Are you up for a writing challenge? The website  http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano is promoting November as national novel writing month. That is… you write a 50,000 word novel between November 1st and November 30^th! Sound impossible? They don’t expect quality, just quantity. Get the words, unedited and unpolished, on a page, 50,000 of them and submit.  In 2009 165,000 people worldwide joined the challenge and 30,000 officially finished.

    Check out the website. It’s not for everyone, but maybe this is the motivation you need to get started. Think about it for next year.

 Congratulations to Robert Butkus and Gwen Enquist on the launch of their new books!

Robert  Butkus’ book  titled Godless Religion:Finding the Profound rests on experiences that we all have had, experiences that are profound and full of wonder and awe. Think of a stunningly beautiful sunset, hundreds of stars spread across endless space, the Big Bang beginning of the universe, a Beethoven symphony, facing the inevitability of one’s own death. Part 1 of the book Godless Religion maintains that profound experiences like these are holy enough to form the basis of a religion without a belief in god. Part 2 considers various ideas of an impersonal god, and argues that they too should be left aside while retaining this religion of the profound. It ends by pointing out that Richard Dawkins’ rejection of the word religion in his The God Delusion is flawed and that a godless religion is in fact possible. Part 3 offers a godless justification for morality based on the tendency of humans to cooperate and care for each other. The book ends with consoling thoughts about our dying in a godless universe.

 Robert Butkus has a Ph. D. in philosophy and has taught at institutions across Canada from St. John’s in the east to Victoria in the west, Waterloo in the south and Prince George in the north, as well as in Beijing and Tokyo. After 20 years as a college administrator including brief assignments in Thailand, India and the Caribbean, he retired to the West Coast of Canada where he contemplates the ocean, snow-capped mountains, philosophy and religion. He also creates haiga. Godless Religion will be launched at the Powell River Public Library on November 25 at 7 pm, an evening of readings and refreshments. It is available at Breakwater Books.

 Gwen Enquist’s new release, Beginnings, is a sequel in what is becoming the Bonnard family series. All the characters from Phone Calls After are back and caught up in the drama of contemporary life.  Beginnings picks up the family’s life one year after the accident that killed Mathew. Beginnings looks at the challenges of a homeless family, tackles transformative issues and explores what it is that makes a family whole.

Gwen Enquist is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. She has retired from a 35 year career in nursing.

  All titles are available at Breakwater Books and at egwen@shaw.ca. .

 Party Season is Here!

 The Powell River Writers’ Conference invites all members and would-be writers to their Christmas party on Wednesday December 15 at the Blue Mountain club house at 6 pm. This is a pot-luck dinner with fun to follow. Each member is encouraged to bring a non-member guest who is, or might be, a budding writer. All members who pay their $10 2011 dues and sign up their guest  have their name in a draw for an exciting prize.

The theme for games, food, prizes or dress-up if you  want to is “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Confirm you’re attending then get in on the trivia for more great prizes. Call either Barb: 604-485-2732 or Donna: 604-487-9591 or email: prwriters@shaw.ca

 Do you have a writer in your family who’s hard to buy for?

Then consider purchasing a spring 2011 conference package for a Christmas or birthday present. You will be giving the gift that keeps on giving for years to come. With his book Adventures in Solitude on the BC #1 list in the its first month out, Grant Lawrence has one of our presenters has much to share with us. Sylvia Taylor, will be teaching “The A-Z of Working With Agents and Editors” in one of the Master Classes. Anthony Dalton will also be part of the Master Class workshops, title TBA. A BC poet/TBA will complete the roster of outstanding teachers. The 8th annual conference promises to be bigger and better as it takes it to the next level.

Registration details online or call Barb for details: 604-485-2732

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Fall 2010 Writing Contest Winners!

 The annual fall writing contest with the theme “Centennial” ended Nov.5/10. We are proud to announce first prize went to Gwen Thompson from Saanichton. Second prize was won by Heidi Sullivan of Powell River. Honourable mentions: Joan Mahaffy and Christa de Beaupre. Congratulations to the winners and all who participated. The winning entry is listed online under fall writing contest.

Stay tuned for a fun contest for the spring 2011 conference. You could win registration valued at $130.

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The CHPPPR Cometh

     The Community Heritage Publishing Project Powell River will center  around the acquisition of an Espresso Book Machine (EBM), also known as “an ATM for books.”  CHPPPR plans to raise $150,000 to purchase the machine by the end of the school year.

    The EBM manufactures quality trade paperbacks in a few minutes each, just  like those in bookstores. The EBM makes two kinds: up to three million books from its own catalogue, or any book plugged into it in PDF, provided it has a b/w interior and does not exceed certain sizes.

   When a book is bought from the EBM catalogue, the royalty and profit due the publisher and author is automatically tracked back to them by the EBM. When a book is published locally through the EBM, the EBM owner can give the publisher a wholesale price on a flat fee per book, eliminating—for the first time in history—the economics of scale for the publisher.

     Local publishers can “permission” books through the EBM, connected to Ingram’s, the world’s biggest book distributor, thus achieving instant distribution wherever EBMs are located.

   As the EBM proliferates around the world, both the need to warehouse and ship books, and the habit of printing more books than actually needed, will dwindle—the EBM takes a giant step towards a green publishing industry.

     The difference between the cost of making a book on the EBM and the SRP (Suggested Retail Price) leaves enough room for a wholesale cost structure with levels to benefit non-profits, institutions, small presses and self-published entities.

    For the first time, local writers, families and organisations will have access to publishing real books for just a few hundred dollars, rather than the thousands now required by other publishing and manufacturing methods.

   Best of all? The EBM system protects writers’ and publishers’ rights and gives them better profits.

 What does the EBM mean for Powell River?

• Powell River organizations will be able to record our history in the form of books that are never out of print.

Some out-of-print books of community importance can easily be re-published

Sliammon can capture its language and culture in print in a permanent form

Employment in writing, editing, and publishing will increase.

Institutions can publish their own journals and theses.

Organisations may be able to obtain more grants as they will be in a position to publish results in book form.

• Work will come in from a network of independent bookstores and publishers and institutions, as our EBM will be the only one within reasonable distance for some time—in this interval we will seize the opportunity to become a book town.

Shipping costs will shrink.

• People who now use Amazon and other online sources for books will search our EBM first.

Research materials will become more available and economical.

• Our Writers Conference, Youth Peace-Poetry Competition, Whoop Dee-Do and similar initiatives may become destination events.

Local bookstores will expand their inventory by 3 million books without spending a cent or wasting a tree.

Students will find new meaning in learning how to write, edit and publish. Establishing a book culture will engage the public with literature in new ways. Training in writing, publishing, and book manufacture can develop into programs at school and university.

 What can CHPPPR do for Powell River?

• Bolster Powell River’s status as a cultural capital of Canada.
• Enhance Powell River’s attractiveness to families.
• Arouse interest in the local manufacture of specialty papers and cover stock.
• Strengthen the presence and voices of groups like Sliammon, our elders, francophones, and many others.

 CHPPPR is already hard at work on Karen Southern’s massive three-volume history of heritage housing in Townsite. The Pack Press has produced one poetry book, glasstown, using an EBM and is about to publish a memoir, Ponderings, and a poetry collection, Parallel: forty-nine poets speak to Obama, by the same method, using an out-of-town EBM. Motley Crew House of Nanaimo has published several books on the EBM, generation of thistles, Bitters, and How to Keep a Human, on the machine. You can see the published books at Powell River’s local bookstores, and get an idea of how the EBM might work for your project.

 Project Manager Eva van Loon will be seeking in earnest to raise the needed funds for our very own EBM beginning in January. At least initially, CHPPPR, hosted by the PR Educational Services Society, will be housed at Oceanview School. Many hands make light work: contact the Manager with your ideas, queries, or requests at mettalaw@gmail.com. Volunteers welcome to this exciting project!

http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2010/09/travel_discounts.php

The Right Way to Travel newsletter Sept.3/10

 TRWTT: What was your article about?

GINNY: I started on the island finale of the trip because it looked
more manageable. I thought I could finish it faster and get my byline.
The safari part of the trip was so mind-blowing and overwhelming that
I told myself I would “save it for later.”

Word to the wise: keep up with your writing, because before you know
it, you’re off on another trip and the commitments and deadlines start
to pile up.

TRWTT: How and where did you get it published?

GINNY: I got published in Travellady.com. It was unpaid, but it was my
first thrilling byline. And I’ve been hooked ever since.

TRWTT: Besides building credibility and getting published, did you get
any expenses paid, or were you able to get special rates and deals as
a travel writer?

GINNY: Not on that trip. But I have on others I’ve written about. I
usually travel everywhere for at least half-price, with many side
trips and excursions tossed in for free.

TRWTT: How do you go about securing discounted travel and perks?

GINNY: I often start the barter process with an e-mail to a manager,
telling him or her about an upcoming “Travel Writer Visit.” I am quite
direct in asking whether they offer special rates for travel
journalists, and I mention an interest in a place/event/excursion of
theirs. Sometimes that’s enough to do the trick, but only if you try
not to travel during peak seasons.

I have to say, another “perk” of all of this is that my husband has
become a very good photographer, and we work in great partnership to
get the travel writing done. It’s terrific to have someone fun to
share these adventures with.

 TRWTT: Do you have any tips for someone who’d like to get started
writing travel articles?

GINNY: Sure. My number one tip is the best tip I’ve received — to
start locally and write about something you know, in your own
backyard. One article I wrote was about New Glarus, Wisconsin,
“America’s Little Switzerland,” where I have been going for 20 years.

It got published in German Life — a very beautiful, glossy magazine
– and was distributed in nine countries.

My second tip is: don’t over-direct your writing. When you’re getting
started on a new article, it’s important to just start writing, let it
flow, then go back and finesse.

Tip 3: Skip the flowery adjectives and power your story through the use
of verbs with muscle. I believe that’s one of Jennifer Stevens’
tricks.

Tip 4: Just ask. You won’t get a discount or an article
published if you don’t put yourself out there and ask for what you
want.

TRWTT: Where are you off to next?

GINNY: I plan on going to Ecuador — into the Amazon Rainforest and
then to the Galapagos Islands. I really love wildlife and nature and
this looks to be a dream trip.

We all start small,  writing for free but eventually we must get to the point when we believe our work is worth getting paid for and we start asking. Anyone can do this IF they are ready to take a chance, and put the hours into research and writing. Take advantage of events like the Writer’s Conference or other workshops  to keep you motivated and  hone your craft. Be a lifelong student.

Barb Rees

LoveToGo Writing

 The Powell River Business Directory

  The Business Directory in the Retail & Wholesale Section now contains pages for local authors with each author’s name and contact info listed with their book titles and a one-paragraph description of each book.  There is the option of taking out an advertisement that will show the cover of the book with a more complete description.

 So please spread the word to any authors you know and send the details noted to:

 Norah LeClare

604.487.0177
http://www.powellriverdirect.com/

 Write to Sell

 The brainchild of Gary Grieco and Barb Rees, this pilot project launched Group 1 in December. With the support of Darren Robinson at Tourism Powell River, and the bottomless wisdom of Ann Nelson, they set about to write “articlettes” …Gary’s word for a filler piece of no more than 300 words. The Patricia Theatre was the theme for those nine participants.

 Over two sessions they were shown how to write cover letters, do research, find magazine editors and guidelines. At the end six had bravely stuck with the project, and several sent articlettes to magazines.

 Group 2 with five writers had two sessions in January with the theme “Powell River’s Centennial.” We are happy to report that Roger Whittaker and Janet May sold their stories. Congratulations!

 Write to Sell was the appetizer to more in depth workshops at the coming writers conference. Bigger…Better…and designed to take your writing to the next level. By now you’re gathered from our site that’s the theme for this years 7th annual event.

 Writers Buzz

Friday, April 30

 Powell River will be buzzing with many readings, and extra workshops. Details on Writer’s Buzz page.

 International Peace Poem Walker’s Association

 Congratulations Eva van Loon and the Powell River Live Poet’s Guild! IPPWA became official Feb.12/10. For the last two years in conjunction with our festival/conference, they have gathered peace poems from all the schools in Powell River, judged them and held an awards ceremony. From that Eva produced 2 little books of poetry on Powell River’s first perfect binding press thanks to CMG Printing .  This year the awards take place April 8 at Max Cameron Theatre ahead of the writers’ conference.

 Details at: Live Poet’s Guild  or contact Eva: mettalaw@gmail.com.

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 Any body who is planning to attend the Powell River Writers’ Conference and who has not yet registered, is asked to email Gary Grieco at griecogary@gmail.com to be included on a “soft list” of attendees. Thanks. Deadline for early bird special is March 31/10. Deadline for So You Think You Can Write contest is April 10/10. Go to writing contest for guidelines.

Cash-strapped writers are in need of sponsors to assist them to attend the writers conference. Please donate their registration($100 by end of March or $120 after) and reap the reward of knowing you helped further someone’s dream to become a writer. Your name will also be on this site and on the program at the event. Call Barb(604-485-2732)  if you’d like to become a “Friend of the Conference” with this donation or any other you have in mind.
Any event of note to writers can appear in the newsletter. Please send contributions to egwen@shaw.ca.

FROM THE POWELL RIVER LIVE POETS’ GUILD

 Can You Hear Peace? a little book containing our children’s thoughts on peace, is surely one of the most inspiring and moving “products” Powell River has ever generated. Inexpensive at $15 and easily mailed, it also makes a great gift or memento of our terrific community.

This second annual Powell River International Peace-Poem Anthology (PRIPPA) is the first perfect-bound book ever to have been completely written, edited, published, and manufactured right here (except for contributions from Zoey Schutz, the Grand Second-Prize winner, who hails from Sechelt–close enough!). Corey Matsumoto of CMG Printing and Eva van Loon of the Powell River Live Poets’ Guild decided about six months ago that there was no reason Powell River, having been a paper-making town for a century, shouldn’t also become a book-making town for the next century. Technology co-operated, in the form of a new invention, a more or less portable perfect-binder which can stand in for the ten-grand behemoth machines that used to be necessary to the production of a “real book”. The machine arrived in Powell River this summer.

There is a steep learning curve to mastering the technology, but with the publication of Can You Hear Peace? van Loon’s latest “crazy idea”– accessible community publishing–has birthed its firstborn.
“The idea is to turn the wacky publishing industry on its head. Instead of bashing your head endlessly against the wall to find a publisher, or spending thousands of dollars with a print-on-demand self-publisher producing hundreds of books no one may ever want, you as writer or publisher can choose to have just a few dozen copies of a book manufactured, right here in town, and see if it flies.

”You can get your own editor, or you can hire one. You can be your own publisher, or you can submit your book to The Pack Press, Motley Crew House, or any other house prepared to have the work digitally published by CMG Printing. This way clubs, families, and organizations can put out that history in real book form for the lowest possible cost, with the least possible waste of materials. If the Great Canadian Novel is languishing in your desk drawer, finish it, publish reading copies, hand them around and see what happens. Once a work develops enough steam to make some serious profit, it can be re-published by letterpress through our relationship with bigger Canadian book-manufacturers. For tryouts or projects with probably limited distribution, there’s no reason not to use digital publishing on an affordable, local scale.”

The local publishing initiative has already produced several siblings:
Kaimana Wolff’s novella Bitters and Glasstown by young poet Katje van
Loon. There’s more coming in time for Christmas. Motley Crew House, a new
local publisher focused on publishing plays, will first produce How to Keep
a Human, purportedly written by a canine author, before turning to Powell
River’s award-winning play, Just Shoot Me by Eva van Loon.

A second new local publisher, The Pack Press, will shortly put out the
eagerly awaited Parallel: forty-nine Canadian poets speak to Obama edited by Eva van Loon of the Powell River Live Poets’ Guild, followed by Martin Rossander’s brainchild, Beyond Survival: A Journal of Cultural
Creatives.

“Bitters, Glasstown, and Can You Hear Peace? are available from Kingfisher Books, Breakwater Books, CMG Printing, or the Live Poets’ Guild. Contributions to Beyond Survival are welcome.”

POWELL RIVER WRITERS’ CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 17, 2009

 
Taking it to the Next Level: Professional Writing Advice
“It’s a game.” “It’s like preparing for a first date.” were among the exiting responses from the twenty-strong audience at Powell River’s Writer’s Conference. The question that they were addressing was “What is a Query Letter?” Over the morning it was answered in various and hilarious ways. Presenter Sylvia Taylor offered a formula and robust advice on approaching agents and publishers, emphasizing the importance of the 250 words in “your door to being published.” She encouraged dialogue between participants, and introduced some surprising ideas.  After lunch, Sylvia shared her own writing, and her enthusiasm for sculpting the 300-word articlette. She recommended using the Global Librarian for accuracy when we’re doing research. www.globallibrarian.info
The conference culminated in So you think you can Write a contest where nine brave writers presented pieces based on Powell River, with a nod to tourism, and were roundly criticized and praised by a panel of eccentric judges. Winners were: Donna Kolezar (3), Amber Lynch (2), and Angie Davey (1). Congratulations to all the winners. First place winner Angie Davey’s piece will appear in Powell River Living magazine.

7th Annual Spring Conference Update

A new date has been set to accommodate the busy schedule of Powell Riverites in April 2010. Mark your calendars for April 30, May 1 at Dwight Hall for the biggest and best writers conference as we “Take it to the next level.” Our co-mentors/patrons Sylvia Taylor and Tony Dalton will find us the best presenters to teach: Self-editing and Writing from Life, Creative Non-Fiction. Sylvia and Tony are offering a new feature in the form of Master class’s. These will be two hour intense workshops taught April 30 as separate fee based entities. Watch for details and registration.  We will continue to work with the schools sending the presenters to them on the Friday. Each school holds its own writing contest. Opening night ceremonies with lively entertainment and So You Think You Can Write contestants will set the tone for our 7th spring event and 14th conference.
For the third year the Live Poets Guild will be holding a peace poem contest for the youth.
Will you be joining us as we celebrate our 7th birthday?
Details TBA.
Membership: We now have the highest amount of members ever! Our goal is to have a membership of 50 by Jan.1/10. A bigger membership base gives more clout when we’re approaching sponsors or looking for grants. Tell all your friends to join us for $10. They don’t have to be writers to support PRWC. For those of you who are writers; one of the benefits is the opportunity to have your profile and photo on this site.
Welcome new members and thank you for supporting Powell River’s literary community.

THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING
A special thank you to those people who contributed to this newsletter. Anyone may send any item of interest to writers. Anything from events to newsy items to helpful websites are welcome. Send to egwen@shaw.ca.