NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH (OTTAWA)

BIWEEKLY NOTICES FOR TWO WEEKS:  May 23 TO June 5, 2016

 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 2016 NATIONAL CAPITAL WRITING CONTEST (NCWC)

 The Winners were announced on Monday, May 9, 2016 for the 29th Annual National Capital Writing Contest (NCWC) Sponsored by the Canadian Authors Association–National Capital Region for both Short Story and Poetry, prizes: $300 First Place • $200 Second Place • $100 Third Place

 POETRY

First Place:  “Green Shift” by Gill Foss

Second Place: “High School Reunion” by Sylvia Adams

Third Place: “Feeding the Flowers” by Helen Gamble

Honourable Mentions:

“Christmas Baking” by Lee Ann Eckhardt Smith
“A Piece of Scotch Plaid” by Gerry Mooney
“Preparing for Winter” by Gerry Mooney

 SHORT STORY

First Place: “What the Chipmunk Is Thinking” by Lynn Jatania

Second Place: “The Step-Mother’s Story: We Never Called Her Cinderella” by Tony Bove

Third Place: “Leveller” by Adrienne Stevenson

Honourable Mentions:

“Benny and Margot Forever” by Adam Heenan
“Mask Island” by Josephine Bolechala
“A Stone in the Temple” by Arlene Somerton Smith

Our Poetry Judge Sheila Martindale, was the poetry editor for Canadian Author for fifteen years. She is currently editor-in-chief of Island Writer, the magazine of the Victoria Writers’ Society. The most recent of her ten books of poetry is Death of a Seagull. Sheila was a theatre reviewer forScene Magazine in London, Ontario, from 1989 to 2008, prior to retiring to Victoria where snow is the cherry blossoms that fall on the sidewalks in February. She facilitates a weekly writing workshop at her local seniors’ centre.

 Our Short Story Judge

Matthew Bin holds a BA and MA in English literature from McMaster University. He has worked as a technical writer, business/systems analyst, and consultant with numerous public- and private-sector clients for nearly 20 years.

Matthew’s first novel, L.M.F., was published by Little Green Tree Books in 2006, and his first non-fiction book, On Guard for Thee: Canadian Peacekeeping Missions, was published by Bookland Press in 2007. He has published articles in numerous magazines, including In Burlington, The Windsor Review, and Inside Soccer Canada. He won a Hamilton ACE Award in 2003 in the Marketing Writing category. He is currently the Canadian Football Editor for the popular sports website LastWordOnSports.com, bassist and backup shouter for a punk rock band, and a licensed marriage officiant.

As a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Authors Association, Matthew has served as President of the Waterloo-Wellington branch, Strategic Planning Chair, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chair, and National Chair. He also serves as the Secretary of the Canadian Copyright Institute.

Winning entries will be published in CAA–NCR’s e-magazine, Byline. (Copyright will remain with the author.)

Questions? Contact Sherrill Wark, Coordinator, NCWC at ncwc@crowecreations.ca

 

CAA NIAGARA BRANCH  

 The Banister – 31st Annual Poetry Anthology Contest Genre: Poetry Deadline: May 31, 2016 Entry fee: $15 for up to three poems and $4 for each additional poem. Prizes: 1st: $300; 2nd: $200; 3rd: $100 Details: http://canauthorsniagara.org/poetry-contest/

 

 

CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION NEWS FROM NATIONAL

CANADIAN WRITERS’ SUMMIT 2016 June 15–19, 2016

REGISTER NOW!    What’s better than a writers’ conference organized by a writing organization? How about a writers’ superconference organized by over a dozen writing industry groups?

The Canadian Writers’ Summit will be a four-day event encompassing professional development seminars, panels, keynote presentations, policy discussions, public lectures, networking opportunities and social gatherings – in short, something for everyone. It will also include a day of programming from the annual Book Summit, which focuses on the publishing side of our sector.

 Key Facts about CWS 2016

Location: The Summit will take place at Harbourfront Centre, right on Toronto’s beautiful waterfront, with events being held both indoors and in tents outdoors.

Conference Rates

Member* Pricing:  Full Conference (3 full days of programming including Book Summit): $300 +HST
Friday & Saturday only (2-Day package): $200 +HST  Single Day: $125 +HST
Just the Book Summit (Thursday, June 16): $150 +HST  Ticketed Keynotes: $20 +HST

For more information and a list of member organizations visit here: http://canadianauthors.org/national/canadian-writers-summit-2016/

WORKSHOPS

 

WRITESCAPE Upcoming 2016 Workshops

• Write to Win: Techniques & Tips for First Place May 28, 2016. Learn how to make your entry stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re entering writing contests or submitting to agents and publishers, it’s all a contest. And many entries never make it past the first reader. Write to Win is all contest, all day, with exercises, surprises and prizes. Saturday, May 28, 2016, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Trent University Oshawa campus, 55 Thornton Road S., Oshawa REGISTER ONLINE. Registration includes all taxes, handouts/resource materials and light refreshments. Lunch is not included.
• Offered On Demand Scrivener for Writers: The Basics Two evenings in an intimate class setting to get started in the ultimate writers’ toolkit. Scrivener’s all-in-one writing software has a learning curve that, once mastered, can fire up your manuscripts, organize your research, and reveal cool tricks for creative minds. Heather O’Connor (a.k.a. Dr. Scrivener) will show you how. Location: Private residence in Whitby area.

For more information on Writescape and to register for a retreat or workshop, visit: http://writescape.ca/site/

 

OTTAWA SUBMISSION CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

CITY OF OTTAWA YOUTH IN CULTURE PILOT PROGRAM

 The Youth in Culture Pilot Program provides direct funding to eligible individuals to support their development in becoming arts, culture and heritage professionals.

 Youth in Culture Pilot Program

Program Objectives To support cultural development of youth aged 18-30 towards professional careers in arts, culture, and heritage. To empower youth to identify needs and gaps in their career development, and to support initiatives that lead to or benefit the applicant’s career in culture. To support activities that address the priorities identified in the Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage, and Culture in Ottawa (2013 – 2018).    This program is intended to help cover living expenses and/or project expenses relating to: Arts, culture, and heritage creation, production, and presentation projects. Arts, culture, and heritage festival and agricultural fair administration and/or management training opportunities

Training and mentorship opportunities for youth to work with established cultural workers and professionals within the arts, heritage, festivals and fairs sectors. 2016 Deadline Dates: Monday, August 8, 2016 at 4pm, Monday, September 26, 2016 at 4pm  MORE INFORMATION & APPLICATION AT: http://ottawa.ca/en/liveculture/youth-in-culture

 

BYWORDS.CA SUBMISSION CALL TO CURRENT AND FORMER OTTAWA POETS!

          
DEADLINE:  The 15^th 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 INFORMATION VISIT www.bywords.ca  and click on Guidelines.  Amanda Earl, Managing Editor.  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
 

SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITIES

• Additional links to contests and submission calls visit Canadian Authors National Capital Region website here: http://canadianauthors.org/nationalcapitalregion/contests/writing-contests-calls-for-submission/ 
  

• CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! ACCEPTING: POETRY, REVIEWS, ESSAYS, AND INTERVIEWS for Vallum’s forthcoming issue, 13:2 “THE WILD” !  The wild is both outside us and inside us. The wild can take many forms. It is the unknown, the feared. It can be a landscape, or even the wild of the mind. It can be celebrated, or thought of in terms of a taboo, or a trap. How do you interpret “The Wild,” what does it bring out in you? What forms are still wild? Send us your “wildest” poems! DEADLINE: June 15, 2016 (postmarked) Please visit our website for submission guidelines: http://www.vallummag.com/submission.html
  

• 2016 CBC Poetry Prize Send your original, unpublished works of poetry (between 400 and 600 words, including titles). It can be one long poem or a collection of poems. Deadline: May 31, 2016  Entry Fee: $25 CAD  Prizes: 1st: $6000; 4 runners-up: $1000 each Details:  http://www.cbc.ca/books/2016/04/2016-cbc-poetry-prize-now-open.html
  

• Antigonish Review Announces Two Writing Contests! GREAT BLUE HERON POETRY CONTEST & SHELDON CURRIE FICTION PRIZE $2,400 in Prizes! Deadlines: Fiction entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2016, Poetry must be postmarked by June 30, 2016 Guidelines: Previously published works, works accepted for publication or simultaneous submissions are ineligible. No electronic submissions, please. Fiction entries must be typed, double-spaced, one side of page only – poetry must be single-spaced. Please include a separate cover sheet containing your identifying information as well as the titles of all entries. Past winners may not enter. INFO: http://www.antigonishreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=62
  

• The Whistler 2016 Independent Book Awards New Literary Award  This year’s Whistler Writers Festival , October 13-16, will include the presentation of the inaugural Independent Book Awards. The Whistler 2016 Independent Book Awards will be open to Canadian authors or permanent residents who have independently published a book or books in the last five years. Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Crime Fiction and Poetry Deadline: June 3, 2016 Entry Fee: $100 CAD; $50 CAD (poetry) Details: tidewaterfestival.com
  

·        The New Quarterly: Peter Hinchcliffe Fiction Award $1000 for a work of short fiction by a Canadian (citizen or resident) writer who has not yet published a first novel or short story collection.  Though there is only one top prize, all submissions will be considered for paid publication ($250) in the magazine. Submissions must be previously unpublished. There is no word limit. All submissions will be judged blind.
The entry fee is $40 per submission, which includes a 1-year Canadian subscription (or subscription extension) to The New Quarterly for you or a friend. Deadline: June 13, 2016   http://tnq.ca/peter-hinchcliffe-fiction-award  

• Ink Bottle Press & The Ontario Poetry Society Present: Memory and Loss ~ a Canadian Anthology of Poetry, Dedicated to the victims of Alzheimer’s. Editor & Compiler I.B. Iskov. Open to all poets living in Canada. Poems wanted on the themes of Dementia and Alzheimer’s.  This is not blind judging and this is not a contest. Submission fee $15. to help cover the cost of printing & postage. All profits from this project will be donated to The Alzheimer Society of Canada. Deadline June 15, 2016, postmark date. Send your submission, complete with cheque or money order payable to Mark Clement,  & mail to Attn: I.B. Iskov, Anthology Editor, #710 – 65 Spring Garden Ave., Toronto, Ont. M2N 6H9. Full details:  http://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/Anthology_Memory%20&%20Loss.htm
  
• Eden Mills Writers’ Festival Literary Contest is open internationally to aspiring or modestly published writers, over the age of 16. Genre: Short Story, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction  Deadline: June 30, 2016Entry Fee: $25 CAD Prizes: $250 to winner of each category
• Narrative Magazine’s eighth annual poetry contest runs from May 18 until July 20. In a continuing effort to encourage and support talented poets, we’re offering prizes and widespread publicity to all winners and finalists. Narrative is always looking for new voices, so all entries will be considered for publication in the magazine. Open to all poets. Entries must be unpublished and must not have been previously chosen as winners, finalists, or honorable mentions in other contests. Each entry may contain up to five poems. The poems should all be contained in a single file. You may enter as many times as you wish, but we encourage you to be selective and to send your best work. http://www.narrativemagazine.com/eighth-annual-poetry-contest
• The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2016 is now open for entries, presenting an opportunity for emerging and established writers and poets to showcase their work and further their involvement in the literary world. Now in its ninth year, the award is an internationally renowned prize presented by Aesthetica Magazine and judged by literary experts. Prizes include: £500 each (Poetry Winner and Short Fiction Winner)/Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing/Annual One year subscription to Granta/Selection of books courtesy of Bloodaxe and Vintage/Consultation with Redhammer Management (Short Fiction Winner)/Full Membership to The Poetry Society (Poetry Winner).  Short Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines. Deadline 31 August 2016. To enter, visit aestheticamagazine.com/creativewriting
  

• the Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition is back for novels of at least 15,000 words written for children or young adults, in any genre, by previously unpublished women novelists. The first prize is a tasty £5,000, and making up the high-profile judging panel are award-winning novelist Anne Fine, specialist children’s literary agent Claire Wilson and Children’s Editor of The Bookseller Charlotte Eyre. In addition to that lovely big winner’s cheque, we’ve again joined forces with The Literary Consultancy, who will provide free professional feedback for the winner and four other finalists. Perhaps more valuable still, all finalists will be invited to meet literary agents and editors at a special networking event in London – many finalists from previous years found agents as a direct result. The competition closes 19 September so there’s still plenty of time to polish off your current novel, revisit an old manuscript or dust off an abandoned NaNoWriMo project.Visit mslexia.co.uk/novel  for full competition details. And keep an eye on our website from June for the first in a series of specially-commissioned workshops on writing for children.

 

OUT AND ABOUT IN TOWN

 MEETINGS, BOOK LAUNCHES AND POETRY READINGS ABOUT TOWN

 Tuesday May 24, 2016 Tree Reading Series, Black Squirrel Books, 1073 Bank Street, Ottawa, 6:45 p.m. Workshop, Breaking the Sentence: From Experimental Lyric to Cognitive Poetics, Jennifer Baker will take us through an exploration of the lyric’s potential for engaging with, but reaching beyond its testimonial confessional aspects, breaking with the syntax of the sentence and putting language and its embodiment first. Exploring a brief selection of poems by Phil Hall and Sina Queyras, and finishing with a short writing exercise, we will explore the liberating potential in the experimental lyric’s ability to reach underneath narrative to communicate the unsayable. Participants should bring paper, writing utensils and the desire to mash together different poetic forms just to see what happens.  8:00 p.m. Open Mic and Featured Readers Dean Steadman and Monty Reid. More about the poets, videos of previous featured readers and info on the upcoming events: treereadingseries.ca

 

COMING EVENTS:

 JUNE 4 PROSE IN THE PARK:

Ottawa’s favourite open-air literary festival and book fair, Prose in the Park, will take place on June 4, 2016, 11 am – 6 pm in the Parkdale Park. And it is absolutely free. Everyone is welcome!  Prose in the Park (Prose des vents en français) is a blingual festival devoted to bringing together both established and emerging authors from across Canada. We are pleased to have some of the best authors of Montreal joining the upcoming festival. For more information on the event and featured authors, check out the 2016 program on our website at www.proseinthepark.com 

 

SMALL PRESS BOOK FAIR JUNE 18, 2016

 span-o (the small press action network – ottawa) presents: the Ottawa small press book fair spring 2016 edition on Saturday, June 18, 2016 in room 203 of the Jack Purcell Community Centre (on Elgin, at 320 Jack Purcell Lane).

General info:  noon to 5pm (opens at 11:00 for exhibitors)  admission free to the public.

$20 for exhibitors, full tables $10 for half-tables (payable to rob mclennan, c/o 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9; paypal options also available. To be included in the exhibitor catalog: please include name of press, address, email, web address, contact person, type of publications, list of publications (with price), if submissions are being considered and any other pertinent info, including upcoming ottawa-area events (if any). Be sure to send by June 10th if you would like to appear in the exhibitor catalogue. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://smallpressbookfair.blogspot.ca/2016/01/the-ottawa-small-press-fair-spring-2016.html