SEPT.
1987
THE FEDERATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA WRITERS NEWSLETTER Mailing Address: P.o. Box 2206,Main post office, vancouver, B.c., v6B 3w2
office Address:
*****+:f,
Ste. 706, 402 west pender St., vancouver, Phone Number: 683-2057
+++*+ *t*+*+***+++
*
WHAT'S INSIDE ... "Letter to a Beginning Writer" by Jan Drabek, our Past President. What every neophyte writer wants to know but is afraid to ask!
News about our Fall Social. Come eat, drink, make merry, and listen to George McWhirter read from his own work.
* Our
Classifieds Section is stooped to commercialism.
born! yes,
we've
* Plus, "Laptop
Computers", "Getting an Agent", markets, connections and more ...
**t*+
+**t+t+t*t+*****r*+* PRESIDENT'S REPORT
This has been a busy summer. As a Council, we realized we had so much we were enthusiastic about
doing, it behooved us to organize a number of committees. Betsy is looking after competitions and awards, I am heading up an AGM committee, and Sheena, our First Vice, is heading the social, as we had urgings from members to do more in this direction. Lynne Melcombe has taken on the large task of gearing up and running a membership drive, and there is also a workshops committee which needs a leader. People are really giving to the Federation this year: I am impressed at how much ability and energy we have going.for us.
In terms of ongoing dialogue with the provincial
government about arm's length funding for an arts council, we are moving ahead, but slowly. The Writers' Union has already done a significant
B.c., v6B
116
amount of work on this; what works in other provinces, what exactly do we want, etc., with the idea of coming up with a complete blueprint. I will be meeting with the Union and other interested groups to ng a coalition. A major concern is n quickly with something which is p out.
I
received a reply to my letter to premier Vander Zalm which I am including here in full: Dear Ms. Landale: Thank you very much for your thoughtful letter in which you shared with me your view that a
Provincial Arts Council be established.
I
can'assure you that I have carefully read the points you have raised, and do, indeed, appreciate you bringing your thoughts to my attention. I was pleased to note from your correspondence that you have kindly shared your comments with my colleague, the Honourable Bill Reid, Minister of Tourism, Recreation and Culture, and I feel certain that he will welcome the opportunity to consider your comments.
days ahead.
hear from you at this time, wish you to know of my being kept informed of,your my warmest wishes for the
Sincerely yours,
William N. Vander Zalm
2
I also received a letter from David R. Williams, e.C. which I've included here:
Our most exciting news is that we have
Dear Zoe Landale:
been
awarded a Community Job Trac grant of $32,020 for our proposal to hold a provincial literary competi_ tion. The competition will have a special category
for young writers and six awards will be giuen in the genres of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. In addition, a Literary Manual will be produced to assist other literary groups in organizing and promoting literary competitions, -confe.inces,
festival readings on a province wide basis. Three young writers have bden hired to staff the project. They are Angela Hryniuk, Dee Ferguson and Jeannie Lochrie. This means that the office will be staffed full-time for the next six months, and that a computer, copier and electronic typewriter will also join the team. Federation -"-b.r, will be sent more details about the competition as soon as they are available.
My first reaction on reading the thing was to tear up my membership in the Federation but I have calmed down. I trust you will print this letter. Yours sincerely,
David R. Williams, e.C.
My reply is as follows:
Speaking
of
teams, we are now playing (more
a_ccurately, working) with a full provinclal Council. We are pleased to have Irene Mock as our Kootenay
Rep, who, among other things, is involveO wittr ttri Kootenay School of Writing. presently, we are helping to organize workshops for Fort St. John and Penticton this fall. If you want to host a workshop in your area, contact us as soon as possible.
The future?
If all goes well, our Writers in the
Classroom project
Dear David R. Williams:
be
will have received its funding and in operation by the time of our next newsletter.
By-the way,
if
you've not seen our new brochure,
write us for one, then pass it along and recruit a new member! Zoe and Sheena have done an excellent job of re-writing and re-designing: It is really quite smashing. Here's to a good ciop of words for your fall. Betsy Warland
NEW MEMBERS Please accept my apologies.
Sharon Cooper
Till next time,
Myrle Machan Dale Zieroth
Zoe Landale
June Osborne Catherine Adler Claire Rivers
Coquitlam Kelowna North Vancouver Logan Lake Vancouver Vancouver
J
Susan Stitt
Ellen MacKay Martin J. Weideman S.M. Weaver Michael Hetherington
Surrey Duncan
Harrison Hot Springs Vancouver Vancouver
and a special apology from Doug Third to
Congratulations for a fine-looking issue. I found myself reading it from cover to cover, always a sign that it spoke to me. Best regards,
Jurgen Hesse, Vancouver
Lillooet
Paulette Whitney
REGIONAL REPORTS LETTERS Yes, I definitely wish to continue membership in the
Federation. The last newsletter was a
great improvement and quite helpful too. I hope that the
Federation
will continue to grow.
Yours truly, Karen Ballinger-Spofford, Fort St. John
+****+* Since I am a new member, I have only received two issues of Wordworks, but I have found them most
helpful in telling me about markets available for writing. I went through the June issue of Wordworks last night and circled and starred various columns for future reference. However, as a scriptwriter, I feel a little neglected. I didn't see any information about writing for the screen. I realize your newsletter is not "The Hollywood Scriptletter", but I feel some dark corner in its pages could be set aside for British Columbia film and television writers. On that note, I have enclosed a short tip sheet for your readers. I wrote it for my colleagues in a New Play Centre script writing class because "how do I find an agent?" is often the BIG QUESTION for new script-
Northern Island
I have been on a glorious 3 week vacation, one week of which was spent hiking in Cape Scott Provincial Park, one week cycling North and South Pender Island and the last just stretched
Since last writing
on the lawn chair snoozing. The first two were rewarding but exhausting.
Cape Scott, located at the very northern tip of Vancouver Island, was named in 1786 by Captains Guise and Lowrie after the benefactor of their trading expedition, David Scott of Bombay, India. In 1897 a Danish settlement was established at the site but failed due to inclement weather and the renege of a government promise to connect that settlement by road to Holberg which would have provided the Danes with an outlet to sell their produce.
Remains of the Danes' hard work still exist although most has succumbed to the ravages of naturd: The area is one of the most beautiful parts of our coast and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to backpack into history. For further information contact me if you wish.
Montgomery Burt, Vancouver
The Pender Island bike trip was something else. For beginning bikers like ourselves it was very hilly and therefore exhausting. Nevertheless, we had a glorious time. We bed and breakfasted at Lorien House, one of the highlights of the trip. Our hosts, June and Ray Frache, went overboard to accommodate us, even picking us and our bikes up every day so we wouldn't have to climb the last steep mile to their place. The view of Victoria and Gulf Islands from their eagle nest was spectacular.
(Ed. Note: See M.B.'s article elsewhere in this
But now that the honeymoon is over, back
writers. Keep up the good work. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Sincerely,
issue: "Getting an Agent".)
I
to
business. understand that Powell River has now been made part of the North Coastal-Island Region. I see that we have two members over there; Heather C. Allen and Steve Pyle. Welcome aboard Heather and Steve.
4
I
would also like to welcome Margaret A. Taylor, budding novelist and neighbour, into the fold.
And in conclusion here's a little trivia. I received a "Writer's Notebook" for my "never you mind how old" birthday last month. Each page is blank except for a quote at the bottom from famous authors, playwrights, poets, etc. I will leave you with this humorous quote from Flannery O,Connor (1925-1964), American novelist and storywriter, who said, "Everywhere I go, I'm asked if I think Universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them."
Until next time ... Eric
Jamieson.
Southern Island Where'd the summer go? Busy for me, eh tu Brute?
Attended the always lively and varied Sechelt Writers' Festival. Well done, 3-day and night affair. Kudos to Betty Keller and all Sechelters who helped put it on. Took Wordworks there. Bev Shaw of Talewind Books, Dale Burns of Sechelt Books and Staff, and The Writer's Forge displayed it on their book tables.
Heather Nelson of North Island College has asked Difficulties of Getting Published - a positive yet realistic overview" (that last may be an oxymoron). It is the second annual NIC Port Alberni Woman's Resources Society Conference, September 25th and,26th. Any ideas, suggestions most welcome. Took Fed flyers to the local libraries and other outlets. They look good. me to give a seminar on "The
This is the first time that an AGM will have been held outside the Lower Mainland and we are very excited about it. Plan to come. Writers from all over the province will be there. There will be good programming, scenery, sand beaches, sunbathing, and a chance to meet and discuss areas of common concern. Evening readings will be open to the public, but this is primarily a gathering of writers coming together to discuss, workshop, read, listen and just plain enjoy themselves in the company of their peers.
FALL GET-TOGETHER Mark October 3rd down on your calendar! That's the date of our Fall Get-Together. Come eat (it's a pot luck, so bring vour specialty), drink (complimentary red and white wine), make merry (talk, socialize, gossip, hear the latest about the Federation's goings-on) and listen to a reading by George
McWhirter, Head of Creative Writing, U.B.C.
will read a selection from his first published work and then a selection from his most recent published work. He'll talk about the differences George
between the two selections and his development as a writer over the years. We hope he'll share with us some of his insights on the joys and frustrations of being a writer.
Winona Baker
AGM COMMITTEE REPORT
As was proposed at our last Annual
May 2l to noon Monday 23, 1987. The Naramata Centre is run by the United Church and used for conferences and retreats. The grounds are wonderful, lots of grass and places for children to play, a private beach, campgrounds with showers and wellrun, motel-type accommodation: It's the sort of place a writer's spouse and children could have a great holiday while s/he is busy. The Centre is also affordable, at $82.50 per person, including meals, for two nights. (Based on double occupancy.) Camping is $7.50 a night. People interested in carpooling, please let us know. What about babvsitter(s) at the Centre?
The details are as follows: General
Meeting, our next AGM will be held in Penticton and will feature interesting workshops and readings. In July, I flew up to look at possible sites with our Regional Rep, Heather Glebe. Heather organized well-attended readings in Summerland and in Penticton where I publicized the up-coming AGM and kicked off our membership drive. Heather and I settled on the Naramata Centre as perfect and have booked it from midday Saturday,
DATE: TIME: PLACE:
AGENDA:
Saturday, October 3, 1987 5 p.m. to I I p.m. The Hall The Unitarian Church 949 W. 49th Avenue (at Oak Street) Vancouver, B.C. 5 to 6 - Socializing
6to8 -Dinner 8to9 -Reading 9 to ll - More Socializing
) POT LUCK: Please bring a salad, main dish or dessert. If your dish is hot, you may want to bring it heated and wrapped in a towel. There is an oven in the kitchen at the Hall but it may not be able to heat up a large number of dishes in time. SEE YOU THERE!
B.C. BOOKWORLD NEWS
THE NEWSLETTER WANTS YOU! Ever wanted to help produce a newsletter? The Federation's new editors, Cynthia Flood and Sheena
Ashdown, would dearly love some
help. The
newsletter comes out every three months: September, December, March, June, and is mailed about the first week of the month. It takes about four weeks to compile, get printed and mailed. Come help cut and paste, harass the executive for their reports, maybe take over one of the sections. Call Cvnthia at 255-7820 or Sheena at 327-7547.
B.C. Bookworld News is a new bi-monthly publicat-
ion on news of B.C.'s publishing world. Begun by Allan Twigg, a founding member of the Federation, it will include book reviews, interviews, news stories, profiles. It will also feature ads and a classified section for networking. Some contributions will be accepted. Look for it at your local library or bookstore or subscribe by calling Allan at 684-2470. First issue will be out October lst. COMPUTER WORKSHOP
The success of the JOBTRC proposal has enabled the Federation to lease a computer for the office. A workshop on computer basics and word processing may be offered for Federation members this fall or winter. If you are interested, please call the Federation office at 683-2057 and leave your name and number. BECOME A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
The Social Committee would like some members! Would you like to help organize the Fall GetTogether, perhaps a Christmas or New years' party, maybe a Summer '88 bash? All input, suggestions, assistance welcome. To join up, call Sheena Ashdown at 327-7547.
MAILING LISTS
that the Federation may exchange mailing lists with other writers' organizations, in the interest of keeping you informed about what's happening in the publishing and writing world. Please leave a message at the office, 683-2057 , if you would like your name removed from the list for Please note
the purpose of exchanges.
LETTER TO A BEGINNING WRITER
by Jan Drabek, Past President
If
you have not yet submitted your work to a publisher, editor, or producer, you should realize that writing is a highly competitive market; that -at least initially - heartbreak is more likely to be encountered than spectacular success. But it is also among the most satisfying professions and beginners should not feel discouraged. Among the best known outlets for poetry and short fictionare THE MALAHAT REVIEW (University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700, Victoria, B.C., VgW 2y2), PRISM INTERNATIONAL (Department of Creative Writing, University of British Columbia, 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, 8.C., V6T lW5, and CAPILANO REVIEW, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, B.C., V7J 3H5). Look carefully through these and other periodicals in your local library before submitting.
If
you have completed a book-length manuscript, there are several routes to take. One is to go straight to the publishers; note that American publishers often accept only manuscripts submitted through agents. It is important to know which Canadian publishers you should approach. Writers residing in the Lower Mainland have an advantage: The Canadian Book Information Service and the Association of B.C. Book Publishers occupy the same
office space at 1622 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V6J l55, and they keep in stock the catalogues
of many Canadian publishers and most provincial
ones. If a visit there is impractical, a telephone call or a letter would be useful. Tony Gregson is ABCBP's Executive Directors (Tel 734-l6l t), and Natalie Chapman runs the CBIS (Tel 734-2}tt). The Pacific Office of The Writers' Union of Canada
(3102 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C., V5J 3G7.
6
Judy service
Director: reading
) operates a manuscript arned that the service is
not free. you
and advice and
.
library in a thorough study of what has sord in the past will prove to be a lucrative inrr.rtrnunt.
w'r
"";ffi;i"'r:fi:1?l?:""?;T?l _Ig an agent. Consult THE WRITER,S
GETTING AN AGENT IO ALMOST-EASY STEPS
,.:
MARKET by Eileen
a list of Canadian writers, agents. In the most active one iJ Denise
take a chance on an unp charge a reading fee to
refuse altogethei to
lishing Support Services. ancouver, 8.C., V5T 2B7: however, be forewarned to
han
marketing' you may want to take a writing course. UBC and the U riversity of Victoria frav! creative. writing department., *iil" simon Fraser University offers a writing ;r"r.; through its extension department. praciicalliaiilorreges offer creative writing courses. Most operate cooperativ_ 'puUlisfred ely: the instructors, usually a writer, students to comment constructively efforts. There are also numerous ubs throughout the province.
A sound knowledge of the market is a sine oua non for achieving success as a writer. W" ,tr.r, this strongly enough. The time rp.nl "lnno, in your local
l.
Write Something.- Do two teleplays or one screenplay to send out.
or
|f Vour manuscript - either short works length - is not yet ready for profession"al or book_ evaluation or
Press (306 West 2sth-Street, Norih Vinc-ourrer, n.C., V7N 2Gl), ir costs $10.95'ana inciJe-. ,ru_e. addresses of writers' groups, p"*iil. "rrO writers, markets, winter and summei wriiing courses, and much, much more - all of it in WesteirCanada and Northwestern U.S.
[Ed. note: Thanks very much, Mr. Burt, ror thrs contributionl
aY
There are several useful offices for specialized in the province. Aside from CBC Yt]ilg V"n.ouu., (P.O. Box 4600, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 4A2),there is also the praxis Devel Fraser University (350 B.C., V6B 282, Tel.: playwrights there is TH (Box 34091, Station D, Vancouver, B.C., On matters of contracts and rate o screenwriters, consult Association of Television and Radio Artists _ eCina Seymour Street, Vancouver, B.C; viu :Hzl.
l_].ty important writer's tool is THE UppER LEFT-HAND CORNER, put ,ogrrfr.. by several Federation members. pubiishe;"Uy-S.ff_Counr.f
by Montgomery Burt
2.
.lll,i,fl*i:if:,tHl
a copy or,"". away, unopened, for interim frotection.
ma'
it
3.
Write to the Writers
Agency
List.
Guild. Ask for
their
Cost is $1.00 U.S. Don,t bother
to write to both the Writer,s Guild East and Writer's Guild.West because trr.v;ir both send you the same list of agencies.
4.
Send Out Letters. Go through the Guild list of agencies anC too"t for Writers the ones who accept material from new *ri,rrr. your
: ffiTff :,i:::: :l#:',,##
ve .writte, and suggested market you're aiming for. Includ. youiloume like. Ask the agency ir tn"i ;";i; tike if you to see your work i" of representing you. t"_ -lo_?" DO NOT SEND YOUR SCNTiS AT THIS STAGE.
5.
Be patient. you could go crazy your if wait by the mailbox every aay. fne whole process could take a few weeks io a coupte of before anyone answers your inqurrymonths letter. Move on to your.next project wiihout delay. Some agencies will ,r""". *rit" L".t. Some are out of business so your letter will be returned unopened. Some of the New york agencies will call you on the phone at unusual times. Some agencies will.u." *.1t" Uack and say_ they'll read your work for a fee. DO NOT SEND IIIONEY TO ANY AGEN''.
Hopefully, eventually someone will show interest in your work. They,ll ast
an
for
a
sample script(s) to be sent to them right away. Send copies of your script(s) to the agencies. NEVER SEND ORIGINALS. DON'T EXPECT AN AGENCY TO RETURN ANY OF YOUR WORK. You might want to tell them about your latest project so they know you're serious
6.
10.
20559
(use application from PA)
Wait. This step could take a while so move
Consumer and Corporate
Don't Give Up. If several months have passed and none of the agencies on the list seem interested in your work, then start all over at Step 3. Send out a new batch of letters. A new agency on the list may not have seen your inquiry letter in your first mailing blitz. As well, maybe your letter needs reworking, or it got lost in the mail, or your story idea wasn't in demand a few months ago but is now fashionable. DON'T BLAME YOUR WORK. TRY AGAIN. Jump for Joy. If one or more of the agencies writes you and says they'll represent your work, take yourself out for a drink! Don't tell anyone but your close friends that an agency wants to put you on contract. The agency will ask you if you want a contract mailed to you or will send you one right away. If you're lucky enough to have several agencies after
your written brilliance, then you've got tdt, decide which one to sign with. Good luck! Note: All agencies take a 100/o commission on work sold. DON'T SEND MONEY TO ANy AGENCY IF YOU HAYEN'T MADE A SALE.
9.
Washington, D.C.
Canadian Copyright Office
the mailbox.
8.
Library of Congress
about continuing to write.
right on to your next project. Stay away from 7.
U.S. Copyright Office
Get Legal Advice. Don't sign anything until you've had a performance lawyer go over the contract. Some agency might want your first born child if you don't understand the fine print. Provided you're satisfied with the contract terms then proceed to step 10. Sign the Contract. Send it off to the agency and pray they can knock on the right doors to
make
a sale. This could take a while so
continue with your next project.
Helpful Addresses: Writers Guild of America, West, Inc. 8955 Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90048
Bureau of Corporate Affairs
ottawa, ontario
KIA
Affairs
Canada
0c9
by Jurgen Joachim
Hesse
[Ed. note: Thanks very much to Mr. Hesse for this contributionl Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks are famous. On them he recorded his inventions, thoughts, ideas, comments. If Leonardo were living today, I lay you seven to five that he would use an electronic notebook, to wit a laptop computer. Although Leonardo outclasses me in every respect, I use a laptop and I have learned to love it. As writers, some of you may contemplate (or have already made) the transition from manual, electric or electronic typewriter to desktop computer. If you have learned to work with it, and are using a good word processing program, you can double, triple, even quadruple your output, as you will find out to your delight. You may decide to travel for a while. Or you are a great ideas doodler on the bus, in the dentist's waiting room, in any lineup. Up till now you have used paper and pencil
- Leonardo's notebook tools. Difficult to write when the bus jiggles, innit? Difficult to jot down dialogue in a lineup, right? Here the laptop comes in handy.
If it's small and
light, works on four AA alkaline batteries, has enough memory to let you go home and transfer it
to your desktop computer, your notebook problems are over. You go on vacation and want to write a
short story, a poem, a few chapters of a book, a radio play, stage play. No problem. Switch on the laptop and start pressing keys.
After about I | /2 years of looking around, I
discovered a perfect portable extension to my pC-
XT compatible - Radio Shack's Model 100/t02 laptop. It does everything the expensive laptops do, a little more slowly, but is just as reliable and useful.
8
This portable laptop system, depending on how many options you want, will cost you gg00 for the basic outfit. For that you get a reconditioned Model 100 (5500). A new Model 102 will cost $300 more. Same machine as the 100, just weighs less and is slimmer.
A portable disk drive with l00K worth of storage
per disk (100,000 characters or 16,g00 words) is $150. You are up to $650. The LApDOS progiam from Traveling Software makes file transfer between
B.C. writers does not guarantee any listings.
of
these
****+** ANNICK PRESS seeks mss. of 75-150 pp. for its Young Novels series, aimed at preteen readers. Submit synopsis and sample to Annick press. 15 Patricia Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario M2M li9.
BIT, a quarterly,
seeks poetry "which has teeth ...
literary quality, innovaand traditional forms." t.o Bit, p.O. Box 3655,
screen display). Costs $330. Total is up to
to thermal pounds, Have
gl,ll0.
opy on the fly? A TTX the size of tne laptop, 2.2 portable writer's tool chest:
sr70. T
On a field trip, you may want to send some files ine to your office or home, or research. you can use the dem. Too slow! Get a Touch-
over do s built
CITY PARENT NEWS is a quarterly news_magazine
for urban parents and children. Editor Corinne
City Parent News, 103 Withrow Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4K lC8.
rt 120 2's RS word
snap it into the ort and transmit/ tead of 6. The modem is the size of a king-sized cigarette package. Not essential but useful.
get Portable Computer, Where do you
named Rod and Bo
Try
Canada edgeable people
MARKETS
Thanks for the following lists to the Burnaby Writers' Society Newsletter, Writers' Guild of Alberta Newsletter, Literary Markets, Writers' Union
CUTTING EDGE is a literary magazine dedicated to unique and unusual poetry, fiction, B and humour/satire. Fiction limit 2,50 in copies. Reports in two to six week Nine contributors. 36 pages, saddle-s Julius, Editor, Culting Edge euarterly, p.O. Box 3430, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. DOUBLEDAY is looking for stories, poems, songs, and non-fiction to be included in a series for grades two and three called Chime in Two. They
9
wish to feature as much Canadian work as possible. For more information contact editors Jean and Ian Malloch, l7 Hammok Crescent, Thornhill, Ontario
L3T 2XI.
GRAHAM PAYNE ASSOCIATES, a long-established feature agency in the U.K., is looking for materials already published in North America for use in European markets. They ask for carbons, photocopies, or tearsheets, and offer to steer, advise, and promote writers who "are on the right track". Subject matter can be any you feel interests a mass audience: medical firsts, human drama, scientific breakthroughs, the occult, and such. The agency splits 50-50 with the writer on sales of European rights. Writers who are interested can ask for details from the agency at Barnfield House, Warehorne, near Ashford, Kent TN26 2LH, England.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN seeks novels (100 pp.), poetry, and short stories (4-12 pp.) for children 612. Editor: Wendy Cochrane. No religious themes, please. 150 Steelcase Road, Markham, Ontario L3R IB2. IMPLOSION, a new poetry journal, starts publishing soon. Send well-crafted short poems to P.O. Box 232, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6Kl.
MUSE LETTER is a new magazine for poets. Payment in money and one copy. Sample $3. Send SASE for guidelines. Also holds quarterly poetry competitions. Write J. William Griffin, Editor, The Muse Letter, P.O. Box 45, Burlington, NC 27216. THE NEW CANADIAN REVIEW is being created to encourage ethnic communities to contribute to the literary wealth of Canada. The magazine will publish fiction, poetry, drama, reviews, folklore, reports, and critiques. Pays in copies. Submit to: P.O. Box 717, Pointe Claire-Dorval, P.Q. H9R4S8. Include SASE and writing credits. THE NEW CATALYST is aquarterly whose focus is I
alternative cultures based
on
ecology,
peace,
cooperative and feminist values. Issues are themeoriented, and payment, on publication, ranges from $8 for 500 words to $24 for 1,500 words. Detailed guidelines are available from Christopher Plant, Box
99, Lillooet, B.C. VOK lV0. POETS AS SONGWRITERS would like published poets to send songs they have written (not poetry put to songs). Send copies of lyrics together with recording (even if it's a simple demo). Also include
lead sheet, preferably, or lyrics with chord changes.
Send to: bp Nichol, c/o The Music Gallery, 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario. ROOM OF ONE'S OWN, a quarterly journal devoted to creative and critical writings by women, invites
submissions for a special issue, Workins for a Livins, to be published summer 1988. Poetry, short fiction, graphics, queries for reviews. Send SASE. Deadline November 30. Working for a Living, Room of One's Own,P.O. Box 46160, Stn. G, Vancouver, B.C. V6R 4G5.
SPACE LIMEY is a new magazine interested in science fiction and horror genres. Uses fiction under 2,000 words and poetry. Pays two copies, plus maybe some token cash. Send photocopied samples of art. Reports in three to five weeks. Sample 75 cents. Make cheques payable to V.S. Elliott. V.S. Elliott, The Space Limey,Box 6024, Evanston, IL 60202.
STREET MAGAZINE calls itself a magazine "for the homeless". Editor says, "We stand for naked truths and not Madison Avenue cheesecake." $l sample. Egg Al, Publisher, Street Magazine, P.O. Box 278, Cambridge, MA 02238. TESSERACT JUNCTION wants science fiction with "cyberpunk sensibility" and "soft SF with ethereal edge". Maximum length of fiction is 6,000 words and 45 lines for poetry. Payment for fiction is one to two cents a word, poetry 20 cents a line, nonfiction one cent a word and cover art is a $20 flat fee. Samples $3. SASE for guidelines. Magazine is 5 | /2 x 8, digest-sized, printed by Hewlett-Packard LaserJet. Reports in one to two weeks. Charles E. Snow, Editor, Tesseract Junction,320 High Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403. is a general interest bimonthly publication with a Northern focus. Editors are interested
UP HERE
in
adventure and outdoor recreation, personal experience, lifestyles, travel, wildlife and environment, celebrity profiles, humour, business (Northern) told in terms of the people involved. The magazine also uses miscellaneous fillers: anecdotes, humour, old pictures, surprising people, bulletins about
cultural events, quizzes, puzzles, nostalgia,
etc.
Commissioned assignments go only to writers known by the editors, so you should include published samples of your work; unknown writers will be asked to work on spec. Submit, with SASE, to:. Up Here, Outcrop, The Northern Publishers, P.O. Box 1350, Yellowknife, N.W.T. XIA 2N9.
l0 YAMPIRE QUARTERLy uses some fiction and fiction 2,000 words. pays in le. Susan M. Garrett, Editor, 142 Sunvalley Drive, Toms WEST COAST REVIEW, SFU's literary magazine, has a new editor, Harvey DeRoo. He's interested in seeing short fiction, poetry and reviews. Address: English Dept., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby,
B.C. V6A
156.
The following have suspended operations or ceased publication: Fantasy Books
CONTESTS
CBC RADIO COMPETITIONS are offering prizes for original, unpublished works by Canadian writers. Short stories (15-20 mins., 2,500). Radio plays (15-30 mins.). poetry 2,000-2,500 words. May be one a sequence of poems or a group of unconnected poems). In each category the first prize will be $3,000, second prize $2,500, and the third prize, $2,000. These prizes constitute a licence to perform the work once on the CBC's owned and affiliated radio stations of the English networks. The deadline for submissions is October 13, l9g7 (postmarked no later than). prize-winning scripts may be broadcast in the 1988 season. Winners will be announced early in 1988. Members of CBC staff and competition judges are not eligible. A prize may not be awarded if, in the opinion of the judges, it is not warranted. Manuscripts must be written in English, typed, double-spaced, and include author's name, address and telephone number on the manuscript itself. Writers may enter any or all three categories. Submissions will be returned, but it will not be possible to offer editorial comments. Submissions should be sent to: Robert Weaver, CBC Radio Drama & Features,p.O. Box 500, Station A, Toronto, Ontario M5W lE6. Please include a self-addressed envelope for return of manuscript. There will be a pre-screening of manuscripts.
49TH PARALLEL POETRY CONTEST, 4I2 N. State St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Deadline
l,
1987 and January
Short deadli fee fo
AWARD is sponsored by Department of English, bama, Mobile, AL 3668g. 00-3500 words, unpublished, 15, 1987. Send $10.00 U.S. entry
On separate sheet list author's name and address, and story title.
AARDVARK ENTERPRISES wants poems for its poetry contest. Deadline December 31, 19g7. Fee $3.00 per poem. Breakthroueh!, 192 Balsam place. Penticton, B.C. Y2A 7Y3.
CANCELLED
postmarked between October
1988. Write for contest details.
l,
COTTON BOLL wants poems for its contest. First prize $100.00 plus publication. Deadline November 16, 1987. Fee $2.00 for first poem, $1.00 for each additional poem. Cotton Boll, p.O. Box 76757. Attanta, GA 30359-0703.
WORLD ORDER OF NARRATIVE pOETS sends out listings of l6 different poetry contests. Send SASE. Deadline October 15, 1987. Dr. Alfred Dorn. World Order of Narrative poets, p.O. Box 174. Stn. A, Flushing, NY 11358. PARNASSUS announces a nature poem contest for their winter 1987 issue. Deadline October l. No entry fee. First prize $15.00. parnassus. p.O. Box 1384, Forest Park, GA, 30051.
AVRON INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION offers a 5,000 English pounds first prize and publication in The Publisher, an internationally regarded periodical. Entry fee is two and a half English pounds. Deadline November 30, 1997. ORPHEUS SOCIETY announces a first national competition for original musical comedy scripts. First prize is $6,000 and a possible full-scale production. Deadline December 31, 1987. Musical Competition, Orpheus House, l7 Fairmont Avenue. Ottawa, Ontario KIY lX4.
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY FICTION CONTEST offers publication to the winner of her/his original book-length work of short stories, novella, or novel. Deadline November l, 1987. g5 reading
fee. Fiction
Collective-Ms Central,
Department of English, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61761-6901. MR. COGITO PRESS announces a poetry contest on the theme'The Immigrant Experience, The Second and Third Generation Writes". $50 first prize.
ll Also open to first generation immigrants writing on some aspect of their ethnic experience. Deadline
October 15, 1987. Robert A. Davies, Editor, Mr. Cogito Press, U.C. Box 627, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR 97116.
THE MODEL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, has a deadline of January 16, 1988. Total prizes amount to 33,000 English Pounds ($66,000!). The Mobil Playwriting Competition, The Royal Exchange Theatre Company, St. Ann's Square, Manchester M2 7DH England.
THE CHARACTERS announces a new playwriting competition. Looking for five unknown quality plays. Winning plays will be staged. Each winner will receive $8,000 and must sign a 2-year contract. Scripts must provide a full evening's entertainment. Any style, form or type of play from any country will be accepted. Submit as many as you wish. Plays will be accepted until the winning five are found. Answers in 6 weeks. Winners notified immediately by phone. Send your script Special4th Class (book rate), including SASE and IRCs, to: The Characters, Suite F-F, 471 - 5th Street West. Sonoma, CA 95476. (from CanPlay) WORDWORKS will pay $1.00 (one dollar) for the best short (up to 7 words) translation of the letter from the Premier which appears earlier in this issue. No rude language allowed. Entries due by November 25,1987. Send to Editors. Wordworks. WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES MWG's ANNUAL CONFERENCE - Russell Hoban, internationally acclaimed fiction writer, will be the keynote speaker at the Manitoba Writers' Guild's
Sixth Annual Literary Conference, "On the Edge: Taking Risks in Writing." The conference will take place October 22-24,1987 in Winnipeg. Hoban will also give a public reading and participate in a seminar on speculative fiction. Interested people should contact Kat Bitney, 206, 100 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B lH3. A SCRIPT WRITING WORKSHOP will be held this fall in Vancouver. It will focus on radio, television and film and will provide basic information about how to market your work and how to plug in to the script writing network. If you are interested, call the Federation office and have your name put on the workshop's notification list. Once details are confirmed, we'll give you a call.
CRAWFORD KILIAN, a member of the Federation of B.C. Writers, will be teaching two courses of interest to members. Both will be given at Capilano College in North Vancouver starting in mid-September. Communications 280, Marketing Commercial Fiction, shows aspiring novelists and short-story writers how to get into print as quickly as possible while making as much money as possible. Communications 190, Magazine Article Writing, is intended to get students into print--for pay--before the end of the semester. Students write three articles, submit them for evaluation, and then mail them to the most promising markets. Registration is August 31, 1987, but students can register at the first class meeting. The instructor is a regular columnist for the Vancouver Provirtce, an occasional contributor to other newspapers and magazines, and author of twelve published books including eight novels. For more information, call Crawford Kilian at Capilano College, 986- l9l I , local 2585.
ANTHOLOGIES AND SPECIAL ISSUES QUARRY drama issue, publication summer 88, seeks scripts. Send with SASE to Special Drama Issue, Quarry,P.O. Box 1061, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4X5. COTEAU BOOKS will be publishing an anthology in summer 1989. The working title is the Beach Book, and the editors anticipate the book will be a varied collection of stories, poems, anecdotes, tall tales, recipes, songs, puzzles, fables, etc. The theme of the book is a summer theme - life at the beach, cabin, on summer holidays. Submit as many pieces as you like. Deadline is March 21, 1988. Include a
SASE. A letter outlining your work and
past
publications would be helpful. Submitting writers should be informed of the editors' decisions by fall 1988. Send subrnissions to: Coteau Books, 2337 Mclntyre Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2S3. For more information contact Coteau's Managing Editor at (306) 352-5346.
CACTUS TREE PRESS invites submissions for a poetry anthology on Northern Spirituality. Themes include goddess worship, praise of nature, natural cycles, magic, and folklore. To be published in early 1988. Payment in copies. Send three to five poems, with SASE, to: P.O. Box 16, Station "B", Hamilton. Ontario L8L 7T5. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS is seeking stories for books. If you have a favorite anecdote about Canadian politics and politicians, miliary life, or literary figures, and would like to contribute, you
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Canada. To order send $10.00, $1.00 Atlantic Chapter, PWAC, cio p.O. rlottetown, p.E.I. CIA 7Mg. CONTRIBUTORS to foreign magazines please note: Canadian- postage stamps ir. ,oi uatia in the U.S. or other foreign countries. Wfren suOmitting woik
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editors with each other rh;;;h "'" writers and database. It also handles tt. - irrrv computer work of marketing your work. Fee gg9.95. ball toll free (800) 548-3725 or write phoerii* W.ii..lr Service, 57 Main Street, Little Fork, MN 56;;;. RHYMES & REASONS offers editing, typing, marketing and workshop serrrices ior'po.u. Fees $6.50 to $28.00. write Rirym", p.O. Box i-i."i.ons, ltt627, Nashvilte, TN ilZZZ. P
THE NANAIMO WR 4th Thursday
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Als year's free subscription. For further information, please get in touch- with A. S.rnir.'"t Victoria House, p.o_. Box risil-ti"ioria, |:-blir^lile B.c. V8W 2W3 (Tel.: 384-8662).
self_
nal Reply Coupons (IR6 your material. IRCs are a office. If you do not incl not be returned to you, an consider work that is not accompanied by a SAE and sufficient IRCs. TWO AUSTRALIAN AGENCIES review Canadian books. Th in English Commonw Reviews Journal, Flinders University, Adelaide.
GAIL WHITTER, n9gi91af Rep North, was recenfly with a $100.00 peace River Block News Award for Journalism. She *", ufro pLced on the Dean's Honour Roll for Creative Writirig'.t Northern Lights College. presented
BETTY GORDON FUNKE
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and an historical piece to finish before querying and starting all over again.
BILL HUFFER won the Elder
Statesman Creative Writing Contest sponsored by the PRIME Festival in Victoria for his article "On Taking Advice."
WINONA BAKER had poetry published in Bird Verse Portfolio, U.S.A.; New Ouarterlv, Canada; humour in New Outlook; haiku in New Cicada, Japan; and in Haiku Canada's lOth Anniversarv Holosraph Antholoev. Not so Scarlet a Woman, Win Baker's new book of humorous poems, is now out. Bookstores can order for you, or send $5.95 to Red Cedar Press, 606 First Street, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R lY9. Her haiku mini-book, Clouds Emotv Themselves, Island haiku, is $2.95. Author is available for readings, book signings, workshops.
CYNTHIA FLOOD'S collection of shortstories, The Animals In Their Elements, will be published by Talon Books of Vancouver in October. CLASSIFIEDS
In response to popular request, we are delighted to
bring you our new CLASSIFIEDS section. Members and others may use it to advertize anything they feel may be of interest to other writers. Ads cost $1.00 for every five words; $5.00 for twenty-five words. Please send your ad with cheque or money order ONLY to: CLASSIFIEDS, Newsletter, Federation of B.C. Writers, P.O. Box 2206, Main post Office, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3W2. We must receive your ad by the 25th of the month prior to publication.
TYPEWRITER, Xerox 627 Memorywriter. Many features include l5 pp. memory, justify, hyphenate, etc.; 9 Daisy wheels, ribbons, cleaning kit. $1,600. Phone 277-6998.
EDITING. For an excellent editing service, call Sheena Ashdown, 327 -7547.