The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is a provincial arts service organization that represents both professional and emerging writers in Alberta. Our mission is to support and advocate for all writers and provide opportunities to grow and connect while enriching Alberta’s culture and economy. We plan events and programs catered to Alberta’s writers and provide services to benefit our members.
Our ongoing programs and services include:
- Monthly events in Edmonton and Calgary
- Annual conference
- Alberta Literary Awards and Gala
- Youth programs
- Outreach events
- Manuscript Reading Service
- Mentorship program
- Resources and support for hosting writing events in your community
- Resources for questions about writing and publishing
- Resources and support for starting critiquing groups
- Searchable online member directory
- Writing retreats
- WriteClick e-newsletter
- WestWord Magazine
Some programs and services are available to the public, while others are exclusive to members. Visit the membership page for more information on becoming a member and accessing all benefits!
The WGA makes a concentrated effort to bring events and programs to rural communities. Visit the events page for any upcoming events in your community. If there is nothing suitable coming up and are interested in hosting an event, please contact the office and we can look into supporting a rural event. If you are not interested in organizing an event but would like to connect with members in your community, peruse the Member Directory or contact us about placing a call in WriteClick.
Becoming a member is a great way to help support, encourage and promote writers and writing, to safeguard the freedom to write and to read, and to advocate for the well-being of writers. Membership fees help support the programs and services we provide.
Donations are also an invaluable source of support to the WGA and our goals. The WGA is a registered charity, and issues tax receipt for donations of $10 or more. For more information about donating to the WGA, please visit our Support Us page.
Volunteers are used in capacities such as serving on the board of directors and committees, working for our bi-annual casino fundraiser, and helping with administrative tasks. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering for the WGA.
The Member Directory helps to connect Alberta writers. Members may create profiles for the directory and advertise the services they provide (editing, teaching, ghostwriting, etc.), genres they work in, publication history, and any other relevant information. Members have been offered work as a result of the Member Directory profiles.
If you are looking to hire a writer the Member Directory is an excellent resource for finding writers to approach. The Directory is also valuable to members looking to connect with other writers in their community.
Please note that, due to privacy concerns, members are not automatically listed in the Member Directory. If you are a member and are not listed in the Member Directory, you will need to create a directory profile by logging into your account.
Please visit our Alberta Literary Awards page for more information about the awards, including submission guidelines and instructions. Updated submission guidelines are posted each year in the fall.
Visit our Membership Details page for a full list of benefits you will gain by becoming a member!
The WGA is committed to nurturing the next generation of writers and has been providing specialized programming for young writers since 1996. Our programming for youth ages 12-19 currently includes the WordsWorth Summer Youth Writing Residency, Drink the Wild Air Winter Writing Retreat, and teen writing groups in Edmonton and Calgary. More information about these programs is available in our youth section, which also provides resources aimed at young writers and a blog about writing opportunities and events for youth.
The WGA is committed to involving student writers in our community. We are offering FREE memberships to students enrolled in post-secondary programs so that they can enjoy the benefits of being a part of an organization that has been devoted to inspiring, connecting, supporting, encouraging and promoting Alberta writers since 1980. The membership will be free for as long as you are a student. Visit the Free Student Memberships page for more information.
A regular annual membership is $80 CAD, or $50 for seniors (60+), and $40 for low income memberships. We offer FREE memberships for post-secondary students for the duration of your post-secondary career. Membership is open to all writers in Alberta regardless of publication history. You can become a member in one of the following ways:
- Use our online membership form to register with a credit card.
- Print out the membership form and mail it with a cheque to our head office: Writers’ Guild of Alberta, 11759 Groat Road NW, Edmonton, AB, T5M 3K6.
- Call our head office at 780.422.8174 (toll free in Alberta: 1.800.665.5354) to register with a credit card or to have us mail you a membership brochure
We have all the information on our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!
This service is provided by the Writers Guild of Canada. We are not affiliated with this organization.
We are happy to list writing events across Alberta in our WriteClick e-newsletter. Please visit the WriteClick page for submission guidelines.
We generally only list our events or events by affiliated organizations in WestWord. We do, however, list announcements of member publications in WestWord, and you may also purchase advertising space. Please visit the WestWord page for guidelines.
The policy of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta is not to give out our members’ contact information. You may try finding an author in the Member Directory. You may also contact an author via their publisher, or through their own personal website.