Welcome to The Writing Pool’s Weekly Writing PostTM! We provide you with a free weekly newsletter filled with notices about contests, events, conferences, and other information that might be useful or of great interest to writers of all leanings. Meanwhile, calls for submission to literary publications as well as information about publishers can be found at The Writing PoolTM, your bottomless pool for great writing resources.
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Follow The Writing PoolTM blog at https://thewritingpool.com/. Share a link, an article, a poem, or something else literary. Send your submission to cindy@thewritingpool.com
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“[A]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off more than a big slab of prose at the start.” |
If you want to include a notice or announcement in the Weekly, please email your submission to weekly@thewritingpool.com
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In one of my classes, a student asked if it was all right to begin a story with dialogue. He had been told by another writing teacher that he should have an introduction and should not fill pages with dialogue. I wonder whether that teacher reads much or even writes at all. How you begin your story really depends on the story. Many times, when writing a short story, you just don’t have the luxury of time to present lengthy introductions before any dialogue appears. Sure, many older stories—and I mean written before the mid-20th century and earlier—classics at that, contain lengthy introductions before the reader encounters any action, let alone dialogue. What some people do not realize is that literature, like language, is dynamic. It evolves and adapts to changing times. Writers need to remember their audience. Readers of the 21st century are inundated with all kinds of information in a variety of forms, and written literature is usually not the first item on anyone’s reading list. Information is bombarded in short, easy-to-digest bits. It’s no wonder attention spans are shorter—people are not expected to focus on anything for any length of time, let alone sitting quietly to read a literary work. Whereas short stories could run an average of 10,000-20,000 words at the turn of the 20th century, publishers and readers alike have a preference for shorter stories averaging no more than 5,000 words. Just take a look at short story contests: length limits are often set between 2,500-3,500 words. Additional evidence of the shortening of the short story is the growing popularity of short short stories and microfiction or flash fiction. Short short stories typically are between 1,000-2,000 words. Microfiction, also often referred to as flash fiction, is typically under 1,000 words. With so little to write, the less words you can use to convey your story. True, some stories work without dialogue, but because it is an excellent way to reveal characters and keep the story moving forward, writers should take advantage of everything dialogue has to offer.
Need more tips on writing? Ask us in The Writing Pool™! You can also read about other aspects of writing at Creativity Unlimited.
Happy writing!
~cpl
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NEWS
PEI LOCAL/ATLANTIC
THE 30th COX & PALMER ISLAND LITERARY AWARDS
Deadline: January 31, 2017, 9:00pm
The 30th annual Cox & Palmer Island Literary Awards gala ceremony will take place in the spring of 2017. Prizes will be given out in five categories.
ADULT (18+) AWARD CATEGORIES
Submission Guidelines:
Unless otherwise indicated, the entry fee for each submission is $25; cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third prize categories. The ILAs are open to Island residents only (six-month resident minimum prior to submission date).
All writing, including self-published work, must be original and unpublished prior to awards ceremony.
Lucy Maud Montgomery* P.E.I. Literature for Children Awards
The manuscript must be a story written for children. One children’s story, maximum length 5,000 words, will constitute an entry. Illustrations may be submitted with the story, but are not necessary.
*L.M. MONTGOMERY IS A TRADEMARK OF THE HEIRS OF L.M. MONTGOMERY INC.
Milton Acorn Poetry Awards
One entry consists of eight (minimum) to ten pages (maximum) of poetry.
Maritime Electric Short Story Awards
One short story, maximum length 2,500 words, will constitute an entry.
Creative Non-Fiction Awards
This non-fiction category includes humour writing, memoir, biography, essay (including personal essay), travel writing, and feature articles. It involves writing about real events, people, or ideas, conveying a message through the use of literary techniques such as characterization, plot, setting, dialogue, narrative, and personal reflection. In works of creative non-fiction, the writer’s voice and opinion are evident. The work should be accessible to a general reading audience (not written for a specialized or academic audience). Maximum length: 2,500 words.
STUDENT AWARD CATEGORIES
Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty Creative Writing Awards for Young People:
Students may write on the topic of their choice and submit in one of four sub-categories:
- Early Elementary (Grades 1-3),
- Late Elementary (Grades 4-6),
- Junior High (Grades 7-9), and
- Senior High (Grades 10-12).
A maximum of five pages of poetry, or a ten-page short story, will constitute an entry. Longer submissions will NOT be accepted. There is no entry fee. Cash prizes will be awarded in each sub-category of First, Second, and Third.
For more details, please visit http://www.peiwritersguild.com/ila-call-for-submissions-2017/
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2017 CBC Nonfiction Prize
The deadline is Feb. 28th at 11:59 p.m. ET.
WHAT: Submit your original, unpublished works of nonfiction between 1200 and 1800 words.
WHEN: Competition runs from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2017.
WHO: All Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada can submit.
HOW: While the competition is active, submit online by clicking the “submit” link below or, if you wish to submit by mail, you can download the offline submission form.
A fee of $25.00 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN: The winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their story published in Air Canada enRoute magazine and will have the opportunity to attend a 10-day writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their story published on CBC Books.
WHAT YOU CAN WRITE: You can submit memoir, biography, humour writing, essay (including personal essay), travel writing and feature articles.
For more details, please visit http://www.cbc.ca/books/2016/01/cbc-creative-nonfiction-prize-is-now-open.html
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JOIN THE CELEBRATION!
From April 29th to May 06th 2017 Reading Town PEI will turn PEI into a Reading Island and we invite you to join us! Those who register by February 27th will be entered for a chance to win an inspiring package full of local goodies!
Reading Town PEI is a week-long festival that works to inspire curiosity about the stories and storytellers that shape our community, recognize the accomplishments of our artists, educators and literacy champions and integrate reading into the everyday life of Islanders.
Reading Town PEI will be presenting an inspiring line up of affordable, diverse, and fun signature events and we encourage the community to participate in the celebration!
You can get involved by organizing a “reading event” or activity and register the activity as part of our festival. We have many “reading event” ideas on our website: readingtownpei.com. Our mission is to celebrate the reading lives of Islanders in its many manifestations!
Please remember to:
- Register your event or activity for a chance to win our registration contest by February 27th, 2017. You may register after this date, but are not eligible to win.
- Hold your event or activity during the week of April 29th – May 6th, 2017.
- Take photos during your event and email them to: readingtownpei@gmail.com
More details available on our website: readingtownpei.com
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Cargo Lit Submissions
Hey all you lovers of travel and passion and adventure, Cargo’s reading period is open for Issue 6, due out next month. Whether it’s a photo you took, an experience you want to share, or a piece of art you created inspired by your place in a new world, we at Cargo Lit want to hear about it.
Don’t forget we are always looking for portrait shots for our covers – your photo or art could make the next cover of Cargo.
To drop your submission in our box, follow the links here through Submittable: http://cargoliterary.com/submit/
We are waiting for you!
the cargo team
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Writer in Residence – Call for Expressions of Interest 2017
Do you write romance novels and short stories? Vancouver, B.C., is the perfect setting for writing your next romantic masterpiece. Spend the coziest days of fall surrounded by mountain views and water vistas while ensconced in a beautiful library full of surprises and opportunities guaranteed to spark your creativity. Enjoy four months writing in Vancouver, home to a remarkable natural environment and a lively cultural community.
Vancouver Public Library will host a resident romance author between Aug. 28 and Dec. 15, 2017. The Writer in Residence program promotes Canadian writing and literature to Vancouver citizens. The aims of the residency are to foster greater public appreciation for Canadian writing, provide opportunities to interact with the resident author and to provide the space, time and resources for a Canadian author to write.
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/1PkBW1e
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Open Invitation
The poetry engine awaits you at www.poetrypei.com!
New poets are always welcome to submit a poem to this site, especially if they have never have done so before. The submission form —with complete guidelines and formatting tips—is at www.poetrypei.com/submit.
Poets already on the site: remember that you are welcome to replace your existing poem with a new one at any time, provided at least three months have passed since your last update.
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CONTESTS AND CALLS
See more at www.thewritingpool.com
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Tethered By Letters
The Winter 2017 contests are now open for submissions!
Tethered by Letters has launched a new Twitter micro fiction contest, #Blink! Stories must be 140 characters or less. A winner will be selected every two weeks. For more details, follow @TethrdbyLettrs and @FrictionSeries on Twitter.
For details, please visit http://tetheredbyletters.com/submissions/contest/
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Glimmer Train 2015 SUBMISSION CALENDAR AND CATEGORIES
We have five submission categories from which to choose, including our standard category (no reading fees and payment for accepted pieces is $700), and four contests (reading fees allow for 1st place prizes from $1,500 to $2,500). Contests vs. standards. Click on the names of the categories for details.
NOTE: There is always a one-week grace period after the deadline (last day of the month).
Very Short Fiction (1st place – $1,500): Welcome in January, April, July, and October.
Short Story Award for New Writers (1st place – $1,500): Welcome in February, May, August, November.
Fiction Open (1st place – $2,500): Welcome in June and December.
Family Matters (1st place – $1,500): Welcome in March and September.
Standard Category ($700): Welcome in January, May, September.
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The Monthly Writing Contest
Here at Writing Maps we believe good writing should be encouraged, cherished, shared, and most importantly, published.
We hold a monthly Writing Maps Writing Contest to coincide with the launch each month of a new Writing Map product. We challenge you to write and share a 150-word piece in response to our Prompt of the Month.
Each month’s two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, the new Writing Maps Journal, a fold-out literary magazine to be published every six months. The first issue appeared in September 2014. Winning entries will also receive free Writing Maps and contributor copies of The A3 Review.
To make sure you don’t miss future contests, you can sign up to our newsletter by clicking on this link. Follow us on Twitter for conversation, updates and inspiration.
The Rules:
- Entry is $5 (approx £3). Multiple entries accepted.
- Enter online through Submittable. Click here to enter.
- The contest closes at midnight (GMT) on the fourth Saturday of the month.
- Any entries submitted after the deadline will not be eligible.
- The Writing Maps Writing Contest is open to all writers over 16.
- There is no restriction on theme or style. We encourage prose, poems, prose poems, graphic stories and hybrid forms.
- Maximum number of words is 150.
For more details, please visit http://www.writingmaps.com/pages/contest
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Flash Fiction Competition
This quarterly open-themed competition for fiction up to 500 words has closing dates of 31st March, 30th June, 30th September, and 31st December.
Entry fee: £5 for one story, £8 for two stories
Prizes: £300 plus publication in Words with JAM, £200 and £100
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2017 Publishizer Book Proposal Contests
Reading is food for the heart, mind and soul. Here at Publishizer, we’re passionate about finding and helping more authors get their books published. We strongly believe that there is an urgent need for more book diversity, so we’re proud to be hosting bi-monthly themed book proposal contests in 2017.
There are no entry fees or purchases required to join. For a chance to land a publisher for your book and a shot at the US$2000 cash prize for each contest:
- Write a compelling 1000-word book proposal based on an unpublished book idea
- Submit the proposal within the appropriate contest category for approval
- Launch your campaign within the contest month to be entered into the 45-day book proposal contest
The campaign with the highest number of pre-orders for each contest wins US$2000, though every author that successfully launches a campaign on Publishizer has a chance to get published! Needless to say, the more pre-orders you get, the more publishers will express an interested in acquiring your book.
For details, please visit https://publishizer.com/contests/
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KYSO Flash
Online journal KYSO Flash (Knock-Your-Socks-Off Art and Literature) seeks to publish memorable literature and visual arts. Celebrates short forms (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrids), up to 1,000 words each, including title. Original, unpublished works only. “One Life, One Earth” writing competition with cash prizes and publication, online and print. Entry Period: 15 November 2016 thru 31 January 2017. Entry fee (USD): $5 per piece, or $10 for three pieces. Multiple entries allowed. For more details, please visit http://www.kysoflash.com/ContestOLOE.aspx
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Canadian Authors 2017 Literary Awards
Submissions for the fiction, poetry and Canadian history categories are being accepted until January 31, 2017 (postmarked accepted).
Emerging writer and Fred Kerner award submissions will be accepted until March 1, 2017.
Get details, the guidelines, and entry forms here.
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Grayson Books 2017 Chapbook Contest
Prize: $500, publication of a gorgeous chapbook and 50 copies
Deadline: January 31, 2017
Reading fee: $20
Submit: 16-24 pages of poetry
Electronic submissions preferred. Submit through https://graysonbooks.submittable.com
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Writers @ Work Annual Writing Competition
The Writers @ Work Annual Writing Competition is a great opportunity for emerging writers to have their work vetted by a talented panel of judges, well-known in their respective fields. Submissions are accepted in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Prizes
First prize is awarded in each category:
- $1,000 OR full scholarship to the Writers@Work Generative Conference (June 7-11, 2017 at Alta Lodge, Alta, UT)
- Publication in Quarterly West.
Reading Fee
$20 per entry
Deadlines
Submissions open November 15, 2016 and close January 31, 2017 (midnight, MST).
For more details, please visit http://www.writersatwork.org/wp/?page_id=6
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The Interpreter’s House Poetry Competition
Competition opening date: 1st November 2016
Competition closing date: Midnight on 31st January 2017
All proceeds of the competition are used to fund future issues of TIH.
Prizes:
First Prize £500
Second Prize £150
Third Prize £100
Seven Highly Commended
For more details, please visit http://www.theinterpretershouse.com/competition
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The DISQUIET Literary Prize
Submissions are now open for the DISQUIET Prize for writing in any genre. Three winners will be published in Guernica (fiction), NinthLetter.com (non-fiction) or The Common (poetry). One grand prize winner will receive a full scholarship, accommodations, and travel stipend to attend the seventh annual DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon taking place June 25- July 7, 2017. Runners-up and other outstanding entrants will also be considered for financial aid.
Read the contest guidelines or apply at Submittable.
Deadline: January 31, 2017. Reading fee: $15
For more details, please visit http://disquietinternational.org/the-program/contests-scholarships/
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New Millenium Writings
♥ 43rd writing awards contest ♥
- $1,000 Award plus publication for each category – $4,000 total awards
- Poetry, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Nonfiction
- January 31, 2017 deadline • No restrictions as to style or subject matter Multiple and Simultaneous
- Additional Guidelines Snail Mail Instructions • Alternative Checkout w/ PayPal
For more details, please visit http://www.newmillenniumwritings.org/
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$100,000 Essay Prize for Creative Thinking
Want $100,000? Simply write a 3,000-word essay for the upcoming Nine Dots Prize and a proposed book outline. The winner will get a huge pile of cash, and the chance to write their proposed book.
The recently announced Nine Dots Prize seeks to tackle contemporary issues in society.
This year’s theme is on the topic: “Are digital technologies making politics impossible?”
Anyone from around the world is welcome to enter the competition, as long as they are 18 or over.
How will the winner be determined?
Entrants must submit their 3,000-word response, an outline structure for their proposed book and a justification of their ability to complete the book in nine months via an online submission form.
The deadline for entry is January 31st, 2017.
The winner will be announced in May.
The prize is sponsored by Cambridge University Press.
To learn more, visit their website.
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Publishizer Queerly Lit Contest
Do you identify as an LGBTQ author, or are you writing stories with LGBTQ themes and characters? Submit both fiction and nonfiction book proposals here in the month of January.
Just know that we love you the way you are, and we really want to hear what you have to say.
Important Dates
Accepting submissions: 1 Jan 2017 00:00 EST
Closing date: 31 Jan 2017, 23:59 EST
Results: 19 March 2017
Prize: US$2000
For more details, please visit https://publishizer.com/contests/queerly-lit/
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Cúirt New Writing Prize 2017
The Cúirt New Writing Prize, in memory of Lena Maguire, is now open for submissions. The categories are poetry and fiction.
There is a €500 cash prize for the winner of each category and the opportunity to read at the Cúirt/Over the Edge showcase event at Cúirt 2017.
The youth strand of the prize ‘Young Cúirt’ is for ages 12-17. The winner will receive €100 cash prize and will read at the Cúirt Labs in April 2017.
This year’s judges are poet Doireann NÍ Ghríofa and writer Sarah Maria Griffin.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 31 January 2017 at 5pm. The deadline is final. Entries should be sent via email to: info@cuirt.ie
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/2hGVI1n
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Rising Writer
The Rising Writer Contest is for a first full-length book of poetry by an author 33 years old or younger. Autumn House believes in supporting the work of younger, less-established writers who will become the voices of an emerging generation.
Guidelines for the 2017 AHP Rising Writer Contest:
For the 2017 contest, the preliminary judges are members of the Autumn House staff, and the final judge is Ada Limón. The winner will be awarded publication of a full-length manuscript and $1,000. The contest opens November 1, 2016 and the deadline for entries is January 31, 2017. For further questions, feel free to email us.
For more details, please visit http://www.autumnhouse.org/contest-submissions/rising-writers/
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The Prole Laureate Poetry Competition, 2016
Prize
Winner: £200, Publication in Prole 22 in April 2017.
Publication on the Prole website
2 x runner up prizes of £50, publication in Prole 22.
Publication on the Prole website
We will receive entries from October 1st 2016 to January 31st 2017.
Winners will be announced in issue 22 of Prole in April 2017 and on our website by April 20th 2017.
We are, as ever, open regarding style, content and length. What we are after is poetry that epitomises the editorial values of Prole: to make writing engaging, accessible, entertaining and challenging. Quality is all.
All work must be the original work of the writer and be unpublished.
£3.00 for first entry, £2.00 for any subsequent entries.
For more details, please visit http://prolebooks.co.uk/poetry%20competition.html
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The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition 2017
Most of the stories we publish at The Fiction Desk are more or less realistic, but we try to stray outside that from time to time: some genre fiction should be part of any balanced reading diet. One genre that we particularly like to feature is the ghost story.
The competition is judged by Rob Redman, editor of the anthology series and founder of The Fiction Desk.
The 2017 competition is open now.
This year, there is a first prize of £500, a second prize of £250, and a third prize of £100. The deadline is Tuesday, 31 January 2017, and entry costs £8 per story.
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/1y8B4FL
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The 13th Annual Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest
The writing contest whose name is almost as long as the entries! Deadline: February 1, 2017.
How it works:
1) Send us a story and a postcard—the relationship can be as strong or as tangential as you like, so long as there is a clear connection between the story and the image.
2) If you’re not sure where to look for a postcard, you can make your own or visit Wikimedia Commons.
3) The story can be fiction or non-fiction; maximum length is 500 words.
Prizes:
First Prize: $500Second Prize: $250Third Prize: $150
All winning entries will be published in Geist and on geist.com
Short list: Swell Geist gifts and publication on geist.com
Entry Fee: $20
Includes a one-year subscription to Geist, Canada’s favourite literary magazine. International entrants will receive the digital edition.
All additional entries are $5.
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/2gwcR9R
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The Malahat Review 2017 Long Poem Prize
Submissions for the 2017 contest (deadline February 1) will be accepted starting November 2016.
The Malahat Review, Canada’s premier literary magazine, invites entries from Canadian, American, and overseas authors for the Long Poem Prize. Two awards of $1,000 CAD each are given. Poets contributing to The Malahat Review have also won or been nominated for National Magazine Awards for Poetry and the Pushcart Prize. The Long Poem Prize is offered every second year, alternating with the Novella Prize.
Entries may be sent by regular mail or email.
Pay only $15 for each additional entry after the first.
The deadline for the 2015 Long Poem Prize is February 1, 2017.
For more details, please visit http://www.malahatreview.ca/contests/long_poem_prize/info.html
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International Literary Awards in Fiction, Creative Nonfiction & Poetry
DEADLINE: 15 FEBRUARY 2017
Awards:
$1000 in each category
$150 in each category for an Honorable Mention (judges’ discretion)
Contest Fee:
Submissions received between 1 January 2017 – 15 February 2017 pay the regular contest fee of $15.
For more details, please visit https://center4womenwriters.submittable.com/submit
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The Writer Contest: Your Turn
Ends on February 25, 2017
Multiple price options
To celebrate our 130th year in print, we’re opening up our pages to our readers. Write a 2,000-word essay about any aspect of the writing life. Any topic is fair game, so long as it pertains to some aspect of writing.
Please read our submission guidelines below in full before you submit.
Deadline: February 25th, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Grand prize: $1,000 and publication in our magazine. However, every essay we receive will be considered for paid publication in The Writer.
Word count: 2,000 words or less
For more details, please visit https://writermag.submittable.com/submit
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Institute for Writers MIDDLE GRADE ADVENTURE FICTION CONTEST
Write a story of no more than 750 words. Submissions must be no more than 750 words.
Your story should have a beginning, middle, and end. The audience for this contest is considered 7-12 years old.
Deadline is February 28, 2017. Each entry must be accompanied by a non-refundable reading fee of $19 (credit card or debit card).
For more details, please visit https://www.instituteforwriters.com/contestrules/default.aspx
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WOW WINTER 2017 FLASH FICTION CONTEST
WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months, and has done so since 2006. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles and genres of flash fiction, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season (upper right hand corner) if you are serious about winning. Please make sure you download our Contest Terms & Conditions PDF below for complete guidelines. Get creative, and let’s have some fun! We look forward to reading your work!
WORD COUNT:
Maximum: 750
Minimum: 250
PROMPT:
OPEN PROMPT!
Click to Download the WINTER 2017 FLASH FICTION Contest Terms & Conditions PDF
CONTEST DEADLINES:
FALL: September – November 30th 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) – CLOSED
WINTER: December – February 28th, 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) – NOW OPEN!
SPRING: March – May 31st, 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) – CLOSED
SUMMER: June – August 31st, 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) – CLOSED
ENTRY FEE: $10.00
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The Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest
For poems written in response to an occasion, personal or public: poems that make something of an occasion, or simply mark one.
For more details, please visit https://tnq.ca/product/the-nick-blatchford-occasional-verse-contest/
Deadline: February 28, 2017
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Flash 500 Short Story Competition
Welcome to our short story category. This is an open-themed competition and we accept all genres, including those written by or for children. Adult material is also acceptable providing the content fits the story and is not gratuitous.
We are looking for stories ranging between 1,000 and 3,000 words, with strong characters, a well-crafted plot and realistic dialogue (where used). Make us laugh, make us cry, but most of all, make us feel!
This is an annual competition: entries close on the last day of February 2017.
For more details, please visit http://www.flash500.com/index_files/ss.html
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Wundor Short Fiction Contest 2017
Novellas, Short Stories and Flash Fiction
At Wundor we plan to champion interesting, unusual fiction in all of its forms. Brevity can be one of literature’s great virtues, and we do not believe in filling out short stories into novella form if they are supposed to be short stories, or lengthening a novella to try to make a novel, when the story suits the novella form just fine.
Whether you have a single piece of work, a collection of pieces or a brilliant novella on your hands, we would like to read it. The only stipulation is that the sum total word count of your submission should fall between 5,000 and 45,000 words.
The deadline is 28 February 2017 and winners will be announced at the end of March 2017.
For more details, please visit http://www.wundoreditions.com/wundor-editions—contests.html
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Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2017
The Rialto working with the RSPB, BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative
Poems are invited that deal with any aspect of nature and place and will be given a very wide interpretation by the judge.
Closing Date: March 1st 2017
PRIZES
1st prize – £1000
2nd prize – £500
3rd prize – A place in a creative writing course at Ty Newydd Writing Centre in 2017
TWO ADDITIONAL PRIZES
A personal tour with Mark Cocker of his most cherished wildlife places in East Anglia.
A personal tour with Nick Davies of his beloved Wicken Fen to learn about his research there.
For more details, please visit https://www.therialto.co.uk/pages/nature-poetry-competition-2017/
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Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize—2017
The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series, Selected Shorts. This long-running series at Symphony Space in New York City celebrates the art of the short story by having stars of stage and screen read aloud the works of established and emerging writers. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally.
The 2017 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize will be judged by Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies. The winning work will be performed and recorded live at a Selected Shorts performance at Symphony Space in May 2017, and published on Electric Literature. The winning writer will receive $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers.
Deadline: March 1, 2017
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/2dDOvzf
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SPACE
The word “space” has multiple literal meanings and can work as a noun or a verb, and it has multiple metaphorical meanings as well. There’s outer space, inner space, emotional space (“I need my space!”), etc. Your challenge: Write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which the idea of “space” plays an important role. You may interpret “space” any way you want, as long as your readers can figure out how you’re using it.
GENRE RULES: No children’s fiction, no exploitative sex, no over-the-top grossout horror, and no stories that are obvious parodies of existing fictional worlds/characters created by other authors.
Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern US time, THURSDAY, March 2, 2017. Note carefully–this one ends on a THURSDAY!
One entry per author. There is no fee for entering this contest.
For more details, please visit http://onthepremises.com/current-contest/
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The Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest
This contest for essays of any length, on any topic, in which the writer’s personal engagement with the topic provides the frame or through-line.
For more details, please visit https://tnq.ca/product/the-edna-staebler-personal-essay-contest/
Deadline: March 28, 2017
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Fabula Press’ Nivalis Short Story Competition 2017
The details of the contest are as below:
Dates: Contest opened on 01Jan17, and submissions will be accepted till 31Mar17. The results will tentatively be declared in Jun17.
Prizes: The contest carries the following prizes:
- First Prize: US$250
- Second Prize: US$150
- Third Prize: US$100
All longlisted entries (top 15-20) get published in an anthology, and non-prize winning published entries will be paid US$50 each. Also, at the sponsors’ discretion additiona l prizes may be declared for ‘Editors’ Pick’ category (in the last edition of the contest two such prizes of US$75 each were declared).
Theme: None. There is no restriction on genre either, and we are happy to read historical fiction, mystery/suspense, and horror. However, for consistency of presentation we cannot accept children’s stories, young adult or chick lit; likewise, hardcore science fiction or fantasy is not something we are looking for, but are open to science / alternative history / fantasy based works if they have standalone literary merit. In case of doubt, it is best to query the editorial team.
Word count: Minimum 1500, maximum 7000. At the editors’ discretion, some latitude may be allowed on both minimum and maximum word counts for stories of exceptional merit.
Entry fee: US$10.
Judges: The panel of judges comprises:
- Clare Wallace, Literary Agent with Darley Anderson
- Sandra Sawicka, Literary Agent and Foreign Rights Manager with Marjacq Scripts
- Brett Alan Sanders, Author, Translator and Essayist
- Anisha Bhaduri, Author and award winning journalist
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PARSEC Sci-Fi Contest
Opens Jan. 1, 2017; closes March 31, 2017.
No fee. All entrants will be notified of results by June 15, 2017.
Theme for 2017: A hidden, underlying truth.
Maximum word count: 3,500. No minimum.
Prizes: $200 First, with publication in 2017 Confluence Convention program book; $100 Second, $50 Third. (http://parsec-sff.org/confluence/ )
Visit http://parsec-sff.org/ for more details.
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Publishizer Up The Rabbit Hole Contest
Are you writing writing a book about consciousness, spirituality, psychedelics, entheogens, plant medicines or alternative therapies? Send in your proposals, fellow cosmonauts. Let’s ride this next wave of human consciousness together.
Important Dates
Accepting submissions: 1 Mar 2017, 00:00 EST
Closing date: 31 Mar 2017, 23:59:59 EST
Results: 17 May 2017
Prize: US$2000
For more details, please visit https://publishizer.com/contests/rabbit-hole/
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The Waterston Desert Writing Prize
The Waterston Desert Writing Prize (the Prize) will accept 2017 submissions January 1-April 1, 2017.
Now in its fourth year, the Prize annually honors literary nonfiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place, and desert literacy – with the desert as both subject and setting. Inspired by author and poet Ellen Waterston’s love of the high desert of Central Oregon, a region that has been her muse for more than 30 years, the Prize recognizes the vital role deserts play worldwide in the ecosystem and human narrative. Emerging, mid-career and established nonfiction writers are invited to apply. Previous submitters who have not won an award are eligible to apply with a new project.
The Award
In 2017, the Prize will recognize one writer with a $2,000 cash award, a reading and reception at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, and a four-week residency at PLAYA at Summer Lake, Oregon.
When and How to Apply
Proposals can be submitted beginning January 1, 2017 and ending April 1, 2017. All submitters are required to use the online application link.
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Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee)
Now in its 16th year, this contest seeks today’s best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $2,250 in prizes.
Please submit one humor poem during August 15, 2016-April 1, 2017. No fee to enter. We will award a first prize of $1,000 and a second prize of $250. Ten Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each. The top 12 entries will be published online. Judge: Jendi Reiter, assisted by Lauren Singer. Length limit: 250 lines. No restrictions on age or country. The results of our 16th annual contest will be announced on August 15, 2017.
For more details, please visit https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flomp-humor-poetry-contest-free
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EVENT 2017 Non-Fiction Contest
Genre: Creative Non-Fiction.
Prize: $1,500 in prizes plus publication in EVENT. EVENT reserves the right to award the prize money as it sees fit (e.g., two prizes valued at $750, three at $500, or one at $1000 and one at $500, etc.) in accordance with the judge’s decision. Published entries will be paid our standard publication payment in addition to any prize money.
Cost: $34.95 per entry; includes a one-year subscription to EVENT and all applicable taxes and shipping—a great deal!
Deadline: April 15, 2017 (postmarked or submitted online)
For more details, please visit http://www.eventmagazine.ca/contest-nf/
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Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Welcome to the 25th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $4,000 in prizes.
Please submit during October 15, 2016-April 30, 2017. We will award $1,500 each for the top story and the top essay. Ten Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each (any category). The top 12 entries will be published online. Judge: Judy Juanita, assisted by Lauren Singer. Please submit as many stories and essays as you like. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words. No restrictions on age or country. Fee: $18 per entry. The results of our 25th annual contest will be announced on October 15, 2017.
For more details, please visit https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/tom-howard-john-h-reid-fiction-essay-contest
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The Peter Hinchcliffe Short Fiction Award
(sponsored by the St Jerome’s University English department)
For a work of short fiction by a writer in the early stages: someone who has not yet published a novel or story collection.
For more details, please visit https://tnq.ca/product/the-peter-hinchcliffe-short-fiction-award/
Deadline: May 28, 2017
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Hourglass Literary Magazine Writing Competitions
At the confluence of the West and the East, Hourglass Literary Magazine proudly announces its second international writing competition for:
- Best Short Story
- Best Poem
- Best Essay
- Final closing date: 11:59 P.M. April 30, 2017 (US Central time).
- Jury/Judges: SibelanForrester, Jelena Lengold and John K. Cox.
- The competition is internationaland is open to all authors writing in English or any of the BCMS languages (comprising Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin.)
- There are no theme, or genrelimitations and boundaries.
- Work must beoriginal and unpublished.
- One author can compete in all categories, for all three awards respectively.
- Multiple submissions are allowed (as well as simultaneous submissions).
For more details, please visit http://hourglassonline.org/contest/
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Palooka Press Chapbook Contest
$10.00 USD
About Palooka Press
The press was founded to offer an opportunity to writers seeking a home for shorter manuscripts.
How It Works
We take great pride in reading every word and giving each manuscript its due attention. We consider manuscripts of all types, styles, and genres and aren’t looking for a particular aesthetic. We’ll give anything a fair chance. Please send your best fiction, poetry, nonfiction, graphic narrative, or hybrid genres. Manuscripts should be roughly 35-50 pages, but we’re flexible. The $10 entry fee comes with an electronic issue of Palooka.
The Winner Receives…
*Publication by Palooka Press (a perfect-bound book with a glossy color cover)
*$200 honorarium
*20 free copies of the book
*A bio and photo featured on our website
*Chapbook will be sent out for review and promotion
Deadline: May 15, 2017
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C.G. Jung Society of St. Louis Writing Contest
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Memories, Dreams, Sensualities:
The theme of our contest and our 2017 conference is Memories, Dreams, Sensualities. Both contest and conference offer an opportunity to join in community through the sharing of how Jungian ideas unfold in our lived experience. We are looking for personal essays that add something unique to the conversation. We would love to read about a significant dream, memory, or sensual experience that led you down an interesting path.
| Winners will have the opportunity to read their essays at our conference, Jung in the Heartland: Memories, Dreams Sensualities, October 2017.
Winning essays will be published on our website. 1st Prize: $1000 Inquiries may be sent to cgjungstlwriting@yahoo.com Submission Deadline: May 1, 2017 For more details, please visit http://cgjungstl.org/contest/ |
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Gover Story Prize
Best New Writing accepts unpublished fiction and creative nonfiction under 10,000 words for publication and consideration for the Gover Story Prize ($250). The story must be new and unpublished, including on-line publication. Submissions are read quarterly following the last day of March, June, September, and December. You will receive a response within two weeks of those dates. Simultaneous submissions cannot be considered. Please, no more than one submission per quarter, and STRIP YOUR NAME from the story pages. If your story was previously published, including on-line publications, please do not submit it.
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New England Poetry Club Contests
New England Poetry Club has always recognized the outstanding work of poets with its annual awards and contests. Some awards, such as The Golden Rose and the May Sarton Award, are given in recognition of career excellence, while others are run as contests. This page is a complete listing of annual awards and contests. If you choose to enter a contest, please be sure to read the guidelines before entering, as they may have changed from previous years. The link to submit entries online can be found in the guidelines tab.
Submissions accepted only in May and June each year.
For more details, please visit http://www.nepoetryclub.org/contests/
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Neil Postman Award for Metaphor
Rolling Deadline
(no fee)
Although primarily known as an educationist and a media critic, Neil Postman was, at his core, a “noticer”—and he particularly noticed what we do with metaphor and how metaphor shapes and creates our cognitive world. Postman maintained that words (and words, in truth, are metaphors) are as much the driver of reality as they are the vehicle. Consequently, metaphor was not a subject to be relegated and limited to high school poetry units wherein a teacher drones on about the difference between “like” and “as” and considers the job finished. For Postman, the study of metaphor was unending and metaphors were as crucial as they were omnipresent; they served to give form to and dictate experience.
In honor and remembrance of Neil Postman, who died on October 5, 2003, we have established the Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. The motivation for the award is simple and two-fold: To reward a given writer for his or her use of metaphor, and to celebrate (and hopefully propagate) Postman’s work and the typographical mind.
Each spring the editors will choose one poem from all of the submissions received by Rattle during the previous year. The author of the chosen poem will receive $500. There are no entry fees or special submission guidelines. Send up to 5 unpublished poems plus a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to: Rattle, 12411 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. To browse previous winners, and for information on how to submit electronically, visit our website: http://www.rattle.com/poetry/extras/postman/
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Nonfiction Book Awards
Welcome to the NEW Nonfiction Book Awards! As an extension of the Nonfiction Authors Association, we are committed to honoring excellence in nonfiction books and welcome submissions by self-published and traditionally published authors alike, in both print and ebook formats. Publishers are also welcome to submit books for award consideration.
– See more at: http://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/nonfiction-book-awards/#sthash.H0SVcAFl.dpuf
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The Thistle Dew Theatre & KTDT Dramady seeks plays for Stage and Radio
http://thistledewtheatre.blogspot.com/
Call for play submissions: monologues, short plays, one act or full-length plays for stage and radio.
Monthly themed monologues and short plays needed. On-going, no submission fee, no deadline. This is a competition with one winner per production: $25.00.
Continuing call: No fees… no deadlines….
Tales/Lies for THE LIAR’S LAIR
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Zone 3 Nonfiction Award
Zone 3 is accepting submissions for its nonfiction contest. For online submissions, click here to complete the submission manager form, choose “Zone 3 Nonfiction Award” for your genre, and upload your essay. You will be directed to another webpage for secure payment. For paper submissions, submit one essay with SASE and $10 entry fee to: Zone 3, APSU, P.O. Box 4565, Clarksville, TN 37044. No deadline. All entrants will receive a one-year subscription. The winner will be announced on our website. Prize: $250 and publication. For details, visit http://www.apsu.edu/zone3/contests
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Zone 3 Fiction Award
Zone 3 is now accepting submissions for its twelfth annual fiction award. For online submissions, click here to complete the submission manager form, choose “Zone 3 Fiction Award” for your genre, and upload your story. You will be directed to another webpage for secure payment. For paper submissions, submit one story with SASE and $10 entry fee to: Zone 3, APSU, P.O. Box 4565, Clarksville, TN 37044. No deadline. All entrants will receive a one-year subscription to Zone 3. The winner will be announced on our website. Prize: $250 and publication. For details, visit http://www.apsu.edu/zone3/contests
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Zone 3 Poetry Award
Zone 3 is now accepting submissions for its annual poetry award. Submit up to three poems via our online submissions manager. Click here to log in and upload your poems; choose “Zone 3 Poetry Award” for your genre. You will be directed to another webpage for secure payment. No deadline. All entrants will receive a one-year subscription to Zone 3. The winner will be announced on our website. Prize: $250 and publication. For details, visit http://www.apsu.edu/zone3/contests
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Wielding Power Essay Writing Contests
Prizes
Winner- The winner will have their answer published, receive ten free copies of the issue (pdfs), and $1000. There will be one winner.
Finalists- The finalists will be published and receive ten free copies of the issue (pdfs). There will be two finalists.
Who May Submit
Submissions are open to all US and Canada residents (except Quebec) above the age of 18. Submission is free. You may submit up to 10 entries per question. Submissions cannot be the work of multiple authors.
How and What to Submit
IMPORTANT: failure to adhere to the following may result in disqualification. See Official Rules for complete details.
- All entries should be between 500 and 2000 words.
- To ease reading and ensure uniformity of entries- please format your answer in 12pt Times New Roman, double spaced.
- Please send your entries as a Microsoft Word or Google Document attachment to submit@wieldingpowerpublishing.com
For more information, visit http://www.wieldingpowerpublishing.com/submit/
Ongoing deadlines.
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The People’s Book Awards
Welcome to the people’s Book Awards where anyone can nominate or vote for titles available on the *Amazon sites worldwide, or support those important people who provide services to authors. Monthly winners.
The monthly and annual voting closes at 17:00 hours British Standard Time on the last day of each month and the votes of non-winning titles are carried forward, except in December. Monthly winning titles are taken out of the competition and will be returned in December if confirmed as a nomination for the Annual Awards by a direct message (DM) on Twitter or email to winner@thebookawards.com. Each year the voting closes on December 31st following the Annual Awards and all votes are returned to zero for the coming year.
To learn more, visit http://thebookawards.com/awards/
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Ekphrasis Prize for Poetry
Ekphrasis is a poetry journal looking for well-crafted poems, the main content of which addresses individual works from any artistic genre. Please identify the specific work that is the focus of your poem. Acceptable ekphrastic verse transcends mere description: it stands as transformative critical statement, an original gloss on the individual art piece it addresses.
All poems published in Ekphrasis within a given calendar year will be considered for the Ekphrasis Prize for Poetry.
The winning poem will be selected by the editors of Ekphrasis.
No entry fees are required and there is no self-nomination procedure for the prize.
For submission guidelines, visit http://www.ekphrasisjournal.com/home
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Diana Woods Memorial (DWM) Award
Creative nonfiction authors are invited to submit an essay of up to 5,000 words on the subject of their choice to be considered for the Diana Woods Memorial (DWM) Award in creative nonfiction. Winners will receive $250 and their work will be featured in the next issue of Lunch Ticket. Each award recipient must submit a 100-word biography, current photo, and send a brief note of thanks to the Woods’ family.
For more details and to submit, visit http://lunchticket.org/the-diana-woods-memorial-award/
The reading period for the award will be the month of February for the issue that publishes in June, and the month of August for the issue that publishes in December. Please note that previously published work will not be accepted.
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L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest
- Entrants retain all publication rights
- No entry fee is required
- All awards are adjudicated by professional writers only
- Prizes every three months: $1,000, $750, $500
- Annual grand prize: $5,000 additional!
- Opportunity for new and amateur writers of new short stories or novelettes of sf or fantasy
There shall be three cash prizes in each quarter: a First Prize of $1,000, a Second Prize of $750, and a Third Prize of $500, in US dollars. In addition, at the end of the year the winners will have their entries rejudged, and a Grand Prize winner shall be determined and receive an additional $5,000. All winners will also receive trophies.
The Contest has four quarters, beginning on October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1. The year will end on September 30. To be eligible for judging in its quarter, an entry must be postmarked or received electronically no later than midnight on the last day of the quarter. (Deadlines: December 31, March 31, June 30, September 30). Late entries will be included in the following quarter and the Contest Administration will so notify the entrant.
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EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
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Winter Writer’s Retreat
February 13 – February 24, 2017
Application deadline: November 16, 2016
Overview
The Winter Writer’s Retreat is a self-directed program which offers time and space for writers to retreat, reconnect and re-energize their writing practice. In addition to a single room which doubles as your private studio, you will be surrounded by a community of artistic peers, you will have the opportunity to attend inspiring talks and performances and meet with guest faculty to consult on your work.
What does the program offer?
This self-directed residency offers the opportunity to work away from the constraints of everyday life. Delve deep into your creative project and take advantage of the artistic community around you. Writing circles, formal and informal lectures and opportunities to workshop your project will be provided. Take advantage of Banff National Park’s natural environment and ignite your senses by taking part in trips to unique locations like Lake Louise, Yoho National Park or Johnson Lake.
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/2dChwZJ
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The Weekly Writing PostTM is brought to you by
The Writing PoolTM
http://www.thewritingpool.com
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The Writing Pool 