News
A Hammock with a View
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May 2014
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Grind Writers
in
3 Wordplay – New West’s monthly
SIDE
poetry-generating free meetup
3 BC Writers Autonomous Fan Region
My brother’s breakaway from
4 Places to go, things to do, people to see
Catholicism was due to other
motives. He felt it was imperative
4 Whole lotta writing going on: New West – The RCLAS
that he should save his real spiritual life from being overlaid and crushed
5 Could you turn some of your life experiences into paid articles?
by a false one that he had outgrown. He believed that poets in the
6 The Surrey Conference has its list
measure of their gifts and personality
of presenters up!
were the repositories of the genuine
7 Submit.
spiritual life of their race and the priests were usurpers.
(you know you want to)
Contests and calls for submissions
—James Joyce
9 Grind Writers – where we meet & when. Upcoming minis.
10 The free-write photo prompt: just try it!
She lasso’d it. She wrestled with it. She tied it down, embraced it, and kissed it on the nose. THE TAMING OF THE LITERATI
‘IF YOU*RE READY TO READ
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This is definitely a North Shore Writers’ Festival mudwrestling takedown.
month, sponsored by ? (not Grind Writers) Last Saturday of the month, 7pm
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Read all about it in Joan’s blog here.
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Open Mic at The Grind every
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Our Joan Boxall reports on the 18 annual North Shore Writers’ Festival and on her gig as a social media panelist (and modestly neglects to mention that she also walked away with the first prize for Poetry and an honorable mention in the Fiction category, in NSWA’s annual literary contest.
autonomous
BC BOOKS
The low down on self-publishing Quite a comprehensive write-
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up in BC BookLook here.
The Royal City Literary Arts Society New Westminster is just rocking with art – visual, written, poetic, you name it. And the RCLAS has a vertable buffet of literary offerings for you:
Masses of free or really inexpensive workshops and literary events Poetic Justic - Sundays 3-5pm (every Sunday except holiday weekends and closed in July/August) in The Heritage Grill, BackRoom , 447 Columbia St., New Westminster near Columbia Station. View schedule of featured poets here www.poeticjustice.ca Songwriters’ Open Mic night - Join hosts Enrico Renz and Lawren Nemeth every Sunday evenings 7-9pm at Heritage Grill, Back Room located at 447 Columbia St., New West - Write it! Bring it! Sing it! Sometimes venue changes so find them on Facebook to check the venue that week . Facebook - RCLAS New Westminster songwriters open mic at the Heritage Grill. Short Story Open Mic night - Guest host, Deborah Kelly May 14, 2014 7-9pm. In The Heritage Grill. Bring your short stories. Read from your book, journal, essays. Story tellers welcome. *This Event will be moving to Renaissance Books with Margo Prentice in June. Keep you posted. WordPlay – next session May 6, Tuesday 7pm – Regular monthly event in the Back Room of the Heritage Grill. Wrap your mind around the writing prompts we provide. Try your hand at generating some fabulous first drafts, and free your poetic heart! WordPlay is the free monthly poetry-generating drop-in series of each month. Bring your writing tools and paper. This is not a critique group. Let’s have some fun! The Poetry Wars – host Carol Shillibeer next session Sat May 17, 2014 – 4-6pm in The Heritage Grill, Back
Poetry in the Park – Host Candice James presents featured poets and open mic 6:30-8:30 every Wednesday night during July and August at the Queens’ Park Bandshell in Queen’s Park, New Westminster. Rain or Shine. If it rains we are into the Arts Council space at Queens’ Park Gallery just behind the bandshell. RCLAS – Royal City Literary Arts Society: www.rclas.com
Workshops & Presentations Uploading Ebooks: with Perry Wilson Tuesday May 13, 2014 6:30-8:30pm. Perry Wilson will show how to get your book into Smashwords, Amazon, Kobo, and other online retailers. This workshop is given from a Canadian point of view and is useful for self-publishers or indie publishers. Location: New West Public Library (716 - 6th Ave.) Free. Writing and Healing: Host Sherry Duggal Saturday May 31, 2014 1-5pm. This 4-hour interactive workshop is ideal for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of their true, creative potential. By the end of this workshop you will be able to:•Differentiate between the right and lefts side of the brain •Experience and understand the physiological changes that happen in your body as you delve into the creative process •Experience and understand how you can benefit from the act of writing •Experience and understand the link between writing and healing •Clearly identify key elements of good writing •Personalize ways you can get started in the writing process •Access your creative potential and incorporate it into your lifestyle. Journal and pen required. Members $20, Non-members $35. Seating is limited. Pre-Registration required email secretary@rclas.com. Location - 737 Sixth Street, New Westminster, Free parking behind building. Enter from the rear entrance. Lifestory Writing: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary - Host Sylvia Taylor June 17, 2014 6:308:30pm at the New Westminster Public Library (716-6th Ave.) From cave walls to computers, humans have been sharing the stories of their lives. Everyone has a LifeStory worth telling and it’s never too late or too early to tell it. Whether it’s a whole-life autobiography, or slice-
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Whole lotta writing going on
Room. Not for the faint of heart, the poetic arts in Canada roil with snark and tendentious commentary. What this study group will do is explore our literary environment (aka the poetry wars), read poems, reviews, texts, commentary. Think about it. Discuss it at the once-a-month study-group meetings. There will be a closed-group blog to enable us to comment out of meeting times and to post links and reading material discovered in our private study. The goal: to understand; to be better poets. Your investment: the group is free of monetary expectation, but investment can also be in mental anguish and sweat. Expect both of the last two. Inquiries: shillibeer@tailfeather.ca
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Places to go Things to do People to see
of-life memoir, for family and friends or the publishing world, our lives take on greater meaning as we contribute to a legacy of history, heritage, and understanding. Free.
More information about any of this: secretary@rclas.com
pTwisted oets Literary Salon The 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday of every month. at The Cottage Bistro 4468 Main Street More info
Writing as a design critic, she admits doesn’t spend more than a couple of hours in a house, and she realizes that, as a design professional, she may rave about features from a short visit that could be a royal pain to actually with. In this article, she writes about a fairly mundane thing—renting an ultra modern house for a year – and about her own and her family’s experience living in this place. How she had to wipe the white cupboards twice a day “since even one fingerprint would mar their pure white surfaces.” How the house demanded attentions by virtue of its ultra-modernity: “With each room proudly open to the others, there was no place for clutter to hide, even for a few minutes. This makes the architecture honest, I thought; it will force me to be neat. But soon enough, the cycle of doing something and then removing all traces of it came to feel like running on a hamster wheel.” How she came to concude that “Modern houses are not places to be sick, tired, or feeble.” Her design backgroud was useful, but ultimately she wrote about her experience as a person, a wife and mother living there.
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Wading into the Swamp: Getting Messy with Writing – host Daniela Elza Tuesday July 15, 2014, 6:308:30pm. Participants will write, share, listen (individually or in groups depending on the numbers) and we will discuss the importance and the messiness of this generative process of writing and its discoveries. Location: New West Public Library (716 - 6th Ave.) Free.
Adele Weder, a Vancouver architecture and design critic who writes for home mags like Dwell, here writes an article for The Walrus about her family’s experience of living in an ultra modern, open plan house for a year. This article generated a comment-article in The Utne Reader as well.
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Haiku and Beyond – Host Terry Ann Carter – Saturday June 21, 2014 2-4pm. Explore the history of this Japanese literary form, with opportunities to listen to classical (traditional) haiku and contemporary poems from some of the top haiku poets in North America. Learning specific techniques, you will be invited to write and share haiku on various themes: the city, the moon, eroticism, the seasons. Facilitator: Terry Ann Carter is a poet, book maker, and collage artist. The author of Lighting the Global Lantern: A Teacher’s Guide to Writing Haiku and Related Literary Forms, she has taught in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Bahamas, Canada and the U.S., and is an activist for the Tabitha Foundation (Cambodia). Her nine collections of poetry include haiku and longer forms. Terry Ann studied poetry at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, Colorado and is President of Haiku Canada. Members $10, Non-members $20. Seating is limited. Pre-Registration required. Email secretary@rclas.com. Location - 737 Sixth Street, New Westminster, Free parking behind building. Enter from the rear entrance.
Could you turn some of your life experiences into paid articles?
THE CONFERENCE
Our annual writing contest - is now open to submissions. You can check out the details on our Writing Contest page. We offer $4600 in prizes in four categories. Open to adults anywhere in the world. Conference hotel group rates - already available at the hotel. See Room Booking. Use our group rate when you book; it’s important for us and the hotel to know how many people are staying for the conference, and it helps keep our prices down when you do. Book early! Our group rates are available until mid-September or until the hotel sells out, which is often much earlier than that. Presenters roster – will be coming onto the website soon, and the workshop and master class schedule after that. We’ve got a great group of presenters coming this year, including many new faces and some old friends, too. Variety is the spice - As always, we’ll offer workshops on a huge variety of topics for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, online content and more. Whether you’re a brand new aspiring writer, a multi-
THE CONTEST SIWC’s 22nd annual writing contest wants you to submit. Got a story you want to share? Enter the Surrey International Writers' Conference Writing Contest for a chance at one of the richest contest prize packages around. Prizes total more than $4600 — why not give it a shot? Enter as often as you like. The contest features blind judging in four categories:
Offering stellar professional development for writers at all stages of their careers is always our goal. And of course, every year you can take advantage of our blue pencil and pitch appointments, which are always included in the cost of your registration. More info? Apart from our very occasional newsletters like this one, you can follow us on Twitter @siwctweets and check out our website and blog at www.siwc.ca. Questions? Check out our website for answers, including our FAQ. Know writers who don’t know us? We so appreciate your referrals. Thank you to everyone who’s introduced SiWC to a friend so far. We hope to see many new faces and lots of old friends again this year. See you in October!
Kathy Chung, SiWC Conference Coordinator www.siwc.ca @siwctweets The Surrey International Writers' Conference, held every October in British Columbia, is the most comprehensive conference of its kind in Canada. SiWC offers writers in all genres -- from beginners to experts -- the opportunity both to hone their craft and to expose their work to the international literary marketplace. For more information please visit http://www.siwc.ca
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SIWC Storyteller's Award
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SIWC Nonfiction Award
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SIWC Poetry Award
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SIWC Writing for Young People Award
Winning entries are printed and sold as an anthology during and after the conference. Got a question? Like to purchase a back issue of our Anthology? Email Contest Coordinator kc dyer at contest@siwc.ca. Details, rules and criteria are here: 2014 SiWC Writing Contest Rules and Guidelines.
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Registration opens - Wednesday, June 4. Everything you need to know is up on the Registration information page. (You organized people are in for some great savings. This year, we’re offering you the chance to get last year’s early bird prices if you register in June.
published bestseller, or any kind of writer in between, SiWC has something for you.
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This year’s Surrey International Writers’ Conference will run October 24-26, 2014, with master classes on October 23 - at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey.
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Submit.
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.
(you know you want to)
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). 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.
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/sub mit. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines may not be considered. 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
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 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.
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Roundup of poetry contests here
The Quotable This online magazine wants writerreaders to submit stories based on their monthly prompts. Info here.
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Contests and calls for submissions
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.
Submit. Ongoing calls cont’d
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 onepage critique. Note: do your due diligence. Read it all carefully. Full submission info here
LISTINGS FOR LITERARY MAGAZINES OF EVERY TYPE, EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE: Ctrl+Click me PLACES FOR WRITERS 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.
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.
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. June 11: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwe
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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.
PANDORA’S BOOK TALKS BOOK CLUB
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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, 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
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-
HOW WE MEET
workshops at Grind Writers.
Appreciate if you buy something while you’re there to support the Grind and their support of us
Please email before you attend for the first time We occasionally meet outside.
2014
indie print publishing with André Gerard, founder of Patremoir Press, author of Fathers: A Literary Anthology
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Oct 19
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with swashbuckling author Sebastien de Castell
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.
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The Collaborative Process of Writing & Publishing a Series
THANKS to Mr & Mrs Kim, the Grind’s owners.
Free-write photo prompt
Write about what you’d be thinking about if you were lying in the hammock on a sweet summer day. ................
Free-write: Set the timer, and don’t think it—just start writing and keep going. Write for 15 mins., no stopping, no editing (you’ll do that later).
The Grind Writers News Page
email: grindwriters@gmail.com blog: http://grindwriters.blogspot.ca/ previous issues of GWN: http://issuu.com/grindwriters/docs
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©2014 Margo Lamont