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Announcing the 2020 Banff Retreat Writers in Residence

October 30, 2019

We are happy to announce the Writers in Residence for our annual Banff Retreat, February 14 – 23, 2020 at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Ali Bryan and Louise Halfe will be joining us at Banff Centre to provide manuscript consultations, advice about the writing life, and group activities. Ali Bryan is an award-winning novelist and creative nonfiction writer based in Calgary, Canada. Her first novel Roost (Freehand, 2013) won the Alberta Literary Awards Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction and was

The WGA, Freehand & Shelf Life Books Present: Calgary’s 10th Anniversary Giller Light Bash in Support of Frontier College

October 22, 2019

Monday, November 18 | Doors 5:00 p.m. with program 6:00 p.m. sharpWurst Restaurant at 2437 4th Street SW Calgary, ABTickets $15 WGA early-bird – by Friday, October 4$20 after October 4 | $25 at the door We have extended the early bird rate of $15 for WGA members who purchase tickets by midnight, Friday October 4. **Advance tickets strongly recommended as this event has sold out the past three years** For tickets and presenter bios please visit: frontiercollege.akaraisin.com/ui/Calgary2019/tickets Our 2019 MC

Submit a Listing to WriteClick

October 17, 2019

Alberta writers and organizations may submit listings of literary events such as book launches, signings, readings, courses, workshops, retreats, conferences, and other related events. Critiquing groups looking for members are also welcome to submit listings. To have your listing included in the WriteClick newsletter, use the form below. Text may be edited to conserve space. If you have any questions, contact us directly at [email protected]. There is no cost to have your announcement added to the WriteClick newsletter. Please submit

The WGA & Great Plains Publishing Present: The Author-Editor Experience: Lee Kvern in Conversation with Jason Patrick Rothery – with Social & Celebration Before & After Formal Program

September 25, 2019

Wednesday, October 30 | 7:00—10:00 p.m. Wurst Restaurant | 2437 4th Street SW Calgary, AB Free for WGA members | $5 suggested donation at the door for non-members (optional) RSVP HERE! Meet seasoned Calgary playwright and author Jason Patrick Rothery for the release of his debut novel, Privilege and glean insights into the author-editor relationship at this special event and feature interview led by his editor (and author herself) Lee Kvern. Privilege is a cutting satire concerning the death spiral of the white, male identity. With his divorce nearly finalized,

(YEG) November Member Night- NaNoWriMo Takeover

September 24, 2019

Wednesday, November 6. This is a free eventThe Almanac on Whyte. 10351 Whyte Avenue6:00pm: Special NaNoWriMo Write-in7:30pm: Program begins What is NaNoWriMo? November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). During the month of November writers across the world take up the challenge of trying to write a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November. That’s an average of 1666 words per day, for anyone wondering. Every year dozens of Edmonton writers join in the challenge of NaNoWriMo and in

Call for Applications: 2020 Banff Retreat Writer in Residence

September 18, 2019

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s 2020 Banff Retreat will be open to 20 participants in each half of the retreat. We will be hiring two Writers in Residence for the duration of the retreat, one Alberta-based hired through an open call, and the other invited from out of province. The retreat takes place February 14 – 23, 2020, at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. The Writers in Residence will provide individual manuscript consultations for retreat participants and foster community among

2020 WGA Mentorship Program – Deadline: October 25

September 16, 2019

The Mentorship Program is an initiative of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta designed to help promising emerging writers make the transition to the next stage of their careers. The program will take place from January through April 2020. We will accept up to six apprentices to work with mentors this year. The program is intended to meet the needs of emerging Alberta writers for guidance, collaboration and encouragement. This is not an introductory creative writing course; it is a one-on-one

ALIGHT SOLUTIONS EMAIL

September 12, 2019

For those who have not yet seen the WGA’s notice about the Alight Solutions email that was circulated to WGA members who have an online profile with our website. It has come to our attention that a number of members received emails from a company called Alight Solutions (subject: Proofreading Job), who appear to have contacted several WGA members using their public member profile contact information (if you received such an email and do not have a public profile, please let

How to Publish Indigenous Books (Alberta Culture Days)

August 31, 2019

How to Publish Indigenous Books Friday, September 27, 10 am – 12 pm Maskwacis Cultural College Library, 2 Saddleback Road N, Maskwacis, AB Free, Register Here Brought to you in partnership with Maskwacis Cultural College and Alberta Culture Days Grant About the workshop Having been on both sides of book production, as both a writer and publisher, Dianne will explain the process of book publishing from manuscript writing and review, establishing contractual agreements, finding appropriate illustrators, and dealing with printing

WGA Edmonton October Member Night- Writing Groups

August 30, 2019

Thursday, October 10The Almanac on Whyte.10351 Whyte ave.7:00pm. Program at 7:30 We all know that Edmonton is full of writers, but what about the places where writers go to write together, critique works in progress, and offer encouragement? For that kind of thing you need a writing group. Edmonton and the surrounding communities have many writers groups that have existed and thrived for many years. Members from writing groups Inkhorn Society, Morinville Word Docs, and The Inkblot will be our

Congratulations to WGA ED Carol Holmes! Rozsa Foundation Announces 2019 Rozsa Awards Shortlist

August 25, 2019

Announcing the 2019 Rozsa Awards Shortlist The Rozsa Foundation is excited to announce the shortlist nominees for the 16th Annual Rozsa Awards celebrating excellence in arts management and board leadership. Recognizing Excellence in Arts Management, the Rozsa Foundation congratulates nominees: Sara Leishman, Executive Director of Calgary Music Folk Festival, Brendan Lord, Executive Director of Choir Alberta, and Carol Holmes, Executive Director of Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Recognizing Excellence in Board Leadership, the Rozsa Foundation congratulates nominees: Tara Owen, Board Chair

Congratulations on another successful Sugar Bowl!

August 20, 2019

The WGA wishes to offer our congratulations to the Amber Webb-Bowerman Memorial Foundation on hosting another successful Sugar Bowl fundraiser! The WGA was proud to sponsor a team at this year’s Sugar Bowl from our amazing WordsWorth crew: Congratulations to this year’s winning team Little Lebowski, with members Marcello Di Cintio, Paul Haavardsrud, Jason Markusoff and James May! Pictured below are this year’s Sugar Bowl participants! The WGA received an update of the day’s highlights, provided below by Colleen Seto

Author, Conservationist, and Founder of The Writers’ Union of Canada Graeme Gibson Has Passed Away

August 19, 2019

With sadness, we share the news of the death of author and TWUC founder, Graeme Gibson. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. From The Writers Union of Canada: September 18, 2019 – The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) is deeply saddened by the news of Graeme Gibson’s passing. Mr. Gibson died this morning in London, England where he was accompanying his partner, Margaret Atwood, on a book tour. He was 85 years old. Gibson was the

WGA and CanAuthors Alberta Present: Alison Clarke

August 16, 2019

The WGA and CanAuthors Alberta are hosting two upcoming events with Edmonton author Alison Clarke. 1. Alison Clarke – An Author’s Journey Friday, September 27, 8:00 pmSt Andrew’s Centre, 12720 111 Ave.CAA/ WGA Members: $10, First-time attendees: Free Alison Clarke will share her journey – including her bouts with cancer, self-publishing, and the importance of listening to your own voice. Alison Clarke will discuss her journey with two bouts of cancer and how it transformed her life – it was

WGA Calgary Fall Kick-Off & Pub Night: Community & Opportunities For Writers

August 10, 2019

Wednesday, Sept 18, 2019 Doors for social time 6:00 p.m. | Formal Program 7:00 p.m.Rose & Crown Pub | 3rd floor private room at 1503 4 St SW, Calgary Please RSVP Via Facebook HERE Everybody knows September is when the literary calendar in Calgary starts to fill up. There are festivals, workshops, classes, presentations, book launches, and so much more. Join us to kick off the season in the best way possible. Representatives from Calgary’s literary community will tell you all about what

Prairie Indigenous E-Book and IBBY Indigenous Picture Book Collections

August 5, 2019

Prairie Indigenous eBook Collection Launched in January 2019, this significant addition to the Alberta eBooks repository brings together over 200 titles from publishers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The first of its kind in Canada, the Prairie Indigenous collection increases access to stories by Indigenous authors, and writings about Indigenous culture. Along with the 1,500 other titles in the Alberta eBooks Collection (launched in 2017), these new additions are available for Alberta public library patrons to borrow online from their

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