January 2015
bubbling into a new year
not necessarily in this order
BC writers autonomous fan region pg 4 Canada’s Lavender Ceiling (Yes, Virginia) pg 5 Stuff to Know About–Stuff
pg 6
Review Urban Fantasy and get free review copies pg 6 One Year of Writing and Healing pg 6 What’s lost as handwriting fades ? Maybe a lot of ideas. Things to do, places to go…. Royal City Writing pg 7
Writing by the Light of the Moon pg 8
Submit. (You know you want to.) pgs 9-10 Grind Writers: where we meet, when, but not necessarily why pg 11 The free-write photo prompt. Just say yes! pg 12
Seven words you need to stop capitalizing. Please. In college, I Majored in Political Science and Minored in Religious Studies. If you think that is okay, read the piece. Copyright ‘70s style. Me, too.
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She said it 35 years ago. It was true then. It’s still true.
“If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it,” pioneering anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote in the 1979 volume Some Personal Views,
“one should remain within the cloistered walls of the university & laboratory until one gets a better grasp of one’s subject matter.” Amen, sister.
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au/to/no/mous Tuesdays Burnaby Writers' Society/Spoken INK 8:00 PM -- 3rd Tuesday of the Month @ La Fontana Caffe 101-3701 East Hastings Burnaby BC
BC BOOKS
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. And see page 5.
Vancouver journalist, writer, and broadcaster Gloria J. Chang has launched a new editing + content strategy service. Editors Ink.
Twisted Poets Literary Salon 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday of every month at The Cottage Bistro 4468 Main Street, Vancouver More info
Editing + content strategy helps writers and authors with books, short stories and essays, and professionals, small businesses, non-profits,
Creative Expressions Art Nights
corporations, and government agencies build
7–9pm In 2015 starting on Jan 14 Rising Star Housing Co-op Common Room, 1556 East 5th Ave., Vancouver A free, inclusive event open to all artistic skill levels, ages, and demographics, however event participants must identify as having either a mental health and/or addictions issue. A celebration of meeting and making to share your passion for craft, art, and design with your community. Drop in any time, bring anyone, and any creative endeavour you are working on, or come and just check out what everyone else is up to. Attendees will have a chance to partake in hands-on crafting activities. A free event, although please RSVP to attend. (Ed note. You may need to join here to get an invite and be able to RSVP.)
their reputations and engage the public with online profiles, websites, newsletters, blogs, podcasts + social media. Gloria Chang brings a diverse background in editing, writing, broadcasting and communications consulting to help you with your project, cause or brand. She specializes in all things true, and has specialized knowledge in science, technology, and health. Find out more about Gloria at about.me/gloriajchang
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WOR PLAY
Thursdays TWS Readings Evening Chase away the January chill in the warmth of the Cottage Bistro!
I N
The next TWS Reading Series is Thursday, January 8th. Our feature author will be poet Linda King.
N E W
W E S T
presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society Free monthly,poetrygenerating drop-in
King has been published in numerous literary journals in Canada and internationally. She is the author of Dream Street Details, published by Shoe Music Press. Her latest collection Reality Wayfarers, also published by Shoe Music Press, has just been released.
Prompts provided. Not a critique group: “Let’s have some fun!”
We have a diverse lineup of gifted writers listed here on the playbill. Come early to ensure a seat, and enjoy the food, refreshments, and top-notch company.
B.Y.O.T. (bring your own tools) in the Back Room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St.
Twisted Poets Literary Salon
4th Thursday (and 2nd Wed) of every month at The Cottage Bistro 4468 Main Street, Vancouver More info
More info from: secretary@rclas.com
canada’s Lavender ceiling (Yes, Virginia)
“A DECADE AGO when I was asked to represent the voice of the young on an intergenerational panel of LGBT authors, novelist R.M. Vaughan spoke of a lavender ceiling. He claimed that gay literary authors who write honestly about contemporary gay life are rarely published to wide acclaim by mainstream publishers in Canada, I have often thought that if any author could change and are often relegated to the Canadian publishing’s reticence to promote present-day sidelines and the small presses. queer stories, it would be Ann-Marie MacDonald. Her historical debut, Fall on Your Knees (1996), sold a phenomenal 240,000 copies, even before Oprah recommended it. Her second novel, The Way the Crow Flies (2003), was also a bestseller and a Giller Prize finalist. The books’ combined success means she has more freedom than most. She could probably write a piece narrated by two dolphins and still make her advance back in the first week of sales.
Largely, his observations remain true……………”
Still, the easiest way to break through the ceiling commercially is to write mostly about straight characters, or to place your queer stories in a historical setting.
The rest of Zoe Whittall’s review of Ann-Marie MacDonald’s third novel, Adult Onset, is here.
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FREE REVIEW BOOKS
Submit Your Urban Fantasy Book Reviews Do you read lots of Urban Fantasy? Have an opinion? You are invited by Urban Fantasy Magazine to submit reviews of current (published within the last 2 years is ideal, unless you find a little-known book that needs time in the light!) Urban Fantasy book for consideration. But first, read the guidelines and complete the form here. They’ll provide you with a review copy that you get to keep. Complete the contact form to indicate what book you want to review, unless other arrangements have been made. UFM makes it easy to get review copies by contacting publishers. They try to get the book sent to you but they “ need to know the who, what, and where. PLEASE NOTE: if you already own the book you’d like to review, indicate that on the form.”
HISTORICAL FICTION
6 top tips for writing historical fiction by Dinah Jefferies author of The Separation, The Planter’s Wife. These are actually very good tips – not just Upworthy clickbait.
MOJO ENHANCEMENT
“One Year of Writing & Healing” This looks interesting, and a new year’s start is a good time to check it out: “Welcome to One Year of Writing and Healing, a site designed to explore connections between writing and healing--and to facilitate your own exploration. “Here, you'll find writing ideas, recommended books, and food for thought, all grounded in a growing body of research on expressive writing and health, and also grounded in my own work--as a writer, a teacher of writing, and as a physician. Here’s the year’s plan:
One Year of Writing and Healing - at a Glance Month One: Creating a Healing Place Month Two: Gathering Resources for Healing and Writing Month Three: Finding a Healing Language Month Four: Writing Through Grief Month Five: Discovering Form(s) Month Six: Figuring Out the Good Part of the Story Month Seven: A New Perspective: Thirteen Different Ways of Looking Month Eight: Healing as a Quest Month Nine: Two Steps Forward and One Step Back: Dealing with Resistance Month Ten: Writing as Part of a Healing Conversation Month Eleven: Practicing Revision and Creating Something New out of the Revision Month Twelve: Looking Ahead: Writing about Goals and Dreams
NEURO NEWS
Leonardo’s Brain: What a Posthumous Brain Scan Six Centuries Later Reveals about the Source of Da Vinci’s Creativity: How the most creative human who ever lived was able to access a different state of consciousness. By Maria Popova. http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/17 /leonardos-brain-leonard-shlain/
USE IT OR LOSE IT-AND MORE
What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades “…brain imaging in the oldest subjects suggested that the connection between writing and idea generation went even further. When these children were asked to come up with ideas for a composition, the ones with better handwriting exhibited greater neural activation in areas associated with working memory — and increased overall activation in the reading and writing networks.
It now appears that there may even be a difference between printing and cursive writing — a distinction of particular importance as the teaching of cursive disappears in curriculum after curriculum. In dysgraphia, a condition where the ability to write is impaired, sometimes after brain injury, the deficit can take on a curious form: In some people, cursive writing remains relatively unimpaired, while in others, printing does. Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they also remain better able to generate ideas and retain information. In other words, it’s not just what we write that matters — but how. 6
Places to go Things to do People to see Read a book. And talk about it. Face to face with real people. BOOK TALKS – BOOK CLUB Second Wednesday of every month 6:30 – 8:30 pm Presented by Pandora’s Collective & Britannia Branch Library At the branch - 1661 Napier Street (at Commercial Drive), Vancouver
Each month we’ll discuss a preselected book, with the occasional session reserved for a discussion on a theme. Bring your favourite passages, points of interests, and share your reading experiences. Each person is responsible for either borrowing or buying their own copy to read. This is an open book club. Drop-ins are welcome. Upcoming dates: 2015 Jan 14
Obasan by Joy Kogawa
Feb 11
April 8
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life by Col. Chris Hadfield Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee
May 13
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden
Mar 11
Royal City WritING Quite a b it go ing on for wr iter s in Ne w Westminster, courte sy of The Royal City Literary
June 10 The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Hosts: Mary Duffy and Sita Carboni Contact: booktalks@pandorascollective.com www.pandorascollective.com
Ar ts Soc ie ty. Check ou t the ir ca le ndar here. 7
Lost your mojo?
The Moon, the Moon And they danced by the light of the Moon And then there’s writing by the light of the Moon. “Moon Goddess” by Josephine Wall
What do you think? Is it all myth and fairy tale? Does the Moon create lunacy? Does it bring out our creative, dancing (writing) side?
There’s only one way to find out. Here are the New and Full Moon dates until Summer. Write by the light of the moon – New or Full, which shall it be? – and see what happens. They say the Full Moon is for waning – decreasing. So, a good time to cut and edit? And the New Moon is a good time for starts and growth. Starting a new piece or making an old one “new.” Nothing like Minerva for bringing on the mojo.
Month January
Full Moon (GMT) Jan 5, 2015 – 04:54
New Moon (GMT) Jan 20, 2015 – 13:15
February
Feb 3, 2015 – 23:10
Feb 18, 2015 – 23:49
March
Mar 5, 2015 – 18:07
Mar 20, 2015 – 9:39
April
Apr 4, 2015 – 12:07
Apr 18, 2015 – 18:59
May
May 4, 2015 – 03:45
May 18, 2015 – 04:16
June
Jun 2, 2015 – 16:22
Jun 16, 2015 – 14:08 8
guidelines here. Geist Emerging Writer-of-the-Month
Submit. (you know you want to)
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
Guidelines for text submissions.
Contests and calls for submissions Ongoing submissions Shock Totem wants dark We consider original, unpublished stories within the confines of dark
fantasy
and horror—mystery, suspense, supernatural, morbid humor, fantasy, etc. Read the guides: http://www.shocktotem.com/guidelines/
Alaska Quarterly Review is a literary journal devoted to contemporary literary art, publishing fiction, short plays, poetry, photo essays, and literary non-fiction in traditional and experimental
styles. The editors encourage new and emerging writers, while continuing to publish award winning and established writers. The editors invite submissions of fiction, short plays, poetry, photo essays, and literary nonfiction in traditional and experimental styles. Guidelines: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/aqr/guidelin es.cfm
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
All things minimalistic and mind-slicing wanted. The occasional selfless snark submissions are preferred.
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 yet more. Read the submission guidelines. Great American Poetry Show Submit any subject, any style, any length, any number, any time by email 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). The Quotable This online magazine wants writerreaders to submit stories based on their monthly prompts. Info here.
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
Great Depression/ WW2/ Vietnam era? Seeking narratives up to 3,500 with your grandchildren?
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 th essays. Now in our 9 year! For submission information and guidelines, visit www.anderbo.com. Changes in Life A monthly online newsletter is seeking
text Literary Magazine We’re interested in literature composed
Holler Box
personal essays from women of
Rolling submissions year-round. All
with brevity and punch:
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
all ages. New writers are encouraged to submit their work. For details and submission guidelines, see www.changesinlife.com.
short, snippy poems, razor-sharp flash fiction, and art and photography that tread the line between purpose and chance, making us see the innate beauty in the world around us.
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Submit.
(why not.)
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 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 email, and do not discuss concepts over the phone. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama - check website for submission guidelines. The Evening Street Review The ESR is centered on the belief that all men and women are created equal. Reads poetry & prose submissions yearround. 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
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. 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.
COMPENDIA SITES
MARKETS GALORE: 1-STOP SHOPPING
Aerogramme Writers’ Studio: This site has over 90 competitions, publication opportunities, fellowships
Excellent resource
Fiction Writing Markets Currently Open for Freelance Submissions (Paid writing opportunities: Fiction stories, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Speculative fiction, Romance, etc.) See more at: http://writingcareer.com/call-forfiction-submissions
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. Escape Pod Publishes in both text and audio; you are offering both of those one-time and archival rights to us when you send us
How handy is this? Morgan Bailey’s Competitions Calendar Organized by deadline date.
Places for Writers Listings for literary magazines of every type, everywhere, for everyone. Interesting resources – e.g., “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.
Poetry contests roundup here
Poets & Writers – an eminently searchable database (Sent by
your story. Escape Pod is a
science fiction market. Our mandate is fun. We are fairly flexible on what counts as “science” We welcome submissions from writers of all backgrounds. We are especially
interested in seeing more submissions from people of backgrounds that have been historically
underrepresented or excluded from traditional SF publishing, including, but not limited to, women, people of color, LGBTQ or nonbinary gender people, persons with disabilities, members of religious minorities, and people from outside the U.S. Guidelines here.
Isabella Mori)
For good leads to contests & calls check out "Writing Contests Competitions" on Facebook
Writing dark. Interview with Irish writer, Noelle Harrison here.
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Submit.
from the previous page
(yes.)
Want to write for the Penny Hoarder?
How about writing for The Writer?
We’re always on the lookout for fun, unique ideas for earning, saving or investing money. We’d love to hear your personal experience, especially if you can share detailed numbers, strategies and advice.
Our editors are interested in query
Do you have a story to share or an idea we haven’t covered? Read the guidelines .
letters on concrete
topics written by emerging and experienced writers in all genres. We are looking for clear takeaway for our readers: What can they learn to improve their writing or advance their careers? What how-to tips and strategies will accomplish this? Read the guidelines and the magazine.
19 short story competitions in 2015 Read about them here.
Grind Writers Group Meeting Schedule WHERE WE MEET The Grind Gallery Café - 4124 Main Street at 25th Ave. In the back room 10 am–12:30 pm
Do you write satire? Try The Lapine. We’re all about poking people and things that deserve to be poked. It is satirical commentary written by all kinds of people from here, there and darned near everywhere. Given that so many, many people, events, opinions and trends deserve to be shown in a tongue-firmly-in-cheek way, The Lapine is not limited to just trending topics. Our writers will guffaw at anything really. The word Lapine is French for rabbit. There’s no deep logic behind the name so please don’t get a brain hernia trying to figure it out. We’re just two people who believe that satire can be very effective in pointing out that the emperor is buck naked. No Lapine content is intended to hurt even the most delicate of feelings…but it’s bound to happen. Get over it. But if you have concerns, let us know. Did we mention that The Lapine is satire? And we always welcome new writers, so send us your story idea or article. Minimum 150 words …300 tops. Guidelines here.
2015 Grind Writers meeting dates We skip holiday long weekends
Sat
Jan 10
Sun
Jan 25
WHY WE MEET Nobody knows.
Sat
Feb 14
HOW WE MEET Thanks to Michelle & Jay Kim, the Grind’s owners.
Sun
Mar 1
Sat
Mar 14
Sun
Mar 29
Sat
Apr 11
Sun
Apr 26
Sat
May 9
Sun
May 24
Sat
June 6
Sun
June 21
Sat
July 11
Sun
July 26
Sat
Aug 8
They’ve kindly let us meet in the Back Room for the last 7 years. And cudos to the Kims for their support of the arts in general. The Grind provides gallery space to many local artists. Appreciate if you buy something while you’re there to support the Grind and their support of us
Please email before you attend the first time: grindwriters@gmail.com
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free-write photo prompt From Business Insider
The Positive Effects of Journaling and Expressive Writing
the how-to of freewrites: Set the timer. Don’t think it.
"A typical prompt looks like this, though feel free to scroll through if you're short on time. For the next 4 days, I would like you to write your very deepest thoughts and feelings about the most traumatic experience of your entire life or an extremely important emotional issue that has affected you and your life. In your writing, I'd like you to really
let go and explore your deepest emotions and thoughts. You might tie your topic to your relationships with others, including parents, lovers, friends or relatives; to your past, your present or your future; or to who you have been, who you would like to be or who you are now.
Just start writing. Keep going, no stopping. No editing (that comes later). Forget grammar, forget spelling. Forget any “rules” you’ve ever been told Forget everything else and just write. 15 mins. by the timer. here’s the prompt
You may write about the same general issues or experiences on all days of writing or about different topics each day. A good example of expressive writing that went viral: “Benjamin Watson who plays for the New Orleans Saints posted this on his Facebook page and it has since gone viral: "At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts: “I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes. “I'M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from . . . . . . .”
Don't worry about spelling, grammar or sentence structure. The only rule is that once you begin writing, you continue until the time is up.” Read the whole article and about the health outcomes of following through on this, here.
grind writers news ©2015 Margo Lamont
email: grindwriters@gmail.com blog: http://grindwriters.blogspot.ca/ previous issues : http://issuu.com/grindwriters/docs
He wrote lots more. Read the rest here.
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