News

Tell Us About Your 2024 Books

June 20, 2024

We would love to know what our members are publishing in 2024! If you have a book slated for publication in 2024 and would like to tell us about it, please do so via the form below. All books by WGA members that are commercially available in 2024 are welcome, including self-published and ebook or audiobook exclusives. If your book was published in a previous year, past years forms can be found here. Submissions to this form may be included

WGA HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE

June 20, 2024

WGA HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE Dates: December 18, 2024 – January 3, 2025 The WGA Office will be closed from December 18th -January 3rd, returning on January 6th. If you have any questions during the closure, please feel free to email WGA staff and we will get back to you once we get back in the new year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your engagement with the WGA in 2024! We’re looking forward to connecting

WGA 2023/24 Annual Report Available Online!

June 5, 2024

The WGA Annual General Meeting will be taking place June 9, online and in-person during our 2024 WGA Conference: No Place Like Home Sunday, June 9, 2023 | 10:45 am – 12:15 pmOnline via Zoom / Located in the Valley Ballroom, 2nd Floor The AGM is free and open to all WGA members in good standing. To prepare for the AGM, please review our 2023/2024 Annual Report.

Office Closed Monday, November 11, 2024

June 4, 2024

Please note that the WGA office will be closed on Monday, November 11th, 2024 for Remembrance Day. The Percy Page Centre will be closed, so there will be no access to drop off books for the Awards intake. We will be back in the office November 12th, 2024.

Westword Covers Archive

May 16, 2024

The first WGA Newsletter was Volume 1, Number 1, printed in December, 1980. Through the years, the look and style of that newsletter has evolved into the WestWord we know today. Below is an archive covers of those earlier newsletters, showing how WestWord has changed. Click the tabs to see covers by year and click the images to enlarge! 2024 – Present 2026 2025 2024 Winter 2026, Vol. 46 No. 1 January-March 2025, Vol. 45 No.

DONATE TODAY TO EMPOWER THE FUTURE GENERATION

April 22, 2024

Calling all champions of creativity and storytelling! Help us ignite the spark of imagination in young artists by supporting our Youth Programming! Your generous donations can make a world of difference by funding bursaries that empower kids to attend WordsWorth. WordsWorth is a week-long sleepover creative writing residency for young artists who believe in the power of words and storytelling. Campers will be completely immersed in the creative and diverse world of writing. Guided by established and respected artist-instructors, the

2024 WordsWorth Instructors & Courses

April 17, 2024

Registration is open! Early Bird rate: $590 until April 30, 2024 Regular rate: $630 starting May 1, 2024 Week 1 (ages 11 – 14): July 14th – 19th, 2024 Week 2 (ages 15 – 19): July 21st – 26th, 2024 Location: Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), Red Deer, AB T-shirt: $25Anthology: $12 WordsWorth is a week-long sleepover creative writing residency for young writers who believe in the power of words. Writers will be completely immersed in the creative and diverse world of writing. Guided by established and respected

2024 Alberta Literary Awards Finalists Announced!

March 21, 2024

2024 Alberta Literary Awards Finalists Announced! The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is excited to announce the finalists for the 2024 Alberta Literary Awards. Each year, the Alberta Literary Awards celebrate the highest standards of literary excellence from Alberta authors. The WGA would like to send our congratulations to those whose work is among this year’s finalists! We look forward to celebrating your creativity and hard work, and we will do all we can to spread the word about the wonderful writing you

WGA Summer Webinars

March 17, 2024

It’s going to be a hot writer summer at the WGA! Three online sessions to keep the momentum going all season long. You can sign up for one or all. July 6. 10:30AM-12PM: The Literary Resume with Katie Bickell August 1. 12-1PM. FREE AFA Grant Writing Webinar September 14. 10:30AM-12:00PM: Imposter Syndrome and Finding Your Place with Harrison Mooney

Call for Volunteers—WGA Conference 2024: No Place Like Home & Alberta Literary Awards Gala (June 7-9)

March 11, 2024

Call For Volunteers June 7-9, 2024Edmonton Coast Edmonton Plaza We are seeking volunteers for half-day shifts for our No Place Like Home conference June 7-9, and for shorter shifts at our Alberta Literary Awards Gala on June 8. Your volunteer work will greatly help the events run smoothly, and we are grateful for all of you who are willing to lend a hand. Conference volunteers will receive free conference admission, and Gala volunteers will receive free admission to the gala

WordsWorth 2024: Dragonsong Registration Form

February 16, 2024

Week 1 (ages 11-14): July 14 – 19, 2024 (REGISTRATION FOR WEEK 1 IS NOW CLOSED)Week 2 (ages 15-19): July 21 – 26, 2024 Regular rate: $630 Location: Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), Red Deer, AB T-shirt: $25Anthology: $12 Please select the WordWorth program you wish to register for below. You may pre-order WordsWorth t-shirts and copies of the anthology. We invite you to also consider donating the purchase of an anthology. WordsWorth anthologies provide a treasured memento for participants, and your

Winners of the 2024 Alberta Literary Awards Announced!

February 9, 2024

Winners of the 2024 Alberta Literary Awards Announced! The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Alberta Literary Awards. This year’s award winners were announced at and in-person gala in Edmonton on June 8th. The winner of the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize was announced on May 1 as part of the Edmonton Arts Prizes. The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize winner will be announced at The Calgary Awards on

CALL FOR CASINO VOLUNTEERS

January 14, 2024

We are holding our casino July 11 – 12, 2024 at the Starlight Casino (West Edmonton Mall) in Edmonton, and we’ll need volunteers to make it a success! Our casinos bring in approximately $80,000 over two years, which goes a long way in helping the WGA provide programs and services. WGA members are required for key positions (you will receive a free WGA membership if you choose to sign up for a key position), but others may be filled by anyone, so

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta Announces the 2024 Golden Pen Award Recipient

December 15, 2023

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award is presented to acknowledge the lifetime achievements of outstanding Alberta writers. Past recipients are W.O. Mitchell, Grant MacEwan, Rudy Wiebe, Myrna Kostash, Robert Kroetsch, Merna Summers, Aritha van Herk, Fred Stenson, George Melnyk, Alice Major, Betty Jane Hegerat, Greg Hollingshead, Candas Jane Dorsey, Cecelia Frey, Bob Stallworthy, Vivian Hansen, Chris Wiseman and Joan Crate. For over 40 years, Marty Chan has contributed to theatre, radio, television, and kids’ fiction. His playwriting career began

2024 WGA Mentorship Program Participants Announced

December 4, 2023

2024 WGA Mentorship Program Meet the Participants! The WGA is thrilled to announce the participants for the 2024 Mentorship Program! In January 2024, fourteen Alberta writers will begin their participation in the WGA’s annual mentorship program. 2024 marks the thirteenth year of the program, which pairs emerging writers with established Alberta authors to develop the emerging writer’s literary work, and also to provide support and encouragement. This program has seen many of its participants grow and succeed as published authors.

7th Annual Kemosa Scholarship Winners Announced

November 30, 2023

Winners of the 7th Annual Kemosa Scholarship for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Mothers Who Write The Writers’ Guild of Alberta and Nhung Tran-Davies are pleased to announce the winners of the 7th Annual Kemosa Scholarship for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Mothers Who Write. First established in 2017 by Dr. Nhung Tran-Davies in partnership with Tlicho Dene author Richard Van Camp, the Kemosa Scholarship offers an opportunity for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Mothers to obtain resources to help

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