NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH (OTTAWA)
NOTICES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 2017
Need more information on CAA-NCR? Visit us at http://canadianauthors.org/nationalcapitalregion/
TO ALL READERS: Please send all submissions & event notices in the body of an email; (the text needs to permit copy and paste. Exceptions: Accompanying images such as photos and book cover) to Carol Stephen at cstephen0@gmail.com
MEETINGS AND EVENTS:
CAA-NCR MEETING: TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 WITH L.D. CROSS
TOPIC: Historical Writing: Where to look for what you want, with L.D. Cross
LOCATION: McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy Street, OTTAWA 7:00 p.m.
For the writer looking for historical information, we live in a resource rich environment. Here in Ottawa we benefit from facilities supported by taxpayers across the country. Some sources are obvious, others not so. Then there is the online search – a bounty of data both factual and fictional which you need to sort out.
Research never stops. You can always learn something new about an old subject. And it is not just writers who are sleuthing out the past. Everybody is in the hunt for what happened when — financial analysts, car buyers and even scientists. But as writers we get to weave our discoveries about the past into entertaining stories that will captivate readers into the future.
“Research is what I am doing when I don’t know what I am doing” — Wernher von Braun, aerospace engineer
BIO: L.D.Cross (Dyan) is an Ottawa writer of business and lifestyle articles as well as books about unique aspects of Canadian history. Her creative non-fiction articles have received awards of excellence for features and editorial writing as well as writing for seniors.
She won the inaugural Ontario Historical Society (OHS) 2010 Huguenot Society of Canada Award honouring “the best book published in Ontario in the past three years which has brought public awareness to the principles of freedom of conscience and freedom of thought” for The Underground Railroad: the long journey to freedom in Canada in the Amazing Stories series.
FROM NIAGARA BRANCH: 
THE BANISTER 32ND ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST
The Niagara Branch of the Canadian Authors Association is holding its 32nd Annual Poetry Anthology contest for residents of Ontario. Entries must be in English, previously unpublished and not submitted for consideration elsewhere. Number of entries is unlimited, but no more than six poems from one poet will be included in the anthology. For more information go to Details. Deadline: May 31, 2017 Entry fee: $15 for up to three poems and $4 for each additional poem Prize: 1st prize: $300; 2nd prize: $200; 3rd prize $100 Details: www.canauthorsniagara.org/poetry-contest/
(Our double blind platform publishes professionals, first time authors, students and poet laureates. This year’s judge is K. V. Skene)
FROM NATIONAL: SAVE THE DATE – CANWRITE! 2017 IS COMING
We’re thrilled to tell you that CanWrite 2017! will be held June 22-25, 2017 at Humber College in Toronto. Mark your calendars, and watch your inbox for more details about the location of our venue, accommodation options, and program highlights.
OTHER WORKSHOPS
MSLEXIA FLASH FICTION WRITING WORKSHOPS
If you’re thinking of submitting to Mslexia’s Short Fiction Competition 2017, we’ve devised a set of three flash fiction workshops, specially designed to help you work on perfecting an entry (or three) for our newest competition category. To get you started, you can find the first and second workshops here.
We’re looking for normal-length stories too, if the short short format doesn’t float your boat. Visit our website for more info and to see Vanessa Gebbie’s workshops from 2016.
First prize for Short Story is £2,000 and includes two optional extras: a week’s retreat at Gladstone’s Library, and a day with a Virago editor. Five other finalists will each receive a share of the remaining prize pot. The new Flash Fiction category has a prize of £500, as well as three runner-up prizes, and all winning entries will appear alongside the Short Story winners in the June 2017 issue of Mslexia.
Judging the longer stories this year is twice Booker-shortlisted novelist and short story author Deborah Levy, whose novel Hot Milk came out last year. Our new Flash Fiction category is being judged by award-winning flash fiction writer and novelist Kit de Waal, whose début novel My Name is Leon was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award in 2016.
Once you have your story ready, full details of how to enter are here. If you have any questions, our website has a full list of FAQs and advice about entering online, or you can always call us on 0191 204 8860 to speak to a real human being.
WRITESCAPE SPRING THAW 2017 APRIL 21-23, OR APRIL 21-25, 2017
Looking for writing time? Polishing a project? Don’t miss Spring Thaw.
This all-inclusive writing retreat is held at the fabulous Elmhirst’s Resort on Rice Lake in Keene. Stay for the weekend or treat yourself to an extra two days of writing.
- 10-page manuscript evaluation with written feedback from Ruth and Gwynn
- one-on-one consultation with either Gwynn or Ruth
- private writing time
- optional daytime creativity sessions to fire up your pen
- a companion workbook with inspiration, prompts and supports
- optional evening activities to network and share ideas and inspiration with retreat colleagues
- comfortable cottages with wood-burning fireplace
- first-class amenities and delicious meals
More info: http://writescape.ca/site/2016/01/spring-thaw-retreat/
SUBMISSION CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES
OTTAWA SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES
Links to contests and submission calls visit CAA-NCR website here: http://canadianauthors.org/nationalcapitalregion/contests/writing-contests-calls-for-submission/
BYWORDS.CA SUBMISSION CALL TO CURRENT AND FORMER OTTAWA POETS
DEADLINE: The 15th of every month for the following month’s issue.
Bywords.ca considers previously unpublished poetry from emerging and established poets for our online monthly magazine. We consider work by current and former residents, students and workers of Ottawa. We also publish poems by contributors to our predecessor, the Bywords Monthly Magazine. FOR SUBMISSION INFO: www.bywords.ca and click on Guidelines. Amanda Earl, Managing Editor. Ottawans & former Ottawans, we want yr poems. guidelines @ Bywords.ca #wewantyrbywords #ottpoetry #613local #submissions PRT Bywords.ca’s literary events calendar here: http://www.bywords.ca/calendar/index.php with up-to-date info on NCR readings, book signings, writers’ circles, literary festivals, spoken word showcases & slams. Event submissions can be sent to events@bywords.ca
From Mslexia: Women’s Short Fiction Competition 2017 – Flash Fiction £5.00 1st Prize: £500 Three other finalists will each receive £50. All four winning stories will be published in the June issue of Mslexia. Judge: Kit de Waal Fee: £5 per story Closing date: 20 March 2017
Women’s Short Fiction Competition 2017 – Short Story £10.00 1st Prize: £2,000 Plus two optional extras: a week’s writing retreat at Gladstone Library, and a day with an editor at Virago Press. Three other finalists will each receive £100. All four winning stories will be published in the June issue of Mslexia. Judge: Deborah Levy Fee: £10 per story Closing date: 20 March 2017 More info at MSLEXIA: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/
Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Contest Entry fee: $10 per poem. Cash Prizes: $1600: $300 first place, $200 second place, $100 third place, 8 honourable mentions of $75, 8 judge’s choice of $50. Complimentary anthology, trophy, and award ceremony during the Spring Pulse Poetry Festival. Final received submissions deadline: Friday March 31, 2017. Visit www.springpulsepoetryfestival.com for further info and rules. Enquires: Send to David Brydges mybrydges@yahoo.ca
The Audrey Jessup Short Story Contest, 2017, Closing Date April 1, 2017. The Audrey Jessup Short Story Contest is held annually by the Capital Crime Writers. It is open to all residents of the National Capital Region aged 18 + and to all members of Capital Crime Writers. In addition, a critiquing service is offered for an extra fee. Stories must be: Original unpublished fiction. Feature a crime. No more than 3500 words in English. Typed double-spaced on white paper. The author’s name must not appear in the story. Submissions that identify the author in the pages of the story will be rejected. Identifying information must only be found on a separate cover page, which must include: your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, story title an accurate word count. There is a limit of one submission per author. For submission and further details: For more information: E-mail: filteaupat@gmail.com Website: http://capitalcrimewriters.com/events-contests/the-audrey-contest/
Montreal International Poetry Prize has launched again. Help make our fourth competition a success! We know that all of you all over the world have been making poems and we want to read them. The prize: $20,000. The 2017 Prize Judge: Montreal’s own, Michael Harris! And the 10 international jurors for 2017 are Kim Addonizio from the USA, David Dabydeen of Guyana, Vona Groarke of Ireland, Susan Nalugwa Kiguli of Uganda, Arvind Krishna Mehrotra of India, Pascale Petit of the UK, Talya Rubin of Canada, Carmine Starnino of Canada, Mark Tredinnick of Australia and Joseph Akawu Ushie of Nigeria.
The final deadline is May 15, but we encourage entries before March 31st. Online entries only: www.montrealprize.com
The 11th Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is now open for entries, presenting an opportunity for emerging and established writers and poets to showcase their work to new international audiences and further their involvement in the literary world. The award is an internationally renowned prize presented by Aesthetica Magazine. Enter your poetry or short fiction for a chance to be one of 60 writers published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual – an outstanding collection of the best in new writing. Prizes include: £1,000 Poetry Winner, £1,000 Short Fiction Winner, Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual for 60 finalists. Consultation with Redhammer Management (Short Fiction Winner) Full Membership to The Poetry Society (Poetry Winner) Selection of books courtesy of Bloodaxe and Vintage One year subscription to Granta Short Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines. Works previously published are accepted. Deadline for submissions is 31 August 2017. For full entry requirements and to submit, visit www.aestheticamagazine.com/cwa
OUT AND ABOUT IN TOWN
MEETINGS, BOOK LAUNCHES AND POETRY READINGS
Tree Reading Series, Tuesday, Mar. 14, 2017 at the Black Squirrel 1073 Bank St. Ottawa, 6:45 pm. Workshop Topic to be announced with Stephen Brockwell 8:00p Readings – Open Mic and Featured Readers Sarah Burgoyne and Stephen Brockwell treereadingseries.ca/
- Live Poets Society February Fire Filled Wordfest Competitive Slam Friday Mar.24, 2017 Coutts Roastery & Café, 57 Gore ST. East, Perth, Ont. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7. $5.00 admission, performers free. Last competitive slam before the finals.
VERSeFest, OTTAWA’S INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL RETURNS!
VERSeFest, Ottawa’s International Poetry Festival returns for an eclectic mix of written and spoken word poetry Tuesday, March 21 to Sunday, March 26, 2017. 60 poets. 6 days. 1 festival. All events take place at Knox Presbyterian Church (120 Lisgar St.) unless specified otherwise below. See versefest.ca for tickets and info.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
7:00 pm: Opening Showcase – Zachary Richard, Carolyn Smart, Steven Collis
9:00 pm: Urban Legends – Carlos Gomez, K’ayla Fraser, CannonX2
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
7:00 pm: Tree Reading Series – bill bissett, Madhur Anand, Christian Milat
9:00 pm: VF showcase – Paisley Rekdal, Tereza Riedlbauchova, Brandon Wint
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Offsite: LIVE! On Elgin, 220 Elgin Street, 2nd floor
10:30 pm: Rhizome
Thursday, March 23, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
7:00 pm: Verse Voices – Eva HD, Michel Côté, Michael Dennis, Andre Narbonne
9:00 pm: Blue Mondays and In/Words – Kayla Czaga, Ali Blythe, Allesia de Cesare, Dominique Langlois
Friday, March 24, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
7:00 pm: Plan 99 – Moez Surani, Greg Scofield, and Sharon McCartney
9:00 pm: Capital Slam hosts a local slam featuring Amélie Prévost
Saturday, March 25, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
1:00 pm: Factory Reading Series presents lectures by Marilyn Irwin and Faizal Deen
3:00 pm: Translation Panel with Chus Pato, Patrick Friesen, Erin Mouré, Ulrikke Gernes, and Lisa Robertson
4:30 pm: Fire and Ice – Barâa Arrar, Truth is, LouNat, Beth-Anne
7:00 pm: Railroad Reading Series – Alan Gillis, Leanne O’Sullivan, Jordan Abel
9:00 pm: Ottawa International Writers Showcase – Ulrikke Gernes, Chus Pato, Erin Mouré, and Patrick Friesen
Sunday, March 26, 2017 Offsite – Pressed, 750 Gladstone Ave
1:00 pm: Kado – Marco Fraticelli, Maxianne Berger
Sunday, March 26, 2017 – Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar St.
1:00 pm: NCR showcase – Mark Frutkin, Sandra Ridley, Guy Jean, Angele Bassole OueDraogo
3:00 pm: Arc Poetry Magazine – Robyn Sarah, Jill Jorgenson, Phoebe Wang, Lisa Robertson
4:30 pm: Student Showcase – Frédérique Champage, Evan Hoskins, Gabrielle Tardif, Lauren Stiers
7:00 pm: Poet Laureate ceremony and readings with guest Mark Doty
9:00 pm: Sawdust Reading Series – Steven Heighton and Louis Bertholom
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