GRIND WRITERS NEWS - AUG 2014 by GRIND WRITERS **

News

Grind Writers

August 2014

SIDE “Writing is the first antidepressant. It came before Prozac or Effexor. And it was cheaper. All you needed was a blank piece of paper and a pencil, as my father used to say. If you were lucky, you might even make some dough But even if you didn’t, you were doing something godlike—emblazoning words of fire on a tablet of stone and handing them to Moses, any Moses. So what if there were a lot of ‘shall nots’? Interestingly enough, just writing ‘shalt not’ cheered you up.” –Erica Jong in Seducing the Demon

Joan Boxall’s new blog literary events on the North Shore, about cycling and kayaking and all good things outdoors, her travels, and the environment.

Writing – the first antidepressant

Liar, liar pants on fire?—memoir

BC Writers Autonomous Fan Region

New memoir Meetup® group starts in Kits

Tarot for Poets & Storytellers-workshop

Literary agent blogs & other marvels

Sebastian will be swashbuckling; Y’s author reading; Sunshine Coast literary festival

Could you write smu—er, adult fiction?

Platform platform platform

Free online course, on relationships

Contest for indie-published books

10 reasons why that other writer always seems to get ahead

The CAA’s new mag

Places to go, things to do, people to….

Submit. (You know you want to.) Contests and calls for submissions

She writes about

11 12

Grind Writers – where we meet, when, but not why The free-write photo prompt: just try it!

Memoir: to lie or not to lie? Is your truth “the” truth? Change the names to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent? Write while main players are still alive? Decisions, decisions Several people in our group are grappling with how to write family memoir, how to tell stories without infringing on family members’ sensibilities or privacy, yet keeping the integrity of the memories and the events. A tricky balance. Beth sent a link to this trailer of an NFB doc, Stories We Tell - “a 2012 Canadian documentary film written and directed by Sarah Polley….The film explores her family's secrets—including one intimately related to Polley's own identity.” (Wikipedia)

Getting to the roots of things in your memoir

“What a brilliant film! It's a wonderful tribute to Diana Polley and a raw portrayal of the reality of mixed families and the impact that has on children, families and friends. The film captures the zeitgeist of the ’70s in terms of family dynamics and mixed familyhood. It is both poignant and funny, intriguing and simple at the same time. I have two favourite moments but not to provide a spoiler, the second is the silent responses. I knew this family as a child and went to school with two of the siblings so it has been particularly fascinating to see more intimate details of their lives and experiences at that time; it completes the snippets of awareness that I had. Really well done and thoroughly enjoyable!”

This Meetup group “Vancouver Family Constellation” might be of interest. They meet the 1st Thursday of every month in Kits. First meeting August 14.

From the group founder: “This is a group for anyone interested in personal growth and healing by exploring hidden systemic issues. Family constellation is a technique developed by German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger. It is a powerful way of connecting one with one's roots, ancestors, community and the "knowing field." I start this group because I want to create a local community and raise interest for constellation here in Vancouver. We will meet once a month to experience constellation starting with some simple exercise. Everyone belongs.”

What more ancient and mysterious writing, abundant with symbolism and hidden meanings, than the Tarot? Somerset Maugham said: “There are three rules for writing novels. Unfortunately nobody knows what they are.” What are the chances that’s also true for memoir? Yes, yes, he did start a sentence with “There is.” 3

Literary agent blogs and other marvels 

Agent in the Middle – Lori Perkins – sci-fi, erotica, pop culture. “An RT-awardwinning literary agent with 20 years experience in numerous genres opens up about her experience and adventures in publishing and the world beyond it.http://agentinthemiddle.blogspot.ca/

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Writers Write http://www.writerswrite.com/ - “’Your onestop resource for information about books, publishers, and writing.”

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You Can Write – “The online reality check for nonfiction writing” - http://youcanwrite.com/

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Writers Weekly – www.writersweekly.com: “The highest circulation freeance ezinne in the world.” My notes say “most current paying markets; dedicated to teaching writers how to make more money writing.”

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Agent Query - “The internet's largest free database of literary agents” – www.agentquery.com

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Bookends Literary Agency – It’s concluded but archives still available: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.ca/

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Writers’ Free Reference - http://writers-freereference.com/ - updated list of agents and their email addresses.

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Mystery Readers International http://www.mysteryreaders.org/

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Sisters in Crime – http://sisters-in-crimesinc.blogspot.ca/

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The Critters Workshop – sci-fi, fantasy & horror – www.critters.org

The Evil Editor - http://evileditor.blogspot.ca/ “Why you don’t get published.” For “Authors with books that they feel are ready for publication prepare query letters (or synopses), which they plan to send to publishers or literary agents.” You submit, EE critiques.

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Funds for Writers www.fundsforwriters.com

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The Rejector - http://rejecter.blogspot.ca/ - “I am an assistant at a literary agency. I am the first line of defense for my boss. On average, I reject 95% of the letters immediately and put the other 5% in the "maybe" pile. Here, I'll talk about my work..”

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Agent Obvious http://agentobvious.livejournal.com/

I found these in a notebook – I think they may have come from Martin Crosbie’s mini-workshop on selfpublishing @ the Grind Writers a while back: 

3AM Magazine: “Whatever it is, we’re against it.” http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/

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Nathan Bransford http://blog.nathanbransford.com/ - author of How to Write a Novel.

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1001 Ways to Market Your Book: http://www.bookmarket.com/1001ways. htm

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Publisher’s Lunch: “The pubishing industry’s daily essential read” http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/

Miss Snark’s archives http://misssnark.blogspot.ca/ - “Where Miss Snark vented her wrath on the hapless world of writers and crushed them to sand beneath her T.Rexual heels of stiletto snark. The blog is dark.”

autonomous August 14-17 Celebrating its 32nd year in 2014, the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts is Canada’s longest-running literary festival, with the mandate to present Canadian writers. The festival brings established and emerging writers from throughout BC and across Canada to Sechelt every summer along with thousands of enthusiastic readers. The 2014 lineup includes Steven Galloway, Miriam Toews, Richard Wagamese, Kathryn Para, Andrea Routley, Kim Thuy, Bob Bossin, Audrey Thomas, Heather O'Neill, Brendan McLeod, Zaccheus Jackson and Jillian Christmas

Local author reading BC BOOKS at Y’s Books

Y’s Books author reading Sunday August 10 2 pm – Free Vancouver author Susan K Forest reads from her new kids’ book The Indigo Queen. RSVP soon— seating is limited) to: http://eepurl.com/XSBz9. Y'S Books, 4307 Main Street at 27th, Vancouver. More info: ysbookstore.blogspot.ca.

Sebastien swashbuckles downtown

Secret Cove on the Sunshine Coast. BC photo: Margo Lamont

Thursday Sept. 4 7 pm – Free Fantasy author Sebastien de Castell will read from his swashbuckling adventure novel Traitor's Blade and gives a talk on the use of swordplay in fantasy and historical literature. In the Peter Kaye room, lower level, downtown Central Library, 350 W. Georgia St. More info: at vpl.ca. 5

d t e w a n

Could you write smu—er, adult fiction? Erotic Kindle pubishing startup looking for 5-10 ghost writers Sample titles: Dirty Girls - Naughty Resort Breaking Jessica’s Rules

p r o s e p l e r

(although these might not work for the Kindle erotica)

The 5 Ways Every Story Should Begin

posting:

Creative Writer / Ghostwriter Epic Dreams Publishing - Toronto, ON

p u

And just to get your creative juices flowing

A Canadian Kindle publishing startup is looking for 5-10 creative writers to produce the next best selling kindle books. Previous experience is required, pay for writers are either flat rate per word, or variable based on a percentage of royalties. Applicants must not already be formally represented by any other publishing company or management firm. Experience includes, but not limited too: 1. Complete grasp of the English language 2. Creative adult writing 3. Script writing or Play writing 4. Formulation of contemporary fiction Possibility for authors to submit pre-written content to receive compensation. Email Applications without example content will not be reviewed; thank you for your interest.

Applications submitted (no pun intended) here.

This blogger, Jackson Dean Chase, describes himself thus: “Author of Dark, Edgy YA Fiction and Nonfiction Writer Resources. I post daily on writing, marketing, and publishing. I also provide inspiration, advice, and positive thinking tools for writers and fans. Sometimes, I post about other things I find interesting such as books, movies, and TV shows.” Here are some of his other blog topics:  Writer’s Block: Defeating the Enemy Within  Letting Go of Perfectionism  21 Ways to Create Alien, Dystopian & Fantasy Worlds  How to Write Female Characters (companion piece on writing male characters imminent)  The Magic of Story  4 rules of Marketing for Writers  How to write Anti-heroes and Villains

as always - caveat emptor

freekindledays.com

 The Plot Skeleton  Beyond heroes, Beyond Villains: Populating the Writer’s World

platform platform platform Easy. Yes, that’s what we want to hear. And not a horrendously nonwriting, timeconsuming, soulflattening, logon/passwordinfested netherworld: “3 Easy Ways to Build Your Platform” 6

CONTEST FOR INDIE-PUBLISHED BOOKS

10 Reasons Why that

get ahead

other writer

always seems to

“

Deadline: Midnight on October 1

Ever wonder why some writers seem to do so well with their careers while yours is just sort of hanging steady?

“It must be luck,” you tell yourself – and anyone who will listen. “That person isn’t as talented, he was only at the right place at the right time.” “Before you get jealous and start writing off that other writer’s success as luck, think about why he did so well. Hard work and dedication pay off, complaining doesn’t. There are plenty of good reasons some freelance writers are doing better than you, and it probably has nothing to do with luck.”

No, it’s

Shelf Unbound Competition for Best Independently Published Book is currently accepting entries. ‘Independently Published’ books include self-published books (such as those published through CreateSpace, Lulu.com, iUniverse, etc.) and/or books published through small presses releasing less than 5 titles per year. There is no limit to the number of books an individual can enter, though each book requires a separate entry fee. Scour the guidelines!

not ‘luck’

The ten reasons are real, fair, and well-explained. Read the rest of this article at FWJ (Freelance Writing Jobs).

A FREE ONLINE COURSE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS Starts Sept. 1 and runs for 14 weeks The Fiction of Relationship is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) being conducted by Brown University. The course seeks to explore relationships and literature through readings of ten great works of narrative fiction from the 18th to the 20th century.

The Canadian Authors’ Association has launched a magazine. Click on it to read the inaugural issue.

Course Syllabus 

Abbé Prévost, Manon Lescaut (1731)

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Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847)

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Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street (1853) and Benito Cereno (1855)

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Franz Kafka, “The Metamorphosis” (1915) and “A Country Doctor” (1919) Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (1927)

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William Faulkner, Light in August (1932)

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Jorge Luis Borges, Ficciones (1956)

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Tarjei Vesaas, The Ice Palace (1967)

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Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)

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J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace (1999)

Places to go Things to do People to see

Sundays

photo: Margo Lamont

POETIC JUSTICE 3-5pm Sunday afternoons in the Back Room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., one block west o the Columbia Sky Train Station, New Westminster From Franci Louann, PJ Coordinator: “For a good time,” visit www.poeticjustice.ca to see what we’ve got planned for Sunday afternoons in New Westminster. Come early to the Heritage Grill for lunch with music, usually jazz. Excellent breakfasts are served till 3 pm. Franci Louann, Coordinator for Poetic Justice flouann@telus.net

Wednesdays PANDORA’S BOOK CLUB 2nd Wednesday of the month 6:30–8:30 pm - Britannia Branch Library 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver Bring your favourite passages, points of interest, and share your reading experiences. Drop-ins are welcome. Presented by Pandora’s Collective. Hosts: Mary Duffy & Sita Carboni. More info here.

Twisted Poets Literary Salon 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday of every month at The Cottage Bistro 4468 Main Street, Vancouver More info

poets

Wor I

play W

presented by the Royal Canadian Literary Arts Society

Free Monthly poetry-generating drop-in

Next meeting August 7 Prompts provided Not a critique group: “Let’s have some fun!” B.Y.O..T. (bring your own tools) in the Back Room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St. More info from: secretary@rclas.com

Submit. (you know you want to)

Contests and calls for submissions Roundup of poetry contests here

Contests by deadline date August 31-Sept 1 weekend International 3-Day Novel Contest takes place over the North American Labour Day long weekend. The competition has been running since 1977. Participants pre-register and then commit to writing a complete novel is 3 days. The winning novel will be published. Deadline: August 15 Bombay Gin is the literary journal of The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, co-founded by Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman at Naropa University in Colorado. Submissions are currently being accepted for the journal’s 41st issue.

Deadline: August 30 Short Story Contest

Climate Change Theme No entry fee Though the contest is global, we really hope to highlight Vancouver writers and their stories. Winners receive $100 USD in the form of a Paypal payment or Amazon gift card. This contest is being hosted by Cli-Fi Books, which archives and features climate change themed books, short stories, and prose. The contest is also allied with 100,000 Poets for Change, an annual event that thousands of artists and authors, from all over the world, participate in each year. Winner announced by Sept. 27. More info and the rules are here: Story submission form here:

prolific poet CAD, editor, professor, life member of the League of Canadian Poets, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Judge: George Bowering Sponsored by the Royal City Literary Arts Society. Details available here

Ongoing submissions Sassafras Literary Magazine We will frown or smile upon your piece, and reply within 1 week (2 weeks max) with a muffin or a tumbleweed. Multiple submissions are allowed, but single submissions are preferred. All things minimalistic and mind-slicing wanted. The occasional selfless snark and sneer accepted. True wit appreciated, along with foldable grit, pocket-size memoir moments and frame by frame congeniality. Perspective: any—as long as artfully executed and self reflecting; avoid sending ego balloons and unintended mirroring. Mirrors and led wanted. Gates, doors, and attics most appreciated. THERE’S MORE— READ SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE “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).

£10,000 PRIZE! Deadline: August 29 for both competitions Manchester Fiction Prize is a major international literary competition open to anyone aged 16 or over. The winner receives a cash prize of £10,000. Stories can be up to 2500 words in length. The organisers also offer a Manchester Poetry Prize.

Deadline: postmarked Oct. 1, 2014 First Inaugural Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry st nd Cash Awards: 1 : $500. 2 : $250 Fred Cogswell (1917-2004) was a

The Quotable This online magazine wants writerreaders to submit stories based on their monthly prompts. Info here. continued next page 9

Submit.

(why not.)

cul 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.co m/submit. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered. Geist Emerging Writer-of-theMonth Emerging writers are invited to submit short written works online. Read the FAQ. 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

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. Anderbo.com -- “Best New Online Literary Journal.” Publishes writers in fiction, 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. 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. Signature Editions - they only publish Canadian writers: What we do and don't publish: Look through the titles on our website and you'll get a pretty good idea of the kinds of books we're interested in. Where to send your manuscript: We do not accept submissions by fax or e-mail, and do not discuss concepts over the phone. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama - check website for submission guidelines. R 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 piece. 7652 Sawmill Rd., #352, Dublin, OH 43016 or editor@eveningstreetpress.com. For contests and guidelines visit: www.eveningstreetpress.com. 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. 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 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. Read all about it here. Multimedia journal: 5 OVER 4. New multimedia journal seeks cross-genre work made by jazzy, creative people who embrace the unknown. Poetry videos, multi-media sculpture, handstitched 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@gmaom

continued next page

subTerrain Magazine is based in Vancouver and is published three times a year. Submissions for its winter issue closes on September 1.

Theme: ‘Meat’ 10

Submit.

(you want to, don’t you?)

Yes, tha Pithead Chapel “An online journal of gutsy narratives” We’re looking for engaging stories told in honest voices. Most of all, we want to feel something. We want to reach the last word and immediately crave more. We want your work to leave a brilliant bruise. Send us your gutsiest narrative and we’ll do our best to get your voice heard. Submission guidelines here. 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.

Aerogram Writers’ Studio: this site has over 90 competitions, publication opportunities, fellowships & more. Click on the pic to go to the webite.

PLACES FOR WRITERS

LISTINGS FOR LITERARY MAGAZINES OF EVERY TYPE, EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE: Ctrl+Click me Interesting resources.

For example: “Places to Publish: Can Lit” and “Publishers – Canada.” Plus continuous updates about who’s looking for what. If you have a piece to place, this might be a good place to start the hunt.

Grind Writers Group 2014 Meeting Schedule

Sat

Aug 9

Sun

Aug 24

Sat

Sept 6

Sun

Sept 21

Nobody knows.

Sat

Oct 4

HOW WE MEET

Sun

Oct 19

Sat

Nov 1

They’ve kindly let us meet in the Back Room for the last 7 years. And cudos to them for their support of the arts in general. The Grind provides gallery space to many local artists.

Sun

Nov 16

Sat

Nov 29

Appreciate if you buy something while you’re there to support the Grind and their support of us

Sun

Dec 14

WHERE WE MEET The Grind Gallery Café - 4124 Main Street at 25th Ave. In the back room 10 am–12:30 pm WHY WE MEET THANKS to Mr & Mrs Kim, the Grind’s owners.

Please email before you attend the first time. We occasionally meet outside. 11

free-write photo prompt Set the timer. Don’t think it. Just start writing.. Keep going. No stopping. No editing (that comes later). Forget grammar. Forget spelling. Forget any “rules” you’ve ever been told

Look at this image and write about power, write about fear,

Forget everything else and just write.

write about cowering before Nature, about survival, about

15 minutes by the timer.

triumph, about humility, about respect.