; Short Fiction in any style to a maximum of 2500 words.
Whose company do you want your writing to keep?
Grain is the most exciting literary magazine on the Canadian and international scene…the one that everyone wants to be published in! Recent issues have featured the work of such literary luminaries as Xi Chuan, Tim Lilburn, Guy Maddin, Miriam Toews, Zsuzsi Gartner, and Eleanor Wachtel. And you could join them in the pages of Grain!
Enter Short Grain! Open new doors! (Make new friends!)
Judges are: rob mclennan, Poetry, and Lawrence Hill, Fiction. Three prizes will be awarded in each category: 1st prize = $1,000, 2nd prize = $750, 3rd prize = $500. Consult Grain‘s website,grainmagazine.ca, for complete rules and guidelines.
About our contest judges:
rob mclennan is the author of more than twenty trade books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, including Glengarry (Talonbooks, 2011), kate street (Moira, 2011), and wild horses (University of Alberta Press, 2010) and his second novel, missing persons (The Mercury Press, 2009). He has edited numerous collections for Chaudiere Books, Insomniac Press, Black Moss Press, Broken Jaw Press, and Vehicule Press, and was the writer-in-residence at the University of Alberta in 2008.
Lawrence Hill is the author of internationally acclaimed The Book of Negroes, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the Ontario Library Association’s Evergreen Award and CBC Radio’s Canada Reads. He is also the author of Any Known Blood (William Morrow, New York, 1999 and HarperCollins Canada, 1997) and Some Great Thing(HarperCollins 2009, originally published by Turnstone Press, Winnipeg, 1992). Formerly a reporter with The Globe and Mail and a parliamentary correspondent for The Winnipeg Free Press, he won the National Magazine Award for Best Essay in 2005.
Mike Thompson
Business Administrator
Grain Magazine – the Journal of Eclectic Writing
PO Box 67, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7K 3K1
PH: 306.244.2828
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The 2013 KEN KLONSKY Novella Contest
http://www.quattrobooks.ca/submissions/
Quattro Books will publish the two best novella manuscripts by a Canadian author as part of their 2013 Publishing list. The novella manuscript should be completed, neatly typed, and not less than 20 000 words or more than 40 000 words. Note the number of words on the cover. Your name may appear in the manuscript’s header or footer. Please take a look at the type of novellas Quattro publishes; we publish literary fiction and do not publish genre fiction (Science fiction or Romances.) You may send your manuscripts anytime between March 01, 2012 and June 01, 2012. Send your manuscript, along with a $15 reader’s fee and your email address, to: Quattro Books Inc, CSI second floor, 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2R4. Manuscripts will not be returned. Reader’s Fee $15
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ANTHEM ESSAY CONTEST
Entry Deadline: March 20, 2012
Eligibility: 8th, 9th and 10th Graders. No application is required. Contest is open to students worldwide. FIRST PRIZE: $2,000 5 SECOND PRIZES: $500 10 THIRD PRIZES: $200
45 FINALISTS: $50 175 SEMIFINALISTS: $30
http://essaycontest.aynrandnovels.org/Anthem.aspx?theme=blue
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THE FOUR WAY BOOKS INTRO PRIZE IN POETRY
D.A. Powell, judge Submissions accepted January 1 – March 31. For a book-length collection of poetry written in English by a poet who has not previously published a first book of poetry. $1000.00 plus publication and a reading in NYC. Submit online or by mail January 1 – March 31. Include necessary entry form and submission fee of $28.00. For guidelines and entry form: http://www.fourwaybooks.com/contest.php
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VALLUM 9:2 – URBAN LANDSCAPES / HIDDEN CITY
Deadline: 10 April 2012
The cityscape has fascinated people since the flâneurs of Paris and beyond. An explosion of mechanical and other structures surrounds us. But what is unseen, underground or hidden often eludes us. What are some of these hidden aspects of the cityscape or the urban landscape? No electronic submissions. Please mail submissions to: Vallum, P.O. Box 598, Victoria Stn, Montreal, Quebec, H3Z 2Y6, Canada http://www.vallummag.com/
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CANADIAN STORIES
SHORT STORY, POETRY and BLACK & WHITE LINE ART CONTEST
plus SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK PRIZE
The CANADIAN STORIES literary folk magazine is pleased to offer the 4th Contest for Short Stories, Poetry,
Black & White Art and a Self-Published Book Prize. A total of over $3000 in prize money will be awarded:
CATEGORIES and JUDGES
CREATIVE NON-FICTION Lin Johns (The Pearl Wearmouth Prize) $325
D. Larry Haire (The Sullivan/Haire Prize) $325
TRUE STORIES The James Franklin McDonald Prize $325
The Susanna Voth Wiebe Prize $325
LEST WE FORGET The Jean Scott Parsons Prize $325
FICTION The William Wardill Prize $325
The Bruno Penner Prize $325
POETRY The Alvin Ens Prize $325
BLACK & WHITE LINE ART The Harry Buller Prize (R&R Printing Plus) $325
SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK The Ivan Hervoic Prize (GemSystems)
judged by Mimi Baxter $500
“WILD CARD” The Wild Card Prize (Krown Rust) $100
HONORARY MENTION Any Category **
** A copy of a book by Ruth Latta, or Ed Janzen or an Anthology of CANADIAN STORIES
DEADLINE:
May 1, 2012. Notification approximately June 15, 2012.
COST:
Each entry must include a $20 cheque made out to CANADIAN STORIES. This money is not refundable.
Notification with SASE card. Return of original also with SASE. Material with uncouth language will be returned.
RULES: All entries must follow the author’s guidelines outlined on http://www.canadianstories.net. Poetry is limited to three poems or three pages. Art must be presented on 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. The subject of the Art should be suitable for publication in CANADIAN STORIES. All entries must be original unpublished typewritten material. Authors retain copyright. Short Stories should be 2000-3000 words. A “Self-Published Book” is herein defined as a book written, produced, printed and marketed by the author of about 100 pages with about 150 copies created within the last 10 years in English. One copy must be sent with each entry which will be given to a charity such as a hospital after the competition. The Wild Card will be attributed to any highly rated submission but which does not fit into any of the above categories. The “Lest We Forget” category pertains to Canadian military stories and memories. Winners will be published in the August 1, 2012 issue of CANADIAN STORIES.
Send entries to: CANADIAN STORIES, Box 232, Fergus, ON NIM 2W8
Mark Envelope: 4th Contest
All entries must specify which category the submitter has selected. Name, address, phone number and E-mail
address (if available) must be provided on a cover sheet. Submitted material to be judged should have no identification
for blind judging. Entries must be written by the author identified. The Contest is open to entries from
any country as long as a Canadian theme is evident in the submission.
Inquiries: Editor of CANADIAN STORIES ejanzen345@sympatico.ca
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WRITER’S DIGEST COMPETITIONS
To help you prepare for the coming year, here’s a comprehensive list of the Writer’s Digest competitions. Whatever your genre, whatever your skill level…we’ve got a competition for you. So mark your calendars – enter and expose your work to agents, to publishers, to peers and to your future fans! |
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Self Published Awards
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Writer’s Digest Annual Competition
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Poetry Awards
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Short Short Story Competition
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Popular Fiction Competition
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CONTESTS HOSTED AT WINNING WRITERS & OPEN NOW
All entries that win cash prizes in these contests will be published on WinningWriters.com (over one million page views per year) and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 35,000 subscribers.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
Postmark Deadline: March 31, 2012
Now in its 20th year. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. Submit any type of short story, essay or other work of prose, up to 5,000 words. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. $15 entry fee. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee)
Online Submission Deadline: April 1, 2012
Winning Writers invites you to enter the 11th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. We’ll award $3,600, including a top prize of $1,500. Submit one humor poem online. No length limit. Both published and unpublished poems are welcome. No fee to enter. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
Sports Poetry & Prose Contest – New!
Online Submission Deadline: May 31, 2012
New from Winning Writers, our Sports Poetry & Prose Contest will award $5,000 in total prizes, including a $1,500 top prize for poetry and a $1,500 top prize for prose (fiction and nonfiction). Submit an unpublished entry of 1-2 poems or one work of prose on a sports-related theme, up to 6,000 words in all. Fee is $15 per entry. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Click for the complete guidelines.
Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse
Postmark Deadline: June 30, 2012
Now in its ninth year, this contest seeks poetry in traditional verse forms. Both published and unpublished poems are welcome. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. The entry fee is $8 for every 25 lines you submit. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
Now Open
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest
Postmark Deadline: September 30, 2012
Now in its tenth year, this contest seeks poems in any style, theme or genre. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. New this year, there will also be a special $250 bonus prize for humorous verse. The entry fee is $8 for every 25 lines you submit. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad. See the complete guidelines and past winners.
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Bottle Tree Productions One Act Play Competition for Writers 2012
Go online at http://www.bottletreeinc.com/script_contest.html
First Prize $1,000
Second Prize $250
Third Prize $100
Top ten entries are posted on our site.
The entry fee for each submission is $25.
One Act Plays of from 10 minutes to 70 minutes may be submitted by mail or email.
By mail to Bottle Tree Productions
at 445 Southwood Drive,
Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7M-5P8
Please make cheque payable to Bottle Tree Productions.
For environmental and storage reasons email submissions are preferred..
By email to contest (at) bottletreeinc (dot) com
Go online at http://www.bottletreeinc.com/script_contest.html for Paypal options and further details and to see past winners and their contact info. Before entering you can check out our free advice for writers at http://www.bottletreeinc.com/navigation_page_playwrights.html
Format is not important. Good writing is.
Please do not attach your name or contact name to the script but have that information on a separate sheet of paper, or a separate attachment if emailing.
For further information
Phone 613-384-8433
or email us. contest (at) bottletreeinc (dot) com
Plays can have previously been produced but not professionally.
Plays may also have been entered in other competitions.
The competition runs until November 30th 2012.
Winners will be announced in January of 2013
If you want a critical analysis of your work please enclose a cheque for $50 made payable to Bottle Tree Productions. or use our pay pal option on our website.
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EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
Upcoming Writescape Workshops
- Registration is open for Spring Thaw 2012 at Elmhirst’s Resort March 30 to April 1—or April 3 if you choose the Extend-Your-Pen option
- Visit www.writescape.ca for more information
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WRITESCAPE: SPRING THAW WRITING RETREAT
at Elmhirst’s Resort promises to inspire
DATES: March 30 to April 1st
LOCATION: Elmhirst’s Resort Rice Lake, ON
COST: $745.00 inclusive, Optional extension $300.00 see below for details on discounts available
It’s the writers’ lament: “I wish I had more time to write.” Writescape’s Spring Thaw writers’ retreat strips away the excuses and the distractions that prevent writers from putting pen to paper. Spring Thaw offers participants the luxury of focusing on their writing while the resort takes care of the rest. The all-inclusive weekend getaway runs March 30 to April 1 at the scenic Elmhirst’s Resort in the Kawarthas. Not long enough? Participants can opt for an additional two days of writing with the “Extend Your Pen” option.
The retreat offers writers guided writing exercises, private time for writing and reflection, and Writescape’s amazing “inspiration station” to stimulate their creativity. Writers also receive a private manuscript consultation with valuable written feedback from two professional editors. On Saturday, meet and chat with special guest authors Jonathan Bennett, Michelle Berry and Natalee Caple. They join the group for dinner and offer a stimulating evening program.
The retreat is led by Ruth E. Walker and Gwynn Scheltema. This dynamic duo have taught a full range of programs from half-day workshops to weeklong retreats to college level credit courses. Scheltema is an award-winning freelance writer and poet, and a founding editor for the Canadian journal LICHEN Arts & Letters Preview. Walker is an award-winning writer, poet and playwright with fiction, poetry, and non-fiction work published in Canada, the US, and the UK.
Elmhirst’s Resort, located near Peterborough, offers a relaxing combination of cosy cottage accommodations and spectacular gourmet meals with amenities like an indoor pool and onsite themed pub. The resort is set on gently rolling hills beside beautiful Rice Lake, a mere 90 minutes east and north of Toronto. The retreat includes all meals, a private room in lakefront cottage accommodations and resort amenities for $745. Extend your pen option, add $300. Discounts for alumni and members of accredited writing associations. Query for a non-residential day rate. For full retreat details and online registration, visit www.writescape.ca, e-mail info@writescape.ca, or phone 905-728-7823.
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VERSeFest, OTTAWA’S SECOND ANNUAL POETRY FESTIVAL
DATES: FEBRUARY 28 THROUGH MARCH 4 2012
Tickets to VERSeFest, Ottawa’s celebration of page and stage poetry, officially went on sale Wednesday. A Festival pass gives the holder a chance to see some of the best poetry in the country and around the world. Headliners for the Feb 28-Mar 4 festival include the “Summit Reading” – a reading by three top poets from Canada, the United States and Mexico – and a Saturday night concert by American spoken word and hip hop recording artist Ursula Rucker.
Ursula Rucker is the queen of Philadelphia spoken word poetry, and is one of the few poets who is also a leading spoken word artist in the music industry; her mesmerizing voice has appeared with an array of recording artists and producers including King Britt, 4 Hero, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Josh Wink and The Roots. Each was drawn to the soft spoken eloquence and undeterred honesty which have become Rucker’s signature. Described as “strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging,” Rucker is part of a growing movement in the hip-hop and urban music divisions that is slowly adapting its aural sensibilities to women, and her powerful poems tackle the issues and challenges faced by women with a clear-eyed, painful lyricism. Rucker will also be leading an exclusive workshop on spoken word poetry on Sunday, March 4th; for information on how to register visit versefest.ca.
The Festival’s other headline event, the Summit Reading, brings together 2011 Governor General’s Award winner Phil Hall, newly named American Poet Laureate Philip Levine, and Pura López-Colomé, winner of the Xavier Villurrutia Prize (the Mexican equivalent of the GG.) Diverse in style and background, these three poets represent the best of each of their countries, and hearing them all read together will be an historic event. This reading is presented in partnership with the Embassy of the United States and the Ottawa International Writers Festival. Tickets are on sale at www.versefest.ca or in person at Collected Works Bookstore (1242 Wellington Street) and the Manx Pub (370 Elgin Street).
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VERSeFest WORKSHOPS
DATE: Saturday, March 3
LOCATION: Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa
http://www.versefest.ca/schedule/2012-saturday/
1:00 p.m. Family Workshop with Danielle Gregoire
Danielle K.L. Gregoire will be leading the family workshop on Saturday afternoon.
Danielle has been active in the Ottawa poetry scene for many years, including performances in the finals of Capital Slam, and helping to organize the spoken word series Spoken Word Plot.
3:00 p.m. Slam Workshop with Ian Keteku
Ian Keteku is somewhat of a renaissance man when it comes to story telling. He is a poet, journalist, and musician, amongst other things. This award-winning artist is committed to using words as both an interpretation of and cure for the human condition. Keteku is also the 2010 World Poetry Slam Champion. Ian recently released his debut spoken word album Lessons From Planet Earth (Re-Evolution.)
3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 4, URSULAR RUCKER WORKSHOP
LOCATION: Mercury Lounge, 56 Byward Market Square
Join us for this unique opportunity for a hands-on workshop with American spoken word artist Ursula Rucker. http://www.versefest.ca/schedule/2012-sunday/
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BANFF CENTRE WRITING WITH STYLE
DEADLINE EXTENSION
Apply by March 5, 2012 for Poetry and First Chapter Novel
Program dates: April 15-21, 2012
Faculty: Elizabeth Philips (program director), Ray Hsu (poetry), Sarah Selecky (short fiction), Merilyn Simonds (creative non-fiction), Joan Thomas (first chapter novel).
An intense week-long writing workshop that is both inspiring and productive. Shape and edit work-in-progress under the guidance of an experienced writer and editor through group discussions and one-on-one consultations. Encounter new ideas and gain confidence in your own voice with private writing time and reading opportunities. Whether you have attended many writing workshops or this is your first, Writing With Style is a transformative experience.
Apply today! http://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/program.aspx?id=1186
A Place for Artists
The Banff Centre puts the needs of artists above all else, providing time and space for inspired creativity and intense productivity (plus bacon and dessert every day!)
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TRULY MADLY DEEPLY:
A ONE-DAY POETRY WORKSHOP
ON WRITING DESIRE
DATE: Saturday, March 3, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Paterson Hall Room 236, Carleton University
COST: $20.00*
Writing a good love poem can be as difficult as getting a handle on love – although this has never stopped anyone from loving, or trying to express their feelings in words. This one-day workshop is for anyone interested in exploring the meaning and mystery of love through the practice of writing poetry. Just bring your pen, your heart(ache), and your creative imagination!
Workshop co-facilitators Jane Dawson and Jessica Schafer are both experienced writers who are passionate about poetry as a tool for exploring and articulating the mysteries of the heart.
This workshop is an initiative of Faith and Arts Ottawa and is sponsored by the Carleton University Ecumenical Chaplaincy. (*if cost is an issue some sponsorships are available through the Chaplaincy Office – phone 613-520-4449)
Seats are limited. Please register in advance at info@inscapecentre.ca
or 613-230-4839 (fee is payable at the door).
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CANADA’S NEW POET LAUREATE READING MARCH 1ST, 2012 WITH 2005 GRIFFIN PRIZE WINNER ROO BORSON
DATE: Thursday, March 1, 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa
Ticket information see below
The newly appointed Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Fred Wah, will be appearing in Ottawa on March 1st, in a reading with celebrated Canadian poet Roo Borson, presented in partnership with Arc Poetry Magazine. The reading will be on March 1st, as part of VERSeFest, Ottawa’s international poetry festival.
Fred Wah was named Canada’s fifth Parliamentary Poet Laureate in December. He is well known both in Canada and abroad. His work has been widely anthologized and he has been invited to many international literary festivals to give readings and talks. In 2002-2003, he was selected for a Canada-Mexico cultural-exchange with residencies at Banff and Merida, Mexico. He is currently on faculty for the Banff Centre for the Arts “In(ter)ventions: Literary Practice at the Edge” program.
Roo Borson has been a Governor General’s Award winner (2004) and a winner of the Griffin Prize for Short Journey Upriver Toward Oishida (2005). Writing in The Washington Post in 1998, former U.S. poet laureate Robert Hass described Roo Borson as “one of the best-known Canadian poets of her generation — a clear writer, clear-minded, with a dark and musical imagination.”
The two poets appear together in a reading co-presented by Arc Poetry Magazine. VERSeFest passes are now on sale online at http://www.versefest.ca and at the Manx Pub (370 Elgin) and Collected Works Bookstore (1242 Wellington St W.) For details and the full VERSeFest schedule visit www.versefest.ca.
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Upcoming writing programs at Tatamagouche Centre
Young Writers
April 6 – 9, Fri 5:30pm to Mon 1pm
Creative writers ages 12-18 explore spoken word, poetry, song writing and short stories in a fun and supportive environment. Leadership: Shauntay Grant, Joanne Jefferson, Ken Ward, Brian Braganza
Independent Writer’s Retreat
Aug 5 – 10, Sun 7pm to Fri 1pm
Unique to this retreat, you can also choose to workshop your writing in the evenings with authors Shauntay Grant and Gwen Davies.
Writing for Children: Exploring the Process with Sheree Fitch
Aug 24 – 26, Fri 7pm to Sun 1pm
Come ready to play and discover the rich inner world of your imagination.
Meghan MacCulloch
Promotions Coordinator
Tatamagouche Centre
259 Loop Route 6
Tatamagouche, NS B0K 1V0
1-800-218-2220
902-657-2231
Office hours: Mon-Wed
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CAA-NCR WRITERS RETREAT
DATES: Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, 2012
LOCATION: The Cove Country Inn, Westport, Ontario
Best-selling Author BARBARA KYLE, Workshop Leader, has taught her “Writers Boot Camp” for the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, and offers twice-yearly Master Classes that focus on workshopping each participant’s novel-in-progress. Visit www.BarbaraKyle.com
Details now available at our website: http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/events.shtml
Or to obtain a brochure and for more information please e-mail Phyllis Bohonis: phyllis.bohonis@sympatico.ca
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AWP ANNUAL CONFERENCE
& BOOK FAIR
*A big conference with 400 events and 1,600 presenters by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs.
WHEN: February 29-March 3, 2012
WHERE: The Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
PRICE: $40 for students who register early; $140-155 for AWP members; $265 for nonmembers who register on site.
For serious writers of literary fiction, literary nonfiction and poetry. Attendance is 9,000. Faculty includes: Jhumpa Lahiri, Junot Diaz and Joyce Carol Oates. Keynote speaker for 2012 is Margaret Atwood.
Panels for 2012 include:
“A Room With a Review: The Art of Literary Criticism”
“The Business of Publishing Your Novel With an Independent Press”
“What About Blog? How Blogging Can Propel Your Career and Polish Your Craft”
For more information: http://www.awpwriter.org/conference/2012awpconf.php
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TWUC WORKSHOP: HOW TO BE YOUR OWN PUBLICIST!
The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is offering the Professional Development Workshop HOW TO BE YOUR OWN PUBLICIST in Toronto, Winnipeg , Calgary , Vancouver , and Victoria, in February and March of 2012. The workshops take place from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. For those who can’t attend in one of the participating cities, a 3-hour webinar will be offered, distilling the highlights of the workshop.
Authors Elizabeth Ruth and Ann Douglas will present on traditional but innovative book marketing strategies as well as new media opportunities for writers. Kelly Duffin, Executive Director of The Writers’ Union of Canada, will update participants on the latest evolutions in the publishing landscape.
The price of this symposium is $89.00 and covers costs, including lunch, $75 for members of The Writers’ Union of Canada.
For registration information please go to http://www.writersunion.ca/registration.pdf . Please circulate this information to writers you think might be interested in coming to this event. Space is limited so register today.
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WORLD HORROR CONVENTION
WHEN: March 29-April 1, 2012 with the Bram Stoker Awards Presentation on March 31.
WHERE: The Radisson Hotel Downtown, Salt Lake City
PRICE: TBA; 2011 cost: $110-150, entry to convention and all programming inclusive
For horror professionals ranging from authors to filmmakers to artists. An opportunity to meet agents, publishers and industry professionals. Attendance 300-400.
Special guests for 2012 faculty are: No.1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon; comic book author and illustrator Mike Mignola; urban fantasy author P.N. Elrod.
For more information: http://www.whc2012.org
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THE SOUTHAMPTON CHILDREN’S LITERATURE CONFERENCE
WHEN: July 11-15, 2012
WHERE: Stony Brook University, Southampton, NY
PRICE: Varies, depending on whether participants attend the conference for college credit and whether they’re commuters or residents. The highest price is $1,495, room and board inclusive.
Runs concurrently with a general writers’ conference, a screenwriters’ conference and a playwriters’ conference all at Stony Brook University. Participants are welcome to attend electives from other conference. Attendance: 5 tracks with 12 participants in each. At least one workshop in each of the main children’s writing disciplines: picture books, chapter books, middle-grade novels, and YA.
Past faculty (2011) included Newberry, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree Andrea Davis Pinkney; New York Times bestselling author Chris Barton; middle-grade author Tor Seidler; young-adult author Patricia McCormick; and NY Times bestselling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.
For more information: http://www.stonybrook.edu/writers/children
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CAA-NCR WRITERS RETREAT
Dates: Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, 2012
Location: The Cove Country Inn, Westport, Ontario
Best-selling Author BARBARA KYLE, Workshop Leader, has taught her “Writers Boot Camp” for the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, and offers twice-yearly Master Classes that focus on workshopping each participant’s novel-in-progress. Visit www.BarbaraKyle.com
Please reserve your rooms directly with the Inn telling them you are attending the Canadian Authors Association – National Capital Region Writers Retreat. Please mention any special dietary needs. 1-888-268-3466 www.coveinn.com
Registration for the workshops is separate. Workshop fees are $150. for Canadian Authors Association members, $185. for non-members. To obtain a brochure and for more information please e-mail Phyllis Bohonis: phyllis.bohonis@sympatico.ca
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RESOURCES
This section is not intended as an endorsement of the resources listed here. It is simply being passed along for your information. You may wish to do your own due diligence on these potential resources.
Bill C-11 has been re-introduced:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5134851
Google “Bill C-ll” for lots more info…
Petition…
http://www.ccer.ca/send-a-letter-to-ottawa-to-stop-the-canadian-dmca/
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ONLINE SITES TO HELP PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS!!
EVENTS AT COLLECTED WORKS
1242 WELLINGTON STREET WEST AT HOLLAND
Check Facebook for full details or visit
http://www.collected-works.com/pages/events.htm
Of special interest: “The Industrious Indies” is an events project Collected Works Bookstore has begun to give independent self published authors a chance to display their books and a place the host author events and network. For more information on the project contact Chris Carroll through Facebook or via email
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From: Crystal Smith Subject: New website to promote local authors
I am writing today to tell you about a new website I have created to help local, independent, and self-published authors promote their books.
It is called bibliospace (http://www.bibliospace.ca/). The site includes a detailed listing for each author’s book, consisting of a book summary of up to 250 words, an author bio of up to 150 words, a link to each author’s website, and any additional author contact information (blog, Twitter, Facebook). In addition to the book listing, there is an alphabetical list of authors and a speakers’ bureau that lists authors by community. The latter page is intended to help book clubs, community groups, libraries, and schools get in touch with authors in their own community for readings and speaking engagements.
I have also added an amazon bookstore with direct links to each author’s books, if they are available on amazon. (There is no charge to submit a book, but I will retain any referral fees from the amazon bookstore. Royalties from all sales go to the author, of course.)
I am a marketing writer and self-published author, so I know something of the effort required to market a book. I am hoping that bibliospace will make it easy for people to find and recommend authors from their own community. The site now has seven authors, including myself, with books in categories ranging from poetry and non-fiction to action and children’s.
I would love it if you could spread the word to the members of your association. If you are interested in submitting any of your works, you just need to send an email, as per the steps outlined on the Submit Your Book page. I appreciate any help you can provide in promoting bibliospace. Crystal Smith www.bibliospace.ca Facebook:bibliospace Twitter: @bibliospace
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Publications
Malahat lite
Guidelines for our 2012 Novella Prize:
http://www.malahatreview.ca/contests/novella_contest/info.html
Do you have ties to or live on the East Coast? Submit to our East Coast issue (deadline May 15, 2012)!
Full guidelines: http://www.malahatreview.ca/east_coast.html
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Practical and entertaining, Shut Up & write! demystifies the process of writing
Available at your local bookstore or online through indiebound.org, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, other on-line booksellers, www.redbirdstudio.com or ask your local library.
Published in print and ebook editions.
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780976474272
http://www.amazon.com/Shut-Up-Write-Judy-Bridges/dp/0976474271
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shut-up-and-write-judy-bridges/1029158217
Inspires and instructs. Includes coaching on:
• what it takes to be a writer
• techniques for writing fact and fiction
• bringing real and imagined characters to life • organizing thoughts and material
• mastering point of view
• writing “from the inside”
• the “get and give” of critiques
• how to get happily published
• and much more
What they say:
“… a combination of tough-love coaching and humor that inspires and shows you how to become the writer you want to be”
~ Elfrieda Abbe, Publisher – The Writer magazine
“Encouraging, humorous, straight-talking. Shut Up & Write! is one of the best books I’ve read on writing.”
~ Shauna Singh Baldwin. Author of English Lessons. What the Body Remembers, The Tiger Claw, and We Are Not in Pakistan.
“Shut Up & Write! is one of those rare volumes that truly does it all. In addition to being a practical “how-to” guide, the book provides priceless advice on the care and feeding of the Inner Writer. Laced with wit and common sense, Judy Bridges serves as her own best example of what excellent writing can be.”
~ Marilyn L. Taylor, Poet Laureate, State of Wisconsin
“Judy Bridges is a driving force behind the many writers she has helped. If you want to write, do yourself a favor, buy this book and follow her advice. You will not only write, you will succeed.”
~ John Lehman, Founder of Rosebud Magazine and literary editor of Wisconsin People & Ideas
About the Author:
Judy Bridges is one of the few people who can say, “Shut Up and Write!” in a way that makes you smile. A renowned mentor and coach, she earned her living as a writer before founding Redbird writing center in Milwaukee, WI, where she taught (and learned from) over 6,000 aspiring and accomplished writers of all ages. She shares her wisdom with a no-nonsense, humorous voice that makes writing accessible and reading her book a joy.
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Online Writing Classes
FanStory.com is a writing site founded in 2000.
On this writing community all posts receive feedback from writers and readers. Feedback includes a detailed comment on the posted work and a rating. The site uses a six star ratings scale with “1” being the worst and “6” being the best.
Writers are ranked based on the feedback they receive. Separate rankings are available for Poets, Novelists, Short Works (short stories and essays) and Script Writers (television and other forms of screenplays). Trophies are rewarded to the top five writers in each of the individual rankings at the end of the year.
The site recognizes writing with “Recognized”, “All Time Best” and “Seal of Quality” levels. Each level is more difficult to receive with the final level determined by the Seal of Quality committee. The committee is made up of published authors and stand-out reviewers. They offer feedback to help writers get published.
The site features free writing contests with cash prizes. Site members also have the ability to create their own contests to challenge other writers to write about a specific topic or a specific form of writing (such as writing using specific poetry format).
The welcome page includes featured writing. It also includes writing that has been well received in the past 24 hours.
Each day over 200 stories and poems are posted. Over 7,000 comments are written on the writing posted daily. Writers keep full copyright to their posted work.
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THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO EBOOKS
All you need to know about ebooks: how to read them,
the different ebook formats, choosing an ebook reader,
and where to find the best specials and free ebooks.
http://www.EbookIntroduction.com
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50 CITY & STATE MAGAZINE MARKETS
$6.99. Download in PDF Format.
Would you like to work as a freelance writer for regional magazines? Most city and state magazines work with freelancers and typically cover a wide range of topics – including arts, business, dining, entertainment, fashion, finance, health, home and garden,
lifestyle, recreation, sports, and travel.
We searched through our Markets Plus database of publications and compiled this list of more than 50 city magazines and state magazines in USA and Canada that purchase material from freelance writers.
It is not an exhaustive list of all of the regional publications but lists fifty magazines (actually 57!) that publish their writer’s guidelines online.
For further details and to download this list today see: http://goo.gl/XRjjL
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*****BYLINE HAS A NEW COLUMN IN THE THINK TANK *****
If we get enough response, we’ll be launching a Q&A-type regular feature in Byline, complete with cutesy names for the questioners, and answers by our expert and not-so-expert members. (Example for a not-so-expert member to answer: “I got ripped off by one of those so-called publishers. Is it legal to diss them in my Blog? Please say yes.” — signed, $10K Poorer) A suggested name is “Members in the Know”. Still in the Think-Tank stage, we aren’t sure if one member will handle it — rephrase that: we’ve cornered one of our members into thinking about handling it; whether the questions will be fielded as separate articles to members-in-the-know by a coordinator (the cornered member); or whether the idea will see daylight at all. Contact Sherrill Wark, Byline editor, at sherrill_caa@crowecreations.ca with your questions and cutesy names. We need your real name but won’t print it unless you insist. It’s all about Members Helping Members. If we get a good response, it’ll be a go.
****Remember to check out writing-related services offered by our members at our CAA-NCR website http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/hire-a-member.shtml
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Writers Digest
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Worldwide Freelance Writer
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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The Writing Pool 