President’s Message It gives me great pleasure to introduce myself to the members. I have been active in the writing industry since 1989, as a freelance journalist, reviewer, editor, historian, columnist and poet. I envision a dynamic and evolving community of writers, emerging and experienced, representing a diversity of genres, networking and feeling empowered and supported in their craft. As a founder, I am excited to be working with an energetic and experienced board, and can already see many exciting happenings in the near future with RCLAS. We are building, and want to bring you in to help shape the directions. We are a local and global society of writers with members from places as varied as New Brunswick to Australia. We are currently running our first contest with 3 categories - Fiction, NonFiction and Poetry. We will have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winner in each of the categories and we will have 3 honorable mentions in each category. We will have feature showcases for the winners and cash prizes, and we will have feature showcases for the honorable mentions. We will also publish the winners and honorable mention works. Our three judges are esteemed, published and well established on the Canadian Literary Scene: Dennis E. Bolen, Novelist; Eileen Kernaghan, Novelist, Poet; George Opacic, Novelist, President of the Federation of BC Writers. We have partnered with the New West Public Library and held our first workshop “Scribbles to Publication including Digital Publishing” Feb 26, 2013 with great success. We have 2 upcoming free workshops currently scheduled at the NWPL “Memoir To Novel” – March 23rd; and “The Dynamic Presenter” May 2013. We will be sending out newsletters monthly. We also would like to extend the invitation to writers to send in articles regarding literary events and resources in their area. Please visit our website http://rclas.com/ to upload your writer profile and see profiles of other writer members. Bring your words and ideas with us on this journey. Join us.
Sincerely, Gavin Hainsworth Royal City Literary Arts Society President
Who is Gavin Hainsworth?
Who? Gavin Hainsworth – President is also a writer with extensive experience in a variety of formats, and covering a wide range of topics. As a freelance journalist, he has over 200 published articles (local, provincial, national, and international). He has covered topics such as provincial/federal elections, party conventions, conferences, poverty, human rights, media violence, the labour movement, transnational corporations & trade agreements, as well as book and movie reviews. He is also a historian, beginning first with labour & political history, and more recently the history of BC, and in particular, that of the city of New Westminster. He is co-author of the book A New Westminster Album: Glimpses of the City As It Was (Dundurn, 2005) which was a local history bestseller, and which was nominated for two BC book awards. Recently, he has become known for his poetry, and was just published in the Royal City Poets Anthology 2012. Gavin has also worked as a professional editor, public speaker, and workshop facilitator. He works as a secondary teacher in Social Studies & English and Special Education for the Surrey School District. Is there something you would like writers to know about you? That I am passionate about writers and what they write. Creators are the Shamans of our society, distilling meaning to our lives—regardless of genre. As a journalist, one of my greatest pleasures was getting people to talk about what they loved best, and what most filled their souls. I love a good story, well told. Why are you a director on the board? This is a very exciting time for writers since the desire for story and narrative meaning has never been greater. I want to work with other writers through founding a dynamic and evolving creative word ecosystem that supports and enriches all types of writers. What is the one thing you would like to accomplish while on the board? Listen more than talk. I want to be a part of a process of discovery and development of a lasting network of writers that both informs and inspires. Have you served on any other boards in the past, or belonged to any other non-profit organization(s)? Arts Council New West, Federation of BC Writers and too many more to mention.
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Royal City Literary Arts Society contest is now open and our esteemed judges for our first contest are: Non Fiction Dennis E. Bolen http://dennisbolen.com/ Fiction George Opacic www.bcwriters.ca (President of Fed of BC Writers) Poetry Eileen Kernaghan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eileen_Kernaghan email secretary@rclas.com Contest Information Submissions can be published or unpublished and poetry in any form. Can beword publishedlimit or unpublished any form. No wordthere limit for poetry, there is a limit, 1 page limit, single spaced. Fiction No for and poetry, but is abut 1 page single spaced. and non-fiction is a 1500 word limit
Fiction and non-fiction have a 1500 word limit.
A big Thank you to Ben Nuttall-Smith and George Opacic for presenting a fun and informative publishing workshop. It was well attended. Excellent for our first RCLAS workshop. It was great to see everyone scribbling down notes as they pondered the best seller in their future. Whatever route they decide to take – paper or e-book or both – they are now certainly more prepared on how to make that dream come true! Good Luck! Cheers from Janet Kvammen, RCLAS Director
Membership Application - Annual fee $25.00 Name______________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________ Telephone(s)________________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________________________ Website____________________________________________________________ Skills/Interests______________________________________________________
Genre(s) of Writing___________________________________________________
Paid by (Please mark one with an “X” Paypal ______
Mail ______
Pay by paypal on our website www.rclas.com or send cheque or money order to: RCLAS – Royal City Literary Arts Box #5 - 720 – Sixth Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 3C5 For further information: Phone – 778-714-1772 Email – secretary@rclas.com
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Who is Manolis Aligizakis?
Who? Manolis Aligizakis - Vice-President is also a writer who has written extensively for a long time, primarily poetry. He has 15 books of poetry published, in both English and in Greek. He has published three novels, two in English and one in Greek and 3 books of translation, of 20th century Greek poets from Greek into English. Manolis has appeared on radio shows and numerous poetry and prose events such as Word On The Street, Poetic Justice, Poetry in The Park, etc. He is also the president of Libros Libertad, an unorthodox publisher in BC with wide scope publishing of literary books. His work has appeared in numerous anthologies and literary magazines in North America, Australia and Europe. His work has been recognized with awards and distinctions. Is there something you would like writers to know about you? Discipline is as important as inspiration and I urge every interested person to set goals in their creative paths and always have a new one once the first one is accomplished. Why are you a director on the board? Because I believe that by being involved we present to others ideas and views at most times beneficial to both. What is the one thing you would like to accomplish while on the board? I would like to create a monthly event of poetry in translation. Poetry featuring internationally recognized and awarded poets in an English translation. Presentation of their works and discussion on it is the tool to better understanding what quality poetry is all about but also we may learn not only to appreciate that kind of poetry but to learn to write such poetry as well. www.manolis.ca www.authormanolis@wordpress.com
International Art Academy 1st World Poetry Competition "Manolis Aligizakis"
The International Art Academy invites entries from around the world for its 1st World Poetry Competition "Manolis Aligizakis". Participation is open to everyone, no restrictions based on age, nationality, location of poets. All submissions must be of unpublished poems and written in the GREEK language.
AWARDS First three prizes established and funded by Greek-Canadian poet Manolis Aligizakis
1st prize 1500 Euros and a Medal 2nd prize 1000 Euros and a Medal 3rd prize 500 euros and a Medal Other honorary prizes, distinctions and mentions will be awarded to the finalists by the International Art Academy.
Information e-mail: info@artsociety.gr artacademy@artsociety.gr web page: www.artsociety.gr/artacademy
SUBMISSION DEADLINE March 31st/2013
Quick Tips and Checks for Writers • How strong is your first line? Make sure you lead off with something that will catch an agent or editor from the very beginning. • Do you start with a dream scenario? Because that's a quick path to rejection. • Does your story have an engaging hook? • Are you telling instead of showing? Remember the old writing adage "show don't tell." • Double check your point-of-view. Make sure you don't have any errors or shifts in POV. • Make sure your characters have depth. • Is there a lack of beats for pacing and description? • Check for stilted dialogue. • Are there inadequate descriptions of characters and settings (or details that are introduced to the reader too late?) • Are you starting the main action too soon? • Are you going into flashbacks too early in the story? • Do you jump to a new viewpoint character too early? • Is there enough conflict? • Is there something at stake for your hero?
Mission Statement of Writers International Network Canada -
Foster creativity and talent through award and recognition Encourage cultural activities to inspire arts & Creative Writing Assist the Canadian writers community through networking Inspire by touching minds and hearts
The Writers International Network Canada Society (W.I.N.) is a non-profit organization registered in British Columbia. Its main objective is to discover, nourish and recognize writers, poets and artists of the world and to provide opportunities for Canadian writers to network and meet international writers and artists. It is founded by Ashok Bhargava. PROGRAM Saturday March 23, 2013 Richmond Cultural Centre 10:00 – 10:30 AM – Registration 10:30 – Hosts: Bernice Lever, Lilija Valis and Charlene Sayo Classical Dance: Arno Komalika Inspirational Speaker: Fred Wah – Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada 11:00 –Feature poets: Betty Scott, Alan Hill, Janet Kvammen, Daniela Elza, Richard Stelmach 12:00 – Music by Enrico Award Ceremony for Community Ambassadors Jai Birdi Duke Ashrafuzzaman Kuldip Jhand Deepak Sharma Mankajee Shreshtha MID-DAY BREAK 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch Break – Lunch provided 12:30 – 1:30 pm Book Bazaar / Art Display Meet and Greet and socialize & music by Enrico 1:30– Featured Poet: Eva Waldauf, Deborah Kelly, Angela Naccarato, Tanya 2:00 – Dance: Kathara Canada Dance Group Poetry Award Ceremony: Bonnie Nish Ellen Taleon Dennis E. Bolen Theresa Chevalier Candice James Lucia Gorea Srinath P. Dwivedi Valerie B-Taylor Surjeet Kalsey Dr. Rita Malhotra Babette Santos Sampaguita Line Dancers Group Photo 4:00 – 4:30 WRAP UP Book Bazaar Book signing Coffee, snacks.
Royal City Literary Arts Society And Royal City Literary Arts Society New Westminster Public Library And estminster Public Libraryworkshop present a FREE Sat March 23, 2 pm–4 pm present a FREE workshop New West Library 716 - 6 Ave New West, BC
Sat March 23, 2 pm–4 pm New West Library 716 - 6 Ave New West, BC
“From Memoir to Novel” “From Memoir to Novel”
Since James Frey published A Million Little Pieces. Memoir exposed as Fiction, Memoirs and Autobiographies (except those by and about famous personalities) have become increasingly unwelcomed by publishers. However, you can still write from your own life experiences and tell a story others will want to read and which publishers might be more willing to consider. Memoir to Novel will involve hands-on exercises in writing scenes from personal experience and translating them into story material. i.e. Your worst place scenario for description. That conversation you wish you'd had but never did. The words you didn't have the courage to say. Your weakest moment – expressing feelings through physical sensations and outward signs the reader will be able to see, taste, hear and even smell. Participants will discover the safety of acting through characters in a story. The presenter will provide brief examples of each. This workshop will also help you get started with your own fiction or nonfiction novel, whether auto-biographical or semi-biographical or a novel based on personal experience that leaves the author out of the picture. Having written a memoir was a marvelous help in crafting Blood, Feathers & Holy Men, an Historical Novel about Tenth Century Quétzalcoatl of Mexico, published by Libros Libertad January 2011.
Puns for Educated Minds 1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Circumference. He acquired his size from too much pi. 2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian. 3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still. 4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption. 5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery. 6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering. 7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart. 8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. 9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it. 10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. 11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization. 12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.' 13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. 14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
15. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. 16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran. 17. A backward poet writes inverse. 18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes. 19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion. 20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine. 21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.' 22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!' 23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too. 24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.' 25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication. 26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.
March 2013
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