April 2019 RCLAS Wordplay at Work, Issue 63

Register for Free Tix to LitFest New West https://www.eventbrite.com/e/litfest-new-west-2019-tickets-56593326162

Everyone had an excellent time!

Thanks to Kevin Spenst for a FUN and FABULOUS Chapbook Workshop!

March 23. 2019

Cynthia, Idrian and Bryan.

Here’s to another successful ToST on April 4th!

An enthusiastic audience enjoyed Sharon McInnes read from her delightful novel Across a Narrow Strait, and hearing about her experiences in moving the book from concept to publication. A BIG thanks to Sharon and to our open mic readers!

- Carol Johnson, RCLAS Director

A well-attended workshop with RCLAS President Alan Hill was held Sat April 13 at Anvil Centre, exploring poetry of place.

“Get rid of your daily emotional clutter, your own ego, and just write.”

– Alan Hill

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: A Journey across New Westminster by Word: Poetry of Place Deadline: June 21, 2019 4:30pm About The New Westminster Poet Laureate Alan Hill in partnership with the City’s Arts Services Department is requesting submissions for a poetry anthology, A Journey across New Westminster by Word: A Poetry of Place.

This vibrant, multicultural and multi-dimensional poetry collection of “poetry postcards” will present a literary map of contemporary New Westminster. The intention of this collection is to highlight and explore physical location and its emotional and cultural significance specific to New Westminster residents.

A Poetry Postcard is a short written description of a person’s favorite place in the City. A literary snapshot that describes a location and why it is important to the writer and what it makes the writer, think, feel and experience.

Objectives 

Celebrate and showcase New Westminster’s diverse cultural identity and literary traditions.

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Highlight places in our community – specific geographical locations - that are important to the community and engender a sense of what it means to live here.

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Create a greater shared sense of community for all participants.

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Support a collaborative and thoughtful legacy project shepherded by the City’s Poet Laureate.

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Create a printed and bound anthology.

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Identifying and connecting up-and-coming literary talent to the wider literary community in New Westminster.

Submission Guidelines A panel of jurors will be struck to help Mr. Hill in the selection of poems for the anthology. The panel will be looking for: 

Literary originality - imagery which stands out

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Poems that make or take reference from the City of New Westminster (specific locations, its people, communities, streets, businesses, natural environment, histories etc.)

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A variety of diverse viewpoints from around the City of New Westminster (Indigenous, brand new and long-time resident perspectives are all encouraged)

Submission Requirements 

Submissions only accepted via email as a word attachment (do not send work within body of an email)

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Please include your name, address, email address, phone number

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Email Subject Line: A Journey Across New Westminster By Word - Poetry Application

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Word limit is 300 words/per poem

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An image of the location being written about

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Please note: Maximum file size accepted by City of New Westminster email is 8MB

Deadline 

Friday, June 21, 2019 4:30pm. Late submissions will not be considered.

Selection Timeline Participants are selected by impartial adjudicators on the basis of their submitted material. Applicants will be notified of their status as soon as adjudication is complete, approximately 4 weeks following the application deadline (Mid-July, 2019).

Please note: City of New Westminster staff and jury panel members are not eligible to apply.

Intellectual Property Contact:

Please direct questions and email submissions to: Arts Services, Cultural Services Office of the CAO T 604.527.4640 E museum@newwestcity.ca

Upcoming Events May/June ‘19 Info: secretary@rclas.com Please watch for event updates and news via our website www.rclas.com and our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @royalcitylit)

with Alan Hill, Poet Laureate of New Westminster and RCLAS President For feedback and advice on all things poetry!

Email alanhill@rclas.com to book a free 20 min "Solo with the Polo" session.

Bring two poems. All abilities —— Beginners welcome!

Located at the New West Artists Gallery 712C -12th Street, New Westminster

Dates and times: Tuesday May 21 from 7:15 to 9pm Tuesday June 18 from 7:15 to 9pm

RCLAS presents “Tellers of Short Tales” Feature Author: Jerena Tobiasen Host: Alan Hill Date: Thursday May 9, 2019 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Free admission.

Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor, Rm #411A Close to Skytrain. Wheelchair accessible.

Come to listen! Bring a friend!

Bring a short story to share on Open Mic. Description: A program of monthly readings designed to engage fans of the short story genre with emerging and published short story writers BIO: Jerena Tobiasen is a native Vancouverite who grew up on the Canadian prairies. When she returned to Vancouver in the early ‘80s, she pursued a career in law. More recently she embraced three passions which she finds inspiring: creative writing, history and travel. Those passions have been instrumental in her writing of The Prophecy saga, a story which bears witness to her passion for history and travel. The first novel in her saga - The Crest - was released in December 2018. For the first two days of release, it ranked #1 in three categories on the Amazon best seller list. The 2019 Celebration of SFU Writers acknowledged books published by members of its faculty and alumni and added those books to its library. The Crest was one of them. Jerena expects her second novel - The Emerald - to be available on Amazon in May 2019. In addition, Jerena has been a regular contributor to RCLAS’ e-zine WordPlay at Work since 2017.

Website: http://jerenatobiasen.ca/

“Cat Musings Reading Series” Featuring Herb W. Bryce and a few surprises yet to be announced Open Mic sign up.

Host: Janene White.

Date: Wednesday May 15, 2019 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Free admission Donations kindly accepted.

Location: New West Artists Gallery (beside Renaissance Books) 712C - 12th Street, New Westminster In Partnership with Renaissance Books, New West Artists and Royal City Literary Arts Society.

RCLAS presents “In Their Words: A Royal City Reading Series” Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Free admission Location: Anvil Centre, Rm #417 Host: Ruth Kozak Three Feature Presenters Kagan Goh reads Goh Poh Seng (His father, doctor, Singaporean literary pioneer, poet, novelist and playwright) Lara Varesi reads Michael Ondaatje (Canadian poet, fiction writer, essayist, novelist, editor and filmmaker) Eileen Kernaghan reads Kate Atkinson (English novelist) Description: In Their Words happens on the 3rd Thursday of every other month.

Feature speakers present their favourite author from any genre in poetry, fiction, non-fiction or drama. Presentations include a brief commentary about the author and a reading of selections that exemplify what the presenter loves about the author’s work. A short Q&A follows each presenter.

Are you interested in being a reader at “In Their Words”?

Would you like to find out more?

Email a quick note to Ruth Kozak at wynnbexton2@gmail.com

RCLAS Writing Workshop: “New Beginnings” Facilitator: Angelica Poversky Date: Saturday May 18, 2019 Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor. Rm 417 Close to New West Skytrain Station.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Workshop Fees: RCLAS Members $15/Non-members $25 Payment available onlinehttps://rclas.com/workshops/ Pre-register at secretary@rclas.com Description: New Beginnings is a workshop that focuses on welcoming the new, and getting rid of the old through performance poetry, poetry improvisation and clowning poetry exercises. With exercises such as crafting a “rid-list”, exorcising old grief through comedic performances, and stream-ofconsciousness poetry writing, this workshop will not only hone in on the development of poetic skill, but also serves as a way to cope and continue.

We are often taught that poetry where every word matters so deeply, we can’t ever imagine replacing it - this workshop is in the opposite vein. During New Beginnings, workshop participants will learn to let go of their dear poetic babies and introduce spontaneity, creativity and delight into their craft.

The entire workshop is extremely interactive with emphasize on participation.

Each step is an activity, an exercise and most work will be done on their feet.

There will be traditional writing done as well, where participants will be encouraged to share. Most of the focus and activities are centered around performance and improvisation around poetry.

Wear some comfy clothes; bring a pen, paper, and a fun attitude… and you’ll be all set!

BIO: Angelica Poversky is a poet, rapper, clown and media artist. Her work frequently is situated between art, activism and play. She's shared the stage with clowns, comedians, politicians, scientists and rabbis. She's performed poetry at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, environmental conferences across Vancouver and at social justice events like the CHIMO Voices Against Violence Against Women Conference. She's the coach of the UBC slam poetry team, facilitates ongoing workshops at the Roundhouse community center on performance poetry and is part of the clown-poetry nationally touring trio, The Tiny Tricycle Poets. Her cine-poem "Entropy of Forgiveness" has featured at international festivals. She's Vancouver's Top 24 under 24 and a City of Richmond Arts Award Winner. www.angelicapoversky.com

RCLAS presents Gwynne Hunt

“Unlocking the Tin Box” (Silver Bow Publishing 2019)

Reading/Signing/Book Launch Date: Sunday May 26, 2019 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Free admission Host: Alan Hill Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor. Rm 417 Close to New West Skytrain Station.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Bio: Gwynne Hunt has been writing, directing producing for forty years. She has written directed and produced more than thirty plays, published four magazines, two poetry books, a children's book and has been published in many anthologies and chapbooks. She taught Creative & Freelance Writing, a course she designed for many years at the University of the Fraser Valley through Adult Education. Gwynne is very active in the arts community; supporting artists. actors and writers through her work with the Fringe Festival producing her own plays and producing Eve Enlser's The Vagina Monologues for fifteen years; in New Westminster, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Vancouver and Port Alberni.

Happy National Poetry Month....and a reminder to all poets and lovers of poetry:

“Poetic Justice/Poetry New West” Sunday Afternoons (except Holiday Weekends) Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Free admission.

Location: The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St, New Westminster Special LitFest New West edition this weekend Sunday April 28 Featuring Eileen Kernaghan.

Open Mic. Prizes, trivia, writing prompt, fun!

Host: Warren Dean Fulton. https://www.facebook.com/groups/poeticjusticepnw/

RCLAS presents “Tellers of Short Tales” Feature Author: Marylee Stephenson Date: Thursday June 13, 2019 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Free admission.

Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor, Rm #411B Close to Skytrain. Wheelchair accessible.

Come to listen! Bring a friend!

Bring a short story to share on Open Mic. Description: A program of monthly readings designed to engage fans of the short story genre with emerging and published short story writers BIO: Marylee Stephenson, Ph.D. (sociology) is an active writer of natural-history related travel adventures. She authored a guidebook to the National Parks of Canada (3 editions, 3 languages) and the third edition of her guide to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador recently was published by Mountaineers Books of Seattle. She has written numerous articles in newspapers and magazines. She taught a Continuing Studies course on the Galapagos Islands for the SFU Lifelong Learning series. She is a busy story-teller around town, as well, sometimes talking about her travels, based on her writings.

RCLAS Writing Workshop: “What’s Your Story?”

Facilitator: Caitlin Hicks Date: Saturday June 15, 2019 Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm Location: Anvil Centre, 4th Floor. Rm 417 Close to New West Skytrain Station.

Wheelchair Accessible.

Workshop Fees: RCLAS Members $15/Non-members $25 Payment available onlinehttps://rclas.com/workshops/ Pre-register at secretary@rclas.com WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: In What’s Your Story? Hicks shares her personal, emotional journey of discovery which inspires her all her work, fiction and nonfiction. She discusses how emotional resonance in your work brings it to an essential level of engagement with your audience, and how to get at that resonance and bring it out through your writing.

Beginning with the personal story, Hicks challenges participants to find a narrative from their own lives and to examine the assumptions this story contains.

What kind of influence does this story have on who you are and who you have spent your life becoming?

Hicks invites participants to find the resonant among the big and small incidents of their lives, and to identify the thought processes and beliefs inherent in these stories. Participants will be triggered to hunt for the detail that finds these stories in their own lives and to dig deeply for their unique narrative, and how that personal experience plays out in their minds and in their writing. Hicks welcomes participants to bring journal notes, photographs and pieces of memorabilia to discover the unique point of view inherent in all their work. Writers with works-inprogress will examine their writing for the whisper of their backstory and to bring through the writing, the emotional resonance that underlies its inspiration.

BIO: Caitlin Hicks, is an international playwright, acclaimed actress and prizewinning author in British Columbia, Canada. A natural performer, first entertaining her enormous Catholic family with home-made skits and dramas, then as a professional, touring character-based monologues and theatrical presentations, Hicks developed the ability to hold an audience in laughter and tears, in suspenseful silence and raucous laughter. Her play Singing the Bones toured internationally as a theatre production and was adapted to film, premiering at the Montreal World Film Festival (2001) to excellent reviews. Her debut novel A Theory of Expanded Love won iBooks Best New Fiction (Spring 2015) and numerous other awards in the United States. She has worked as a

writer for CBS and NBC radio in San Francisco and has performed her monologues and commentary for CBC local and national radio. Her writing has been published in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Vancouver Sun, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Fiddlehead Magazine, Knight Literary Journal and other publications. www.caitlinhicks.com

Watch for upcoming news and announcements

Write on! Contest Winners

Write On! Contest Reading Event

Annual General Meeting

WORDPLAY AT WORK FEEDBACK & E-ZINE SUBMISSIONS

Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Vice-President/E-zine janetkvammen@rclas.com OR secretary@rclas.com

RCLAS Members Open Call for Submissions No theme required to submit.

Submit Word documents WITH YOUR NAME and Title on document to Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Vice-President/E-zine Email janetkvammen@rclas.com

Poetry, Short Stories, Book excerpts, articles & lyrics are all welcome for submission to future issues of Wordplay at work.

Winners Announced April 30

Thank you to our Sponsors & Venues      

City of New Westminster Anvil Centre Arts Council of New Westminster New Westminster Public Library The Heritage Grill New West Artists Gallery

See upcoming events at www.rclas.com

Instagram @royalcitylit

April/May 2019 Wordplay at work ISSN 2291- 4269 Contact: janetkvammen@rclas.com RCLAS Vice-President/ E-zine