Saturday, December 30, 2017

How to Write Great Dialogue, Saturday, Feb 11, in Windsor

How to Write Great Dialogue
Sunday, February 11, 2018
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Includes lunch!)
Sho – Art Spirit & Performance Centre, 628 Monmouth Road, Windsor, Ontario. (Map here)

Accessible to beginners and meaty enough for experienced writers, this workshop will show you how to use dialogue to make your stories more dynamic and dramatic. Whether you’re writing fiction or memoir, you need to be able to write great dialogue that both sounds natural and packs dramatic punch, and you need to know how to mix your dialogue and narrative so that your characters come alive. Come to this workshop and learn both the basics and the best tricks of the trade.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to St. John. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.

Fee: $65 in advance or $75 at the door (Registration includes lunch)

Register on the Windsor International Writers website here 

Or reserve a spot now by emailing: pamelajeangoldstein@gmail.com

And mail a cheque to:
Windsor International Writers
c/o Goldstein Debiase Law Firm
475 Devonshire Rd.
Windsor, ON  N8Y215

 See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Friday, December 29, 2017

Big Pond, Story Quilt and Canadian Stories want your stories, Free contest for Indigenous voices, Call for Catholic articles, and a Short Prose competition

Hello, Brian.
I am wondering if you could share the following information with your readers?
Big Pond Rumours is fishing for stories and we are not particular about the genre of the pieces that we hook. They could be flash fiction, short fiction, or stories up to 8,000 words. They could be detective stories, memoir, western, or artful literature, it doesn’t matter so long as they are quality reading. We also accept poetry (send up to 6 poems) and we are now open to publishing book reviews. Our main criteria: the work must be previously unpublished (we take first rights only), we don’t enjoy gratuitous violence, and remember you’ll be asked to provide a brief bio and headshot for the contributor notes if your work is accepted.
We have two issues a year and the deadlines are: Summer – June 30 and Winter – December 31. Submission details here.
Thank you,
Sharon Berg 
Founder / Editor, since 2006

Indigenous Voices Awards ~ free contest
There are separate prizes for unpublished work in English, French and an Indigenous language, any genre and for published books of prose and poetry and work in an “alternate format.”
Prize: Five awards for unpublished work totalling $10,000 and three awards for published work totalling $15,000
There is no entry fee.
Deadline: January 31, 2018
More information here. For submission details, see here.


Writers Union of Canada short prose competition
For fiction and nonfiction
Entry Fee: $29
Prize: First: $2,500 and entries of winner and finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines for consideration
Deadline: February 15, 2018. Contest details here.

Story Quilt is an online magazine that wants your stories!
Stories can be told in many ways:
  • "True" format using personal experiences or true facts from known sources, or
  • "Fiction" based on facts, or
  • "Pure Fiction", or
  • "Art" as in artist’s creations either in black and white or colour, or Photography, or
  • "Applied Arts" as in quilts, or in Videos, or in Music,
or in any combination of the above. Suitable essays and novellas may also be considered.
We accept stories from authors from various fields. Your post must have unique content and add value to our website.
Deadline: Ongoing. Submission details here.

Note: Ed Janzen, the editor of Story Quilt, also edits Canadian Stories magazine. Canadian Stories  is mostly original and Canadian true stories, memoirs, poems, limericks, songs, cartoons, line art, anecdotes, folk stories, family legends, and travel experiences. Also fiction is accepted if set in a Canadian context. However fiction is not the major content of the magazine. 
Deadline: ongoing. Submission details here.
Canadian Stories also has an annual contest. Deadline June 15, 2018. Details here.
Dear Brian, 
I’m the managing editor of Catholic Digest. Could you update the information that you have about our publication on your website?
 Our revised guidelines for writers are here.
  Thank you for your help.
 Take care, 
Paul McKibben
Managing Editor/Catholic Digest 
Note: Queries submitted to Catholic Digest must be strongly focused on a definitive topic, and hold a national appeal. Features are approximately 1,500 words on the following topics: marriage, practical spirituality, prayer inspiration, Catholic identity, parish/work, parenting, and relationships. Catholic Digest does not accept submissions of fiction, poetry, academic papers, puzzles, cartoons, political or opinion pieces; book, music, or movie reviews; reprinted material.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Writing and Revising workshop, Saturday, Feb 10, in Guelph


Writing and Revising
Saturday, February 10, 2018
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Harcourt United Church,  87 Dean Ave, Guelph, Ontario (Map here.)

If you want to refine your story-telling skills and cut the time you will need to spend editing, this workshop is for you. You'll learn how to step back from a manuscript in order to find – and fix – flaws in your plot, structure, characterization and style. You'll learn how to rethink, rework and rewrite so that your manuscript will live up to your vision.

Special Option: You’re invited to bring the first 500 – 1,000 words of one of your pieces of writing. You don’t need to bring anything, but if you do, three copies could be helpful.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published. 

You can read reviews of Brian's courses and workshops here

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance by mail or Interac
or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53 if you wait to pay at the door

To reserve a spot now, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

New agent Jordan Hamessley at New Leaf Literary seeks kid lit: picture books to YA, plus adult sci-fi & horror

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo,
represented by New Leaf Literary
New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.
110 West 40th Street, Suite 410
New York, NY 10018

New Leaf Literary & Media is a full service management and representation firm. In the five years since morphing from a boutique literary agency into a one-stop shop for writers and artists, New Leaf has had thirty-six books hit the New York Times bestseller list and eight films produced, including CBS Films’ sleeper hit, THE DUFF, the DIVERGENT series, and Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner AMERICAN HONEY.

On the literary side, New Leaf has seven literary agents all looking for authors – everything from picture books to YA, from crime fiction to romance to upmarket woman’s fiction, and from lifestyle books to cookbooks.

Jordan Hamessley is the newest member of the team, and like all new agents, she needs authors.
With nearly a decade of experience working on the editorial side of publishing at Penguin Young Readers (Grosset & Dunlap), Egmont USA, and Adaptive Studios, Jordan made the switch to agenting. Jordan had the pleasure of editing many award winning and critically acclaimed authors such as Sara Benincasa, Len Vlahos, Ilsa J. Bick, Adam-Troy Castro, E.C. Myers, Dori Hillestad Butler, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead, Michelle Schusterman and more.
She earned a reputation as an editor for being the “horror girl” and edited horror and ghost stories for all ages from chapter books (The Haunted Library series by Dori Hillestad Butler), middle grade (Gustav Gloom series by Adam-Troy Castro) to YA (Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward.) She also has a deep affection for contemporary middle grade with heart and humor. She is always looking to find stories that bring the queer experience to the children’s space across all age ranges.
She is actively building a list of diverse children’s fiction from picture books through YA and select adult science fiction and horror authors.
She is also looking for quirky, nonfiction picture books with a STEM focus.
Some of her favorite reads of the last few years include Nova Ren Suma’s The Walls Around Us, Isabel Quintero’s Gabi: A Girl in Pieces, Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts, Charlie Jane Anders’s All the Birds in the Sky, and Barbara Dee’s Star-Crossed.
Her top five books of all time? A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Contact by Carl Sagan, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, and Carrie by Stephen King.
Jordan lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and sings show tunes and tap dances in her spare time.

Query Jordan at: query@newleafliterary.com
Include the word Query in the subject line, plus the agent’s name; for example: Subject: Query, Jordan HamessleyPlease also include the category (e.g., PB, chapter book, MG, YA, adult fiction, adult nonfiction, etc.) You may include up to 5 double-spaced sample pages within the body of the email. No attachments.

If you’re interested in and finding an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss the How to Get Published workshops on Saturday, Feb 24, in Oakville with literary agent Martha Webb (see here) and on Saturday, March 3, in St. Catharines with HarperCollins editor Michelle Meade and author Hannah Mary McKinnon (see here).

If you’re interested in Kid Lit, be sure to register for the Writing for Children and for Young Adults mini-conference on Saturday, April 21, in Waterloo with literary agent Barbara Berson, Simon & Schuster editor Patricia Ocampo, and Young Adult author Tanaz Bhathena (see here).

And don’t miss Writing Great Characters on Saturday, Jan 27, in Mississauga (see here), Writing and Revising on Saturday, Feb 10, in Guelph (see here), How to Write Great Dialogue, Sunday, Feb 11, in Windsor (see here), and How to Write a Bestseller with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong on Saturday, March 24, in Caledon at the Bolton Library (see here).

Also, starting soon, Brian is offering a full range of weekly writing classes, from introductory to intensive:
Exploring Creative Writing, offered at two times:
Thursday mornings, Jan 25 – March 29, in Oakville (see here)
and Friday afternoons, Feb 2 – March 23, in Toronto (see here).
Writing Personal Stories, Thursday afternoons, Jan 25 – March 15 in Burlington (see here).
Intensive Creative Writing, offered at four times/locales:
Tuesday afternoons, 12:30 – 2:45 p.m. Jan 16 – March 20, at Appleby United Church, in Burlington (see here)
Thursday evenings, 6:45 – 9:00 p.m., Jan 18 – March 22, at Appleby United Church in Burlington (see here)
Friday mornings, 10:15 – 12:45, Jan 19 – March 23, Glenview Presbyterian Church in Toronto (see here)
And Wednesday afternoons, 12:30 – 12:45, Jan 31 – March 28, in Burlington (see here)
See details of all seven classes offered in the new year here.

For details or to reserve a spot in any workshop, retreat, or weekly course, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Read reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule here,  including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.


Navigation tips: Always check out the labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. Also, if you're searching for a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Gifts to help make the world a better place


It's not just a good time of the year to give gifts to family; it's also the time to year to remember that many people are in need. So maybe think of a gift of charity for Christmas or as a good way to start the new year of right.

Plan Canada has lots of good ideas for gifts that will help improve the lives of children and families in developing countries here.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

On the last night of Hanukkah, a special thank you...



Every year, I hope for peace. In the meantime, though, thank you ...



to the girls and boys of the IDF for keeping everyone in Israel safe.


Saturday, December 16, 2017

Two new books: Universe Unbuttoned and A Deadly Game

Dear Brian,
It's been a while since I came to your workshop and shared my poem with you and friendly people that were there, sharing as well. I still remember how it all felt. Inspiring and mind-boggling.
I am happy to share the news that I have published my first poetry book, Universe Unbuttoned.
Check it out on Amazon here.
 I thank you for your positive influence early on, making us all feel anything is possible.
So cool!
Vesna

Brian,
Over 2.5 million people play and gamble on fantasy baseball; I’ll be pleased if merely half of those read my action-mystery novel.
Garry A Lepper

A Deadly Game
Professional baseball players in multiple cities have been injured inexplicably—and two have died. When former police detective David Kenmuir tries to learn why, he becomes trapped in a collision between the make-believe world of fantasy baseball leagues and the very real world of crime-for-hire. In order to escape from it, he must end it—and manage to stay alive in the midst of lethal conflicts between a mob boss and his maverick subordinate, and between himself and a nemesis from his past. It won’t be easy.
You can buy A Deadly Game on Amazon here. Check out an article about A Deadly Game in NY Sports Day here.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond. 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Critiquing Seminar for the Cambridge Writers Collective, Sunday, January 21


Critiquing Seminar
Sunday, January 21, 2018
1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
 Donaldson Room at the Cambridge Center for the Arts
60 Dickson St, Cambridge, Ontario (Map here.)

Note: This seminar is open only to members of the Cambridge Writers' Collective. For more about the Cambridge Writers Collective see here and visit their Facebook page here. For information about joining the group, email: cambridge_writers@yahoo.ca


Beyond the writing itself, what’s most important for a writer – whether just starting or experienced – is a good critique group or writing buddies. But the emphasis falls on having a good group – and that’s hard to create. This seminar covers the whole gamut of issues, from making sure everyone has opportunities to bring in substantial chunks of their work to making sure the process stays positive and fulfilling. Among other issues we’ll look at:
-          Organizing and scheduling – it doesn’t happen by itself
-          How to give effective and helpful critiques – sensitivity, professionalism, and creativity
-          Critiquing other people’s work – first pass, second, and third
-          How to hear a critique – not all advice is good advice

Participants are invited to bring a short sample of your work: 1,000 words absolute maximum, but 750 words or less works better. Bring three copies.

Seminar leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada's most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. In addition to one-day workshops, he teaches half a dozen or more weekly classes each week, including a few advanced, guided critique groups. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.
Read reviews of Brian's classes, workshops and writing retreats here (and scroll down).

See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Happy Hanukkah

Kids lighting a Hanukkiah in Jerusalem



First night of Hanukkah in Jerusalem

Note: The photo and video are from “8 Special ways to celebrate Hanukkah 2016 in Israel” by Viva Sarah Press. Read the article here.