NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH (OTTAWA)
NOTICES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 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, APRIL 11, 2017
TOPIC: MODERNISM AND MICRO-FICTION IN CREATIVE WRITING, WITH CYRIL DABYDEEN
TIME: 7:00 p.m. LOCATION: McNabb Community Center, Percy St. at Gladstone
Cyril will focus on some modern trends in writing, and ask the question: Does length really matter? He will dwell on the intersections between poetry and short fiction and the opportunities that arise for creative writers reflecting on the many possibilities, as well as the challenges of changing genres and voice, and the notions of plot, beginning and closure in the short-story form.
BIO: Cyril Dabydeen teaches Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa, and is a former Poet Laureate of Ottawa (1984-87). His work has appeared in over 60 literary magazines and anthologies world-wide. He has done more than 300 readings internationally and was twice adjudicated for the Governor General Award (Poetry) and the USA Neustadt Prize for Literature (UOklahoma) in 2000.
CAA-NCR SPRING WORKSHOP: THE WRITER’S JOURNEY, WITH CAROLINE PIGNAT In cooperation with the Ottawa Writer’s Circle
Date: Sunday, April 23 Time: 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Place: James Street Pub, Bank Street at James Street, OTTAWA
Cost: 25% discount for members of the Canadian Authors Association
$15.00 for members of CAA $20.00 for non-members
This workshop is an expanded version of the presentation that Caroline Pignat made to the brave souls who managed to make it through a snowstorm to our January meeting. (Snow was Tuesday theme this year.) Since her presentation was so valuable but so many people missed it because of the weather, we invited her back to talk about the writer’s journey.
Stuck at a threshold? In need of a mentor? Dreading your dragon? Wherever we are in our writing careers, writing takes courage—and lots of it. Asking ourselves the right questions can help us forge ahead and claim that treasure. Join two-time Governor General’s Award-winner, author and teacher Caroline Pignat as she explores the call, challenges, and adventure of writing. Our voices, our stories, our ends and means may differ, but every Writer’s Journey is truly a Hero’s Journey. Register: Send an email to NCRadmin@canadianauthors.org Registrants may pay by cheque, cash, or e-transfer.
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
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. More info: http://writescape.ca/site/2016/01/spring-thaw-retreat/
BANFF CENTRE FALL PROGRAMS 
Fall Programs Opening for Application this SpringIn addition to Emerging Writers Intensive and Mountain and Wilderness Writing, we’re excited to be running a thematic residency on race and literature this September, and an intensive on investigative journalism in the age of illiberalism. We’re also thrilled to present an accompanying summit on the role of the writer in relation to democracy over the weekend of October 20. Stay tuned to our website for more information. Browse Programs
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
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
MSLEXIA’S POETRY AND PAMPHLET COMPETITIONS NOW OPEN! NEW
This year the Poetry Competition for single poems will be judged by renowned Northern Irish poet Sinéad Morrissey. The first prize is a show-stopping £2,000 – plus two optional extras: a week’s writing retreat at the idyllic Cove Park, Scotland’s International Artist Residency Centre, and a mentoring afternoon with Amy Wack, poetry editor at Seren. Other winners will receive a share of the remaining £1,025 prize pot, and all winning poems will be published in the September 2017 issue of Mslexia.
Plus, we’re once again offering a special prize for the best poem by an unpublished woman poet. So if you’re an early-career writer who’s looking to see their work in print and pocket a tidy £500, this prize is especially for you.
If you already have a shoebox full of poems why not consolidate them into a collection and enter our annual Poetry Pamphlet Competition? For collections of 20-24 pages of 18-20 poems, the first prize is the publication of the pamphlet by Seren Books, plus £250, 25 complimentary copies of the pamphlet and royalties from all subsequent sales. If you’ve never had a full-length collection published and want to take your work to the next level, this is the competition for you. The deadline for both competitions is 19 June 2017, so there’s still plenty of time to decide which poem/s to enter – or to write something new.
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, Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Black Squirrel 1073 Bank St. Ottawa, Paul Dutton + Sandra Ridley 6:45p Workshop – Fall Awake Mid-Sentence: The Poetry of Alice Oswald with Deanna Young 8:00p readings – Open Mic and Featured Readers treereadingseries.ca
- Ottawa Independent Writers Meeting Time and Place: 6:30 pm. Hintonburg Community Centre, 1064 Wellington St. W, Ottawa. $10 for guests; coffee, tea & nibbles April 18 – Brenda Chapman – Crime Writing Web: www.oiw.ca/ Email: randyray@rogers.com
- Tree Reading Series, Tuesday Apr 25, 2017 at the Black Squirrel 1073 Bank St. Ottawa, Marty Gervais + Roger Nash + Tree Chapbook Winner 6:45 p Workshop: Writing Terminals with Claudia Coutu Radmore. 8:oo p Open Mic, Featured Readers and Tree Chapbook Winner treereadingseries.ca
- LANARK COUNTY Live Poets 2017 FINAL SLAM AND TEAM SELECTION May 5th Doors at 7 Show at 7:30 Johnny McRae from BC to Host and Feature!!! 125 Gore St East Perth- McMarin House. Invitational Team choosing Final Slam $10 entry for non-competitors. Hope to see you there!
OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL: SPRING 2017
WEB: WWW.WRITERSFESTIVAL.ORG/ SEE SITE FOR TICKET AND VENUE INFO
- April 27 – 6:30 PM: A Woman’s Work with Raiyah Patel, Sandra Perron and Monia Mazigh; 8:30 PM: One Day This Will Matter with Scaachi Koul
- April 28 – Noon: Children’s Literature from Ireland with Deirdre Sullivan, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick and Oisin McGann; 6:30 PM: The Bond Between Us with Claire Cameron and Barbara Gowdy; 8:30 PM: At Home In the World with Mary Walsh and Heather O’Neill
- April 29 – 2:00 PM: Written in the Body: A performance by Jan Andrews; 4:00 PM: 150 YEARS OF GREAT CANADIAN STORYTELLERS: A new stage performance by Douglas Gibson; 5:00 PM (Manx): Plan 99 Poetry with Kevin Connolly, Aisha Sasha John and Cassidy McFadzean; 6:30 PM: The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself with Sean Carroll; 8:30 PM: This is an Uprising with Mark Engler
- April 30 – NOON: The Science of Why with Jay Ingram Hosted by Stephen Brockwell; 2:00 PM: Bridging the Diaspora Divide with Stephen Orlov and Samah Sabawi; 4:00 PM: Book Launch: The Muslimah who Fell to Earth with Ferrukh Faruqui, Janetta Munirah Maclean, Hanan Abdulmalik and Saima Hussain; 5:00 PM (Manx): Plan 99 Prose with Ray Robertson and Carys Davies; 6:30 PM: Vimy: The Battle and the Legend with Tim Cook Hosted by Charlotte Gray; 8:30 PM: The Illegal with Lawrence Hill
- May 1 – 6:30 PM: One on One with Anita Desai; 8:30 PM: What You Want with Elise Levine, Lori McNulty and Karen Connelly Hosted by Rhonda Douglas
- May 2 – 6:30 PM: Rise of the Radical Right with Tom McMillan and Henry A. Giroux; 8:30 PM: The Only Journey with Andrew Westoll, Susan Perly and Steven Heighton
Quillfyre 