December 1985
tfw FederatLon of BrLtisfr Eotumbia Uritars News[etter
NEWS FROM THE EXECUTIVE November
20
The latest Council meeting was held for
the first time in our new offices in the Vancouver
Block
at 126 - 736 Granville StreeL The office hours vary and the phone number
is 683-2057. Our proper mailing ad-
dress remains the PO
Box number, however.
WORDFROMTTIECHAIR With the office rented, reasonably fumished and staffe4 it's time to look beyond our immediate needs. New member's applications arB ssming in at a steady rate, and there's still lots of work to be done in establishing the Federation as the voice of the province's writers. Several letten went out receutly with the intent to further that end. Perhaps the most importaDt was to the Cultural Services Branch in Vicloria to prcpose a Dew method of selecting book titles for provincial subsidy. We suggested that a new Board be established for this purpose, and that it be composed of two publishers, two writers (each with at least two books !o their credit), and a librarian. This body would then come to lhe ministry with a proposal as to who should receive a subsidy. Another letter went to James Chabot, the Minister of Government Smirices, tying the Federation's wagon to the aDnouncement that a new trade office is being opened by the province, iu West Germany. In it we propose that culture be an integral part of the new office and specifically, that books by B.C. authors, as well as B.C. magazinss ao6 B.C.- made books be readily available there. A copy of our letter to Victoria was sent !o the Association of Book Publishers of B.C., and we hope that they loo will take time to write trc Victoria on this subject. CHUM, the radio chain thatincludes CFUN in Vmcouver has applied !o the CRTC for a new channel, to be called a significant focus on the arts in B.C. Adopting the slogan "Make the Arts a Pafi of Your Life," will be a series entitled AfisFACT, devoting an annual $lfi),fiX) to "Canadian creative talent working in the Vancouver area" and, among other thiogs, 13 hours of original radio drama. We strongly concur that they should be favoured over a proposed country-music application, and will be telling the CRTC just that, this December.
AKTZr which will offer
****t*****tt**i***tt**+*
Oct.
18 A wildly
successful award night saw out-of-
towners squeezed in at the last minute after all the official tickets to the evening ofpresentations, buffet dinner and music were long sold out. More than 300 members of B.C.'s writing and publishing community etrjoyed Vicky Gabereau's delightful emceeing and rubbed elbows with each other in a seating arrangement that wisely broke up possible cliques and allowed some healthy networking to go on. According 0o Trevor Carolan, a giveu table might find a writer, a bookseller, a librarian, a publicisl and a poet thrown logether. Among the surprises of the evening was the presence of the great Haida artist Bitl Reid. James Chabot
and Tom Fielding rcpresented Culhral Services in Victori4 and Ald. Marguerite Ford of Vancouver.
However, the main eventresulted in ttre prizes being awarded as follows: - Roderick Haig-Browu Regional Prize: Hilary Stewart's Cedar - Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize: Audrey Thomas's Inteftidal Life - Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize:
David Ricardo Williams' Du.,ff - Bill Duthie Booksellet's Prize (a citation) Is/zn/s on thz Edoe Our proposed Sumner Wrilers' Retreat is now being viewed with considerable sympathy by Victoria for which money cm probably be found, and which the Fed. would certainly like to help organize. It's just the kind of thing for which we were established. (If you have the kind of skills/interests which are suited to such a project coniact the office, as it involves many aspects, aod even a li$le time/help can go a long way!) Keep your
-
eye on this newsletter for further developments.
But potentially the most far-reaching proposal is still in its planning srages. Even before Crawford Killian souded an alarm in the Vancouver Province of Nov. 10th, about disastrously falling English standards, we began working on a scheme to use writers (...p.2..)
********r****t*r*******i**t****
Saturday, December 14 is the Federation's Open Hlurse at the new office. Take some time out your Holiday shopping and drop in to see us. We'll be open from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. #126 - 736 Gmnville, just south of Scyntour
of
(WOfd ffOm the Chaif...)
asresourcepeopleinourclassroo'rlr.
Itsuremake
of us
to be consulted? In no tras Ueen using the language as a working lool - arcu't we the ones subject by show a living Eoglish make help is to supplant the classroom teacher the idea out with Shakespeare' die didn't English that and language around who make their living by using prog:am would probably have to stsaddle two a such for firnding is that one There are a few hitches, though. ministry guads its domain, a coneach how Kaowing Education. and -- culffal services
government departments siderable amount of diplomacy will be required. do and what qualifications they The oher is the fact that we actually know very liBle about what our members year, for which some funding new the in Members'Directory extensive an have. Thats why we will begin coEpiling has already come through (See notice below). year! me wish you all a Merry Christmas and no rejection slips at all next Thats about iL
Irt
F
urther N ote s, from
HEU I4ET'EENS
T rev or...
Our latest success has been the planoing and initiation of our new public readings series in Vancouver' First up were George Faludy & Robin Skelton. on Sunday Nov. 10. Faludy is a wonderfully lyrical writer md his new translations, rendered by Skelton, made for a firstclass reading at the Olarsical Joidl in Gastown. This 'joint'veuture will contioue into the Spring' and we are
hoprng to evenhrally make Thursdays a regular feature once a month. The next Federation-sponsored reading is on December 12, with fiuther dates January 23 and Feb-
ruary 19 (See Euents colum for details). Other activity to date has included meetings with the Vancouver Arts Couocil, who have splendid new premises courtesy of the City, on Davie Strreet neu Homby' The way sees$ clear for regular literary eveDts at this attractive location, and both Women & Words od the Kootenay School of Writing are also plugged into ttre early planning' We are hoping that the 1986 Federation AGM will be held there in late April in conjunction with a writers'conference. The idea is !o invile other orgauizations, such as Women & Words, PWAC, the Kootenay School, the Poets' Irague, etc., to mouot heir own workshops, readings and so forth, under the Federation umbrella concurrent
with
AGM activities.
If you want to see a specific evEnVwortshoP
haPPeD'
We're gening preBy haody at Putting on events and we want this one to be a hit Initial ideas include a Computer/Wordprocessing-for-Writers aftemoon ; a literary translation workshop; something by the Freelance Editon Association; and of couse, the ever-popular
let us
kpow.
theme of
geting Published.
The Executive is also interested in mounting one or
nro Outreach Wortshops for the Spring, soEewhere Ollllin or ddg Grâ‚Źater Vmcouver. If you want to participate facilicate a workshop in your community, put your ideas togethe'r and give a Yell.
\ q,
I
ld
JwrDrM.
Trev Eocohn
A heuty welcome !o the following writers: Anica Trqssider, Victoria: CAA member
Birgit Schinke' Vancouver Donna Petsyna" Vancouver Eric Newsome, Abbotsford Frances Johnson, MaPle Ridge
Fritz Mifller, Tatlayoko Lake Ian Kluge, Fraser Lake: Ian is interested in experim tal literahre and is seeking contact with other writers in that line. Joyce White, Gabriola Island
K.G. Phillips, Vancouver laurcl Morris, Tenace: poetry/short slories Lsna Bennett Norttr Vancouver
Iowell Naeve, CaoYon Melodie Corrigal, Vocouver Ruth Scott PhilP: short stories, reviews, poetry Serena Gibso4 Vancouver Warren Damer, KamlooPs Srliltam Allistet Delta novels, radio, Winnifred Girdwood, Vancouver
fito'
magazn
And for all you out there in wordprocessor land, a 1 position that came olu way via k.o. kanne: "Wish to meet someone interested in turning : excess of material into a 'commercial' book or 50/50 split oo returns basis: about the people working at a unique colonial-times diamond r near Lake Vicoria in tropical Africa - with a the suspicions, tensions, thieving, etc., the fuI
gamut of human social and anti-social behavir of 18 whites md thousands of black people"' According to k.o., the project benters around this p culady ecceutic real-life character, who I feel wou make a great slory even just ou his own" Contact BObedG'BennetL Box 4798, Vancouver'
if this
interests You.
3
0slsuUsr of l[it*rsry @trmts
ffish ffiublfcstrons
Thursdays at the Classical Joint
Press Porc6pic recently released an SF antho-
at 8:15 pm, 231
Dec.12
Jan.23
Feb. 19
Curall Sheet in Gastown Carolyn Tnnulo, TrevorCarolan & Peter Trower read poeuy from their
logy, TESSERACTS, edited by Judith Merrill and including all-new Canadian stories by
latest books
William Gibson (Nebula winner).
such authors as Eileen Kernaghan, Rhea Rose A quality paperback selling for $9.95.
Robert Harlow, Sandy Duncan & Joanna Beyen read mostly fiction
TBA (will
Two ol otrr poets lro;ve r&lrszd. rpw boo[^s:
be in the Joint's calendar)
Carolyn Zonailo's COMPENDIUM is a collection of intimate poetry about love & hard times.
(all Federation-sponsored)
Trevor Carolan's CIJOSING TIm CIRCUE is based on extensive travel experiences in Asia and on his undentanding of Zen.
at the Burnaby Art Gallery ftom24 pmon Sunday Dec 8
Both by the Heron Press,98.95.
CHII-DREN'S STORIES Fractured fairytales and other highly original stories by Annie Boulanger.
DavidWatmough's recent book VANCOUVER FICTION contains three exerpts from novelists Betty Lambert (Crossing),Hubert Evans, and Keittr Maillar4 plus stories by six newcomers and 4 well-tnown favourites: Rule, Thomas, Fraser, and Watmough himself.
MEMBERS!! REGIONAL REPS!! Please send us information about events OUTSIDE the Vancouver area. We have no way of knowing wittrout your input. Our next issue will be going out in mid-March, so send us your news & views by-------Eeb_15-E6-
Polestar Press, $12.95.
lf
yow(uve lust gr.6ttsW,, drop us oltne o;nd, grcn'rotz gottr l,otert wd, grrn;tzst tn fiw verg traxt, rpwstcller (oc wlvrver gou'd. ll.hl.ll,
we'll
Membership 0irectorg This long-awaited projectgets underway in mid-January. You'll be canvassed by mail in the next few weeks, about your skills, experience' and special talents. The idea is to put together a Yellow Pages-type directory of all the writers in the Fed., od then to send this Directory to evef,y editor, publisher, and school board in the province. We can't think of a better way to drum up work for our members than by taking our show on the road. If you want to be included and why not? - keep an eye out for the information request form and send it back promptly. We're still working out the fire details of this project, eg cross-referencing of subjects, skills and names, etc, so if you have a good idea or two about what you'd like to see in.the Directory, let us -- lrevor
-
know!
Headaches t? llassles? At the urging of Ross Wesergaar4 the Federation office is now filing complaints by writers 4gainst specific publishers who, for vaiout rea.lxtn$ have caused grievaoce in their dealings with Federation members. If you wish to Eotify colbagues of unprofessional business practice by publishers/edilon, this is your opportunity. Nevertheless, forewqoed is fqeured: most hassles arise out of a lack of commuoication. It is a fact that writers, generally sPeiking od most rtists, for that nrrter, ae not terribly astute business people. That's what agenB are for, if you have one! However, if you fail to receive a respo'nse to your query, write again if it's that important; or better ye! call if you can afford to. The complaints file reseryes the right to hear both sides of a grievance beforc publishiog news of Bad Business Dalings. Ilst but not least, let your colleagues how whcn you receive very good treatmeot, too. We will not file such information from you, but why not pass the word along penonally, wheuever possible?
-
-
4 s,
es
rc
including
well watrt
' g evetrts drew people ftom ling people response we of kind the is This membership Victoria, Langley and Abbotsford' our in *o professional know-how of those ftom 1'" many areas of the pi"io"" to benefit from who are io the business for many
'tiu'
years'
..,- rrana r^ n,rr nn en even mo* successful ooe in the Spring" withtheexperieucegainedftomthisseries,wehopetoputonaneven - Elizabeh Alke for your support! o-p;o ro, dates, etr, an<l thanks Keep your eye, -a
"ar,
"Now we
arefour"'" mugh for
has done so following letter from k.o. kanne, who It was with regret that we received the of orn growth' A extent the of ro.*o,ion also h;i;;; is letter her yet, And the Federation. " vote of thanks to You, k'o'! "Dear Members:
to step down from my involvement foreip act Amost' on my part' as it
B 1
level with the Federation of here around four yean that
on has
years I nanaged ioto tlt" organization' During :hose the oo my holiday writing "o"'gy own my in counselinfand doing of feeding myself by working fuu-time our contract with anada Couicil' Recently' howevet' blessed sabbatical This particular upheaval has work' new find to the need f an fet
I
Human
Resources
'"itf'
nore in other spheres' ,'Thisshifthasalsogivenmettretimeto,""ogoi,"ttregreatctrangesthathaveoccurredintheFederation well the
is needed made me reali znthatmy energy
Itow you'' remember only too comPete with other coltorul Braoch. while we i no way
*'.," o"i"a
you *rr" sioce the beginuing. For all of the s.c. from lack of funds and recognition
*rat
filt
have ;:t#HlirT.l,:HItlI# was
provinciar sroups' we stn
which in
rrre
beginning
t"l.*-Xliilf;fflT; ,
aso' we
also
of
t
C.
hoping
aPaidPo ,,To alr
good and $eatfunre
are
:e' at last' ago' And ! executive meeting so long
[tlill.'"?;llt-l"lJ?'i,*";',1,t, as a reuewable
aod vision
:"'ffi;*
which are also areas in whrcn
;:"J an impact on
pat conribution of writers and
do'
reso
ffi*:Hlff"thaving
"ars the rest of the couutry as well' with
poli bor publishers ftom B'C' to our cu "These were but a few of 1 dect
#1r|3:t#j;;IJffiTJ*' !)
rvactiveregionar
:
the formulation of cultnral We have, for the first time,
there are stil maov others to effort to achieve' I do not
year'
Derv! D'nu *J;;;;sultatory nave bee,n I have -
s
province. rhere
as capacity and these I will continue
can be gi ederation ,I wish a to become struggle continued the in "**'"ra"o"rr,
E.o. funtP
.,And if
well' I
am
the possibility
!
whoml worte4 I wish a
5
Eo fflsrh+t, to fflflrh+t
Fnofess[oma[ Suppont Anyone interested in joining the Canadian Poets'Ass'n, write for membenhip application form and details to: P.O. Box 794 Station F, Toronto M5S 2Y4
ARC, a quarterly produced by UBC English studenrs, waots poetry, fiction and litcrit by students, or "ARC
'
for ARC's sake."Rm. 397 Buchanan Tower, UBC, Van.
Ann Yates is available to do professional editing, and may be contacted at SONO NIS hess, 1745 Blanshard St.,
MOUNTAIN NEWS editorDavid Milligan iawilling pay 5Slw for articles and purchase 2nd & 3rd rights
Vicroria V8W 2J8
for reprint possibilities. Circ: 40,000; 5 issues/yr. "Quality witing that will excite , ioterest & inforrr
Lel lheir fingers do lhe walking!
:
r.rc
people who enjoy & care about the outdoors." Write for guidelines: 1615 W. 4th, Vancouver V6J lL8
Marlene Adam offen professional typing service to writers, using a wordprocessor at 100wpm. She will do editing and automatic spell-checks, all for $12.50/hr. Call 875-8639, eves. and weekeads, in Vaocouver.
POETRY in notionfor an anthology on sports, incl. illustrations: Gary Pennington, UBC Faculty of Education, Vancouver,Y6T (pub/unpub ok)
LZ7.
Diane Giroux operates her A-Z Typing from 3634 Main in Vancouver (873-5750). Bilingual service at $14lhr and 90wpm on an IBM r"11-"qrresting machine.
St
Lynda Tomson (585-3903 in Surrey) charges $1.25ipg for mss over 10,000w (approx. $3.10/1000w), and $150/pg for smaller mss. Mail service is also available.
Woman to Wonan, a new lifestyles magazine, is looking for short stories 5 20(X)w for monthly publication. Queries on 20G850w articles on news/human interest featuring women's fves also welcome, if accompanied by resum4writing samples: Assoc-Ed = S. Massingham-Pierce, 1600 W 6th Ave., Vancouver
V6J lR3 or telephone 136-AB. The NANAIMO Writen'Group meets every Thunday from l1:3G1:00pm, alteruating between joining the CrWr Club at Malaspina College (lst & 3rd), and Bowen Park Complex (2od & 4th). The grcup averages 8 a session and includes some over-60 writen. If you want to how more, drop into the Bastion Street Bookstore or phone 753-3011.
Mark August 15, 16 & 17, t986 on your calendar for the FOURTH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE WRITIEN ARTS put on by the Suncoast Wrilers' Forge. Contact the pres., Betry Keller ar Box 2154, Sechelt VON 3A0. The PACIFIC NORTHWEST WRITERS' CONFERENCE is scheduled for March 8&9 in Seatrle. Includes three one{ay
work shops for high-school aged writers. For information: PNIVC Secretary, 1881 NE l99th Strreet, Seafle WA 98155 For SF writen, we have received a copy of Maole ["eaf Rag from Garth Spencer. as well as a solid article on the history and progress of the
Coadian SF & Fantasy Award. If you
HORSDAL & SHUBART Pubs. Ltd., Box 1, Ganges BC, VOS 1E0, is interested in non-fiction, especially biography & history. (No poetry, kids'stuff, fic!). PRFSS PORCEPIC is accepting mss for young readers, esp. 8-12yrs, dealing with contemporary issues both
thought-provoking & entertaining, and non-sexist.
Kelly Allen, ed,,235-560 Johnson, Vicloria V9W 3C6 Nick Kendall of the CBC wants Canadian s. stories, pub/unpub, revolving around a holiday or special occasion, writtâ&#x201A;Źa for a small cas! for 1/2 tr films. #201-3880 Point Grey Road, Vancouver, V6R lB4 Over 10,000 readers enjoy Arts & Crafts News. a quarterly out of Bumaby. Submissions should feature arts-rclatâ&#x201A;Źd theme: profiles, reviews, reports
& gen. interest stories that concern the arts community. Call Laura MacMaster at the Bby. on eveDts,
would like a copy of MLR, contaot Garth at LZ96 Richardson St., Victoria V8V 3El. The history will be kept on file and
Arts Councit 298-7322.
photocopies can be made if you wish to remit us postage and $1.00 for copying charges. r.o;rthl
nOmtNCE lrrORLD, 90 Gulliver, Toronto M6M 2M6
rffie,
Cad)'a'tt Attt[pts'issoclotlor IJtototg,lperds entfieS are due December 31sL For information please write to 24 Ryersoo Avenue, Toronto M5T 2P3 OR drop into the Fed office at L?5 - 736 Granville Street!
-
2nd Rev'd Ed. of Poetry Mrkets in Canada now 95, from lrague of Canadim Poets, 24 Ryenon, Toronto MsT 2p3. New: on French-laoguage mags, foreign, & kids'markets.
is a oew publication for romance readers & writers. Poety (to 20 lines), stories (to 3500w), novelettes (to 7200w). Sample copy $4; free brochure.
Wlggansnatch seeks fantasy, speculative fiction & horror ss, dream writing, epiphanies, '& other trips outside consensual reality.' Pays in copies. Write: James Moore, ed, PO Box 20061, Seattle,
WA 98102
Lislen to COOP Radio's VANLIT, Moos 9pm l02.7FMl
6 Credits for this issue Elfreida Read & Muriel Maclean compiled this issue of WORD WORKS. Lidia Wolanskyj put the pieces roge_ ther on an Apple Macintosh. A Laserprinter gave it the finishing toucheb. If you have com_ments &/or ma_ terials for our uext issue, send them in by FEBRUARy
BANFF LIFE wants fiction (ro 20O0w), short-shorts & short poems for filler, set in the Wes! pref. in Alberia Rockies! 2G309/w. ED: Carolp Fleming, Box 23g0, Banff TOL 0C0 CANNON PRESS. Box 912 Station A, Hamitlea LEM 3C5 needs sbry-poems for a 1986 anthology, by end Dec 19g5. Accep_ ting poetry mss (2440pp) for a new series. Jeff Seffinga,ed.
15, 1986.
----sw
you i,rr
MARCH :86!---------
TESSERA's intent is to bring theoretical & experimental uniting of Qu6b6coise & English-Canadian feminists together, & encour4ge feminist dialogue in literary criticism across Caoada. Focus is on writing & language used by or images or womeu. Copies of issues avaitable
::3":
*t:*'.
",::
I
for $3 at TEssune, Oept or Engtish,
:"^9"i-t
I
1rmtr IFEDtrreATn@N @F tsrnnsk coilwnmbwwRltrtrRs
IN CONJUNCTION WTTI{ THE VANCOUVER CENTENNIAL
the
@f B@Wnrtirt66"
Paft 2 The Federation of BC writers announces the second part of their Centennial project to all
of prose and poetry in British Columbia.
writers
15 poems and 15 short prose pieces will be from among the first 100 submissions received durin! the T w O selected final call periods, for a further 30 winners. All winners will be invited to a Literary Celebration in the fall of 1986, in honour of Vancouver's Centennial, wneie each will be able to read at a public and well-publicized event and will be given a cash prize of $50. CONDITIONS
METIIOD OF SELECTION
1) Call periods:
l)
The first 100 qualifying ms. received will be photo_ copied and arranged into a folio which will then be senr
January 15 - March 15, 1985: pOETRy only March 15 - May 15, 1986: pROSE only
out to each of the first 100 qualifying entrants without
These are the final two call periods for this coatesl Submissions are accepted thmughout each period. 2) Submissioos: (only I percallperiod)
aoy names attached.
2) Each eotrant will then read and adjudicate the folio, record on a prc-printed list their 15 top choices, and return the list by a given date. 3) All 100 lists will be compiled and the 15 pieces of writing that gamered the most'votes' from among the
POETRY: I page to a maximum of 26 lines PROSE: 3 pages to a maximum of gfi) words 3) All eutries must be typed double-spaced ou g.5 x ll', white paper, aod include the writer's name and address ON THE BACK of each page. Covering lerer, pseudonym and SASE are NOT required. 4) All entrants must be residents of British Columbia. Those who arâ&#x201A;Ź Dot members of the Federation are asked to add a $5 handling fee, which will be applied towards membenhip ia the Federation if a completed applicati'on is attached to their submission.
lfi) adjudicator-enFants, will be declared winners. 4) The process will be repeated for each call period. The final list of 30 poets and 30 prose writers will be
announced by July 1, 1986. 5) Winners will be notified and invited to partake in a week-long celebration of BC literary achievements, during the fall of 1986. A small tund will be available to partially subsidize out-of-town travelling expenses.
MAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS TO: Federation of British Columbia Writen Centennial project clo 4007 West 12th Avenue Vancouver V6R 2p4 Send queries
city of thc ccntury
&
correspondence
NoT
to contest address but !o:
P.o. Box246?lstation C, vancouver v5T 4E2)
J rI