Horizons Writers Circle

About Horizons Writers Circle

Since its original incarnation, as the PEN Writers in Exile program, and Borderlines Writers Circle, Horizons Writers Circle is inspired by the recognition of languages and cultures as living processes, the experience of BIPOC and/or immigrant writers as they fashion their sense of space on a page. It encourages authors from marginalized or underrepresented groups to write from and/or about their own perspectives and experiences. Participants from this year’s cohort will be closely involved in developing this year’s program.

Candidates are required to meet the following criteria:

  1. The candidate must be a part of the BIPOC, immigrant, ESL and underrepresented community and has not yet established a substantial presence in Canada’s mainstream literary scene.
  2. The candidate must be a resident of Edmonton.
  3. The candidate must have a working knowledge of English.
  4. The candidate must be a Canadian citizen, refugee or landed immigrant.
  5. The candidate must be available to attend events and activities with reasonable regularity for the duration of the program.
  6. The candidate must provide writing samples. Please note that published works are not required.
  7. The candidate must have a clear intention of exploring and establishing a future in writing.
Representatives from WGA, the Edmonton writing community, and Horizons former alumni will select this years’ participants. A shortlist will advance to the interview stage. Final list candidates will be chosen from the interview pool.

Interested in nurturing upcoming writers and exchanging literary knowledge with the wider writing community? We are looking for established members of the literary community to become mentors for the Horizons Writers Circle 2022-2023. We are looking for individuals who are familiar with aspects of craft and are actively involved in local writing ecosystem.

Mentorship and fellowship are central to the Horizons Writers Circle. Each mentor is paired with one participant and tasked to address their specific creative and technical writing goals. A successful working relationship would cover current or future projects and exploring a path to developing an established writing identity. Periodically, mentors will get together with the coordinator on a one-to one basis to ensure the program is fulfilling its objectives.

Benefits of Mentoring:

  • Personal satisfaction of guiding and supporting a fellow writer’s development
  • The opportunity to further build your own mentorship skills.
  • Widening your professional and social networks at a point in Canada’s Literature where the norm is the increased diversification of voices. 

Mentor Criteria

Our mentors must meet the following criteria:

  1. The mentor must be an established member of Canada’s literary scene.
  2. The mentor must be available for the duration of the program and can attend events and activities with reasonable regularity.
  3. Experience in mentorship is an advantage, but not required.
  4. The mentors must live in Edmonton.
  5.  

Total time commitment: 35 hours (including one-on-one meetings, ongoing feedback/mentorship, and attendance in at least two events)

Wages will be disclosed upon receiving application.

In 2021/22, the Horizons program hosted a 101 panel Series on all things literary.

The first was Literary Festivals 101, featuring four female festival directors from across Canada, Amanda Leduc, from The FOLD FestivalCharlene Diehl from Winnipeg’s Thin Air FestivalFawnda Mithrush from LitFest YEG, and Shelley Youngblut, from Calgary’s Wordfest will share with us their insights on running literary festivals. This event was co-sponsored by the Edmonton Public Library through their 2021 Writer in ResidenceVern Thiessen

The second in the series was Translation 101: In an increasingly interconnected literary world, literary translation is a most pertinent topic for authors who either would like to consider their works to be translated into other languages (English to French or vice-versa, Italian, Chinese, etc.) or are thinking of becoming literary translators. In our second installment of the 101 Series, we converse with three professional literary translators: writer Arianna Dagnino, Egyptian-Canadian novelist, poet, Yasser Abdel-Latif, and publisher Stephen Henighan (Biblioasis). The panel was co-sponsored by the Literary Translators Association of Canada (LTAC), with thanks to its Alberta representative, Dr. Leilei Chen.

The final panel in the series was Editing 101: Are you an emerging writer and you are wondering how to make your manuscript fit for publishing? What are the necessary steps to make it publishable? How many types of editing does a manuscript need? Our province has top notch editors, and we are asking three of our very best what it takes to turn a manuscript into an award-winning book. Meet editors Peter MidgleyKimmy Beach and Alicia Chantal as they discuss their tried and tested strategies for flawless texts.

We thank all who apply, however, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Horizons Writers Circle 2022

Program period: October 2022–March 2023
Horizons is now closed to applications

Horizons Writers Circle is a program that provides support and mentorship for writers within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) community, ESL, and underrepresented writers who live in Edmonton and are at the beginning of their literary journey. The program will run for five months and is fully subsidized, making it cost-free for successful applicants.

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta (WGA) with the support from Edmonton Community Foundation, have designed Horizons Writers Circle to yield new literary works, explore the experience of underrepresented writers, and initiate dialogue that celebrates our diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of one another. The program offers mentorship, workshops, discussions, networking, public reading opportunities, industry events, and more. Horizons Writers Circle will run from October 2022 to March 2023 and will take place in person, unless otherwise specified for events and activities.

The program reflects the WGA’s commitment to emerging writers from diverse backgrounds. Our hope is to create opportunities for underserved writers, empowering them by supporting their self-determined journey to becoming established members of the literary community.

Mentorship is a significant part of the program. Participants are carefully matched with well-established members of the literary community who can address their specific creative and technical writing goals. 

Here is the video of the final reading by the 2021 participants!

2022 Horizons Writers Circle Participants Announced

The Writers’ Guild of Alberta is proud to announce the participants for the 2022 Horizons Writers Circle, its mentored writing program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), ESL, and underrepresented writers living in Edmonton.

This October, fourteen Alberta writers will begin their participation in the WGA’s Horizons Writers Circle. The program will run between the months of October 2022 and March 2023, under the coordination of publisher and writer Luciana Erregue-Sacchi. Writers from diverse backgrounds in the early stages of their career will be mentored by experienced writers in the city in a series of workshops, panels and one-on-one mentorship. The program aims to introduce these new writers to the wider Edmonton community, make new contacts in the industry, and help them thrive in their writing careers.

This year’s participants are:

  • Kathleen Crowe will work with Naomi McIlwraith
  • Juhua (Manna) Liu will work with Tracey Anderson
  • Ting (Maria Antonieta) Pimentel-Elger will work with Pierrette Requier
  • Devika Short will work with Medgine Mathurin
  • K’alii Luuyaltkw will work with Tololwa Mollel
  • Catalina Morales Velez will work with Lorna Schultz Nicholson
  • Giselle General will work with Wendy McGrath

Meet this year’s participants!

Horizons 101 Series

In 2021/22, the Horizons program hosted a 101 panel Series on all things literary.

The first was Literary Festivals 101, featuring four female festival directors from across Canada, Amanda Leduc, from The FOLD FestivalCharlene Diehl from Winnipeg’s Thin Air FestivalFawnda Mithrush from LitFest YEG, and Shelley Youngblut, from Calgary’s Wordfest will share with us their insights on running literary festivals. This event was co-sponsored by the Edmonton Public Library through their 2021 Writer in ResidenceVern Thiessen

The second in the series was Translation 101: In an increasingly interconnected literary world, literary translation is a most pertinent topic for authors who either would like to consider their works to be translated into other languages (English to French or vice-versa, Italian, Chinese, etc.) or are thinking of becoming literary translators. In our second installment of the 101 Series, we converse with three professional literary translators: writer Arianna Dagnino, Egyptian-Canadian novelist, poet, Yasser Abdel-Latif, and publisher Stephen Henighan (Biblioasis). The panel was co-sponsored by the Literary Translators Association of Canada (LTAC), with thanks to its Alberta representative, Dr. Leilei Chen.

The final panel in the series was Editing 101: Are you an emerging writer and you are wondering how to make your manuscript fit for publishing? What are the necessary steps to make it publishable? How many types of editing does a manuscript need? Our province has top notch editors, and we are asking three of our very best what it takes to turn a manuscript into an award-winning book. Meet editors Peter MidgleyKimmy Beach and Alicia Chantal as they discuss their tried and tested strategies for flawless texts.

Contact

Please direct any questions regarding the Horizons Writers Circle to program coordinator Luciana Erregue-Sacchi ([email protected]).

Support

The 2022 Horizons Writers Circle is supported by Edmonton Community Foundation.

Horizons is also grateful for donations from Rona Altrows, in memory of Brian Brennan.

Funders

2021 Own Voices Alberta

In partnership with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (WGA) and with the support from the Calgary Foundation, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society (AWCS) designed Own Voices Alberta to yield new literary works, explore the BIPOC experience, and initiate dialogue that celebrates our diversity and contributes to a deeper understanding of one another. The program offers mentorship, workshops, discussions, networking, public reading opportunities, industry events, and more.

Own Voices Alberta runs from March to July 2021 and is set entirely online, unless otherwise specified for events and activities.

The program reflects AWCS’s advocacy of writing as a form of expression through meaningful engagement of emerging writers within the local BIPOC community. Our hope is to create opportunities for underserved writers, empowering them by supporting their self-determined journey to becoming established members of the literary community.

Mentorship is a significant part of the program. Participants are carefully matched with well-established members of the literary community who can address their specific creative and technical writing goals. 

This year’s pairings are:

  • Allan B. Rosales will be mentored by Wakefield Brewster
  • Kirti Bhadresa will be mentored by Barb Howard
  • Monda Mahmoud will be mentored by Pam Clark
  • Nicole M’carthy will be mentored by Sam Jones
  • Sandro Silva will be mentored by Wendy McGrath
  • Vina Nguyen will be mentored by Lee Kvern

Participants

Protégé

Allan B. Rosales

Allan is a professional artist, art therapist, and community connector. Born and raised in Moh’kin’stsis/Calgary, his art reflects his relationship with his 2nd generation FilipinX identity, community, and ancestors. He finds self-expression in drawing, painting, photography, and writing. Allan is working on a manuscript for a book of poems.

Mentor

Wakefield Brewster

Wakefield is a poet, spoken word artist, educator, Rap/Hip-Hop artist, musician, martial artist, WakeFull Wellness – RMT, Speaker and Founder of Page2StageProductions. He is born and raised in Toronto by parents hailing from Barbados. He has lived in Calgary since 2006. Wakefield has spoken across Canada and the US. Wakefield is also curator, host, and performer of The New Beat at The Indie YYC.

Protégé

Kirti Bhadresa

Kirti is of South Asian descent and is the first of her family born in Canada, as a settler on Treaty 7 territory. Her venturesome family line traces from India through Kenya, England, to Canada. With a background in political science and journalism, Kirti’s writing is informed by her lifelong dedication to issues of social justice. Currently, Kirti is working on a collection of short stories.

Mentor

Barb Howard

Barb’s novel, Happy Sands, was launched from University of Calgary Press in September 2021. She has published three other novels and is co-editor of a nonfiction anthology. Barb’s short stories have appeared in journals across Canada. Barb is the Calgary writing mentor for The Shoe Project – a national literacy and performance workshop for newcomer women. She has taught Creative Writing at the University of Calgary, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, and the Banff Centre.

Protégé

Monda Mahmoud

Monda is an Egyptian writer of many forms. Her articles have been published in Cairo-based magazines and her short story Dimples won a local writing contest. Monda currently lives in Moh’kin’stsis/Calgary.

Mentor

Pam Clark

Pam weaves her love of history and storytelling into her career as an educator, author and mentor. She was inspired to write her novel, Kalyna as a celebration of the human spirit, the ability to forgive and the necessity to move forward in turbulent times. Pam has written for magazines and a collection of her poetry was featured at the People’s Poetry Festival and published in a chapbook through Loft 112.

Protégé

Nicole Mfoafo-M’Carthy

Nicole is a first-year medical student. She has interests in health equity, social justice, and community engagement in her blog ihopethisemailfindsyou.com. Nicole hopes to capture her love of medicine and anthropology in her storytelling.

Mentor

Samantha Jones

Samantha lives and writes in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 territory, and is mixed Black Canadian and white settler. She is a literary magazine enthusiast and contributor with poetry published in Grain, Room, New Forum, Watch Your Head, CV2, and elsewhere. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Geography at the University of Calgary and is an instructor and facilitator at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society.

Protégé

Sandro Augusto Santos Silva

Sandro is a writer, documentary filmmaker, and the co-owner of Dona Ana Films & Multimedia. He is currently developing a memoir project about growing up in Brazil, and resilience against adversity. Before his career in the arts, Sandro was a copywrite lawyer in São Paulo. Sandro lives in Amiskwaciy Waskahikan/Edmonton.

Mentor

Wendy McGrath

Wendy is a Métis writer who has published four novels and two books of poetry. McGrath works in multiple genres – fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and spoken word. Her most recent book, Broke City, is the final novel in her prairie-gothic Santa Rosa Trilogy. This acclaimed trilogy chronicles the struggles of a working-class family and is told through the eyes of a child narrator. McGrath is also a printmaker and creator of artists’ books.

Protégé

Vina Nguyen

Vina is a queer, Vietnamese Canadian settler living in Moh’kin’stsis/Calgary. After her adventures in biological sciences, medicine, and education, writing stories and songs centered on emotional honesty have become the lifeblood of her work. Vina is a public school substitute teacher. She is working on a novel about disappearing, identity, and misplaced love.

Mentor

Lee Kvern

Lee is an award-winning author of short stories and novels. Her stories in 7 Ways To Sunday have garnered the national CBC Literary Award, Western Magazine Award, Hazel Hilles Memorial Short Fiction Prize, and the Howard ‘O’ Hagan Award. Her work has been produced for CBC Radio, published in Grain, Event, Descant, Air Canada enRoute, Tishman Review Globe&Mail, subTerrain, Loft 112, Radical Books, Joyland.ca, Foundpress.com, and LittleFiction.com.

Sponsors

Own Voices Alberta 2021 is organized by Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society
in partnership with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and with support from the Calgary Foundation.

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