News
Grind Writers
photo/ Margo Lamont
July 2013
Break time in the barber shop
in
Grind Writers
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BC writers – autonomous fan region
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Grind Writer self-publishes
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Help Elen with your feedback
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Where to get your ISBN #
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The Surrey Writers’ conference – workshops are posted!
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50 iconic writers who were repeatedly……rejected.
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Things to do – people to see – places to go
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Words in the Woods – Grind Writers at Van Dusen (photo)
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Are you ready to (gulp) READ your work in public?
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How does writing affect your BRAIN?
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Submit. (you know you want to)
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Common mistakes that bounce a short story out of a contest faster than you can say “Show-don’t-tell.”
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Landmark literary decision – for self-pubbed authors
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Writing retreats & conferences in BC this summer
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Free-write picture prompt: C’mon, just do it!
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Summer Dreams – Trout Lake. We need volunteers.
2013 meetings schedule 10am til 12:30pm Grind Gallery Café 4124 Main Street at King Edward Ave. In the back room Thanks to Mr & Mrs Kim, the Grind owners, for allowing us meet in their Back Room for the last six years - and for their support of the arts in general – they provide gallery space to many local artists. Please buy something while you’re there to support the Grind
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Dec 15? – to be decided
“One thin dime, one tenth of a dollah“ for every typo or blooper you find. Enjoy yourself.
blog roll Worth a look: 20 things to think twice about before including them on your blog – here.
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autonomous
Grind Writer self-publishes
Hitching with Dog bC BOOKS
is a period piece, set in 1970. A teenage boy drops out to join the hippie subculture. A back-to-the-land movement is underway in BC. The teen, along with a canine companion, join a hippie commune in the Cariboo.
Where to get an ISBN # for your self-published book
Across the border the United States, America is engaged in the Vietnam War. Protesters to the American military draft cross the American/Canadian border with help of welcoming Canadians. An underground network of support exists at hippie houses in Vancouver and rural country communes through out the province.
From: Ernest Shergold Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 9:40 AM To: Margo Subject: isbn # from collections canada.
Hay Margo, http://blog.karenwoodward.org/2011/07/how -to-get-free-canadian-isbn-number.html
The youth and his canine companion become directly involved. After a shootout in Oakland, CA, a core member of the Black Panthers is hiding out at the Cariboo country commune. A phone call to a girlfriend in Oakland brings unwanted attention. But a forest fire in the mountains surrounding Lytton delay the authorities from getting to the commune. The youth and the Black Panther make a run for a hideout in Fountain Valley, home to the Xaxlip First Nations people.
a person has to become a publisher first with collections canada. to copyright a publication the cost is $50.00 all steps are available on line.... lulu.com - for free e-book hosting... peace …… ernie
Elen asks for our help -----Original Message----From: elen@ihath.com Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 11:07 AM Subject: New Novel :: Graffiti Hack
Here is a link where you can find a 10 minute video reading of an excerpt from the novel: http://ihath.com/?p=1417
Hello Margo, Thank you for all the valuable information you send to us every month.
I thought you might distribute this to your list. I would appreciate hearing feedback from members of Grind Writers. Also if anybody has a useful tip on how to get it published, that would be swell.
Recently, I finished writing a novel titled Graffiti Hack and I am sending out to publishing houses.
Best Regards, … Elen Ghulam www.ihath.com 3
3 DAYS OF WRITING IMMERSION! Friday October 25 to Sun October 27, 2013 The workshops schedule is posted. See who the presenters & what the workshop topics are: http://networkedblogs.com/LLsKA (listed by day) Master Class schedule: http://networkedblogs.com/LLsKA
Conference schedule overview The Conference starts on Friday October 25 and ends on Sunday October 27. Master Classes are scheduled for Thursday October 24, please see the Master Class schedule Each day: Registration
Opening session with keynote speech
Pitch Session appointments
Blue Pencil Cafe appointments
Trade Show
Friday: Friday Workshops Lunch (Full conference passes and day passes) Evening Banquet (Full conference passes) with Keynote speech and award presentations. Costumes optional. Friday Night Owl event
Saturday: Saturday Workshops Mystery presenter lunch (Full conference passes and day passes) Book Fair Evening Banquet (Full conference passes) with Keynote speech and Gala. Formal dress optional. Saturday Night Owl event Sunday: Sunday Workshops Lunch (Full conference passes and day passes) with Keynote speech and Silly Writing Contest Winners announced
Don’t feel discouraged: keep at it -- here’s why 50 Iconic Writers Who Were Repeatedly Rejected 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
J.K. Rowling: J.K. Rowling submitted Harry Potter to 12 publishing houses, all of which rejected it. James Joyce: James Joyce's Ulysses was judged obscene and rejected by several publishers. Agatha Christie: Agatha Christie had to wait four years for her first book to be published. Isaac Asimov: Several of Asimov's stories were rejected, never sold, or eventually lost. John le Carre: John le Carre's first novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, was passed along because le Carre 'hasn't got any future'. 6. William Saroyan: William Saroyan received a 7 000 rejection slips before selling his first short story. 7. Jack Kerouac: Some of Kerouac's work was rejected as pornographic. 8. Kenneth Grahame: The Wind in the Willows was not intended to be published, and was rejected in America before appearing in England. 4
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Words in the woods Britannia Branch Library 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver 2nd Wednesday of the month 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Grind Writers writing at Van Dusen Gardens
Bring your favourite passages, points of interest, and share your reading experiences. Drop-ins are welcome. Schedule and books: July 10 - Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami Aug 14 - A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel Sept 11 - My Antonia by Willa Cather Oct 9 - Clouded Leopard by Wade Davis Nov 13th - Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky Dec 11 - Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill Jan 8, 2014 - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind Feb 12 – Books We Love - Book Recommendation Night March 12 - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Presented by Pandora’s Collective Hosts: Mary Duffy and Sita Carboni / More info here.
July call for readers for TWS* Reading Series: At the Cottage Bistro at 4470 Main Street from 8–10 pm (other months may be at other venues—check). • Thurs July 4 Sat Aug 24 Thurs Sept 5 If you are interested in reading, please email twsread@sfu.ca with a 50 word bio (no longer!) and some additional information: Your name Last time you read at TWS Reading Series Are you a TWS alum? and if so what year? Genre to be read *The Writer’s Studio at SFU downtown Harbourside campus. l to r: Dawn, Wayne , Joan, Rosemary
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Infographic: How does
new literary magazine out of sacramento
writing affect your brain?
“We want to do it without all of the pretension and attitude that seems to be so pervasive in the literary world. The Gap-Toothed Madness is an independent lit mag out of Sacramento, CA.We want to publish a magazine of the best literature and art we can get our hands on. We want you to be a part of it.
Click on the picture or see it all here:
Any previously unpublished poetry, short fiction, essays, ramblings, photography, art of all kinds, and whatever else, is welcome for consideration.
http://dailyinfographic.com/how-doeswriting-affect-your-brain-infographic
Even if you have never submitted your work anywhere before, especially if you have never submitted your work anywhere before.”
“Grammar cops are rarely good writers. Imagination always
They take simultaneous submissions too.
disobeys.”
Read the guidelines first: http://www.gaptoothedmadness.com/submit
Sherman Alexie vs. Grammar Cops LITERARY MAGAZINES
Novelist Sherman Alexie took a crack at "grammar cops" on Twitter, spawning
LISTINGS FOR EVERY TYPE OF LITERARY MAGAZINE
hundreds of responses. See if you agree – read them here.
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Vallum Test your limits : submit a maximum of 3 poems of up to 60 lines per poem.E ntry Fee: $20 per submission (includes a 1-year subscription to Vallum) 1st Prize: $750 2nd Prize: $250 + publication in Vallum). Mail to: Vallum Poetry Contest PO BOX 598, Victoria Station Montreal, QC. H3Z 2Y6 Canada. Or enter online: http://vallummag.com/contestrules.html editors@vallummag.com (queries only)
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Submit.
Call for submissions 2013 Constance Rooke Creative Nonfiction Prize Deadline: August 1, 2013 (postmarked or emailed) Prize: $1000 CAD Entry fee: $35 CAD for Canadians $40 USD for US residents $45 USD for entries from elsehwere Enter a piece of creative nonfiction (literary journalism, memoir, personal essay, narrative nonfiction, social commentary, travel writing, historical accounts, biography, etc.) between 2000 and 3000 words in length. Full guidelines on our website
you kno w yo u want to
Contests and calls for submissions Contests 2014 Ken Konsky Novella Contest Opened May 1st and runs til August 1st Read the complete guidelines: http://www.quattrobooks.ca/submissions/ Quattro Books will publish the best novella manuscript by a Canadian author as part of their 2014 publishing list. The contest is open to Canadian writers who reside in Canada. Novella manuscript should not less than 20 000 words or more than 40,000 words. 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.)
Call for submissions Deadline: October 1 The Chattahoochee Review: Animals. Inventive or classic variations of the “animal” theme welcome. Send relevant fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Please note call for submissions in cover letter. Online submissions now available: at: http://thechattahoocheereview.gpc.edu Call for submissions No deadline as at Jan 2013. Two-Countries: Daughters and Sons of Immigrant Parents seeks poems, essays and flash memoir. For details, please go to this link.
Calls for submissions listed by deadline date
Ongoing calls
Call for submissions Roundup of poetry contests here.
Ongoing call Dead Beats The Beats are dead; long live Dead Beats - focused on bringing you the highest quality literature from talented unpublished writers. We are happy to receive submissions from everyone, regardless of experience, of poems, short stories (max. 2000 words), experimental pieces and reviews, the best of which we will publish on the site. If you would like to submit some of your work please send it in the body of an email to: deadbeats@live.co.uk. We aim to reply to all emails, though this may take some time given the number of submissions we receive. http://www.deadbeats.eu/submission
Call for submissions Literary Review of Canada (LRC) Submissions beginning May 1st for publication July/Aug–Dec 2013 For 2013, each issue will feature poems that share a common form or theme. For more information, check out our full submissions guidelines here. Call for submissions Deadline: July 15 Wising Up Press/Universal Table Seeks submissions for a Wising Up anthology, I-THOU IN AN UPDOWN WORLD: Lasting Friendships Across Deep Divides. Poetry, fiction, memoir and creative nonfiction on the theme of maintaining genuine friendship across deep difference and/or disparity. Full description and guidelines here.
Ongoing call Are you over 60? - Wit and Wisdom of the Sages Have insightful stories you’d like to share with your grandchildren? Great Depression/ WW2/ Vietnam era? Seeking narratives up to 3,500 words. Send manuscripts, or for guidelines email jnjscher@yahoo.com.
Call for submissions Deadline: July 15 7
Submit …
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Thanks to Bonnie Nish’s Pandora’s Collective enewsletter for many items. You can subscribe to her newsletter by emailing her:
Ongoing call Geist Emerging Writer-of-the-Month Emerging writers are invited to submit short written works online. Read FAQ.
blnish_pandoras@yahoo.ca
Ongoing call Subterranean Blue Poetry Subterranean Blue Poetry is an Internet Poetry and Art Publishing Café. We thrive on new original words and New Age art. All poets and their poetry are welcome and we are especially looking for homegrown poets from the Canadian first nations/American Indian Community; Quebec; small town Canada; international poets and anyone who was ever considered “the other.” New Age art offerings are for the masthead of each issue. Read all info here.
Ongoing call for submissions 1966 - An online journal of creative nonfiction, seeks pieces of literary nonfiction with a research component—anything from immersion memoir to nature writing to reportage to travel writing to—? For submission guidelines: www.1966journal.org. Ongoing call Anderbo.com -- “Best New Online Literary Journal” -- publishes writers in fiction, “fact” (creative nonfiction), and poetry. We’re always looking for new voices. We’ll also consider nonfiction features, short memoirs, novellas, published-book excerpts, photography, essays, and photo essays. Now in our 9th year! For submission information and guidelines, visit www.anderbo.com.
Ongoing call The Quotable This online magazine wants writer-readers to submit stories based on their monthly prompts. Info here.
Ongoing call Changes in Life A monthly online newsletter is seeking personal essays from women of all ages. New writers are encouraged to submit their work. For details and submission guidelines, see www.changesinlife.com.
Regime magazine - Short stories, poetry & performance writing. Not only do they want your work but they offer that you can tack $20 on your submission and they’ll send you back a detailed one-page critique. Note: do your due diligence. Read it all carefully. Full submission info here. Calling all poets! Coastal Spectator A new arts-based review and commentary site operating independently out of the U. Vic. We want to publish, on our home site, one new poem each week for a year, so if you have a new piece of work -- that is a haiku or up to 25 lines long -- do submit. We can pay $25 for each poem published, and once its week on the site is over, it will be placed in a poetry archive onsite. We see it as a new way to introduce new or pending books of Canadian poetry. By "new" we mean book published in 2012. If you've just signed a poetry deal, then this is a good way to let the world know. Read all about it here.
Ongoing call The Holler Box Rolling submissions year-round. All submissions are completely free. You may submit in multiple genres. If so, send a separate submission per genre. If your submission does not get accepted you may continue to submit, we encourage it. Please wait at least 30 days before submitting something new. Read the guidelines: https://thehollerbox.submittable.com/submit Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered. Ongoing call The Evening Street Review The ESR is centered on the belief that all men and women are created equal. Reads poetry/prose submissions year-round. Replies in 3 months or less. Sometimes includes comments. Send 4–6 poems or 1–2 prose pieces. 7652 Sawmill Rd., #352, Dublin, OH 43016 or editor@eveningstreetpress.com. For contests and guidelines visit: www.eveningstreetpress.com. Ongoing call “Got a poem?” Submit any subject, any style, any length, any number, any time by e-mail or by mail with SASE. Previously published poems and simultaneous submissions are welcome. The Great American Poetry Show, P.O. Box 69506, West Hollywood, CA 90069. Email: info@tgaps.net. Website: www.tgaps.net (Caveat emptor – check it out)
Ongoing call Multimedia journal: 5OVER4 5 OVER 4. New multimedia journal seeks cross-genre work made by jazzy, creative people who embrace the unknown. Poetry videos, multi-media sculpture, hand-stitched book art, JPEGs collaged with audio, sound poems via video chat, interactive projects. Live and online events. Web: 5over4.blogspot.com. Email Monique Avakian: monava9@gmail.com
Common mistakes that bounce a short story out of a contest faster than you can say “Show-don’t-tell.” Story – and the list – here. 8
Good news: landmark literary decision
3rd Annual Geist Erasure Poetry Contest Deadline August 31, 2013. Read the guidelines
professional writing and publishing, and of protecting the standards of professionalism for authorship.
The Writers' Union of Canada Votes to Admit Self-Published Authors
“In an increasingly fractured literary landscape, others in our sector are looking to TWUC to define what it means to be a professional book author," Simonds continues. "If this resolution is approved by the general membership, we hope that granting agencies, festivals, residencies and other support programs for writers will follow TWUC’s lead and expand their own definitions to welcome what is becoming an increasingly important practice among professional writers.”
Referendum on membership criteria to be held For immediate release Ottawa, June 1, 2013 – In a unanimous vote, members of The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) attending their 40th Anniversary annual general meeting today approved a resolution opening membership in the Union to professional, self-published authors. The resolution will be presented to the entire TWUC membership (over 2000 Canadian book authors) in a referendum and will come into force with a two-thirds majority.
The Writers' Union of Canada held its inaugural AGM in Ottawa in 1973, with such iconic Canadian writers as Margaret Laurence, Marian Engel and Graeme Gibson as founding members. Interestingly, Mr. Gibson was present for today’s discussion and was the enthusiastic seconder of the self-publishing resolution, moved by Ottawa writer, Eric Enno Tam. -30-
“This is a landmark decision,” said a delighted Merilyn Simonds, Chair of TWUC, “one that addresses our sincere desire for inclusion and innovation, while maintaining our tradition of defining and upholding professional standards for writers in Canada.”
The Writers’ Union of Canada is our country’s national organization representing more than 2,000 professional authors of books. Celebrating 40 years in 2013, the Union is dedicated to fostering writing in Canada, and promoting the rights, freedoms, and economic well-being of all writers. www.writersunion.ca
The resolution allows for self-published books as professional credit toward membership, as long as three important criteria are met. Self-published books presented by authors applying to join the Union must contain an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), must demonstrate commercial intent, and must be peer reviewed before being forwarded to the membership committee of the Union for approval based on existing criteria. During a long and detailed afternoon of discussion, TWUC members spoke both to the importance of recognizing shifting realities in the world of
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Writing retreats & conferences R this summer in BC & beyond Kaslo, BC
Intro to Writing Fiction and Poetry - Facilitators: Kimmy Beach & John Gould Fiction Workshop - Facilitator: Helen Humphreys Fiction Colloquium - Facilitator: Lawrence Hill Poetry Workshop - Facilitator: Priscila Uppal Summer Poetry Colloquium - Facilitator: Ken Babstock Non-Fiction Workshop - Facilitator: Denise Chong Application Deadline: May 10, 2013 Apply online at www.sagehillwriting.ca/adults/registration
July 11-14 with Holley Rubinsky For writers with a good start on a project who appreciate motivation, feedback and some semblance of a schedule. Look forward to good food, good company and thousands of words. Maximum 5. Mystery Camp! with Deryn Collier July 29-Aug. 2. Tons of fun for writers working on a mystery or fictions writers needing to know more about building suspense. Maximum 6. Contact Holley Rubinsky (holley@telusplanet.net) More info: http://www.holleyrubinsky.com
Rural Writers in Residence September 26–29 Outside Smithers, BC Registration has begun for the 2013 Rural Writers in Residence. Considering the success of last year’s event, we expect this year’s to fill up quickly, so be sure to register before the July 1st early registration deadline. Registration fee includes all meals, workshops, and events. Prices as follows (please note discounted rates for Federation of BC Writers members): Early registration (ending July 1): $325 Full registration (after July 1): $375 FBCW members’ rate: $275 early registration; $350 full registration. This year again the Banner Mountain Lodge will be our venue! Our presenters this year are Eden Robinson, Laura Robinson and Daniela Elza. For more information about these three writers, please see Retreat Details page. To register or get more info: Registration page
Sage Hill Summer Writing Experience 2013 July 22 – Aug. 1 Lumsden, Saskatchewan This is a 10-day session for writers at three basic levels of proficiency in a variety of genres. * The Introduction to Fiction & Poetry is for novice writers consisting of daily workshops and individual meetings in both genres. At Sage Hill, the workshops are primarily group sessions coupled with individual meetings for writers at intermediate stages in their career. * The Colloquia, a series of focused one-on-one sessions, is for writers who are well advanced (often with full manuscripts in development) with occasional group sessions to discuss markets, theory and craft. The summer program is augmented by public readings by all faculty and the Kroetsch Keynote address delivered by an important literary figure.
REJECTED WRITERS
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10. Ursula K. Le Guin: An editor told Ursula K. Le Guin that The Left Hand of Darkness was 'endlessly complicated'. 11. Pearl S. Buck: Pearl Buck's first novel, East Wind: West Wind received rejections from all but one publisher in New York. 12. Isaac Bashevis Singer: Before winning the Nobel Prize, Isaac Bashevis Singer was rejected by publishers. 13. Marcel Proust: Marcel Proust was rejected so much he decided to selfpublish. 14. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen: Chicken Soup for the Soul received 134 rejections. 15. William Faulkner: William Faulkner's book, Sanctuary, was called unpublishable. 16. Patrick Dennis: Auntie Mame got 17 rejections. 17. Meg Cabot: The bestselling author of The Princess Diaries keeps a mail
9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
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Richard Bach: 18 publishers thought a book about a seagull was ridiculous before Jonathan Livingston Seagull was picked up. Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit had to be published by Potter herself. John Grisham: John Grisham's A Time to Kill was rejected by 16 publishers before finding an agent who eventually rejected him as well. Judy Blume: Judy Blum received nothing but rejections for two years and can't look at Highlights without wincing. Stephen King: Stephen King filed away his first full length novel The Long Walk after it was rejected. Richard Adams: Richard Adams's two daughters encouraged him to publish Watership Down as a book, but 13 publishers didn't agree. Margaret Mitchell: Gone With the Wind was rejected 38 times.
bag of rejection letters. 10
See the rest at the link.
free-write photo prompt:
photo/ Margo Lamont
Your character is aboard. What happens next?
Free-writes:
1 easy rule
Write what comes to mind when you look at the photo: what does it evoke for you?
Don’t think – just start writing. Write for 15 minutes by a timer. Don’t stop. Don’t go back (you can edit later. Just see where it goes .... Bring your output to the next Grind Writers. 11
It’s coming in August. At Trout Lake.
Please email me if you’d like to volunteer at a Grind Writers’ table. Noon to 5 pm
The Grind Writers News ©2013
Margo Lamont
e: margolamont@gmail.com b: http://wildsynapticleaps.blogspot.com/ previous issues: http://issuu.com/grindwriters/docs
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