Choose Your Own Adventure: Canadian Writing Groups

Please watch this first!

 

Let's Begin.
FIRST QUESTION: Poetry, Prose, Script, Journalism, or Translating?

Poetry:  Please Skip down to section One and continue.

Prose: Please skip down to section Two and continue.

Script: Please skip down to section Three and continue.

Journalism: Please skip down to section Four and continue.

Translating: Please skip down to section Five and continue.

 

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SECTION ONE: Poetry
Hello poets.  From here you're at your ending.  That's right, no more questions.  Poets have their own groups usually, it's sort of hard to divide up from there.

For you I would encourage you to check out the 'League of Canadian Poets' here: http://poets.ca/wordpress/

They are a group focused on getting poets equal opportunities in the literary world.  They are all for the poets.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

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SECTION TWO: Prose
Well, hello, writers.  You've got a couple of options moving on from here so let's get to the next question:

Do you write about science?  If the answer is yes, please jump down to Section 2.A.

Not science? Do you write children stories?  If so please, move on to Section 2.B.

Still nothing? Do you write crime stories?  Section 2.C is for you then.

Are you published? Section 2.D please and thank you.

If you answer no to these questions, have no fear  ̶  there's still a place for you.  Some associations just have a broader spectrum which includes all forms of writing.  Those are likely for you.  Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.A: Science Writers
That's right!  There is a Canadian group for writers focusing on science called the 'Canadian Science Writers' Associtation'.  Go on and check it out here: http://www.sciencewriters.ca/

They are out to increase public attention to science in Canadian culture and you can help! Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.B: Children's Literature
Yes, children's authors have a place in the Canadian association sea too.  In fact it's right here, the' Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers': http://www.canscaip.org/

People who illustrate children's books and performers are also welcome here.  It's all about bringing attention to the section of Canadian culture focused around children.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.C: Crime Writers
Are you surprised you have your own group?  Well don't be, it's right around the corner, the 'Crime Writers of Canada': http://www.crimewriterscanada.com/

They are out to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers through everything from libraries to the media.
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

 

SECTION 2.D: Published Writers
So you're doing awesome so far and have already published.  Good for you.  You've now got a group to help encourage you to keep going and help you work through the tough places! 'Writer's Union of Canada':  http://www.writersunion.ca/

Keep going and don't give up!
Please head on down to Section 6.

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SECTION THREE: Script
Hello, playwrights.  You have gone as far as you can go.  It's difficult to divide script up anymore so you're done with silly questions.

 

Your group, or should I say guild, is here: the 'Playwrights Guild of Canada:  http://www.playwrightsguild.ca/

 

This group is here to advance your rights and interests not only on a national level but an international one, too.
Please head on down to Section 6.

SECTION FOUR: Journalism
You've reached the end of the journey, no more questions, just an association.

 

Journalism is a great profession and it's even better knowing that you've got others on your side.  Am I right?  Well, look no further than here:  the 'Canadian Association of Journalism: http://www.caj.ca/

 

This group acts like your voice in hard times when the media gets challenged.  You're not in it alone!
Please head on down to Section 6.

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SECTION FIVE: Translating
All questions are done for you.  You get your answer here and now.  Whoot!

You've got a group:   the 'Literary Translators' Association of Canada';  http://www.attlc-ltac.org/node

They're out to promote the art of literary translations.  Nice to have some help right?
Please head on down to Section 6.

 

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SECTION SIX
You're near the end. 

 

You might have noticed that I wasn't lying when I said there were a lot of Canadian groups and associations for writers.  Above are the more specific ones depending on the genre and style you write in, but there are some general groups.  I would suggest you check them out as well.

 

There's the 'Writer's Guild of Canada': http://www.writersguildofcanada.com/
They help with international rights for Canadian writers.

 

There's the 'CWILA' (Canadian Women in the Literary Arts): http://www.cwila.com/
They're working on equal rights for all in the Canadian Literary field.

 

AND THERE'S EVEN MORE:

French Writers: http://www.alcq-acql.ca/
Italian Canadian Writers: http://www.aicw.ca/
and
Christian Writers: http://www.inscribe.org/  and   http://www.thewordguild.com/

 

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So, believe me when I say there is a place for everyone.

Hope this helped you at least narrow it all down.

 

 



 

Hope that helps you all!

National Writing Groups

National Writing Groups

Well, if you're like me, you haven't heard of many writing groups because you don't know where to look.  With the help of Amanda's blog topics list, I've come across three that might help any amateur writer:  The League of Canadian Poets, The Writers' Union of Canada, and Canadian Women in the Literary Arts.

The League of Canadian Poets was founded in 1966 to promote and advance poetry in Canada.  It is an organization that comprises of 700 members, that is geared towards new writers as well as established ones.  ''As the recognized voice of Canadian poets, it represents their concerns to governments, publishers, and society at large, and maintains connections with similar organizations at home and abroad. The League strives to promote equal opportunities for poets from every literary tradition and cultural and demographic background.''  Their website provides lots of resources and programs, as well as numerous contests and awards for current Canadian poets.

The Writers' Union of Canada is different from the organization above because it is solely for published writers of books.  ''Members of the Union benefit from a range of services that are not otherwise easily available to writers working in isolation''.  The Writers' Union of Canada was founded in 1973 when Graeme Gibson decided that Canada needed a union distinctly for writers in Canada.  Currently, this organization has more than 1,900 members.  For more info, visit their website:

Canadian Women in the Literary Arts is an inclusive organization targeted towards people with feminist views or who believe in equality within gender, race, etc.  The organization was founded by Gillian Jerome, poet and essayist, who responded to a Canadian literary review about gender.  You can check out a variety of essays on their website.

''CWILA strives to promote and foster equity and equality of representation in the Canadian literary community by:
1) tracking statistics on gender representation in reviewing;
2) bringing relevant issues of gender, race and sexuality into our national literary conversation;
3) and creating a network supportive of the active careers of female writers, critics and their literary communities.''

I find that these National Writing Groups are helpful to get amateur writers started.  I encourage you to submit a piece of literature to one of their contest, you never know until you try!