Happy summer, Members and Friends!

Whether you're scribbling near the coastline, at your cabin in the woods, or in the bustle of the city, we hope the warm temperatures, mixed with rain, are proving to be inspirational for your writing.

But if you haven't had any inspiration so far this summer, our next event is our annual Writers' Retreat, slated for August 18-20 at Villa Madonna Retreat Centre in Rothesay. A minimum of 15 participants is required for meals to be provided...which is the whole point, so if you're thinking of signing up, please do so as soon as possible. It's an economical and useful event for the regulars who come every year, as well as newcomers who'd like to have a little time for themselves and their projects. 

In addition, we've teamed up with the Friends of Fundy to present WordsFall on October 27-29 in Alma. We're looking forward to lots of interesting information and opportunities to mingle with other writers, in the outstanding natural setting of the Bay of Fundy. Normally closed for the season, The Parkland Village Inn has agreed to open up for us and will host all the workshops, as well as most of the accommodations.

Come for dinner at five pm on Friday at the Octopuses' Garden, and at six pm we'll kick off the weekend with our open mic/book launch and special readings, and some music. On Saturday, a lunch activity in Fundy National Park, flanked by great workshops on Professional Speaking by Teri Kingston, Writing Fantasy with Vanessa Hawkins, Screenwriting by Ontario author Carlos Anthony, and poetry with Allan Cooper. We'll also share a Talking Circle with new board member Roche Sappier on Modern Myths Deriving from Indigenous roots, and Writing Romance with Ruth McLean. 

Should be a great time - look for the event page soon - as soon as we can finalize a few more details. 

Thank you for your response to our engagement survey. We received 88 responses, which represents 27% of our membership, and we appreciate you taking the time to answer. Kris is compiling the responses and will post an overview, as it relates to our strategic plan, on the website sometime this summer.

Cheers,

Rhonda Bulmer and Kris Windley

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!

Storme Arden lives in Nova Scotia and is director of Visual Arts Nova Scotia. She is an arts writer and curator who’s interested in creative non-fiction, essays, memoir and nonfiction. Welcome, Storme!

Cheri Armstrong lives in Saint John and is interested in the following genres: Blogging, Corporate writing, Creative non-fiction, Editing, Fiction, Romance, Copywriting, Website copy, Freelance writing. Welcome, Cheri!

Ronda Fraser is from Germantown. With decades of experience in corporate writing, she is also a poet who focuses on animals and nature. Welcome, Ronda!

Teri Kingston lives in Saint Andrews and is a captivating TEDx speaker, coach, and expert in the art of persuasive communication. She is interested in the genres of Corporate writing, Essays, Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Spiritual. Teri will be giving a workshop at WordsFall on October 28 in Alma on presentation skills. Welcome, Teri!

Jaimie McGivery lives in Grand Bay-Westfield, and focuses on the following genres: Childrens, Creative non-fiction, Poetry, Songwriting, Spiritual, Suspense, Flash/Micro fiction. Welcome, Jaimie!

Ralph Mercer (Dr.) is a Technology Culturalist and CLA Explorer from Barnaby River. He is a member of the executive of the Posthumanism Research Institute and Managing Editor of World Futures Review. He writes in the following genres: Editing, Essays, Non-Fiction, Science Writing, Technical. Welcome, Ralph!

Ingrid Mueller is a published writer, editor and proofreader with 30 years of experience. She lives in Saint Andrews and is interested in Biography, Blogging, Childrens, Corporate writing, Creative non-fiction, Editing, Essays, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Journalism, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Romance, Spiritual, Flash/Micro fiction, Copywriting, Freelance writing, Spoken Word. Welcome, Ingrid!

Charline Savoie lives in Grand Barachois and writes in the following genres: 
Blogging, Comedy, Fantasy, Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Songwriting, Spiritual. Welcome, Charline!

MEMBER NEWS

Congratulations to Rosalyn Hyslop, who is also co-CEO of Mrs. Dunster’s Donuts, and a key sponsor of the NB Book Awards. Atlantic Business Magazine honoured Rosalyn with CEO of the Year! Rosalyn is a founding member of the NB Book Awards, and Mrs.Dunster’s remains a valued sponsor. 

***

Longtime WFNB member Roger Moore would like to announce the recent release of his novel, People of the Mist, and two short story collections, Poems for the End of Time, and Devil's Kitchen to KDP Amazon last month. He is working on three more manuscripts, one finished, one in final revision, and one in what he calls “Quarry Form” - the material is all there, but it isn't ordered yet. Roger now has 18 books up on KDP-Amazon. (In total, Roger has published over 50 books and chapbooks- a lifetime's service to art and literature!) You can check more about Roger's work here. 

Have you published or self-published a book? Won an award?
Are you hosting a book signing or launch event? We'll share it here, and we'll also include your news on our social media posts!

NEWSY BITS

ACCESS COPYRIGHT DOWNSIZES

Access Copyright's Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to initiate a significant downsizing and restructuring of the organization due to the federal government's decade-long inaction in fixing Canada's publishing marketplace.

TORONTO, July 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Due to changes in fair dealing provisions in the Copyright Act, since 2012, Canadian writers, visual artists, and publishers - an indispensable part of Canada's culture - have been deprived of over $200 million in unpaid royalties under tariffs certified by the Copyright Board of Canada.

This staggering figure is among the many impacts, including job losses and several educational publishers stepping away from the K-12 or post-secondary markets, that have hit Canadian creators and publishers since amendments to Canada's Copyright Act were enacted in 2012.

The mass, systemic free copying of creators' works by Canada's education sector outside of Quebec since 2012 has led to Access Copyright's total distributions to rightsholders dropping by 79%.

It has also led to the start of the hollowing out of Access Copyright - a key piece of Canada's cultural infrastructure that Canadian creators and publishers rely on to be fairly compensated for the use of their work.

"The abandonment of Canadian creators and publishers is a blight on our country, and an international embarrassment," says John Degen, CEO of The Writers' Union of Canada. "When the Copyright Act was amended to include a fair-dealing exception for education, the Liberals in opposition then expressed deep concern that it was likely to be exploited at the expense of creators. They were right; that's exactly what happened. The government has promised to fix the gaps in the Act many times, but we are still waiting for meaningful change. In the meantime, a key market has disappeared and, with it, countless Canadian stories."

The government's 2022 federal budget promise "to ensure a sustainable educational publishing industry, including fair remuneration for creators and copyright holders, as well as a modern and innovative marketplace that can efficiently serve copyright users" was a direct acknowledgment of the harm that the 2012 changes to the Copyright Act have caused and the need for legislative action to repair it.

Creators nationally continue to wait for the government to make good on its commitment, and the marketplace for a viable Canadian educational publishing industry continues to dry up.

"The regrettable, albeit predictable, news that Access Copyright's Board is initiating a restructuring of the organization means that we are down to the wire for the federal government to make good on its promise to repair our broken marketplace," said Jack Illingworth, executive director of the Association of Canadian Publishers. "We can't wait any longer for the government to do what is needed to support those we rely on to tell our stories."

"The news that Access Copyright is downsizing is devastating to Canadian literary publishers, especially as there are solutions at the ready that would meaningfully address the current ambiguity in fair dealing and add clarity to fair compensation for the use of creators' works," said Laura Rock Gaughan, executive director of the Literary Press Group of Canada. "The federal government must stand up for Canadian creators and publishers. We are out of time."

"While Quebec's educational institutions, unlike the rest of Canada, continue to be licensed, creators and publishers in the province have not been immune to the devastating economic impact of the 2012 changes to the Copyright Act," said Christian Laforce, general manager of Copibec. "We join others across Canada in urging the federal government to address this long-standing injustice before it is too late."

Access Copyright continues to urge the federal government to work with the organization and the sector to prevent its collapse and avoid the harm that is on the horizon for the writers, visual artists and publishers it represents.

***

ARTSLINK NB SURVEY

Stemming from the recommendations from the Report on the Status of the Artist, “to document the barriers to child-care accessibility for artists and other atypical workers,” EECD is looking for insights into challenges faced by artists in accessing childcare in New Brunswick.

Do you use childcare services now? How or why not? What concerns do you have around access (financial, availability, suitability etc.)?

You can email Krystle.Hanson@gnb.ca directly with comments, which will help inform future programs and initiatives.

***

CULTURAL VENUES SURVEY

Three New Brunswick arts organizations have teamed up with Hill Strategies to pursue a groundbreaking research project into the impacts and post-pandemic challenges of cultural hubs in the province.

As a first step, venue operators are asked to complete a bilingual survey about their contributions to the cultural community and all New Brunswickers, as well as their financial health and community engagement.

Broad participation in this survey will be extremely important for the province’s cultural sector. The survey will produce aggregate results that will inform the sector for the next decade, and there is no other survey that adequately represents New Brunswick’s cultural venues, their situations, and their challenges.

The survey is available at www.nbculturalvenues.ca until tomorrow, July 14.

THE FIRST PLAIN LANGUAGE STANDARD

The first Plain Language Standard is now approved by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and can be purchased and used by organizations or individuals.

The standard was developed by an international committee of experts and is based on empirical evidence. Learn more about how this standard can help you achieve clear communication for everyone.

There are fact sheets specific to various types of writing on the website of the International Plain Language Federation.

THE WRITERS’ TRUST OF CANADA SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Charlie Foran is stepping down as executive director of the Writers’ Trust of Canada. The search is on for his replacement.

The board has established a search committee and hired Boyden to lead the search. They will be taking the summer to speak with potential candidates about the role. Based in Toronto, the next Executive Director will take over a dynamic and growing organization with a superb staff and a strong board of directors. Interested? Here is a link to the job posting:  www.writerstrust.com/careers

WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES

& RETREATS

• “Write after Labour Day” with Go and Write! at the Kingsbrae estate, St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB.

  Join award-winning authors Dr. Gerard Collins and Janie Simpson, based in New Brunswick, for a focused writing retreat. Our participants include emerging and established writers of all genres – poetry, fiction, drama, memoir and journaling, children’s books, and everything in between – as well as their friends, family, and spouses.

  Visit www.goandwrite.ca for details.

  September 5-12, Write after Labour Day, Kingsbrae International Residency for the Arts, St. Andrews by-the-Sea, NB (Canada)

  New!

  Just as the kids are headed back to school, it’s time to get focused on your writing with a small group retreat. You’ll have a gorgeous, private bedroom/bathroom in a historic mansion, a separate private writing studio, and the award-winning Kingsbrae Garden at your doorstep. Retreats include all breakfasts and some suppers. Only 5 rooms available, and 2 people have registered already. Register as a single or bring someone to share your room, studio, and costs.

  November 19-28, Writing in the Highlands (Scotland)

  This retreat is now full.

  December 3-16, Christmastime in the Old Country (Ireland) Only 1 space left
  Christmas in Ireland is every bit as magical as you might think. We’ll start with a week in a West Coast castle overlooking a cozy village on the bay, then spend three nights at a glorious old hotel in the heart of Galway, and another three nights at a charming hotel in the centre of Dublin when all the old country is decked out in its festive finest.

  Questions? Contact janiegoandwrite@gmail.com or visit www.goandwrite.ca to see details and what’s included.

• The Offtopic Writers’ Conference
  August 5, 2023
  Banff, NB, and online
  A full day of writing and talking shop
  Featuring: Will Ferguson, Finnian Burnett, Miranda Krogstad, Andrew Shaughnessy, Marion Lougheed
  Offtopicpublishing.com/conference
  
  

• *FREE* SCREENWRITING OR PUBLISHING WORKSHOP TO WFNB MEMBERS and NB Film Cooperative Members on SATURDAY, AUGUST 5!

  The Tennants Cove Writers Workshop (TCWW) has decided to open theIr Saturday, August 5, half-day workshops in Screenwriting and Publishing to WFNB members and to NB Film Cooperative members, for free. The retreat is located in a rural multi-generational family home on the Saint John River in Kars, New Brunswick. Our capacity is limited, so members should write to Peter individually and tell me what their interests are and which workshop(s) they would like to attend. Each half-day workshop comes with lunch and in addition to in-person instruction will also feature a Zoom session with a noted screenwriter or publishing professional. I will send the address and other details upon acceptance. Welcome!

  Peter von Ziegesar

  tennantscovewriters.com
  
  

• The Canadian Freelance Guild has opened registration for four Summer Academy sessions with discounts for WFNB members. The code to use is WFNB-2023 These are CFG Experts Panels and part of our Business of Freelancing Series. This time, they'll cover Branding, Social Media, Website Best Practices and Blogging for Business.

  https://canadianfreelanceguild.ca/en/calendar-2/

RESIDENCIES

• Banff Centre is excited to announce three upcoming Literary Arts residencies for 2023/24 that may be of interest to you and your networks. I invite you to visit the program pages linked below to learn more.
  
  Late Fall Writers Residency Online 2023
  
  This two-week online session will allow writers across genre to explore craft, voice, and workshop their manuscripts with exceptional faculty. Faculty: Moez Surani and Klara du Plessis Program Dates: November 20 - December 01, 2023 | Application Deadline: August 09, 2023
  
  Winter Writers Residency 2024
  
  This three-week residency offers time and space for writers to retreat, reconnect, and re-energize their writing practice. In addition to a single room and a small private studio, you will be surrounded by a community of artistic peers with the opportunity to attend inspiring talks, performances, and meet with guest faculty to consult on your work. Faculty: Casey Plett, Waubgeshig Rice, and Kwame Fraser Program Dates: January 15 - February 02, 2024 | Application Deadline: September 06, 2023
  
  Late Winter Writers Residency Online 2024
  
  This two-week online session will allow writers across genre to explore craft, voice, and workshop their manuscripts with exceptional faculty. Faculty: Fawn Parker and Annick MacAskill Program Dates: February 12 - February 23, 2024 | Application Deadline: November 08, 2023
  
  Online programs are fully funded. For in-person programs, funding of 100% of tuition and 50% of food and accommodation is available.
  
  
• Applications for Saskatoon Public Library's Writer in Residence 2024-2025 term are now open. The job posting is listed on Saskatoon Public Library's web site .The posting closes on November 15, 2023.

WRITING GROUPS

• The Chapter One Writing Group, led by Roche Sappier, has moved to a monthly format, and its next meeting will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Perth-Andover library. All are welcome! Contact PerthAndover.PublicLibrary@gnb.ca for more information.
  
• The Writers of Kingston Peninsula are an eclectic group of people that write for a variety of reasons, with many motivations they joyfully share. If you’d like to join them for an exercise in writing from prompts, share your own writing journey, or just to meet other writers, check out our Facebook page or reach out to us through Messenger. Times and dates may vary.
  
  

• The Fundy Bay Writers is open to receiving new members. They offer monthly Zoom sessions, in-person workshops, shared readings, and ongoing support for writers at all stages of the craft.  This group is affiliated with the Sunbury Shores Art & Nature Center in St. Andrews.  For more information or to join, please email:  fundybaywriters@gmail.com

  
  

• The Writing Group Exhale: Grand Falls, meets every 3rd Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Grand Falls Public Library. The next meeting will be held on February 18, 2023. For more information contact Denise McClure at 75deemac@gmail.com, or call 506-473-6125.
• The AX, the Arts and Culture Centre of Sussex has a writing group that meets monthly in the gallery. For more information, check out the website, visit 12 Maple Ave., Sussex, or call (506) 433-8351.

FREE ONLINE WRITING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

Unleash Creatives Community Write-ins: Let's write! Hosted by Unleash Creatives, this hour-long event will include a simple writing prompt (all genres welcome), and time to write. This community write-in will be delivered via Zoom. Free & open to everyone. When: 2nd Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. ET. Where: A direct link will be emailed 24 hours in advance. RSVP here.  The Odyssey Online Writers' Salon is meant for those who would like to participate in lively discussion about writing. Share insights, discuss struggles, set goals, ask questions, comment on stories or novels you've read, or recommend good books or resources on writing. You can also ask any questions about Odyssey programs you might have. When: 2nd Wednesday of every month, 8:30-9:30 p.m. AST beginning Sept. 14, 2022 The Creative Penn - New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Penn runs a YouTube channel that provides tips on self-publishing, marketing, the business of being a writer and more. Janet Fitch's Writing Wednesday - Innovative Novel Structures with Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander, the Revolution of Marina M. Having taught formally for many years, Janet wanted to do something for those who are working alone, as she did. As ultimately we all are. Writing Wednesday is her gift to you. Every Monday at 12pm Dale L. Roberts posts a new video in his Self-Publishing with Dale series. You'll learn how to self publish a book on Kindle and paperback through Amazon KDP. Visit New Brunswick's incredible The Miramichi Reader for everything from coast to coast author updates, new Canadian literary releases, book reviews, interviews, writing advice, events and more! The (Writing) Workshop Finder website features ongoing workshops, retreats and conferences for writers. Many other resources are available here too. Live Canon - For fourteen years Live Canon have been publishing, performing, promoting, celebrating and sharing poetry. Our courses run in person and online and engage with established and emerging poets globally.

WRITING CONTESTS-- OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS

• The Fiddlehead’s 2023 Fiction Contest is open for submissions! Send us your best, unpublished piece by September 1, 2023 for a chance to win $2000 and publication in the winter issue of The Fiddlehead. This year’s contest will be judged by Jack Wang, author of We Two Alone. See the full contest details and rules here. 
    

• Hurry! The fractured lit flash fiction deadline is July 16!

  Awarding $3,500 | We're excited to launch a new contest for our flash writers. From May 15 to July 16, 2023, we welcome writers to submit to the Fractured Lit Flash Fiction OPEN.

  Fractured Lit publishes flash fiction with emotional resonance, with characters who come to life through their actions and responses to the world around them. We’re searching for flash that investigates the mysteries of being human, the sorrow and the joy of connecting to a diverse population.

  We're thrilled to partner with Guest Judge Sara Lippmann, who will choose one grand prize winner and 15 finalists from a shortlist. The first-place winner will receive $2,000 and publication, while the 15 finalists will receive $100 and publication. All entries will be considered for general publication.

  Good luck and happy writing! 

  • The second round of the Folly House Poetry Prize opened July 1. The keyword this round is "FLOWERING" and is open immediately for submissions. Guidelines can again be found at our site here. The deadline this round is September 30, 2023. Again, the winner receives 50% of the submission fees collected ($5 per poem) and their poem published on a broadside designed by Folly House. All skill levels are welcome to submit. The goal is to encourage everyone to write. The keyword does not have to be used specifically but can also be a jumping off point of inspiration. 
    
    More information can be found about us and our prize and submitting to https://folly.house/Prize.
    
    

  • LIVE CANON A reminder of our current submission deadlines
    
    24th July, invidividual poems for the Live Canon International Poetry Competition 2023
    1st Oct for pamphlets and chapbooks
    1st Nov for collections, with categories for first collections and second /subsequent collections
    
    All information and guidelines can be found on our submittable page and all submissions are via the submittable system.
    
    

  • 2023 International Literary Seminars Fiction and Poetry Contest
    
    In partnership with Fence! Ready to embark on an incredible literary adventure? We invite you to submit your writing for a chance to be published in Fence, one of North America’s most prestigious literary magazines, and be awarded a full scholarship to attend the December 2023 International Literary Seminars program in Kenya. The ILS program is a unique and intensive series of literary workshops, career consultations, and cultural offerings in Nairobi and Lamu, Kenya. All entries will be considered for publication in Fence or Fence Digital, and a chance to receive editorial feedback. The first-prize winner will have their work published in Fence, and will also be awarded a full scholarship, including tuition, accommodations, and an airfare stipend, to attend the December 2023 International Literary Seminars program in Kenya. The second-prize winner will be offered a full tuition fee waiver to attend the December 2023 International Literary Seminars program in Kenya. The third-prize winner will be offered 50% off the tuition fee. Runners up will be awarded partial fellowships to attend the program. Read the full contest guidelines. Deadline: August 25, 2023.  Reading Fee: $19 US

Journals, Zines and Podcasts

• Exclusive Promotional Opportunity for WFNB Members 
  
  Mark Dykeman is a writer from Woodstock, NB, who currently publishes a Substack newsletter called How About This described as Notebook nerdery, creativity, reading, writing, and realizing, with a dash of current events and pop culture, cooked in a curious Atlantic Canadian sauce. He invites WFNB members to be interviewed about their work and creative process as a part of his Atlantic Canada Mondays series. He is happy to link back to websites, social media, etc. as a part of the interview.
  
  Mark normally sends a ten-question interview by email and gathers the interviewee's responses the same way. Interested? Contact Mark at  markdykeman@gmail.com.
• The Moderate Review is accepting short stories, poems, nonfiction, paintings, sculptures, 280 character stories (they will be tweeted if selected), music, and spoken word. The divisions between these art forms are arbitrary. Blur them. Newly established online journal The Moderate Review, showcasing both established and emerging literary talents, invites your words and voices to the ongoing creative discussion. Currently accepting submissions on a rolling basis with no deadlines or publishing dates. Submissions should be sent as a word attachment to moderatereview@gmail.com. There are no word limits, guidelines, or restrictions. However, all submissions must be original work and not previously published.
• Voyage YA seeking submission — Always free. Always open. Always paid. Please read the submission guidelines carefully. Voyage has no restrictions on the kind of fiction they’re looking for. They simply aim to publish good work and provide a space for new and established voices. To get an idea of what they publish, please read the archives. General submissions are open year-round and there is no fee to submit to the general categories. New work is published weekly. Submissions are only accepted via online submission managing system, Submittable. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
• Elegant Literature, a short fiction magazine focused exclusively on new/unpublished writers is accepting submissions in all genres, from anyone age 13 and up. We pay 10 cents a word and publish stories between 500 - 2000 words. Our contract is favourable to the author and openly available on our website. We don't allow pros to submit in order to focus on aspiring talent. Visit the website for more information.
• Live Canon - For fourteen years Live Canon have been publishing, performing, promoting, celebrating and sharing poetry. We publish anthologies, debuts and collections. Our ensemble perform poetry at theatres, festivals and events, and record poetry for radio, digital projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. We work with other art forms to create installations, interventions and experiences. We work with young people to create, explore and enjoy poetry.
• League of Canadian Poets Poetry News - Subscribe to Poetry Pause for your daily delivery of Canadian poetry! Poetry Pause delivers more than a daily poem; it delivers the chance for folks to pause for poetry.  Sign up for Poetry Pause and spare a few minutes each day for words that heal, inspire, and sustain. We’re always accepting submissions!

Publishers and Literary Markets

• Merlin Star Press is a new publisher based in Cocagne, New Brunswick, initially focusing on writers in southeastern New Brunswick, with a long-term goal of publishing writers from across Atlantic Canada. They are accepting submissions until July 1. They are interested in fiction and general interest submissions. They are not interested in poetry, children’s books, erotica, graphic novels, short stories, guide books, sports, cooking, young or new adult, memoir, autobiography, photo, self help, travel, how to, religious, or similar.

• Atmosphere Press is a collaborative publisher, currently seeking great manuscripts from diverse (feminist!) voices. This year Atmosphere authors have sold thousands of books across five continents, received featured reviews with Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, and have even appeared on a giant billboard in Times Square. And they’d love to see what you’ve written!

• Authors Get Published is an online boutique publishing house located in Toronto, Ontario. They are a full-service publishing house that publishes first-time and seasoned authors on their journey to become published authors, by providing book cover creation, manuscript editing services, formatting, and more. Distributed through Ingram, Authors Get Published work to ensure that each author’s book or books receive maximum visibility online through their website and online platforms where books are sold. If you would like to submit your manuscript for consideration, please email the Editor-in-Chief Christine at Christine@AuthorsGetPublished.com. They reply to every submission within 2 weeks. Visit the website for complete manuscript submission details.
• VS. Books was founded by artist Vivek Shraya to create more intergenerational dialogue and support for artists of colour. Each year, Vivek offers a mentorship opportunity and publishing contract for a writer who is Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour. This year VS. Books’ is seeking an unpublished Indigenous writer, Black writer, or a writer of colour, over the age of 50 living in Canada.
• Indian Ink Publishing is currently seeking completed literary fiction, trade fiction, and creative non-fiction manuscripts by emerging and established writers. Indian Ink Publishing is focused on bringing diverse narratives in to the homes of our readers. We believe that a rich story lives in every writer and consider it our number one priority to nurture that story from page to press. Storytelling is our passion. We aim to amplify underrepresented voices and capture unique experiences in the fiction and non-fiction books we publish. We are excited by prose that is compelling and innovative, bold and nuanced, that has the ability to transport the reader beyond their own imagination. We aim to publish work that reflects the diversity in Canada's cultural fabric and encourage writers who identify as women, Indigenous, persons of colour, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities to submit. 

Grants, Residencies and Poet Laureateships

Provincial Grants

Artsnb administers eight grant programs. Deadlines vary throughout the year. You can submit your grant applications online. In addition, ArtsNB:

• offers Accessibility and Equity programs which provide additional financial support to NB artists who face barriers when applying for grants or in carrying out their proposed activities.
• The Application Assistance program, provides funding to individuals who encounter disability-related barriers to completing an online grant application; and to Indigenous artists facing language, geographic and/or cultural barriers with the online application process.
• The Access Support program is designed to provide supplemental funding to grant recipients who require disability-related assistance to carry out their proposed activities. For more information: info@artsnb.ca or 506-444-4445

Federal Grants

• Canada Council for the Arts: New and Early Career Artists: The Canada Council for the Arts is making it easier for artists to apply for their first grant—they’ve launched a profile for new and early career artists. It’s part of a two-year pilot project to reach the next wave of artists in Canada and renew support to the arts sector. Artists at the start of their careers—including those who are new to Canada—can apply for Canada Council funding.

An artist with a new and early career artist profile is eligible to apply for grants from three Explore and Create components:

• Professional Development for Artists—Project grants to support career advancement activities for artists and artistic groups—including mentorships, internships, apprenticeships, specialized training and workshops.
• Research and Creation—Project grants to support creative research, development and the creation of new works, including residencies.
• Concept to Realization—Project grants to support activities that will result in completed works that are shown to the public—including public presentations, exhibitions, media arts and digital arts production ready for dissemination.

To be eligible as a New/Early Career Artist, you must:

• have no other approved applicant profiles with the Canada Council
• have not previously received a grant from the Canada Council
• be at least 18 years old
• be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
• have some training, experience or accomplishments in one or more of the Council’s recognized fields of practice. Past training could include mentorship, self-study, workshops, etc. Training in an academic institution is not mandatory. The Council recognizes training, experience or accomplishments that took place outside of Canada.  
• be committed to the ongoing development of your skills and artistic practice

Create an account on the portal, and then submit a new and early career artist profile. You can only have one of these profiles. Create it and apply with your main field of practice—you can still apply for grants with other fields of practice later on. Make sure your CV matches with the eligibility criteria listed above. We recommend you get started with your profile well ahead of the competition you’re working towards because your profile will need to be validated before you can apply for a grant. 

Writing Residencies

Check back next month for more writing residency opportunities!

Poet Laureateships

Check back next month for upcoming Poet Laureateship applications!

Canadian Writing Markets

• ·         The CBC has an extensive list of Canadian Literary Journals for submissions to literary magazines here and Canadian Publishing Houses here.
  
• ·         Quick Brown Fox regularly updates its list of writing markets for poems, short stories and novels. The site is maintained by writing workshop instructor and author Brian Henry and is an invaluable resource for new and seasoned writers.