50 of the Best Websites for Writers

Came across this resource page and thought folks might be interested in it.

http://educhoices.org/articles/50_of_the_Best_Websites_for_Writers.html

Review Writing Workshop

Are you a writer interested in exploring reviewing contemporary arts?

RealTime, the Australian magazine focused on innovation in the arts, is conducting an intensive 10-day workshop in reviewing contemporary art practices at the 2008 PuSh Festival. The selected writers will respond to performances and events in a festival that offers the opportunity to explore the very latest in exhilarating and challenging performance.

Applications are being accepted from now until November 16. Click here to download more information and the full application instructions.

Free Workshop: Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Free

Workshop Date: June 12, 2007

Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Place: The Gathering Place -609 Helmcken Street

ATTENTION ALL WRITERS, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AND SMALL PRESS ENTHUSIASTS:

Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Be your own publisher. Join the ranks of literary giants like Hunter S. Thompson and Ray Bradbury and learn how to create a “chapbook” (your very own professional-looking published booklet) step-by-step, from editing through basic graphic design, right through to distribution. This unique, hands-on workshop starts by getting each participant to assemble their own text book!

We go on to:

Þ look at the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing!

Þ offer various modern and rare examples of this ancient type of publication!

Þ give you tips for marketing and publicizing your book on a shoestring budget!

A basic knowledge of computers and word processing programs like Microsoft Word is required.

Reference material provided.

Facilitated by poet, performer, and long-time graphic designer, S.R. Duncan.

To register contact Irene Brooks at 604-257-3847 or email her at irene.brooks@vancouver.ca
Space is limited.

Call for Short fiction Submissions

Ottawa literary publisher Chaudiere Books is seeking submissions by Canadian writers of short fiction of no more than 1,500 to 2,000 words for an upcoming anthology project. Seeking vibrant, engaging works perhaps more language than narrative, but not exclusively. Please send works no later than August 15, 2007 to Chaudiere Books, c/o 858 Somerset Street West, main floor, Ottawa Ontario K1R 6R7 (include s.a.s.e. if you expect work returned) or over email to rob_mclennan@hotmail.com

For more information on Chaudiere Books, check out www.chaudierebooks.com or www.chaudierebooks.blogspot.com

Workshop: Use Your Dream World to Enrich Your Writing!

FIRST FRIDAY AT THE JAVANET, March 2, 3436 W Broadway

7:30 Open Mic will be followed by a workshop by Ariadne Sawyer:

Use Your Dream World to Enrich Your Writing! (30 minutes). Learn how to: create a dream poetry/writing journal, remember your dreams, use daydreams as a bridge to the unconscious, do a day dreaming poetic/writing exercise. Free. (Donations accepted for World Poetry.) Ariadne Sawyer, MA, CP, has spent 12 years studying the brain and human behavior. She specializes in creativity and has worked as a consultant to musicians, writers, painters, poets, dancers and even photographers. She is the host and producer of the popular short radio program Creativity Rocks on the World Poetry Café, CFRO. 102.7 FM which is heard around the world by internet and satellite. Her new book is The Best Of Creativity Rocks! Answers to Your Creative Questions by World Poetry Publishing.

For more information: ariadnes@uniserve.com or www.ariadnescoaching.com.

Vancouver Poetry House AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Vancouver Poetry House Society will be held Monday, March 12, 6:30-7:30pm at Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive. All current and past Vancouver Poetry House members, and people interested in becoming members are welcome. Memberships are up for renewal at $2 for one year.

For more info contact Randy Jacobs at rjacobs@cknw.com

Arabesques "The War & Poetry" Issue is Online

*International Literary and Cultural Review*

Arabesques is proud of its tradition of featuring the work of many established and emerging international writers in its most current issue analysing the theme of "*The War & Poetry*". Writers such as:

Duane Locke, Kirby Wright, Susan Rich, Marjorie Maddox, Michael Rothenberg, J Glenn Evans, Ysabel de la Rosa, James R Whitley and many others have all make the pages of this new anthology.

To read our submissions guidelines for next issues or all contributors of the new issue, click here:

*http://www.arabesquespress.org/ <http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/>
*

More Great Stuff from the Federation of BC Writers

Fed Workshop: Coffee Table Books from Creation to Publication

February 24, 1 to 5 pm.
Coffee Table Books
Instructor: Anthony Dalton
Location: Alliance for Arts and Culture, 938 Howe Street, Vancouver.
Cost: $50 for Fed members, $75 for non-members.
Registration deadline: February 18
Contact the Fed office at bcwriters@shaw.ca for the registration form.
Coffee table books are published in a variety of sizes and a multiplicity of subjects. For an author
with some artistic ability writing and illustrating coffee table books is an excellent way of breaking
into book publication. This workshop will take participants through all stages of production: from
concept to publication, including discussions on: subject ideas, chapter lengths, word counts,
illustrations and where to find them, copyright, hints on query letters, book proposal layouts, and a
couple of creative writing exercises. Instructor Anthony Dalton is the author of four books, including
the recently released Baychimo: Arctic Ghost Ship (Heritage House) and three nonfiction coffee
table books.

TWUC Workshops in Kelowna and Vancouver
March 7, 2007, 9:30 to 4:30 at the Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna.
March 9, 2007, 9:30 to 4:30 at SFU, Harbour Centre, Vancouver.

"Writing as a Profession: How to Get Published and Survive as an Author" Professional Development
Workshops for Writers in all Phases of Their Careers.

The Writers' Union of Canada is offering this opportunity to non-members as well as to members, to
book writers, whether unpulbished, emerging, or established. Cost is $45.00 and includes lunch.
Participants will be provided with an opportunity to meet with local writers, workshop presents (Ken
McGoogan & Merilyn Simonds) and Deborah Windsor, Executive Director of The Writers' Union of
Canada. Here's the link for more information: www.writersunion.ca/registration06.htm

Canadian Authors Association
Meeting Wednesday, February 14, 7 pm. followed by Open Mic
Location: Alliance for Arts & Culture, 938 Howe Street, Vancouver
"Let's Talk About Love" is the theme for the CAA meeting this month. Members and guests will
each have five minutes of Open Mic time to read from their current poetry or prose creations
on the positive aspects of love. Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members. For info,
contact Jean Kay at 604-943-9247 or email jeankay@dccnet.com

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Literary Press Group Seeks Rep
The Literary Press Group are looking for a Vancouver-based sales rep for BC and the Territories.
The position requires excellent sales, organizational, communication and customer service skills.
You have a love of Canadian literature, and may also understand the publishing sales process.
You are detailed in your preparation and follow-up, and a creative promoter and problem-solver.
As a self-motivator, you will provide a high level of service to existing accounts while striving to
expand your customer base. The job involves some travel, plus occasional evenings and weekends
and a reliable car will be needed. As a LPG sales rep, you'll have the exciting opportunity to work
with some of Canada's most interesting independent publishers and booksellers--not to mention
reading Canada's best literature. The job is based out of your home office. The sales rep is supported
by a top-notch sales team from across the country that you'll meet with regularly on the phone and
in-person. Active since 1975, the Literary Press Group of Canada is a non-profit association of
Canadian owned and operated book publishers. LPG publishers specialize in Canadian literary fiction,
poetry, drama, creative non-fiction, YA, aboriginal and local interest titles.
Please email resumes to Margaret Bryant at mbryant@lpg.ca by February 7, 2007.

Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp
Writing on the Ridge, together with conservationist, photographer and widely experienced back
country guide, Wayne Sawchuk, are holding the second annual Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp from
July 28th - August 4th at Mayfield Lake in the heart of the Muskwa-Kechika (M-K) wilderness area
(http://www.muskwakechika.com ) northern British Columbia. Poet Don McKay was one of the
participants at last year's camp as well as visual artists Sally McKay from Toronto and Deryk Houston
from Victoria. Artists who are selected will engage in group discussions on wilderness and their work,
but will spend most of their time pursuing their own projects and enjoying the wilderness under the
guidance of Wayne Sawchuk. Each artist will be required to produce a piece of work for a
collaborative art show that will be displayed at galleries in BC and beyond in 2008. Most of the camp
time will be spent at Mayfield Lake (in the heart of the Muskwa-Kechika) but will include, weather
permitting, a two day pack string ride/hike into the alpine. For more information, or to register, please
visit Donna Kane's website or send an email to Donna at dkane@nlc.bc.ca

New Creative Spin Blog
Vancouver marketing and publicity guru Steve Duncan has introduced Do-it-Yourself event postings
on his Creative Spin blog. He's also looking for columnists--interested writers can contact him at
srduncan@shaw.ca.

Vancouver Writes
Vancouver Writes, taking place at Performance Works on Granville Island on February 23, features
the biggest collection of Vancouver writers in one event ever, together with Vancouver's all female
jazz and blues quartet, Mother of Pearl, and the audience for a collaborative writing contest. Join
host Billeh Nickerson and a dozen of the city's finest writers (Caroline Adderson, Elizabeth Bachinsky,
Kevin Chong, Steven Galloway, Zsuzsi Gartner, Genni Gunn, C.C. Humphreys, Nancy Lee, Billie
Livingston, Miranda Pearson, Bill Richardson and Timothy Taylor) to create instant literature at
Vancouver Writes, the Vancouver International Writers Festival's collaborative writing contest.
Top prizewinners will be published in The Tyee, Vancouver's on-line newspaper. Register early!
Info: www.writersfest.bc.ca.

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The New Fed Anthology
Deadline: May 1, 2007.
The Federation of BC Writers is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of a new
anthology of nonfiction by Federation members which will be published by Anvil Press in Spring
2008. The editorial board, directed by award-winning author Daniel Francis, is seeking literary
nonfiction pieces with a strong sense of place that capture the writer's connection or interaction
with a specific geographical landscape, community or setting in British Columbia. Full submission
guidelines are posted in the winter issue of WordWorks (delivered to members last month) and
on our website at http://www.bcwriters.com/anthology.php

MARKET: The Ethnic Detective
The next issue of Mystery Readers Journal (Volume 23: 1) will focus on the Ethnic Detective. The
editorial team is looking for reviews, articles and Author! Author! essays. Reviews: 100-500 words;
essays: 500-2000 words and Author! Author! essays: 500-2000 words. Each review or article must
focus on the theme of the issue: The Ethnic Detective. Author! Author! essays should be first
person, upclose and personal about yourself, your mysteries and the Ethnic connection. Deadline
for articles is February 20, 2007. All articles and reviews should have an author bio/tagline and
a snail-mail address.
Future themes: History Mysteries, Scandinavian Mysteries.
Mystery Readers Journal:Enriching the lives of mystery readers.
For more information on Mystery Readers, go to:
http://www.mysteryreaders.org


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Writers' Union Postcard Story Competition
Deadline: February 14, 2007
http://www.writersunion.ca/psc.html
What is a Postcard Story? Are you up for the challenge? The challenge is to create a dramatic,
short, snappy piece in only 250 words. You can use humour, poetry, dialogue--anything goes!
Open to all writers--Canadian citizens or landed mmigrants. Winning entry will be published in
postcard format. $5 entry fee. Blind judging in effect. $500 prize. For full details, see website.

The Okanagan Short Story Contest
http://www.okstorycontest.org/
Deadline: March 16, 2007
All residents of the Southern Interior of British Columbia are eligible to enter the Okanagan Short
Story contest this year. Prizes are $500 for first prize, $200 for second and $100 for third, with
publication in a limited edition chapbook. The contest is sponsored by the University of British
Columbia Okanagan, Okanagan College, CBC Radio One Kelowna and the Central Okanagan
Foundation. For rules and guidelines, as well as information about the contest, see the website.

Borderlines Poetry and Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: March 31, 2007
www.ascentaspirations.ca/borderlines.htm
Ascent Aspirations Magazine seeks poetry and flash fiction for its fourth anthology, Borderlines,
to be published in Fall 2007. Prizes include cash and publication. Contest fee for poetry is $10 for
three poems. Contest fee for flash fiction is $10 per piece of flash fiction. Multiple entries will be
accepted. Full details on the website or contact David Fraser at ascentaspirations@shaw.ca

The Vision Writing Contest

Deadline: May 1, 2007
"The Vision" Writing Contest for writers and lovers of the works of the Scottish Bard, Robert Burns.
The Prize is the James Turnbull Memorial Award - $500 (Cdn) and possible publication in the Celtic
Faerie Magazine. Choose your favorite poem/song by Robert Burns, and tell why you like it, what
you believe Robert Burns was trying to convey to his readers, and any relevant history or
documentation of interest. Entry fee: $10 (Cdn). Word maximum: 2000. Entrants are strongly
encouraged to contact the contest trustee for full guidelines at ilmoore@mts.net or phone:
(Canada) 204-482-8271; or the website of the Winnipeg Robert Burns Club:
www.winnipegrobertburns.org

Literary Writes 2007
Deadline: July 1, 2007
http://www.bcwriters.com/literary.php
The Federation of BC Writers presents the 19th Annual Literary Writes contest. This year's
theme is Foreign Affairs: Travel Stories with a Twist! Danger or desire, fiction or creative
nonfiction, from political intrigue to a chance encounter in a Tunisian cafe, send us your best
in 1000 words or less. The competition is open to all BC writers and residents and entries must
be original work, not previously published in any form. Blind judging in effect. Entry fee is $15
for Federation members, $20 for non-members. Multiple entries allowed but each entry must be
accompanied by the entry fee and a cover sheet. First prize is $500.
For full details, check out the website.

For additional contest listings, visit our website http://www.bcwriters.com/awards.php **************************

New Children's Book Award Announced
The Province of BC will sponsor a new book award, Time to Read, for British Columbian and Canadian
children's authors and give a free copy of the winning book to every BC kindergarten student. As part
of their literacy campaign, the Province is investing $500,000 to sponsor this award with a cash prize
of $15,000 being divided between the author and illustrator of the winning book. The 2007 award is
open to all themes. BC culture and history will be the theme for the 2008 award to celebrate the
province' sesquicentennial, and sports will be the theme for the 2009 award to celebrate the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This year's deadline for submissions is March
12. Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.bcachievement.com.

___________________________ Established in 1976, the Federation of British Columbia Writers is BC's largest writing organization, serving over 600 organizational and individual members throughout the province. Fernanda Viveiros, Executive Director The Federation of British Columbia Writers 604-683-2057 www.bcwriters.com

Events for Writers

Back on January 8th, I told you you should get yourself out to more public events. Here is a nice list from Fernanda Viveiros, Executive Director of the BC Federation of Writers Fed Workshop February 24, 1 to 5 pm. Coffee Table Books from Concept to Publication Instructor: Anthony Dalton Coffee table books are published in a variety of sizes and a multiplicity of subjects. For an author with some artistic ability writing and illustrating coffee table books is an excellent way of breaking into book publication. This workshop will take participants through all stages of production: from concept to publication, including discussions on: subject ideas, chapter lengths, word counts, illustrations and where to find them, copyright, hints on query letters, book proposal layouts, and a couple of creative writing exercises. Instructor Anthony Dalton is the author of four books, including three nonfiction coffee table books and the recently released Baychimo: Arctic Ghost Ship (Heritage House). Email the Fed office at bcwriters@shaw.ca for registration form. _________________________________________________ Writing Groups Fed member looking for a (Vancouver area) writing partner, who is committed to her writing, or trying to be, has writing/publishing experience; to meet regularly for support, writing exercises, etc. Me: 50-year-old left-leaning East End type. We don't need to be twins separated at birth but we should have a few shared interests, and common writing goals. Interested/info? Contact Andrea at wordspinster@uniserve.com Malaspina Writers' Association The MWA, based in Powell River, meets the first Thursday of the month at members' homes. All genres, all levels. Provides critique, readings, workshops. Current size is 12 members, and new members are welcome. Contact Allan Brown at 604-485-5240. GRIND WRITERS' GROUP: (at the Grind Cofee Cafe, 4124 Main Street @ King Edward/25th Ave). All ages, stages, and genres welcome. Come prepared to write and (if you want to) to read. We alternate meeting on Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM-noon. Some people stay later to work on their projects. Meeting dates: SUN Jan 28th; S AT Feb 10th, and SUN Feb 25th, 2007. Friendly, welcoming group. More info: wonderwords@shaw.ca ("Occasionally they do move the venue, so if you're new it's a good idea to email Margo before attending for the first time") The first Lingo @ Spartacus Books reading of 2007 will be the last Friday of the month as usual: January 26th, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Spartacus Books is upstairs at 319 W. Hastings. All TWS and Booming Ground participants and alums are especially encouraged to read. For anyone who hasn't attended yet, the bookstore is a great place to read and listen. It's comfortable and quiet, and we're in the company of a lot of printed words and a supportive audience. Bring your own words--new work, older work you haven't tried out in a reading. Let ElJean Dodge Wilson and James Leslie know by replying to eljean@shaw.ca , and keep your reading to 10 minutes or so to give several people a chance to read. If there's time, there'll be an open mic, so bring something along even if you haven't signed up to read. _________________________________________________ Special Event The VIWF Presents Vancouver Writes February 23, 7 pm. Performance Works, Granville Island Get ready for an engaging, interactive evening of wordplay that will bring together aspiring and established writers to produce instant literature. Join host Billeh Nickerson, Caroline Adderson, Steven Galloway, Billie Livingston, Miranda Pearson, Timothy Taylor and many more of Vancouver's finest for the first edition of Vancouver Writes. Teams of eight with one well known Vancouver writer as coach and editor will collaborate to come up with a piece of prizewinning fiction or poetry. Live music, drinks, and a chance for the contestants and published writers to mingle and talk. Tickets: $20/18 students & seniors. Check out the website for details http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/news/van_writes.htm _________________________________________________ Vancouver Readings Thursday, January 25, 7:30 pm. RAW Exchange Reading Series Where: VPL Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Peter Kaye Room. Maxine Gadd (Backup to Babylon), Jenn Farrell (Sugar Bush) and Sharon English (Zero Gravity ) will read from their latest books. Panel discussion on the "Art of Personal Narrative" moderated by Richard Hopkins, Professor Emeritus at the School of Library, Archival & Information Studies at UBC and Program Director for The Alcuin Society. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Friday, January 26, 7:30 pm. UPSTART CROW READING SERIES Featuring Russell Thornton & Neil Aitken Surround yourself with words. Open mic with featured readers. Great coffee available next door and a fabulous collection of used books for sale in store. Location: Upstart Crow Books, 238 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver (Just up the hill from the Sea-bus station and Lonsdale Quay). Contact: Bonnie and Sita (blnish_pandoras@yahoo.ca, or Upstart Crow Books owner John Fisher (John.Fisher@alderwoods.com). On-going (sign up for invites). Wednesday, January 31, 7:30 pm. Presentation on Made to Break by Giles Slade Alma Van Dusen Room, VPL, Central Library, 350 W. Georgia New Fed member Giles Slade tackles the "e-waste" problem from its inception to the modern day in Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America, illustrating how deliberate product obsolescence is a uniquely American invention. Not only did America invent disposable products, but also the concept of disposability itself. As manufacturers learned how to exploit obsolescence, consumers increasingly accepted it in every aspect of their lives. Free admission, everyone welcome. Thursday, February 1, 5:30 to 9 pm. Book Launch for Red Light Neon Join Subway Books for the launch of Daniel Francis's new book, Red Light Neon: A History of Vancouver's Sex Trade . Location: Art of Loving, 1819 West 5th, Vancouver. Thursday, February 8, 7 pm. On Edge Series presents Betsy Warland. Emily Carr Institute, Room SB 405, Granville Island. Free admission. Betsy Warland's most recent book, Only This Blue: A Long Poem with an Essay (The Mercury Press, 2005), traces moments of awe and dread on her journey through a life-threatening experience. Warland has published ten books of poetry and prose and has also written numerous critical essays on visual art for catalogues and journals. *More event listings can be found on the Fed website here: http://www.bcwriters.com/events.php If you would like to include your reading or book launch on our website, please send info to the Fed office BUT please follow the format as seen above: date & time, heading, address, brief info. Thank you, Fernanda _________________________________________________

Fernanda Viveiros Executive Director The Federation of British Columbia Writers www.bcwriters.com