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Grind Writers
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April 2014
free workshops) this month
3 BC writers. Autonomous fan region
Mini workshops at Grind Writers
4 Susan’s bucket list – ticked off
“Writing Memoir—and Getting It Published”
5 Places to go, things to do, people to see
We’ve been very fortunate to have several writers and writer/publishers come and give us miniworkshops.
5 Submit.
She believes memoir writers have three obligations to their readers—“to inform, inspire, and entertain.” An apparently that extend to workshop presenters as well: she did all three with us in this spirited mini. A first-time attender to Grind Writers talks about that in a feedback email which you can read here. Sylvia talked about “coming to the page;” she believes human beings are “hard-wired to tell our stories”—as demonstrated by thousands-year-old cave paintings before we even had writing with which to tell those stories. She discussed the differences between memoir, biography, autobiography, and fictionalized memoir. And best of all she introuced us to the incredibly liberating concept of “The Barf Draft” – and how you use the B.D. to produce all those grimy oysters from which you will, over time and with many rewrites, produce a series of memoir “pearls,” and how you will later go through a process during which you’ll discover and elaborate the narrative that will link them all together into a cohesive, compelling whole. If you’d like to learn more about Sylvia and the business of writing, she’s giving a free workshop at LitFest New West on Sat. Aprill 26 – see the next page. _____
Do you have an idea for a Grind Writers mini, or would you like to give one? We’re open to ideas. Email your suggestion. (Contact info is on last page).
(you know you want to)
Contests
and calls for submissions
5 Twisted Poets 7 Places for Writers 9 Grind Writers – where we meet & when. Upcoming minis.
10 The free-write photo prompt: just try it!
‘IF YOU*RE
READY TO READ Open Mic at The Grind every month Last Saturday of the month,7pm
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Our latest was Sylvia Taylor, author of The Fisher Queen: A Deckhand’s Tale of the BC Coast (Heritage, 2012). Her topic was “Writing Memoir – and Getting It Published.” Two very different things. Sylvia has done both. And she told us how.
5 Write about wood
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SIDE
3 Two all-day literary fests (with oodles of
autonomous April 11&12
Schedule of Events Our member Joan Boxall is
Friday April 11: appearing Goalie on a panel at this 7-8pm: Confessions of a Reluctant author talkevent. with Grant Lawrence (Singh Room) 8:30-10pm: Literary Trivia: The second annual Literary Trivia Quiz is back by popular demand! Test your mental mettle and compete for prizes and glory. Register teams of 6 or fewer by emailing hschiller@cnv.org. Spontaneous teams welcome at the door. Cash Bar. (Atrium) Saturday April 12: 10-11am: Contemporary Marketing Panel: Using Modern Media to Promote the Written Word, panel sponsored by the North Shore Writers’ Association and featuring authors Joan Boxall, Martin Crosbie, Karen Dodd, kc dyer, and Sonia Haynes (Singh Room) 11:15am-12:15pm: Brave New World: Publishing’s New Landscape, panel featuring Margaret Reynolds, Executive Director of the Association of Book Publishers of BC, Jesse Finkelstein of Page Two, Nancy Flight of Greystone Books, Brian Kaufman of subTerrain and Anvil Press, and Colleen MacMillanof Annick Press (Singh Room) 12:15-1:15pm: Lunch Break Lounge: Join us for snacks and conversation following the morning’s thought-provoking panels (Atrium) 2:30-3:30pm: Enlivening the Past, historical fiction writers’ panel featuring authors Sandra Gulland, Daniel Kalla, Mary Novik, and Roberta Rich is moderated by Jen Sookfong Lee (Singh Room) 4-5pm: A High Stakes Saga, with award-winning author Vincent Lam reading from his novel The Headmaster’s Wager (Singh Room) 5-6:30: Reception: Join us for refreshments, music and a lively atmosphere. Mingle with festival presenters and fellow festivalgoers. Live jazz from our favourite festival musicians, The James Prescott Trio. (Atrium)
At the North Vancouver City Library and North Vancouver City Hall Atrium - 120 W 14th Street, North Vancouver [map]. No registration required for any of it .
LIT FEST NEW WEST: BC BOOKS Another literary festival with a day full of free workshops: Here are the offerings: Theatre #1 11:00-12:00 Lois Peterson – Story: Process & Product 12:45-1:45 Sylvia Taylor – Navigating the Publishing
World 2:00-300 NWPL (Heather Hortness) – Going Beyond Google: Library Resources for Writers 3:15 – 4:15 Publisher’s Panel: Richard Olafson (ekstasis editions and Pacific Rim Review of Books – Victoria); Kitty Lewis (Brick Books – London, Ontario), Manolis Aligizakis (Libros Libertad Publishing – Greater Vancouver area lower mainland)
Theatre #2 11:00 – 12:00 Daniela Elza - The Business Side of Writing 12:45 – 1:45 Don Hauka– Both Sides Now: Essential Elements of Adaptation 2:00 – 3:00 Max Tell – presents ‘Buzz Buzz and Hubub’ 3:15 – 4:15 Margo Bates – What A Character! Humour Writing Workshop Classroom #2217 11:00 – 12:00 Enrico Renz & Lawren Nemeth – Sense Rhythm & Rhyme 12:45 – 1:45 W. Ruth Kozak Travel Writing Workshop: Blogs, Articles & Memoir 2:00 – 3:00 Bob Roberston & Linda Cullen – Double Exposure’s -Introduction To Comedy Writing 3:15 – 4:15 Jacquie Pearce – Writing for Children 101 Click for full workshop descriptions. This one’s at Douglas College in New Westminster. More information and register for the workshops here: Website: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/litfest/program/workshops/
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For session descriptions and speaker bios, go here.
Sat Apr 26
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A free all-day literary feast
Victoria Day weekend May 16-18, 2014 Prestige Harbourfront Resort & Convention Centre Salmon Arm, BC Earlybird rate - $180 - ends April 25, 2014. Also – check out the special group rates, senior & student rates, SAW member rates, gift certificates, and bursaries. This year’s award-winning presenters are: Authors -- Carmen Aguirre, Gail AndersonDargatz, Ann Eriksson, Diana Gabaldon, Gary Geddes, C.C. Humphreys, and Ursula MaxwellLewis. Songwriter/performer -- David Essig. Editor -- Shelagh Jamieson. Agent -- representing both fiction and non-fiction-Carolyn Swayze. Publisher-- owner of Harbour Publishing and recently acquired Douglas & McIntyre, Howard White Enhance your writing skills. Meet award-winning authors. Network, socialize, and have fun! Full weekend price includes readings at the Friday night coffee house, keynote addresses Saturday and Sunday, all workshops/ presentations, one Blue Pencil session, Saturday lunch, and breakfast and workshops on Sunday.
Susan’s Bucket List This is a piece of wonderful writing, so authentic and from the heart that you weep for BC writer Susan L Greig as she shares such a poignant experience of ….. Well, I’m not going to ruin the piece for you. We cheer for her at the end, seeing how heartbreaking her journey has been but how staunchly she kept going, one foot in front of the other…. and sometimes with a pretty drastic cost to her own soul. Susan was part of The Closet Writers, the workplace writing group that eventually gave birth to The Grind Writers group. She has published a children’s book about Batten Disease (NCL), Forever Special Friends. We’re always happy when she makes it to the Grind Writers; she recently did a mini for us on transforming characters from 2D to 3D and her character journals. Of late Susan has turned her creative focus back to visual arts—painting—and this month, she is opening Braid St., a giant art studio (with studio space for artists to rent; classes and workshops etc.) in New Westminster on—you guessed it—Braid Street. The Royal City has a really dynamic arts scene that seems to expand every day and I won’t be surprised to see Susan become a superstar-on-the-Fraser. Here’s a link to 100 Braid Street her soon to be open studio.
CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA
All this on the shores of beautiful Shuswap Lake -- be inspired!
– a national association for professional practitioners of the crime writing genre.
For more information on presenters, workshops, Saturday night banquet, accommodation and more, and to register: www.saow.ca
Includes newsletter, information on authors, awards, and links.
Or contact Cathy Sosnowsky at 250-832-2454, csosnowsky@shaw.ca
You can subscribe to their newsletter CRIME BEAT.
Or poke around their website here and read the section “cool Canadian crime.” Thanks to Lesley for this link
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Word on the Lake writers’ fest
TICKED OFF
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Registration is open for the 11th annual
Short Story Open Mic 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month 7–9 pm Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St. (Map) New Westminster by the riverside. No poetry—just short stories or reading from books that the readers are writing; or original story-telling. Hosted by Margo Prentice
Write about
WOOD Burnaby Writers Society announces their 47th annual writing contest Deadline May 31, 2014 In traditional Chinese culture wood is described as the “fifth element”, one that bridges the animate and inanimate world. The BWS invites you to write one page on the theme of “Wood” and submit it to their 2014 writing competition. Prizes of $200, $100 and $50, as well as honourable mentions for the best one-page submissions of either prose or poetry, interpreting the theme in any way you wish. Work can be in any form or genre, as long as it is complete on one page. Open to all BC residents. $5 per entry or 3 for $10. Results will be announced, and winners will be invited to participate in a public reading, in fall 2014. For complete guidelines: http://burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com
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. Wed. April 9 Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. An intelligent and convincing work about the moral and environmental effect of our dietary choices, specifically as they apply to eating animals... Foer's ability to synthesize his personal opinion, research and objective argument makes his a welcome addition to a growing body of work on the subject. What distinguishes Foer's book is the attention he pays to narrative; that is, the stories we build around the food we eat and the culture and tradition built through these stories. An extremely powerful and incredibly illuminating look at the moral and environmental impact of eating animals." —Shelf Awareness May 14: Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro June 11: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwe
pTwisted oets Literary Salon The 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday of every month. at The Cottage Bistro 4468 Main Street More info
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Got a short story you want to share and you’d like some feedback…but you’ve never read in public before, so it would be nice to read in an atmosphere of support, with kindred spirits, who won’t slice ’n dice you into little pieces?
PANDORA’S BOOK TALKS BOOK CLUB
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Places to go Things to do People to see
(you know you want to)
Contests and calls for submissions Calls for submissions listed by deadline date Deadline: May 1, 2014 Concussions: More than just a headline. Anthology. Wants your concussion story. For submission info, email Bonnie Nish blnish@pandorascollective.com.
Ongoing calls Roundup of poetry contests here. Geist Emerging Writer-of-the-Month 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. 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. 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 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. R3M 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
https://thehollerbox.submittable.com/subm it. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered. 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. “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). 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. 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.
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Submit.
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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:
Submit.
Ctrl+Click me
for listings
of
literary magazines of every type, Ongoing calls cont’d
every where, for every one
Mirrors and led wanted. Gates, doors, and attics most appreciated. THERE’S MORE—READ SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE The Quotable This online magazine wants writer-readers to submit stories based on their monthly prompts. 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: 5OVER4 5 OVER 4. New multimedia journal seeks crossgenre work made by jazzy, creative people who embrace the unknown. Poetry videos, multimedia 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@gmaom 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.
Well it’s nice to know such places exist. Has Interesting resources. For example, “Places to Publish: Can Lit” and “Publishers – Canada.” Plus continuous updates about who’s
looking for what. So if you have a piece to place, this might be a good place to start
the hunt.
e.g.: Sarcastic, edgy, and/or offensive writing wanted Seeking poems on recycling for Toronto installation Prickly mag with a succulent interior seeks work Paying spec-fic anthology seeks stories Want to write about winters in Alberta?
Submission guidelines here.
Well, what are
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Thanks to Gillian for this link
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you waiting for?
Grind Writers Group - Meetings Meeting Schedule
Looking at publishing from all sides now
WHERE WE MEET The Grind Gallery Café 4124 Main Street at 25th Ave. In the back room 10 am–12:30 pm PLEASE TRY AND BE ON TIME WHEN WE’RE HAVING A MINI WORKSHOP
WHY WE MEET Nobody knows.
Some upcoming mini-workshops
HOW WE MEET
at Grind Writers.
THANKS to Mr & Mrs Kim, the Grind’s owners.
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.
interactive story-telling
Please email before you attend for the first time We occasionally meet outside.
2014
with swashbuckling author Sebastien de Castell
Sat
April 12
Sun
Aug 24
Sun
April 27
Sat
Sept 6
indie print publishing
Sat
May 10
Sun
Sept 21
Sun
May 25
Sat
Oct 4
with André Gerard, founder of Patremoir Press, author of Fathers: A Literary Anthology
Sat
June 7
Sun
Oct 19
Sun
June 22
Sat
Nov 1
Sat
July 5
Sun
Nov 16
Sun
July 20
Sat
Nov 29
Sat
Aug 9
Sun
Dec 14
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writing and selling a fantasy/adventure series
Appreciate if you buy something while you’re there to support the Grind and their support of us
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with Malcolm van Delst
Free-write photo prompts
indie print
PICK A PICTURE, ANY PICTURE Set a timer for 15 mins. The just write what comes to mind when you look at the photo. What does it evoke for you? Don’t think. Just start writing. See where it goes. Don’t stop, don’t correct - keep writing. You can edit later. Bring your output to the next Grind Writers.
The Grind Writers News ©2014 Margo Lamont
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email: grindwriters@gmail.com blog: http://grindwriters.blogspot.ca/ previous issues of GWN: http://issuu.com/grindwriters/docs