News

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta Announces the 2023 Golden Pen Award Recipient

May 8, 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 and Chris Wiseman. This year’s recipient is Joan Crate. Joan Crate was born in the NorthWest Territories and, after finding homes in various towns

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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: WGA CONFERENCE & ALBERTA LITERARY AWARDS GALA (JUNE 2 – 4, 2022)

May 3, 2023

Call for Volunteers: WGA Conference: Origins and Alberta Literary Awards Gala June 2 – 4, 2023Fort Calgary 750 9 Ave SE, Calgary, AB We are seeking volunteers for half-day shifts for our Origins Conference June 2 – 4, and for shorter shifts at our Alberta Literary Awards Gala June 3. Your volunteer work will be a great help in making the events run smoothly, and we are grateful for all of you who are willing to lend a hand. Please view the SignUp sheet to

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WGA Call for Board Nominations

April 26, 2023

The 2023/2024 Board of the WGA will be elected at our AGM on June 4, 2023. The AGM will be held at Fort Calgary (750 9 Ave. SE, Calgary) but there will be the opportunity for remote participation. There are currently no candidates running for the following positions: Vice President and Member at Large. Nominations are welcome from members from across the province with a view to creating a Board with a diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives, including diversity

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WordsWorth 2023: Let’s Go!! – Registration Form

April 12, 2023

Registration is now closed(After June 26th, RDP room availability cannot be guaranteed.)   Week 1 (ages 11 – 14): July 9th – 14th, 2023 | $610Week 2 (ages 15 – 19): July 16th – 21st, 2023 | $610 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

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2023 Alberta Literary Awards Finalists Announced!

April 4, 2023

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is excited to announce the finalists for the 2023 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 did in 2022. There will be

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Submit a Listing to WriteClick

March 29, 2023

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

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2023 Alberta Literary Awards Announcement (Online)

March 22, 2023

Tuesday, April 4, Noon (MDT) Are you curious about whether your work or the work of one of your literary friends or heroes is a finalist this year for the 2023 Alberta Literary Awards? Join us on Tuesday, April 4th at Noon as the finalists for each category are announced live and for the first time, broadcast on the WGA YouTube channel. The WGA livestream will begin at Noon on Tuesday, April 4th through our YouTube page. There will be Readings

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Springboards Story to Script Intensive (Edmonton) – NEW PRICING!

March 5, 2023

Presented in Partnership with Workshop West Playwright’s Theatre as part of Springboards, A New Play Festival LOCATION: The Gateway Theatre8529 Gateway Blvd NW Edmonton, AB Workshops will be held in the Studio/Workshop Room, offices will be available on site for the one-on-one consultations. Workshop Details Story to Script: Finding character and drafting dialogue March 19, 23 & 26Katherine Koller, FacilitatorMaximum number of registrants: 12 – Three spots left! This intensive is for emerging playwrights and writers new to playwriting. It

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Drink the Wild Air 2023 – March 17-19

March 3, 2023

March 17 – 19, OnlineCost: $140  Drink the Wild Air is a Creative Writing Retreat for Youth ages 11 – 19. Typically nestled in the gateway to the rocky mountains in Kananaskis country, this year we’ll come together online to take workshops with working professionals, play games, share our stories, our songs, our poems and our art. Join us on March 17th for orientation, and on March 18th and 19th for a weekend of creative razzmatazz, hijinks, capers, and general hullabaloo. Cancellation Policy If you

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Drink the Wild Air 2023 – March 17-19

March 3, 2023

March 17 – 19, OnlineCost: $140  Drink the Wild Air is a Creative Writing Retreat for Youth ages 11 – 19. Typically nestled in the gateway to the rocky mountains in Kananaskis country, this year we’ll come together online to take workshops with working professionals, play games, share our stories, our songs, our poems and our art. Join us on March 17th for orientation, and on March 18th and 19th for a weekend of creative razzmatazz, hijinks, capers, and general hullabaloo. Cancellation Policy If you

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6th Annual Kemosa Scholarship Winners Announced

March 2, 2023

Winners of the 6th 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 6th 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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Calgary Witching Hour Poetry

February 5, 2023

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta and Calgary Spoken Word Society present: Witching Hour Poetry Wednesday, March 8th, 8:00 pm Tickets $8 Treehouse at cSpace 1721 29th Ave SW – 4th Floor Calgary, AB **Space is limited, so please register using the form below. After registering, you will be directed to a payment page. Please note, your registration is not complete until payment has been received. Celebrate International Women’s Day with performances from some of Calgary’s finest poets:  Hosted by WGA’s Ashley

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WGA 2023 Spring One-Day Retreat: Map Your Creative Future

February 4, 2023

Retreat Details Sunday, March 19th, 20239:30 AM – 4:30 PMYorath House13110 Buena Vista Rd NW, Edmonton Lunch & snacks will be provided Nurture your commitment to your artistic ambitions at this forward-looking retreat for writers. Award-winning and bestselling author Joan Marie Galat will share her journey to publication and guide you in making a focused plan to move you toward achievable writing and publishing goals. Whether you have publishing credits or are just starting out, leave distractions behind and enjoy

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Freehand Books and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta present: How I Write

February 4, 2023

Freehand Books and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta present: How I Write: A discussion on craft and readings from Freehand authors Tuesday, March 14th at 7pm Shelf Life Books 1302 4th Street SW. Calgary Featuring: Mikka Jacobsen, Charlotte Bellows, and Doreen Vanderstoop Hosted by Naomi Lewis This is a free event, all are welcome PANELISTS: CHARLOTTE BELLOWS is a high school student in Calgary. Her first book, The Definition of Beautiful, is forthcoming from Freehand Books in September 2023. DOREEN VANDERSTOOP is a

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Virtual Consultation with Joan Marie Galat (WGA 2023 Spring Writers’ Retreat)

January 30, 2023

Please use this form to register for your half-hour virtual session with Joan Marie Galat to discuss querying, revisions, or other aspects of writing and publishing. After submitting the form, you will be directed to a payment page. Please note, until we have received and processed payment, your registration is not completed. A Calendly link with the available session dates and times will be sent to you with your registration confirmation.

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WGA Horizons Writers Circle Final Reading (Edmonton)

January 25, 2023

Readers: Giselle General, Catalina Morales, Manna Liu, Ting Elger, Devika Short. Where: The Common/9910 When: Saturday March 4th, 6:30-8:00 PM. The event is FREE. Please join us to celebrate the writing of the Horizons Writers Circle 2022-2023 cohort. The event is FREE to attend. Please RSVP by Friday February 24 on the FB event page or by emailing the Program Coordinator: [email protected]. Performers GISELLE GENERAL is a Filipino-Canadian artist who has called Edmonton her home since 2008. She’s passionate about the idea

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