Program Newsletter

WordCraft Updates

WordCraft Podcast Launch Coming Soon!

We’re very excited to be able to soon share our first season of the WFNB professional development podcast, WordCraft. All interviews have been completed, artwork is ready to go, and final production work is underway! Stay tuned for episode dates! I can’t wait to share these conversations with all of you. You’ll hear valuable advice, insight, and inspiration from these successful NB writers:

• Beth Powning
  
• Leo LaFleur
  
• Len Falkenstein
  
• Jennifer McGrath
  
• Terry Armstrong
  
• Sue Sinclair

Community Events

Fredericton

The Fredericton Senior Center Spring Showcase opens on May 22nd. The Writing Well class, taught by WFNB member Heather Browne, will be there to showcase their work. A few of Heather’s students are also members of WFNB

Upcoming Contests, Submissions, and Grants

RBC Pen Canada, New Voices Award

The deadline for submissions for the 2024 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is fast approaching on Sunday, May 19th, APRIL 14 TO JUNE 16, 2024

The annual award aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. The winning entry will receive a $3,000 cash prize and mentorship from a celebrated Canadian author.

The Prairie Journal of Canadian Literature

Seeking previously unpublished poetry, short fiction, plays, creative non-fiction, literary essays, reviews, interviews. We also are interested in high-contrast black & white line drawings for original cover art. Check out our past covers and longer-form writing online. Guidelines are available on our website: The Prairie Journal of Canadian Literature

Uncharted Magazine Cinematic Short Story Contest

Writers are invited to submit to the Uncharted Magazine Cinematic Short Story Contest from April 14 to June 16, 2024. This award is for all of our genres: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller/Mystery (Horror), Historical Fiction, and Young Adult. Guest Judge Matt Bell will choose three winning stories from our shortlist. We’re excited to offer the first-place winner of this contest $2,000 and publication, while the second- and third-place winners will receive publication and $300 and $200, respectively.

Geist Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest

Calling all writers and wordsmiths, Geist is accepting submissions for The 19th Annual Geist Literal Literary Postcard Story Contest! Deadline: May 20, 2024 at 11:59PM PDT.

Winning entries get cash prizes and publication in Geist, so dig through your drawers and find a postcard that inspires the micro-lit writer in you.

Saint John Artist-in-Residence Program

The City of Saint John invites artists to submit Expressions of Interest to be selected for the 2024 May-September Artist-in-Residence Program.

Community engagement remains at the heart of this program, which is open to artists practicing in all media including but not limited to:

• visual (painting, sculpture),
  
• literary (poetry, collective works),
  
• performance (dance, music, opera, theatre, musical theatre),
  
• new media (film, television, radio, audio, video, animation, digital), or
  
• multidisciplinary and the intersectionality therein.
  

Please note this is not a live-in residency. Artists must reside within the City of Saint John to be considered for this program.

Deadline for applications is Wednesday May 15th 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

For more information or to apply, please visit the online application.

Call for nominations for the 11th Parliamentary Poet Laureate

Professional Services, Workshops, and Retreats

Go and Write! Upcoming Writing Retreat Schedule

For writers who are interested in focused writing retreats here in New Brunswick or overseas, Go and Write! retreats, hosted by Newfoundland native Gerard Collins and Janie Simpson, professional authors living in New Brunswick are a thoughtful blend of dedicated writing time, group writing sessions, one-on-one meetings to discuss your writing, and some touring. Gerard, a mentor and educator with 30+ years of experience, also provides written feedback on a piece of writing that each participant provides in advance of the retreat.

Below are the details of our 2024 retreats. Visit www.goandwrite.ca for more information, or reach out directly to janiegoandwrite@gmail.com to set up a Zoom meeting to discuss.

May 4-11, 2024 Spring retreat to Kingsbrae, St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB (full)

Jul 7-14, 2024 Summer Writing in St. Martins, NB (full)

Sep 13-27, 2024 Into the West of Ireland (one space left)

Oct 23-30, 2024 Autumn retreat to Kingsbrae, St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB (two spaces left)

Nov 24-Dec 5, 2024 Retreat to the Highlands, Scotland (three spaces left)

Dec 12-19, 2024 Christmastime in the Cotswolds, England (one space left)

Go and Write! participants include emerging and established writers of all genres: poets, dramatists, novelists, children’s authors, memoirists, journal writers, and more as well as their friends, family and spouses.

As we continue to gear up for this year’s festival season, keep your eyes and ears open for updates and announcements. It’s going to be an amazing summer for writers in New Brunswick!

Hope to see many of you in person soon!

Kris