H.E. Francis Short Story Competition

Sponsored by: The Ruth Hindman Foundation and the University of Alabama in Huntsville English Department

Judged by: A panel of nationally recognized, award-winning authors, directors of creative writing programs, and editors of literary journals.

Award: $1,000 / $2,000 prize (the university site says $1,000; the H.E. Francis site, $2,000)

Limitations: Manuscripts must be unpublished and may not exceed 5,000 words in length. Multiple submissions are acceptable so long as we are notified immediately in the event that a manuscript is selected by another competition or publication.

Deadline: December 31, 2012 (postmark)

Entry Fee: Check or money order for $15 for each submission, made out to the Ruth Hindman Foundation.

Format: All manuscripts must be free of any means of author identification. A cover sheet must accompany each submission. This cover sheet must indicate the title of the story, the author's name and address, and the approximate word count.

Submission of entries: Mail submissions to Department of English, Morton Hall 222, H.E. Francis Contest, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899.

A submission is complete when it includes all of the following:

Entry fee

Cover sheet

Three copies of the manuscript

If desired, SASE for announcement of winner

Announcement of Winner: March 2013

Read more about the competition, including the complete rules and a portal for electronic entries and payment here.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Lest we forget...

Flanders fields

In Flanders Fields

by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Remembrance Day Assembly by Mary Steer

So today, Yasmin's school had their Remembrance Day assembly, and families were invited to attend if they wanted to. I just got back from it and wanted to share with you a little about it, because many things struck me as extraordinary about it.

The children were so quiet and well-behaved all the way through. We had heard the children, even the toddlers, at Yasmin's old school, were also very quiet and respectful for the minute of silence last year. I think somehow children just "get it".

When it came time to sing "O Canada", it was very moving: all the children in the English stream sang in English, all the children in the French Immersion programme sang in French, and the two languages melded so beautifully. And in the last couple of rows at the back, near where we parents were sitting, the older children were also signing the words.

I wish I could remember the name and rank of the army gentleman who attended. He stood at the front as representatives came up to him, class by class, to present him with the hand-made wreathes of poppies, and as each child or pair of children approached, he saluted them, then took the wreath. Some wreathes were clearly made of children's hand prints cut out of red construction paper; one wreath was white; another was pink; most were circles but two or three were squares. All were beautiful.

One class stood and read "In Flanders Fields" (although I did notice one little boy had clearly memorized it - also very touching). Another class stood and read a poem called "A Little Poppy".

I believe it was the music teacher who played for us a song by James Kelly, called "A Pittance of Time". He explained that Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart at 11 am on November 11th, and the store made an announcement over the PA system that there would be two minutes of silence for Remembrance Day. One man refused to respect this and tried to get the cashier to ring him through anyway. Snaps to James Kelly for writing a song about it, and such a moving song too: 

The principal made an address and then asked us all to stand for two minutes of silence. There was a recording of the Last Post, and then silence. Everybody, even the nearby toddler who had come with her mother, was silent. Then Reveille and the end.

The song by James Kelly reminded me of the time I was working in the box office at the Grand Theatre in Kingston on Remembrance Day. I noticed it was 11 am, and I said to the next person at my window, "It's eleven o'clock, I'm just going to stop for two minutes for Remembrance Day."

"Oh, okay," she said. And she picked up a brochure from the rack outside the window and began flipping through it.

When the two minutes was up, I completed her order and off she went - and the next person in line stepped up and said, "I'm so glad you did that. I hadn't noticed the time. Thank you."

May we all notice the time, at 11 am on Sunday, and pay our respect and show our gratitude with two minutes of silence.

Mary Steer lives and writes in the GTA. Born and raised in Kingston, she had her first piece published in The Whig-Standard when she was 19. She has been addicted to writing ever since, and is currently working on a memoir of time spent in her other favourite occupation, working as an artists' model.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Intensive Creative Writing course, Wednesday afternoons in Burlington – Winter session starts Jan 23; spring March 27

“Intensive Creative Writing”

~ An adventure in creative growth ~

Wednesday afternoons, 12:30 to 2:45
at Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario

Winter session:
8 weeks, Jan 23 to March 13, 2013
First set of readings emailed Jan 16

Fee: $132.74 plus 13% hst = $150 Payment in advance by mail or Interac.

Spring session:

12 weeks, March 27 to June 12, 2013
First set of readings emailed March 20
Fee: $181.42 plus 13% hst = $205 Payment in advance by mail or Interac.

This course is for people who are working on their own writing. Over the eight classes, you’ll be asked to bring in four pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on.

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures at the start of each class, addressing the needs of the group.

In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches at Ryerson University and has led writing workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he's helped many of his students get published.

Advance registration only. These courses usually fill up, so enroll early to avoid disappointment.

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

Note: A similar course, The Next Step in Creative Writing, is offered on Thursdays, Jan 24 to March 14, during the afternoon in Mississauga (see here) and and in evenings in Georgetown (see here).

See Brian Henry's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Paper Droids on-line magazine seeks geek culture pieces for women

Paper Droids

On-line magazine based in Toronto

http://www.paperdroids.com/

Paper Droids was founded in 2011 by a group of publishing students who were dissatisfied by a lack of geeky outlets for women. We publish articles daily on a broad spectrum of topics that cover as much geek culture as possible, focusing on women’s issues when applicable.

We’re looking for people with a strong interest in geekery who can write from a female perspective. You are welcome to apply to as many sections as you see fit.

Entertainment
Elissa Smith – entertainment@paperdroids.com  

TV, movies, and music

Genres of sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror

Red carpet news and updates for relevant projects

Reviews

Style
Nikita Shah – style@paperdroids.com

Cosplay

Make up/nail art

Fashion/clothing

DIY wearable items

Shopping lists

Fashion subcultures

Lifestyle
Megan Patterson – lifestyle@paperdroids.com

Opinion pieces

Humour pieces

Events and conventions

Women in geek culture

Food and drink

Interior design

History, social science, archaeology

Science & Technology
Megan Patterson – sciandtech@paperdroids.com

Video games and consoles

Innovations and new ideas

Robotics

NASA/space news

Art & Lit: We are not accepting applications for Art & Lit at this time.

Please send an email to the editor of the section(s) you are interested in with a brief cover letter-like spiel about yourself and your relevant experience (if any), your fandoms, and 1–3 pieces of sample writing. We also request at least two ideas for articles, or one per section if you’re applying to multiple.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Love Letters & Writer to Writer

Hi!

The book signing event for Finding Matthew is on Sunday, November 11, 2012 from 2 – 4 p.m. at Chapters in Oakville (310 North Service Road).

Would love to see you there!

Donna Kirk

If you can't make it to Chapters on Nov 11, Finding Matthew is available from Amazon here.

Hi, Brian.

Did you hear that my Out of Darkness: The Jeff Healey Story won the Golden Oak award? Again, can’t thank you enough for kick-starting my writing!

Cindy Watson

Congratulations, Cindy! Read more about Out of Darkness: The Jeff Healey Story here.

Out of Darkness is published by Dundurn Press. Check out Dundurn’s submission requirements here.  Also, you can order Out of Darkness from Amazon.ca here.

Hi Brian,
You mentioned you were interested in any writing your students have done so I thought I'd send you this column I wrote for the Hamilton Spectator. It was inspired by the shooting of the young Pakistani girl.
See you soon.
Denise Davy

http://denisedavy.com/

Hi, Brian.

I’m am pleased to announce that my first book, Brock’s Agent, a novel of redemption for Upper Canada’s first secret agent during the war of 1812, has been bought by Sandstone Press in the U.K.

Thanks for all your great sessions to make me a better writer!

Cheers,

Tom Taylor

www.tomtaylor.ca

Hi, Brian.

I hope all is well with you. I had my sixth story published to CommuterLit today. See here. It’s about my dog Bailey. I had a very favourable response from my friends saying that I tugged at their heartstrings. I need to learn to write with that much feeling about fictional characters.

My 5th short story in CommuterLit, "The Walk Home," was first published in Canadian Stories magazine as an entry in their Photo Story Contest, and I originally wrote it in your "How to Make Yourself Write" workshop in Peterborough. You can read it at CommuterLit here

And see my other CommuterLit stories here.

Also, I am very pleased that I have had my first short story published to Marco Polo, a US based art magazine as a winner in their 100x500 contest. (See here.)

I'm looking forward to your next writing workshop in Peterborough. See you in the spring.
Thanks,
Nancy Boyce

For information on submitting to CommuterLit, see here.
For information about Canadian Stories, see here.

Writer to Writer:

I have written a YA novel and I'd like to find a writing buddy who is willing to read and critique my manuscript. In return, I would read and critique yours.

If you are interested, please email me at robinsonseven@hotmail.com

Anitha

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

New books from Bev Irwin and Brody McVittie

You’re invited to a book launch for three books by Bev Irwin published by Black Opal Books:

Ghostly Justice (available here)

Missing Clayton (available here)

And In His Father’s Footsteps (available here)

Friday, November 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. 

at Coles in Masonville Mall, London, Ontario

Hello, Brian.
You've worked on my novels Lion & Lamb and Writing In & Of Color, and I was a staple on your Southwestern Ontario circuit circa '07.

Over the past year, I've managed to self-publish my novels, as well as The Meathead Manifesto, a series of humour-based articles on bodybuilding, nutrition and relationship advice, and a prose collection, 139 Pages of Pining.

They're currently available through www.amazon.com and my website, www.brodymcvittie.com.

Thanks again for helping me launch my career Brian – I always took your insights to heart.

Cheers,
Brody McVittie, author (!)

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

How to Write a Bestseller workshop, Saturday, Nov 10, at Grace United Church in Barrie

"How to Write a Bestseller"
Saturday, November 10, 2012
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
New venue: Grace United Church, 350 Grove Street East, Barrie (Map here.)

(We’re no longer meeting at Zehrs)

This workshop will give you the inside scoop on what gives a novel best-selling potential. You’ll learn how to get readers emotionally involved in your story, how to raise tension, control your pacing and keep your readers turning the pages. But you won't just hear about some of the best secrets of the trade; you'll learn how to apply them to give your own writing a sharp new edge.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published; some – such as Kelley Armstrong – have even landed on the New York Times bestseller's list.

Fee: $38.94 + 13% hst = $44 paid in advance by mail or Interac
or $42.48+ 13% hst = $48 if you wait to pay at the door.
To reserve your spot, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Will Ferguson wins 2012 Giller Prize for "419"

Mark Medley | National Post | Oct 30, 2012 

Will Ferguson, one of Canada’s pre-eminent humorists, travel writers, and a three-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, is the winner of this year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Taking the stage moments after the announcement was made, and wearing a kilt displaying his family colours, Ferguson took a silver flask from “the old sporran” and raised it to the room.

“I’d like to raise a toast to the written word,” he said, as the audience responded in kind.

Ferguson’s tightly-plotted literary thriller 419, which explores the Byzantine world of email scams, taking the reader from the streets of Calgary to the back-alleys of Lagos, is perhaps the most populist book to be awarded Canada’s most prestigious literary prize.

He receives $50,000 for winning the Giller, which was awarded at a gala ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto Tuesday night.

If anyone wants to write a review of 419, I’d love to post it. Email your review to me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Writing your memoirs & other true stories, an 8-week course, Jan 29 – March 26, in Burlington

“Writing Your Life”

~ An eight-week writing adventure ~ 

Tuesday afternoons, 12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Jan 29 – March 26, 2013 (No class March 12)
Appleby United Church

4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

If you’ve ever considered writing your memoirs, your family history or just getting your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going. We’ll introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. 

Weekly writing exercises and friendly feedback from the instructor will help you move forward on this writing adventure. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this course.

Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130. Advance registration only. Number of attendees limited.

To reserve your spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Note: Brian's writing classes tend to fill up, to avoid disappointment, register early.

See Brian’s full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.