Dear Members:
We hope you're all having what is already shaping up to be a beautiful spring on our special little island. There are an abundance of events, contests, and retreats to share with you in our April newsletter, so let's get to it! Here you'll find:
- Events, events, and more PEIWG events that are right around the corner!
- Details on the return of Battle Tales NINE!
- East Coast and national writing prize opportunities
- PEI writing retreats (with a discount for PEIWG members!)
- East Coast writing retreats
- Local poetry month events
Events
Battle Tales NINE - our friendly writing contest returns April 25th!
Battle Tales is back and we have a feeling that this one will be bigger and better than ever!
Our annual high-fun, low-stakes, one-week writing contest will be taking place Thursday, April 25th - Thursday, May 2nd!
The 2024 edition of this annual favourite event is indeed a special one for us, as we're fortunate enough to have the opportunity to introduce our first ever Battle Tales EVENT SPONSOR, The Gallery Coffee House & Bistro!!! Jessica and Mike Fritz have been invaluable contributors to the local arts and culture scene, featuring local artists' work throughout their store, not to mention being an event partner in the PEIWG's monthly Open Mic. We're thrilled to have their support for this edition of Battle Tales NINE, and will be sharing some more exciting news about their involvement coming soon, so stay tuned this week!
Here's how this year's Battle Tales NINE will work:
- We'll issue the contest writing prompts at 8:00pm on Thursday, April 25th across all of our social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and on our website (www.peiwritersguild.com).
- The prompts will detail a few items that your short story or essay MUST include—these could be anything from “a worn down tire” or “creaky floor boards” to “a character who sees a photo they shouldn’t have seen”. Whatever the 3 prompts are, they MUST be included in your story!
- Then it's off to the literary races! You’ll officially have ONE WEEK to create and submit your wonderful and exciting stories!
- Anything received by 8:00pm on Thursday, May 2nd will be accepted.
Rules, regulations, and all of that fun stuff:
- Stories must be a MAXIMUM of 2500 words and written by residents of PEI.
- Stories must be submitted by 8:00pm on Thursday, May 2nd to be accepted.
- All entries to be emailed to battletales@peiwritersguild.com in PDF form.
- PLEASE REFRAIN FROM PUTTING YOUR NAME on the story you submit, as all judging will be made ENTIRELY on the quality and creativity of the stories!
- Entries will be accepted and organized by a PEIWG employee, who will ensure that all criteria has been met, and that all submissions are anonymous before being submitted to the guest judge for review.
- All stories will be judged and our finalists chosen solely by our 2024 GUEST JUDGE. Announcement on that coming soon!
You don't have to be a member of the PEI Writers' Guild to enter this contest, but we sure would love to have you! Read more about membership @ www.peiwritersguild.com
PEIWG (Members only) Virtual Write-in!
MEMBERS ONLY VIRTUAL WRITE-IN
PEIWG members, please join us for a virtual write-in on Zoom on Saturday, April 20, starting at 9am. We’ll gather for introductions, do our own individual writing, and come back together to debrief!
Please register at the link HERE and we will email you the Zoom link and calendar invitation.
A Night at the Gallery - Open Mic
Our March open mic was one of our favourites to date, with so many new writers in attendance! We’re already looking forward to APRIL’s open mic and sincerely hope that you and some friends can join us.
In case you haven’t heard, new this year we’ve introduced a NEW FORMAT to the open mic:
- To encourage fresh writing and spark creativity, each month the Open Mic will feature a different THEME, accompanied by a writing prompt provided by us! Priority will be given to writers who will be reading pieces related to that monthly theme/prompt.
- We will also be reserving 2 reading spots at each event for those who are inspired in the moment and who want to get up behind the mic spontaneously. So even if you're not on the list, bring your writing, sign up the night of, and be prepared!
Our APRIL writing prompt is:
GROWTH
We can’t wait to hear what you will come up with for the APRIL 25th Open Mic @ 7pm at The Gallery - Coffee House & Bistro.
We'd like to encourage all ages, levels, and genres of writers to sign up to read for this event, as we’d like to have as diverse of a readers’ list as possible for this growing event.
This event is free and open to all but please keep in mind that priority is given to PEIWG members for getting on the readers list. If you'd like to be one of the readers, please submit by email to OPENMIC@PEIWRITERSGUILD.COM and readers will be notified leading up to the event!
PEIWG Members only: Monthly Writing Group - APRIL 21st
This program is for members of the PEI Writers’ Guild.
Our Monthly Writing Group meets every 3rd Sunday of the month at 2pm at Bar1911 (113 Longworth Ave, Charlottetown).
The Writing Group aims to provide a space for writers to share and discuss their writing and to receive helpful critique and feedback. You’re welcome to come even if you don’t want to share your writing!
Feel free to bring the following to share/receive feedback on:
- Writing with a maximum of 5 pages, doubled spaced (any kind of writing: poetry, fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction)
- An idea!
- Help with brainstorming
Please email Vanessa vanessaraebradley@gmail.com with your document for sharing at least ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE. Your writing will be sent to group members via email in advance.
PEIWG Members only: Monthly Poetry Club - May 4th
This program is for members of the PEI Writers’ Guild.
This club is for folks who LOVE poetry! We meet on the 1st Saturday of every month at 10am at Bar1911 (113 Longworth Ave, Charlottetown) to discuss poetry that we love.
The Poetry Club has two goals: 1) discuss poetry written by other poets that we love and 2) share and discuss one piece of poetry you have written, if you feel like sharing.
We start with a sharing of a poem that we love by other poets and discussing those poems. Then, once everyone has shared poetry they love, if anyone would like to share one of their poems and receive feedback, we will move into that. Please bring a book of poetry, a print out from a website, or any piece of poetry that you love to share with the group! Sharing your own work is optional.
If you have any work to share at the meeting, please email 1 - 2 poems to Vanessa by the Wednesday before the meeting.
Questions? Contact Vanessa Bradley, Poetry Club Coordinator, at vanessaraebradley@gmail.com.
Contests, Prizes, Residencies, & More!
CBC Poetry Prize is open!
The 2024 CBC Poetry Prize is accepting submissions between April 1 and June 1 at 4:59 p.m. ET.
If you are ready to submit, you may do so here.
The winner receives $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and their work will be published on CBC Books.
Four finalists each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and their work is also published on CBC Books.
Who can enter?
- The prize is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
- There is no age requirement, but if you are a minor, there is a box to check on the entry form. You will need a parent or guardian's signed authorization only if your entry makes the longlist.
What can you submit?
- You can submit an original, unpublished poem or collection of poems. The submission will be judged as a whole and must be a maximum of 600 words (including titles). There is no minimum word requirement.
- Work that has been published online or in print or recorded for broadcast is considered "previously published" and is not eligible.
- While the competition is active, submit online by creating an account through Submittable. A fee of $25 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry.
- The prize is for one long poem or a collection of poems. You only need to fill out one entry form and make one $25 administration fee payment, but the submission will be judged as a whole. You may submit as many times as you like; each entry will require the $25 submission fee.
All other contest information found HERE
Announcing the Seventh Annual Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction
Announcing the Seventh Annual Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction
For the seventh annual prize, Pottersfield Press is again looking for submissions from writers who can provide a manuscript of 30,000 to 150,000 words in any of the following categories:
- history
- memoir
- autobiography
- biography
- literary journalism
- political or social commentary
- travel writing
- virtually any existing or new category that uses the nonfiction medium to tell a story or put forward an idea.
The First Prize winner will receive a contract for the publication of the winning book along with a $1000 advance on 10% royalty for all sales. The Second Prize winner will also see the publication of the book and a $800 advance on 10% royalties.
Deadline is April 30, 2024 but early submissions are encouraged.
Submit your manuscript electronically as a double-spaced basic Word document to: pottersfieldcreative@gmail.com and include on the title page your name, address and email address.
Entry fee is $25 (includes HST) and can be paid by Interac Transfer (also to pottersfieldcreative@gmail.com), Paypal or by cheque made out to Pottersfield Press mailed to 248 Leslie Road, East Lawrencetown, NS B2Z 1T4 Canada after the manuscript has been submitted by email.
Winners will be announced on June 30, 2024.
2024 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award open for submissions
PEN Canada is pleased to announce that submissions for the 2024 RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award are now open.
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. A jury of distinguished Canadian writers will judge the shortlisted submissions, and the winning entry will receive a $3,000 CAD cash prize and mentorship from a renowned Canadian author.
The deadline for submissions is midnight on Sunday, May 19th, 2024.
Submission guidelines can be found on our website here.
The RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award is generously funded by the RBC Emerging Artists Project.
Retreat Overview — Trevor Corkum
PEIWG members receive $50 off either regular or early bird registration prices. Simply indicate that you are a PEIWG member you register to be eligible for the discount!
**GO AND WRITE! Writing retreats for the wandering soul**
Go and Write! retreats, created by writers, for writers.
Retreats offered by award-winning, NB-based authors Dr. Gerard Collins (originally of Newfoundland) and Jane Simpson. Retreat participants include emerging and established writers of all genres, as well as their friends, family, and spouses. Dedicated writing time, workshops, one-on-one meetings to discuss your work, and written feedback on a piece you submit in advance of the retreat are all included.
Visit their website for further details.
Also, cancellations happen, so let us know if you'd like to be on the waitlist for any sold out retreats below.
Retreat to Kingsbrae, Spring or Autumn—St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick
- Sold out for May; let us know if you'd like to be on the waiting list
- Two rooms remain for October
May 4-11 or October 23-30, 2024. Small group retreats (only 5 rooms). Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom in historic mansion, private writing studio, and the award-winning Kingsbrae Garden at your doorstep; all breakfasts and three suppers included.
Summertime Retreat on the Bay of Fundy—St. Martins, New Brunswick
- Sold out; let us know if you'd like to be on the waiting list
July 7-14, 2024. Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom in historic shipbuilder’s estate in the fishing village of St. Martins, NB. All breakfasts and five suppers, private concert, private coach trips to Kings Landing Historical Settlement and the Fundy Trail included.
Into the West: Ireland in Autumn
- Sold out; let us know if you'd like to be on the waiting list
September 13-27, 2024. Join us for 12 nights on the fabled Aran island of Inis Mór (Inishmore) and 2 nights in Doolin, traditional music capital of Ireland. Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom, guided excursions, workshops, written feedback, and dedicated writing time.
Retreat to the Highlands this November
- Three rooms remain
November 24 - December 5, 2024. Focused writing retreat at the Loch Ness Country House in the Highlands. Day trips to Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns standing stones, Isle of Skye. Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom, workshops, written feedback, and dedicated writing time.
Christmastime in the Cotswolds
- One room remains
December 12-19, 2024. An intimate writing retreat in a 14th century monastery in the peaceful Cotswolds region of England. Day trips include Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxford, and a driving tour of the Cotswolds region. Private bedroom with ensuite bathroom, workshops, written feedback, and dedicated writing time.
Contact janiegoandwrite@gmail.com or visit www.goandwrite.ca for more information.
The Bookmark - Poetry Month events!
Poetry month is a busy one for The Bookmark bookstore with PLENTY of events to attend!
Tuesday at 7 pm for an event with Joanna Lilley, a poet from Whitehorse, Yukon. She will be reading from her most recent book of poetry, Endlings and connecting with NPM's 2024 theme of "Weather/La Météo."
This event, which is free, will be held in The Faculty Lounge of Main Building on the UPEI Campus, is sponsored by the Department of English, the UPEI Faculty of Arts, and Bookmark, with financial assistance from the Canada Council through The Writers' Union of Canada.
April will continue to be a busy month! Save the dates for James MacNutt (April 17th), Brent MacLaine (April 24th), Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (April 27th).
We are ending National Poetry Month with one of our favourite events of the year – Poets & Pints and we would like to invite all to join us!
Our annual celebration of local poets is taking place at The Queue (next to The Pilot House) on Tuesday, April 30th from 7-9 pm.
This year’s event features greetings from PEI Poet Laureate Tanya Davis, local poets Bren Simmers, Renee Blanchette and Brent MacLaine reading from their new poetry collections, followed by a moderated conversation between the poets and Laurie Brinklow, and an audience Q&A.
The event will conclude with an Open Mic where other poets and aspiring poets can read their poetry to the audience. If you would like to register for the Open Mic, please let me know and I will add you to the list.
There will be refreshments and a cash bar. All are welcome! We really hope as many folks as possible can join us.
For more information, visit The Bookmarks website HERE.