NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BRANCH (NCR)
Weekly Notices for the week of December 10 2012
14 items: 7 new events and 5 new contests
Please send all submission & event notices to Carol Stephen atcstephen0@gmail.com
####Find writing-related services offered by our members at our CAA-NCR website http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/hire-a-member.shtml
FYI…FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION…CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL OVERSEAS
At this time of year, we think of our own families and friends. However, many military personnel serving in overseas posts are far away from family or, possibly don’t have family. Whether one supports or opposes military service, these folks are still alone. So, if you wish to participate: 1) Address envelopes to: “Any Canadian Forces Member”
2) A list of the mailing addresses for the various overseas postings can be found at the following website. Click on the location for a full address:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/message/addresses-eng.asp
CAA-NCR BRANCH NEWS
ITEM 1: CAA-NCR NEW WRITING CIRCLE EAST END OTTAWA NEW!
Canadian Authors Association-NCR Branch is opening up a new Writing Circle (WC) in the Vanier/St. Laurent Rd. area.
The Circle will meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The first meeting will be on January 23rd.
LOCATION: Ottawa Public Library, 515 Côté, two blocks West of St. Laurent Blvd., four blocks South of Montreal Road, four blocks North of McArthur. Parking is available at the site, and the #7 and #14 buses stop nearby – check OC Transpo website for further details.
CAA-NCR Writing Circles are now open to non-members of Canadian Authors Association. Fees are: $75.00 per year for non-members; members of CAA-NCR attend the Writing Circles at no charge as part of their membership package. For information, and to register for this writing circle, contact Sharyn Heagle at sharyn_40@yahoo.com.
ITEM 2: 2013 NATIONAL CAPITAL WRITING CONTEST
DEADLINE postmarked by midnight Feb. 1, 2013.
The contest is open to members of CAA–NCR and/or residents of the National Capital Region (parameters at http://canauthors-ottawa.org/awards.shtml#ncr-definition).
- Short Story (max. 2500 words)
- Poetry (not Haiku) (max. 60 lines including title & blank lines)
- Must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant.
Winning entries of the 2013 NCWC and/or Honourable Mentions might be published in a CAA–NCR anthology, or in a local news medium, or in CAA–NCR’s e-mag, Byline. Copyright remains with the entrant.
Each entry must be in English, typed, on 8½ × 11 paper, one side only, page-numbered consecutively on bottom right of pages. No extra-large type, please! Indicate category and title on top left corner of every page. Stories must be double spaced; this is not required for poetry.
Contest is blind judged. Entrant’s name must NOT appear on the submission(s). Include a separate cover page with contest category, title(s) of story/poem(s), your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.
Entry fee: $10 per story; $10 for up to three (3) poems; number of entries unlimited. Members of CAA–NCR are entitled to one (1) free entry in only one (1) category. Make cheques payable to CAA–NCR and designate NCWC.
Poems will be judged singly, not as a packet.
CAA–NCR reserves the right to withhold any prize should entries fail to meet expected standards.
Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2013. Mail entries to: National Capital Writing Contest, 163 BELL ST., N., Box 57081, Ottawa ON K1R 7E1 Attention: Sherrill Wark
For information: Sharyn Heagle, CAA–NCR President, sharyn_40@yahoo.com.
CAA NATIONAL NEWS
ITEM 3: CANADIAN AUTHORS 2013 LITERARY AWARDS
Entries are now being accepted for the Canadian Authors Association’s 2013 Literary Awards.
Criteria and submission details are available in the CAA 2013 Literary Awards Guidelines. http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1104523395073-19/CAA+2013+Lit+Awards+guidelines-adult.pdf
PLEASE NOTE: THE ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES SHOULD SAY FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2012, NOT 2013.
Complete the CAA 2013 Awards entry form online and send it to us along with your entries
The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2013.
Now in its 38th year, the CAA Literary Awards program honours writing that achieves excellence without sacrificing popular appeal. Past winners have included Margaret Atwood, Timothy Findley, Leonard Cohen, Micheal Ondaatje, Carol Shields, Patrick DeWitt, Nino Ricci and countless other literary stars – some relatively unknown at the time they received the award.
ITEM 4: SAVE THE DATE! CANWRITE! 2013 JUNE 13-16, 2013
Lakehead University Orillia Campus, Orillia, Ontario
English: Waterfront of Orillia, Ontario, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Stay tuned for more information
Call for Presenters: Canadian Authors is now accepting expressions of interest in being an instructor at CanWrite! 2013, to be held at Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus in Orillia, Ontario from June 13-16. If you are a professional member, have skills to share and are experienced in leading intensive hands-on workshops related to writing or getting published, contact us at admin@canauthors.org and we’ll tell you what we need from you.
Call for Member News: Our quarterly newsletter, Canadian Author, is about to relaunch this fall. If you have any interesting info you would like to share with your fellow writers – upcoming book launch, a new commission, a scheduled reading – send it to us and we’ll make sure it gets in. For more information, contact Courtney at admin@canauthors.org or call 1 866 216 6222 for formatting and word-length requirements.
Call for Expressions of Interest: Are you a published member of CAA? Would you like your work to be showcased in CAA’s upcoming book catalog? If so, let us know and we will send you information on cost, timing and specs. For more information, contact Courtney at admin@canauthors.org or call 1 866 216 6222
BRANCH MEMBER NEWS
ITEM 4: BRANCH MEMBER JO-ANN L. TREMBLAY ANNOUNCES HER NEW BOOK! NEW!
Jo-Ann has just indie-published her newest book; Better WITH a Bag Than IN a Bag – from the brink of death through humour & inspiration, with Amazon.com. It is available on KINDLE, and in print book form. For more details go to – www.amazon.com, then type the name of the book, or Jo-Ann L. Tremblay in the search box.
“A remarkably candid first person account of arriving at the brink of death, surgery, survival, and living with a colostomy, affectionately called, “Percy”. A compelling tale that speaks to the human spirit within all of us, Better WITH a Bag Than IN a Bag, makes laugh, and makes us cry, as it inspires everyone who wants to live life to the fullest in spite of it all.”
CAA-NCR Branch member Sherrill Wark, Crow Creations, edited the KINDLE and also the print book versions.
CAA-NCR Branch member Carol Stephen contributed her review which graces the back cover of the book.
You are invited to read Jo-Ann’s Blog, THE OSTOMY FACTOR, go to joannltremblay.wordpress.com, join her on Facebook at Author Jo-Ann L. Tremblay, and for those of you who like to tweet, go to Twitter: @joanntremblay
WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
ITEM 5: rob mclennan’s POETRY WORKSHOPS NEW!
DATES: January 14 to March 4, Mondays 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Collected Works Bookstore, 1242 WELLINGTON STREET WEST AT HOLLAND, Ottawa
COST: $200 for 8 sessions
After a break of nearly two years, rob returns once again to offering poetry workshops at Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeebar, Wellington & Holland, Ottawa.
An eight week poetry workshop, the course will focus on workshopping writing of the participants, as well as reading various works by contemporary writers, both Canadian and American. Participants should be prepared to have a handful of work completed before the beginning of the first class, to be workshopped (roughly ten pages).
Previous participants over the past few years have included: Amanda Earl, Frances Boyle, Roland Prevost, Christine McNair, Pearl Pirie, Sandra Ridley, Marilyn Irwin, Rachel Zavitz, Janice Tokar, Dean Steadman, Nicholas Lea and Marcus McCann.
For information, contact rob mclennan at rob_mclennan@hotmail.com or 613 239 0337;
SUBMISSION CALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES
ITEM 6: BYWORDS.CA SUBMISSION CALL
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15 for the JANUARY issue
Bywords.ca considers previously unpublished poetry from emerging and established poets for our online monthly magazine. We consider work by current and former residents, students and workers of Ottawa. We also publish poems by contributors to our predecessor, the Bywords Monthly Magazine. FOR SUBMISSION INFORMATION VISIT www.bywords.ca and click on Guidelines. Amanda Earl, Managing Editor. Check out Bywords.ca’s literary events calendar here: http://www.bywords.ca/calendar/index.php. The calendar contains up-to-date info on NCR readings, book signings, writers’ circles, literary festivals, spoken word showcases & slams. Event submissions can be sent to events@bywords.ca. If you need more info, please Amanda know.
ITEM 7: ACCESS COPYRIGHT FOUNDATION RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM
The Access Copyright Foundation promotes and supports Canadian culture by providing grants intended to encourage the development and dissemination of publishable Canadian works. The Foundation endeavours to make a modest but important contribution to the Canadian cultural community, while also broadening public awareness of the creative vitality of Canadian writers, visual artists and publishers.
The Access Copyright Foundation grants program is administered by the Saskatchewan Arts Board. See the website for further details and eligibility criteria: http://acfoundation.ca/
Please contact Joanne Gerber at the Saskatchewan Arts Board with any questions about the program. Joanne Gerber, Program Consultant, Saskatchewan Arts Board, (Toll free) 1 800 667 7526, 1 306 964 1163, joanne@artsboard.sk.ca
ITEM 8: VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY CALL FOR WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE
The Vancouver Public Library is pleased to announce that we will be seeking funding to host our ninth Writer in Residence in 2013. Tthe call for expressions of interest, with details on application procedures and remuneration information may be found on our website here: https://www.vpl.ca/events/cat/C839/ Deadline for applications: Jan. 11, 2013
Vancouver Public Library (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I would be happy to answer any questions that may arise with regard to the residency program at VPL. Sincerely, Amber Ritchie, Community Relations Librarian, Vancouver Public Library, Central Library Phone: 604-331-4041 Email: programs@vpl.ca
IN THE INTEREST OF WRITERS HELPING WRITERS
ITEM 9: DEC. 10 TO DEC. 16 EVENTS AT COLLECTED WORKS NEW
1242 WELLINGTON STREET WEST AT HOLLAND Check Facebook for full details or visit http://www.collected-works.com/pages/events.htm
Friday, December 14 Open Mic at Collected Works – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
So far in our relaunched Open Mic series we’ve had the world premiere first concert of a local folk band, the return of the Guitar Gods, an amazing fifteen-year-old girl’s first live performance (that wowed EVERYBODY) some interesting political poetry, some stand up comedy and something that sounded like a barn yard after hours that I am assured were bag pipes and therefore, a legitimate form of artistic expression. We also had a visit from a guy who sounded more then a little bit like Elvis. Lord only knows what’s going to happen this week.
Sunday, December 16 Meet Alyssa Cooper, author of Salvation – 12:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Alyssa Cooper was born in Belleville, Ontario, and has lived in Canada for her entire life. After spending two years studying Fine Arts at York University, she left Toronto to pursue an education in Graphic Design. While there, she developed a deep appreciation for book design and binding, and received formal proofreading training. Writing and art have been her greatest passions since she was a child, and she has dedicated her life to perfecting her skills and pushing the limits of her craft. Her work has been featured in poetry anthologies such as Celebration of Young Poets and Journey to Crone and literary magazines such as The Poetic Pin Up Revue and Revival Literary Journal. Her first novel is Salvation, the story of a vampire seeking love and redemption, and her novella, Sunshine, is available now from Fiction Lake. She is currently attending college in Oshawa, where she lives with her typewriter and her personal library.
Sunday, December 16 Meet Hayden Trenholm, author of Stealing Home – 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Hayden Trenholm is a produced playwright and published author. His short fiction has appeared in On Spec, TransVersions, Tesseracts6 and on CBC radio. His short stories, “The Luck of Willie Lumen,” “Like Monsters of the Deep” and “Lumen Essence” were nominated for an Aurora Award (Canada’s SF Awards) in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. In 2008, after a record fourth consecutive short fiction nomination, he won the Aurorafor his novella, “Like Water in the Desert.” In 2011, he once again won an Aurora for his short story, “The Burden of Fire.”
His first novel, A Circle of Birds, was published by Anvil Press. His novel, Defining Diana, was released by Bundoran Press in 2008 and was nominated for an Aurora Award in the long fiction category. The second and third books of the series, Steel Whispers (2009) and Stealing Home(2010) also received Aurora nominations. Stealing Home was a finalist in the 2011 Sunburst Award. Currently he is editing a short fiction anthology, Blood and Water, for Bundoran Press. It will appear in August 2012.
ITEM 10: TREE READING SERIES: SPECIAL EVENT IN HONOUR OF ROD PEDERSON NEW!
DATE: Tuesday December 11
LOCATION: ARTS COURT, 2 DALY AVE., OTTAWA
6:45 p.m. Free Workshop: Barbara Myers on Making syntax work for you
Making syntax work for you – “the poet’s primary tool” –Patterns of sound in free verse — becoming more aware of their effect and when tinkering can make all the difference in the world.
8:00pm Readings AND Tribute to Rod Pederson
ITEM 11: OTTAWA STORYTELLERS EVENTS – DECEMBER 2012 NEW!
Join us for an evening of storytelling and tea, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at The Tea Party, 119 York St., from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Stories begin on the hour and half-hour with breaks in between for treats and chatting. Pay what you can.
December 11 Stories of the Season Lynda Joyce and Elaine O’Reilly
December 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the NAC Fourth Stage. Swindles, Scams, and Snake Oil Kathryn Hunt, Tom Lips, and Mary Wiggin
**Join us for stories and songs about fictional and real-life swindles and rackets. This humorous set of stories explores the shady side of schemes to get rich, take advantage, and come out on top. Tickets are available at the NAC Box Office with no online purchase fees, click here<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?TheOttawaStoryteller/011dce3c96/c959b0ec95/7da84be940/lang=en-ca&brand=nac> for online tickets. $20, student tickets on Live Rush and senior discounts on ticket packages. Email: info@ottawastorytellers.ca <info@company.com>
ITEM 12: LiPS DECEMBER WINTER SOLSTICE POETRY SLAM NEW!
DATE: Friday, December 21, 2012 7:00 p.m. start (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: Bakers Bean, Perth (1 Sherbrooke)
COST: $5.00 admission
If you’re interested in doing Open Mic or the SLAM competition, you need to be there before 7:00 p.m. to sign up. Those who perform in Open Mic or compete in the SLAM competition get in for free.
If you have never slammed before, here is what you need/need to know:
- bring 2 pieces of your own poetry, 3 minutes or less in length/duration
- you can’t have back-up, or props, or costumes
- if you go overtime, you have a 10 second grace period then lose 1/2 pt. for every 10 seconds beyond the time-limit
- you would perform your pieces one at a time, one in round one, and one in round two
ITEM 13: THE FACTORY READING SERIES PRESENTS: readings and above/ground press chapbook launches by: NEW!
Shannon Maguire (Toronto/Guelph)
+ Roland Prevost (Ottawa)
with special guest Craig Calhoun (Ottawa)
DATE: Saturday, December 15, 2012 doors 7pm; reading 7:30pm
LOCATION: The Carleton Tavern (upstairs) 223 Armstrong Street (at Parkdale)
Shannon Maguire is the author of the chapbooks: Vowel Wolves & Other Knots (above/ground, 2011) and Fruit Machine (Ferno House, 2012). She has been a finalist for the Manitoba Magazine Awards (2012) and the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry (2011). Her first full-length collection, Fur(l) Parachute is forthcoming from BookThug in spring 2013. She will be launching her second above/ground press title, A Web Of Holes (2012).
Roland Prevost’s poetry appears in Arc poetry magazine, Descant Magazine, the Ottawa Arts Review, Peter F. Yacht Club, Ottawater (online), among others. He has three previous chapbooks: Metafizz (2007, Bywords), Dragon Verses (2009, Dusty Owl), Our/ Are Carried Invisibles (2009, above/ground). He’s also been published in two poetry collections by Amanda Earl’s AngelHousePress, Whack of Clouds (2008) and Pent Up (2009). Roland won the 2006 John Newlove Poetry Award. He was, for a few years, the managing editor of 17 seconds: a journal of poetry and poetics, as well as poetics.ca, both online. He studied English and Psychology at York University and the University of Manitoba. He lives, writes poetry, short stories, a lifelong journal, composes and records songs, and peers through telescopes in Ottawa. He will be launching his second above/ground press poetry chapbook, Parapagus (2012).
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Craig Calhoun moved to Canada in 2008. His work has appeared in the Writers in Prison issue of Descant, Pilot, The Incongruous Quarterly, Liars’ League London, Liars’ League NYC, Marco Polo, and Steel Bananas Quarterly.
http://www.abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2012/11/the-factory-reading-series-presents.html
ITEM 14: MAGAZINE SUBMISSION CALLS:
Bimonthly print magazine Chrysalis Zine is looking for submissions for its third issue. Theme: “Impressions”. Seeking visual art, poetry, and flash fiction. Deadline: December 14, 2012. http://chrysaliszine.tumblr.com/
This Magazine invites news column pitches for the January issue. Looking for background/context to national issues, challenges to mainstream media perspective, and important untold stories. Short columns: more journalistic (650-800 words, payment: $50); long columns: more personal or creative nonfiction (1200-1500 words, payment: $75). Canadian writers only. Deadline: December 15, 2012.
http://this.org/contribute/writers-guidelines/
The French Literary Review: We are looking for lively, contemporary poems; short stories; extracts from novels which stand on their own; articles; paintings/drawings/photographs, all of which should have a French connection. Submission deadlines: 30th July & 30th December. Please send submission to: B. DORDI, Chemin de Cambieure, 11240 Cailhau, Aude, France
http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/index.asp?id=103
Looking for really bad writing: Submissions are being accepted for the “The Worst Poetry Magazine Ever!” (US). Looking for the worst in poetry, prose, lyrics, illustrations, rants, etc. 100% anonymous. To submit or for more information contact Nina at theWPME@gmail.com. Deadline: January 4, 2013.
Print magazine by and about women, Room (BC), seeks writing on crime: sin, wrongdoing, injurious acts, murder, deceit, lust, etc. Open to the ‘shameful and heroic, terrifying and grand…’ Accepting poems (up to 5), non-fiction and short stories (3500 words max.), and art. Deadline: January 31, 2013. http://www.roommagazine.com/submit
Entries of literary nonfiction are invited for the CBC Creative Nonfiction Competition. First prize: $6000, publication in enRoute magazine, two-week residency at The Banff Centre’s Leighton Artists’ Colony. Length: 1200-1500 words. Entry fee: $25 per entry. Deadline: February 1, 2013. http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/2012/12/creative-nonfiction-competition-now-open.html
SB Quarterly invites submissions for their 31st issue. Theme: Interrogating the relationship between electricity and empathy. “Can compassion be conveyed through iPhones, playbooks, or the world wide web?” Open to poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, film, and visual art. Deadline: February 1, 2013. http://www.steelbananas.com/submissions/
Entries are open for the 2012-2013 Friends of the Merril Short Story Contest. Seeking innovative, inclusive, original fiction. Prizes include cash ($350 CDN total), chances to pitch a novel to ChiZine Publications, and more. Length: 5000 words max. Entry fee: $5 per entry. Deadline February 15, 2013. Guidelines http://friendsmerrilcontest.com/guidelines/
Art and spirituality magazine Stone Voices (US) invites submissions of non-fiction, fiction, and poetry for their 2013 Summer Art Exhibition and Literary Showcase. Theme: The River. Submit one piece of prose (2500 words max.) or two poems. Deadline: February 15, 2013. Entry fee: $15. Selected entrants will be published in the magazine, and will receive a subscription and a year of free advertising. http://www.stonevoices.co/prospectus.htm
Print journal Still Point Arts Quarterly (US) is looking for non-fiction articles, essays, fiction, and poetry about art, the idea of art, the making of art, being an artist, creativity, inspiration, the artist’s medium, etc. (no technique). Deadline: February 15, 2013. Guidelines (.pdf) http://www.stonevoices.co/prospectus.htm
filling Station is accepting poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and non-fiction submissions for an upcoming themed issue: Experimental Writing by Women. Guidelines are available at: http://www.fillingstation.ca/submit. Deadline: February 15.
QUATTRO BOOKS SUBMISSION CALL FOR THE TORONTO DECAMERON.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS JANUARY 15, 2013. Inspired by Boccaccio’s opus, the Toronto Decameron is a ten-day literary festival that will showcase 100 new short stories by 100 local authors, each uniquely tied back to Toronto.This is an opportunity for the community to come together and experience new works about their city. Short stories are integral to keeping literature alive, particularly in this age of short attention spans and limited time for leisure. What’s more, The Decameron is a mosaic of stories, an apt format for a festival in a multicultural and multi-perspective city like ours. Submit your short story for a chance to be in the inaugural Toronto Decameron. Participation includes reading at the festival alongside some of Toronto’s finest writers and publication in the print edition of the Toronto Decameron (published by Quattro Books). The Toronto Decameron literary festival is proudly coordinated by AASC, the Association for Art and Culture. More information and submission Requirements: http://www.quattrobooks.ca/articles/the-toronto-decameron
SUBMISSION CALL FROM POSTSCRIPTS TO DARKNESS We are looking for works of short weird and uncanny fiction (of up to 3000 words) Details can be found at: http://pstdarkness.wordpress.com/submissions/
http://www.liternational.com/submissions/
Leaf Press Anthology: Newborns Leaf Press is gathering poems for an anthology about the newly born, the almost born, the journey in-between. Deadline Jan. 30, 2013 Please send your poem to: poems@leafpress.ca Guidelines and additional information http://www.leafpress.ca/guidelines.htm
The Fieldstone Review Submission deadline: January 31, 2013.
For its 2013 edition, The Fieldstone Review is pleased to accept submissions that address the theme of “environment.” This should be interpreted broadly, so there is no need to feel constrained to pastoral imagery or wooded terrain. Strained tempers around the dinner table will suit as well as the snow on Mount Logan. Submit your pique and play in prose or poetry, or take this theme as an angle from which to write a review. The Fieldstone Review welcomes original work of quality in a wide variety of styles and genres. For submission guidelines, please refer to the Submissions section on The Fieldstone Review website: www.fieldstonereview.usask.ca/submissions.php.
Tesseracts Seventeen: Speculating Canada from Coast to Coast to Coastis now OPEN for submissions. Submissions will close February 28, 2013. Tesseracts 17 is seeking submissions from Canadians in all provinces and territories (and abroad). Authors, please make sure you list where you were born and where you are living. Details can be found at:
http://www.edgewebsite.com/books/tess17/t17-catalog.html
UPCOMING WRITING CONTESTS
Darker Times Fiction, a monthly short story competition for stories of 3,000 words and less in the horror genre or on the subject of ‘darker times’. All of the information can be found on the website – www.darkertimes.co.uk . It’s open to UK and international writers and ends on the last day of each month.
MONTHLY TWITTER WRITING CONTEST! DEADLINE: LAST DAY OF THE MONTH AT 11 AM
Scribendi.com is hosting a weekly writing contest that I think would be of interest to your audience. How it Works: The first day of every month at 11 AM, we will announce the topic. Entrants must write a 140-character-or-less tweet, mention @Scribendi_Inc, and summarize the topic. The contest closes the last day of the month at 11 AM.
Summarize This! promotes concise and precise writing skills in a fresh, fun way (http://www.scribendi.com/summarize_this). Prizes range from free editing to Scribendi.com swag.
NEIL POSTMAN AWARD FOR METAPHOR (no fee) Rolling Deadline. Although primarily known as an educationist and a media critic, Neil Postman was, at his core, a “noticer”—and he particularly noticed what we do with metaphor and how metaphor shapes and creates our cognitive world. Postman maintained that words (and words, in truth, are metaphors) are as much the driver of reality as they are the vehicle. Consequently, metaphor was not a subject to be relegated and limited to high school poetry units wherein a teacher drones on about the difference between “like” and “as” and considers the job finished. For Postman, the study of metaphor was unending and metaphors were as crucial as they were omnipresent; they served to give form to and dictate experience. In honor and remembrance of Neil Postman, who died on October 5, 2003, we have established the Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. The motivation for the award is simple and two-fold: To reward a given writer for his or her use of metaphor, and to celebrate (and hopefully propagate) Postman’s work and the typographical mind. Each spring the editors will choose one poem from all of the submissions received by Rattle during the previous year. The author of the chosen poem will receive $500. There are no entry fees or special submission guidelines. Send up to 5 unpublished poems plus a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to: Rattle, 12411 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. To browse previous winners, and for information on how to submit electronically, visit our website: www.rattle.com
DECEMBER DEADLINES
- 2013 ARTHUR ELLIS AWARDS DEADLINE DEC. 15, 2012. http://www.crimewriterscanada.com/awards/submissionrules/published-books ENTRY FEE $15. The prestigious Arthur Ellis Awards are presented in 7 categories for works in the crime/mystery/thriller genre published for the first time in the previous year by permanent residents of Canada, or by Canadian citizens living abroad. Top cash prizes have run from $500 to $1,000 in the past, and depend upon each year’s sponsors.
- POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA Sharpen Your Pencils Annual Award and Chapbook Fellowships Accepting Submissions until December 22nd. Annual Awards judges include: Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Cate Marvin, Alice Notley, Kevin Prufer, Patricia Smith, Brian Teare, David Wagoner, and Carolyne Wright Chapbook judges: Thomas Sayers Ellis, Nick Flynn, Mary Ruefle, and John Yau. Each year from October to December the Poetry Society offers awards for poets at all stages of their careers, from a prize for high school students, to our Chapbook Fellowships for poets who have not yet published a full-length collection, to our first book contest, and our award for a poet over forty who has published no more than one book. We’re thrilled to announce we’re currently accepting submissions! For guidelines click here. http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/awards/annual/individual/
- THE ONTARIO POETRY SOCIETY OPEN HEART 7 POETRY COMPETITION. Deadline Dec. 25, 2012. Open to Canadian residents only. Themed contest. More details: http://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/Openheartpcomp.htmlhttp://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/Openheartpcomp.html
- THE GRIFFIN POETRY PRIZE Deadline: December 31. The Griffin Trust was founded in April 2000 by Chairman Scott Griffin, along with Trustees Margaret Atwood, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. In 2004 Carolyn Forché was named a Trustee and joined the list of internationally-acclaimed writers who sit on the board of the Griffin Trust.The Griffin Trust’s support for poetry focuses on the annual Griffin Poetry Prize, which awards two literary prizes of $65,000 each and an additional $10,000 to each shortlisted poet who reads at the annual Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist Readings in Toronto. The Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry att: Mrs. Ruth Smith, 363 Parkridge Crescent, Oakville ON, L6M 1A8. Prize: $65,000 x 2; $10,000 Entry Fee: none Details: http://www.griffinpoetryprize.com; 905 618 0420
- FREEFALL MAGAZINE FICTION CONTESTS Deadline: December 31. Prize: $300, $150, $75 & $25. Entry Fee: $21. Fiction: A prose entry shall be up to 3,000 words. Winning stories, as well as the honourable mentions, will be published in FreeFall magazine. Poetry: An entry shall be up to 5 poems. Winning poems, as well as the honourable mentions, will be published in FreeFall magazine. Alexandra’s Writers’ Centre, 922 Ninth Avenue S.E., Calgary AB T2G 0S4. Details: http://www.freefallmagazine.ca/contest.html; 403 264 4730
- CANADIAN TALES OF THE HEART SHORT STORY COMPETITION Deadline: December 31. Prize: $500, $150, $100 & $25. Entry Fee: $15 for 1, $25 for 2, $30 for 3. To be considered, a story must have two things. First, it must contain an element of the Fantastic, the Mysterious,or the Heart, depending on the current theme; second, it must be identifiably Canadian. What is Identifiably Canadian’? If the story is written by a Canadian, or written about Canadians, or takes place in Canada, then it meets the `Identifiably Canadian’ condition. All manuscripts must be original, unpublished fiction, typed and double-spaced, between 1,500 and 5,000 words. Red ‘Fugue Books Inc., Unit 6-477 Martin Street, Penticton BC V2A 5L2. Details: http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/; 778 476 5750
- Independent arts magazine Broken Pencil is accepting short stories for Deathmatch 2013. Top eight selected entrants are pitted against each other two by two, and winner is decided via website voting. Authors participate in a blog where they can hype up their own story or trash-talk their opponent’s writing. Prize: an “indie writer’s makeover” and cash. Deadline: December 31, 2012. http://www.brokenpencil.com/
- The Writers’ Village (UK) invites entries for their Best Writing Competition 2012. First prize: US$800. Submit short fiction (3000 words max.) in any genre. Entry fee: $19 (includes story critique). Open to international writers. Deadline: December 31, 2012. http://www.writers-village.org/
JANUARY DEADLINES:
- WINNIPEG, MANITOBA: THE 25th MANITOBA BOOK AWARDS – CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS. Deadline: January 4, 2013. Prize: varied; see website. Entry Fee: $25. Established in 1988, the Manitoba Book Awards celebrate Manitoba writers, publishers and books. There are 14 diverse awards categories this year. Each award will be judged by a jury of 3 writing and/or publishing professionals. Shortlists will be released in mid-March.This year, the Awards will include the presentation of the biannual Prix littérraire Rue-Deschambault. Details: http://www.bookpublishers.mb.ca/mba/
- TOM FAIRLEY AWARD/LE PRIX d’EXCELLENCE TOM FAIRLEY Deadline: January 11, 2013. Prize: $2000. Entry Fee: $100. For editorial work done on a book published in Canada in either English or French. Entrants may be freelance or in-house editors.The Editors’ Association, 502-27 Carlton Street, Toronto ON M58 I L2. Details: http://www.editors.ca/tomfairley/index.html; 1 866 CAN EDIT
- WYN LIT 24 HOUR SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST. Deadline: January 14, 2013. Prize: Publication Entry Fee: $5; free to members. Once every month, The contest dates sometimes change, so please check the website for updates.Wynterblue Publishing Canada Inc., 128 Rivers Road East – Unit 22, Callander ON POH 1MG. Details: http://www.wynter.ca/; 705 752 4586
- PWAC SWNB VALENTINES DAY POSTCARD STORY COMPETITION POSTMARK DEADLINE: Jan. 14, 2013 The Southwest New Brunswick Chapter of the Professional Writers Association second ever postcard story competition. Entry Fee: $5.00 fee per entry, cheque or money order made payable to PWAC-SWNB. Prize: $25 gift card from Benjamin Books, Rothesay NB http://www.benjaminsbooks.nb.ca The writer retains copyright of the winning postcard story. Eligibility: This competition is open to all writers living in Atlantic Canada. Submissions must be original, unpublished in any format, fiction or nonfiction, no more than 250 words and in English on the theme of love. Entries should be typed, double-spaced, in a clear twelve-point font, and the pages numbered on 8.5 x 11 paper, not stapled. Hardcopy only. Faxed and e-mailed submissions will NOT be accepted. Include a separate cover letter with the title of story, your full name, address, phone number, e-mail address, word count and number of pages of entry. The author’s name should not appear on the actual entry, but on the cover letter only. Multiple submissions welcome. Make cheque or money order, $5.00 per submission, payable to PWAC-SWNB. Multiple entries can be submitted together and fees can be added and paid with one cheque or money order. Winner will be notified by February 14, 2013. Manuscripts will not be returned. Send entries to: Ethel King – P.O. Box 20025, Station “A”, Saint John, NB E2L 5B2 – clearly mark Postcard Contest on the envelope.
- Times They Were A’Changing: Women Remember the 60s & 70s To be released June 2013. This is a unique collection of women’s true and compelling stories and poetry about the sixties and seventies—a special and memorable time in women’s lives—yet there are so many stories untold. Contest Entry Fees: $20 for prose, $15 for poetry. Prizes 1st – $300, publication, and 5 copies of the anthology, 2nd – $150, publication, and 3 copies of the anthology 3rd – $75, publication, and 2 copies of the anthology. All entries are eligible for publication. Submit through online submission manager, only (see guidelines on website).Submission period: September 1, 2012 – January 15, 2013 (deadline) http://www.timestheywereachanging.com/submission-guidelines/
- Asheville Poetry Review will accept entries for the third annual William Matthews Poetry Prize from September 15, 2012 through January 15, 2013. All submissions will be considered for publication. Postmark Deadline: January 15, 2013. Submission and prize details: http://www.ashevillepoetryreview.com/
- CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION AWARDS. Deadline: January 15, 2013. Prize: $2000. Entry Fee: $40. Open to full length books by Canadian citizens or permanent resident in the following categories: Fiction, Canadian History, Poetry. No limit on number of titles entered. Official entry form required, download from website. See guidelines on website as well. Send to Canadian Authors Association, 104-74 Mississaga Street East, Orillia ON L3V 1V5. Details: http://www.canauthors.org/awards/guidelines.html; 1 866 216 6222
- Cha (UK and China) invites entries for their ‘Betrayal’ poetry contest. First prize: £85; additional prizes available. All winning poems published in a special section in the March 2013 issue. Deadline: January 15, 2013. Free entry for up to two poems. http://asiancha.blogspot.hk/2012/11/cha-betrayal-poery-contest.html
- NEW! BkMk Press of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Announces Short-Fiction Book Award. The G. S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction. Next postmark deadline January 15, 2013 For the best book-length collection of short fiction in English by a living author Prize: $1,000 and publication of winning book. Submissions: http://cas.umkc.edu/bkmk/poetry.html
- NEW! BkMk Press of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Announces The John Ciardi Prize for Poetry. Next postmark deadline : January 15, 2013. For the best book-length collection of poetry in English by a living author Prize: $1,000 and publication of winning book. Submissions: http://cas.umkc.edu/bkmk/poetry.html
- Pandora’s Collective Contest Hibernating with Words: Deadline: Jan 16, 2013, Winners announced Feb 15, 2013. Entry Fees: Adults – $5/poem Teens (14 to 19) – $4/poem Children (13 and under) – $3/poem. Prizes: Adults – 1st: $100 & publication, 2nd: $50 & publication, 3rd: publication. Teens – 1st: $75 & publication, 2nd: $35 & publication, 3rd: publication. Children – 1st: $40 & publication, 2nd: $20 & publication, 3rd: publication. Guidelines: We do not accept previously published poems. The maximum number of lines for a single poem is fifty. Submissions must be in triplicate (please divide poems into three piles for three separate judges – only one cover letter needed), typed, with no name or address appearing on the same page as the poem. A cover letter must be included showing age category, name, address, telephone number and/or email address, as well as the title of the poem(s) for clarification and the dollar amount included. Please do not use staples. Do not send an SASE, the winners list will be published online. Poems can be of any theme or form as long as they do not exceed the fifty line max. Cheques should be made out to Pandora’s Collective and the envelope should be labeled, “Poetry Contest Submission”. All rights return to the poet after publication. This contest is open to poets world wide. Mail submissions to: Pandora’s Collective, (Poetry Contest Submission), 5505 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5W 2S3
- THE ALEXANDER ROSS AWARD FOR BEST NEW MAGAZINE WRITER. Deadline: January 16, 2013. Prize: varies. Entry Fee: $150. Written Categories: See website for full details.This award will be open to first-time or new magazine writers, who published their first feature- length magazine work in a non-student publication within the last two years. This award is intended to recognize people new to professional journalism. Nominations must be accompanied by one letter of reference from a handling editor who was involved in editing one of the two articles submitted, attesting to the writer’s contribution and skills.National Magazine Awards Foundation, 425 Adelaide Street West. Suite 700, Toronto ON, M5V 3C1. Details: http://www.magazine-awards.com/index.cfm/ci_id/1321/la_id/1; 416 422 1358
- THE ATKINSON FELLOWSHIP IN PUBLIC POLICY. Deadline: January 18, 2013. Prize: Up To $100,000. Entry Fee: none. The Fellowship Selection Committee is pleased to announce a simplified two-step application process. The research year begins Sept 1st. The Fellowship is open to experienced, full-time Canadian journalists in print or broadcast media who have achieved some distinction in reporting on policy issues. It will be awarded for a one-year research project on a topical public policy issue, culminating in the publication of results in a series of articles in the Star, after which the journalist is then free to develop into a book. Atkinson Fellowship Committee, att: Elizabeth Chan, Coordinator, 1 Yonge Street, 7th floor, Toronto ON M5E 1E5. Details: http://www.atkinsonfoundation.ca/fellowship; 416 869 4594
- THE POETRY SCHOOL / PIGHOG PRESS PAMPHLET (CHAPBOOK) COMPETITION (UK) First Prize: publication by Pighog Press. Runners Up Prizes: Poetry school activities. Judges: Julia Bird & Brendan Cleary Closing date for initial entries: 31 January 2013 Full details at: http://www.poetryschool.com/pamphletcompetition.php
- ON THE PREMISES Contest #19 launch November 11, 2012. Its premise is HOLIDAY For this contest, we want at least one officially recognized holiday to play a critical role in your story. Your challenge: In at least 1,000 but no more than 5,000 words, write a creative, compelling, and well-crafted story that clearly uses the premise. If you have questions, ask us at Questions@OnThePremises.com. Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Thursday, January 31, 2013. http://www.onthepremises.com/index.html
- NEW! The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. A $10,000 prize will be awarded to a Canadian writer, for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. DEADLINE JAN 31, 2013 Submissions must meet the eligibility requirements http://www.writersunion.ca/danuta-gleed
- NEW! The Iowa Review has invited submissions to The Iowa Review Awards, a writing contest in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. (For information on our new category in photography, click here.) Past judges have included Brenda Hillman, Li-Young Lee, Ann Patchett, Michael Cunningham, Jo Ann Beard, and Phillip Lopate. Judges for the 2013 Iowa Review Awards are Mary Jo Bang (poetry), ZZ Packer (fiction), and Susan Orlean (nonfiction). Winners receive $1,500; first runners-up receive $750. Winners and runners-up will be published in our December 2013 issue. Rules http://iowareview.uiowa.edu/rules
AND LATER DEADLINES:
- The Malahat Review invites entries for their 2013 Long Poem Prize. Prize: $1000. Length: 10-20 pages; one single poem or cycle of poems. No restrictions regarding genre, subject matter, or aesthetic approach. Deadline: February 1, 2013. Entry fee: $35-$45 (includes subscription). http://www.malahatreview.ca/contests/long_poem_prize/info.html
- GEIST POSTCARD STORY CONTEST http://www.geist.com/articles/postcard-contest $20 ENTRY FEE (includes subscription) Send us a postcard along with a story that relates to the image. The relationship can be as strong or as tangential as you like, so long as there is a clear connection between the image and the story. Maximum length: 500 words, fiction or non-fiction. Deadline February 1, 2013. First Prize: $500 and publication in Geist and on geist.com; Second Prize: $250 and publication in Geist and on geist.com; Third Prize: $150 and publication in Geist and on geist.com;Honourable Mentions: Swell Geist gifts / publication on geist.com
- ACCENTI MAGAZINE WRITING AND PHOTO CONTESTS. First Prize: $1000 and publication. Deadline: February 8, 2013 (writing). Open to all writers and photographers, established and emerging, worldwide. Accenti’s writing contest is open to fiction and nonfiction (in English) on any topic. For more information, please visit www.accenti.ca.
- LITERARY JUICE FLASH FICTION CONTEST http://www.literaryjuice.com/#/contests/4569342988 $5 ENTRY FEE. 700-word maximum. English only. 18 and older. No novel excerpts. 
Winner will receive $200 (USD) and publication in Literary Juice; 
one runner-up will receive $50 (USD) and publication in Literary Juice. Winning stories will also be accompanied by a photograph of each author, as well as a short bio, if desired. Winners may be asked to sign a Writer’s Agreement Form for their winning work. Deadline February 15, 2013.
- 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the most exciting and rewarding book awards program open to independent publishers and authors worldwide. Choose from 60 categories and grab the chance to have your book considered for cash prizes, awards, exposure, possible representation by a leading literary agent, and recognition as one of the top independently published books of the year. Deadline: February 22, 2013 More info at website: http://www.indiebookawards.com/
- The Ontario Poetry Society Double Your Pleasure Poetry Contest Deadline Feb. 27, 2013 http://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/contest_DoublePleasure.htm
- Summer Literary Seminars’ Literary Contest (LITHUANIA & KENYA). Full details are available at: http://www.sumlitsem.org/slscontest.html. Deadline: February 28.
- Summit Studies of Newmarket, Ontario announces a story contest, running until Feb. 29 2013. $3000 in cash prizes to nine winners in four categories, including a $1000 grand prize. They will publish four anthologies in the next two years, and those who do not win prizes may still be published. Writers maintain copyright to their work and are paid a minimum $100 honorarium for a published story. The website for additional info is www.summitstudios.biz. Included are samples of previous winners to familiarize you with types of stories they like to publish. All stories are to be true, and about travel and/or outdoor experiences. They must be true, although literary lic. is acceptable. While “funny” is preferred, those with a thoughtful or heartwarming theme are fine. Hope to hear from you! Stories, generally 1000-2500 words, may be e-mailed to submissions@summitstudios.biz or mailed to Summit Studios, 80 Cardinal Cres., Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 5Y4
- The New Quarterly invites entries for the Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse Contest. Prize: $1000. Theme: poems of occasion, either personal or public, or poems that make of something an occasion or simply mark one. Deadline: February 28, 2013. Entry fee: $40 (includes subscription) for up to 2 unpublished poems; $5 per additional poem. http://www.tnq.ca/contests
- NEW! THE WRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA 20th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2013. The winning entry will be the best Canadian work of up to 2,500 words in the English language, fiction or non-fiction, written by an unpublished author. $2,500 for the winning entry, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines. This competition is open to all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who have not had a book published by a commercial or university press in any genre and who do not currently have a contract with a book publisher. Original and unpublished (English language) fiction or non-fiction is eligible. More info at: http://www.writersunion.ca/short-prose
- 7TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BOOK AWARDS. Deadline Mar. 16, 2013. Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com are proud to announce the opening of the 17th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards. We conduct the “IPPYs” to honor the year’s best independently published titles, and to give them the recognition and credibility they deserve. Books published in English with 2012 or 2013 copyrights or release dates between Aug 1, 2011 and March 15, 2013 are eligible. Click here to visit the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards webpage: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php Here’s the link to download the 2013 IPPY Awards guidelines and entry form in PDF format: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPPY_2013_Early_Application1.pdf
- Entries are invited for The New Quarterly Edna Staebler Personal Essay Contest. Prize: $1000. All submissions considered for paid publication (payment: $250) in the magazine. Submit essays of any length, on any topic, in which the writer’s personal engagement with the topic provides the frame or through-line. Canadian writers only. Deadline: March 28, 2013. Entry Fee: $40 (includes subscription). http://www.tnq.ca/contests
- Annual Eric Hoffer Award. Deadline: March 31, 2013. The Annual Eric Hoffer Award is now accepting submissions for short prose. Writers of fiction and creative nonfiction have a shot at winning the grand prize worth $250. The award is open to short prose in English, including translations of less than 10,000 words. More info: http://www.hofferaward.com/
- Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. (no fee) Online Submission Deadline: April 1, 2013. Winning Writers invites you to enter the 12th annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. We’ll award $2,000, including a top prize of $1,000. Submit one humor poem online. No length limit. Both published and unpublished poems are welcome. No fee to enter. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. http://winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php
- 2013 Bristol Short Story Prize. The closing date for entries is April 30th 2013. Open to all writers, UK and non-UK based, over 16 years of age. Stories can be on any theme or subject and entry can be made online via the website or by post. Entries must be previously unpublished with a maximum length of 4,000 words (There is no minimum). The entry fee is £8 (about $12.83) per story. Full details and rules at www.bristolprize.co.uk
- 4th Annual International Book Awards Deadline: April 30, 2013. The 4th Annual International Book Awards are specifically designed to be a promotional vehicle for authors and publishers to launch their careers, open global markets, and compete with talented authors and publishers throughout the world. Open to all books published in English with an ISBN. Winners in each category will receive a 6-month full webpage on USABookNews.com among other prizes. More info at http://www.internationalbookawards.com/
- Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest, DEADLINE APRIL 30, 2013. http://winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php Now in its 21st year. Prizes of $3,000, $1,000, $400 and $250 will be awarded, plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. Submit any type of short story, essay or other work of prose, up to 5,000 words. You may submit work that has been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights. $16 entry fee. Submit online or by mail. Early submission encouraged. This contest is sponsored by Tom Howard Books and assisted by Winning Writers. Judges: John H. Reid and Dee C. Konrad.
- Dan Poynter’s 2013 (3RD ANNUAL )Global EBOOK AWARDS. DEADLINE APR. 30, 2013. MORE THAN 100 CATEGORIES. MORE DETAILS HERE: http://globalebookawards.com/
- AWARD TO RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE Submissions deadline May 1, 2013. The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature . The Award will be given annually to three English-language literary works for Young Adults by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors. A First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the authors and translators (if applicable) of the winning titles. For further details, submission guidelines etc. on the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, go to http://www.codecan.org/get-involved/burt-award-canada
- Pandora’s Collective: Kisses and Popsicles Spring Poetry Contest: Deadline May 15, 2013, Winners announced June 15, 2013 Entry Fees: Adults – $5/poem Teens (14 to 19) – $4/poem. Children (13 and under) – $3/poem Prizes: Adults – 1st: $100 & publication, 2nd: $50 & publication, 3rd: publication. Teens – 1st: $75 & publication, 2nd: $35 & publication, 3rd: publication. Children – 1st: $40 & publication, 2nd: $20 & publication, 3rd: publication. Guidelines: We do not accept previously published poems. The maximum number of lines for a single poem is fifty. Submissions must be in triplicate (please divide poems into three piles for three separate judges – only one cover letter needed), typed, with no name or address appearing on the same page as the poem. A cover letter must be included showing age category, name, address, telephone number and/or email address, as well as the title of the poem(s) for clarification and the dollar amount included. Please do not use staples. Do not send an SASE, the winners list will be published online. Poems can be of any theme or form as long as they do not exceed the fifty line max. Cheques should be made out to Pandora’s Collective and the envelope should be labeled, “Poetry Contest Submission”. All rights return to the poet after publication. This contest is open to poets world wide. http://www.pandorascollective.com/what-we-do/contests
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