Writers Corner

As a Freelance Writer for over 18 years, I want to provide resources for those interested in writing in any form whether white papers, poems, songwriting, fiction etc. etc., or for those wanting information about how to get published and/or about self-publishing etc.. There is a myriad of information on writing that I would love to present here. Anyone wanting to submit an event etc. can contact me at heather.rennalls@oxford.net.                                              

About Musing About 

"Musing About aims to provide a platform by which local news stories, featured artists and events are promoted and celebrated within Oxford County and surrounding area.
Musing About is a concept based on appreciating the various talents and experiences of our community.
Our Focus is to Promote:
  • Local Talent i.e. Artists & writers
  • Local Business through advertising and promotional articles
  • Local Events: by informing the community of local ‘what’s happenings’" (From Musing About website)
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Kathy Eller
Kathy Eller
 "Has extensive experience working with local community papers in media marketing. Musing about is something she has done over the years, by reflecting and observing the way media portrayed local events and people. It is from this personal experience and insight that she was inspired to create this concept of Musing About. Owning her own business allowed her to express her long-time dream of being entrepreneurial as well as giving back to her community.
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*Kathy Eller is also the publisher of Coffee News in Oxford County since September 2016." (From Musing About website)

Author Profile:
​Eric Schmiedl 

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Woodstock Author, Eric Schmiedl
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Local author delves into science fiction/fantasy

"A Woodstock author is releasing his first science fiction/fantasy book in an upcoming signing at the Merrifield Book Shop.
  The book, Realities, was written by Eric Schmiedl and is a tale of good versus evil with Biblical overtones. On the evil side is Illyad (a time-travelling despot on the distant planet Valleria who doesn’t see himself as evil) who ruthlessly wields his abilities in his quest for absolute power. Forces of good rise up against him at various points in history on Valleria.

 “I came up with the idea for Realities from a waking dream,” said Schmiedl, who is also Operation Sharing’s director of print media and Writers’ Café coordinator (the café is a joint Operation Sharing-Canadian Mental Health Association program). Schmiedl is also the author of the previously published memoirs Don Quixote Versus the Devil and South Korean Mania, which dealt with his bipolar disorder misadventures. In addition, he is a former long-time reporter with the Sentinel-Review.

 As for Realities, it is aimed to be the first part of a trilogy – the second and third installments are already in the works.
 Realities, which features a cover photo illustration by Creative Works Photography, is written in short, rapid-fire chapters that Schmiedl said are designed “for the speedy Internet and technologically-savvy culture of today.” 
A portion of the sales of the book will be donated to Operation Sharing.  ​
Book Signing for Realities
​
​Date: Saturday, June 22 from noon to 2 p.m.
​Place: Merrifield Book Shop, 471 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON
Realities is also available as an ebook through various venues including Amazon, Kobo, Apple and Barnes & Noble.
​
  For questions from the media, please contact Eric Schmiedl at ericschmiedl@yahoo.ca or 519-539-5926.
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Book Launch: ​

Check out the video.
Book Launch: 
Saturday November 24, 2018 - 2:00 -4:00 p.m. 
Location: Norwich Legion #190, 55 Stover St. S. Norwich, ON
"Trent’s Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer, Canada research chair in the study of the Canadian North, has co-authored a new book, Familiar Fields to Foreign Soil: Three Rural Townships and the Great War. Written with Jennifer Arthur-Lackenbauer and Dr. Peter Kikkert, the authors use letters, newspapers, memoirs, and other local sources to reveal how people understood home front and overseas experiences at the time, and how the war transformed individual lives, families, and communities in rural Ontario.

“Our book attempts to offer both a comprehensive and accessible portrait of a community immersed in a global conflict,” Professor Lackenbauer explains. “It is researched with all of the rigour of an academic study, but written in a way that we hope will appeal to a broad popular audience.” (From Trent University website) 

Refreshments courtesy of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 190, South Norwich Historical Society and The Norwich and District Historical Society 
ALL proceeds go to benefit local historical initiatives.

 Conferences: 

The Book and Periodical Council (BPC) - "The Umbrella Organization for Writing and Publishing in Canada. The BPC acts as a forum for its members to network, identify common goals and coordinate action to benefit the Canadian writing and publishing industry." (From website) This site lists academic, editing, library, publishing & writing conferences. ​
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"The Ontario Writers’ Conference is dedicated to the celebration of writing by inspiring, educating & connecting writers of all levels; providing participants with an opportunity to network with writers and other publishing professionals; and encouraging writers to publish, promote and sell their work." (From Ontario Writer's Conference website) 
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Contests:
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Congratulations to the 2018 Story Starters Semi-Finalists!
​​"For the seventh time, The Ontario Writers’ Conference has partnered with visual artists of all sorts in the form of our Story Starters Contest – run October, November and December 2017 as well as January and February of 2018. On the first of each month, our website featured an extraordinary work by a local artist and we invite writers from everywhere and of all ages to enter a piece of writing inspired by that work (entry-free). By taking inspiration from the art, writing a short piece (100 words maximum) and posting it in the comment section of our entry page, more than 150 writers created works of poetry, prose, dialogue, haiku, etc. for a chance to impress that artist and win a prize for that month.  For a list of the semi-finalists click this link. 
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Brian Henry's The Canadian Writers’ Contest Calendar "is a book that gives a full listing of annual writing contests in Canada arranged by deadline date. It lists contests for short stories, poetry, children’s writing, novels, and nonfiction – contests for just about everyone." To order contact Brian Henry. (From Quick Brown Fox Website.)
  • Check out the various writing and poetry contests listed on Brian Scott’s website Freelance Writing Helping freelance writers to succeed since 1997.
  • Canadian Authors - lists of Canadian contests and opportunities
Creative Writing Camps:
Events:
 Festivals:
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The Writers' Union of Canada
​The Writers' Union of Canada "is the national organization of professionally published book authors. The Union was founded in 1973 to work with governments, publishers, booksellers, and readers to improve the conditions of Canadian writers." (From website.)
​A list of Canadian Festivals and Reading Series throughout Canada.
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Local Writing Groups:
  • Woodstock Writer’s Circle -  meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month at the Woodstock Public Library, 445 Hunter St., Woodstock, ON, from 6:00 – 8:15 p.m. in the Meeting Room, next meetings: Wednesday June 5th & 19th  
  • Thamesford The Write Stuff - meets the 3rd Thursday each month at the Thamesford Public Library, 165 Dundas St., Thamesford, ON, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., next meeting: Thursday June 20th​​
  • Tillsonburg Poetry Group meets the 2nd Tuesday each month at the Tillsonburg Public Library, 2 Library Lane, Tillsonburg, ON, from 7:00  - 8 :15 p.m. in the Study Room, next meeting: Tuesday June 12th  ​
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(For more information please contact Eric Schmiedl at ericschmiedl@yahoo.ca or 519-539-5926)
Poetry Groups
Tillsonburg Poetry Group meets at the Tillsonburg Public Library, 2 Library Lane, Tillsonburg, ON, Tuesday, June 12th at 7:00 p.m. in the Study Room. "This established, diverse local writing group enjoys the challenge of writing original works of poetry. 

Everyone is welcome to come and check out the group, and we encourage interested individuals to bring their original pieces focusing on changes (or other topics) to share.

The group will meet monthly, and each month will focus on a new writing subject.
For more information, please contact Chris: chrisbowyer13@yahoo.ca" (From Tillsonburg Public Library website)

Poetry Publication

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Tower Poetry - publishes a poetry book twice a year, summer and winter. Deadlines for TOWER POETRY submissions are February 28th for the Summer issue and August 31st for the Winter issue each year. Submit by email to: info@towerpoetry.ca." (For further information on Submission) 
Poetry Reading
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NEW: Poetry London’s 2018-2019 Season
Location:  Landon Library’s basement, 167 Wortley Rd., London, ON

Questions? Email: poetrylondon.ca@gmail.com (From Poetry London website) ​
Remembering Derek Walcott  (January 23, 1930 - March 17, 2017)
Nobel Prize-winning Poet & Playwright

Poetry Workshops

The Hamilton Poetry Centre Workshops​
"The Hamilton Poetry Centre offers free public workshops throughout the year. These are a place to share your work in progress and receive supportive and thoughtful feedback from your peers. New and experienced poets welcome!
Please bring 12-15 copies of one poem to share with fellow workshop participants.

Workshop location:
Westdale Branch of Hamilton Public Library, 955 King St. West, Hamilton, Ontario
Telephone: (905) 546-3456

Workshop dates: the following Thursdays from 7:00 – 8:45 p.m.​​​

​ (From Hamilton Poetry Centre website) 
Tower Poetry Society 
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Monthly poetry workshops are held at Westdale Public Library, 955 King St. W.
in Hamilton, Ontario.
"Workshop Format: The poet brings 24 copies which are passed out to those present, and reads the poem while the rest of us follow along on the printed copy. Then the group discusses the poem, providing feedback on what seems to work or not work well for the reader, and making suggestions. The poet listens, but makes no comment. It is by listening to all the opinions that a sense of what enhances the poem becomes clear. There is often disagreement. After the group has finished discussing the poem, the poet has the chance to comment, if he or she wishes to do so.
If you are writing in a lonely vacuum, find or form a group with other poets. It will enhance your work and theirs too. If you live close to Hamilton, come and join us!

We meet one Saturday a month from 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: Westdale Public Library, 955 King St. W., Hamilton, ON​​​

​ No workshops are held in the summer months." (From Tower Poetry Society website) 

llluminated Poetry

Date and time: Sunday, June 30, 2019 | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Location: Major’s Hill Park, Behind the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario 

Date and time: Monday, July 1, 2019 | 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Location: Major’s Hill Park, Behind the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario 
 
Look for illuminated signs in the park to discover poems’ excerpts in an original way. You'll be dazzled by the talent of Canadian poets!
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La Poésie Partout wishes to promote the diversity of poetic proposals and establishes unifying projects. Place of mediation, ideation and dialogue, La Poésie Partout intends to promote the diffusion and dissemination of poetry in all its forms.
Publishing Links:
Workshops:

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Check out the workshop and course schedule for all levels of writers listed on Brian Henry's website Quick Brown Fox.
Writer's Clubs with Membership:
Writer's Groups:
Writing Jobs:
Writing Links:  
Writing Retreats:
November at the Briars Writing Retreat
Friday, November 1 – Monday, November 4; four days of creativity in a setting that provides the warmth of a country estate steeped in history while providing all the benefits of an extensive, modern lakeside resort.
The Briars Resort & Spa on Lake Simcoe
55 Hedge Road, Jackson’s Point, Ontario, Canada (Map here)
Details here.
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"Give yourself a four days of writing time – a long weekend of instruction, inspiration and creativity. Award yourself with time away from distractions, with no dishes to do, delicious food at every meal, and with the leisure you need to sit with your feet up and write. The retreat will feature both instruction and guided writing exercises, plus one-on-one critiquing and coaching from Brian.  You’ll also have lots of time to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your creativity. All writing levels welcome. Whether you’re just beginning or have a novel in progress, please join us.

The setting: Originally a Regency-style Manor House built by Captain William Bourchier in 1840, the estate was purchased in 1870 by Dr. Frank Sibbald, who added two wings to the manor house, a coach house, a brick stable and of course a peacock house, because where else are you going to keep your peacocks?

The Briars also has a storied literary history. Humorist Stephen Leacock was a great friend of the Sibbalds, visited often, and is buried just down the road from the resort at the pretty St. George’s churchyard, as is author Mazo de la Roche. De la Roche’s Jalna series were worldwide bestsellers, making her one of Canada’s bestselling authors ever. 

Today, the Briars still offers the warmth of a country estate steeped in history while providing all the benefits of an extensive, modern lakeside resort." (For more details click here.)
​International Conferences:
  • Abroad Writers’ Conference
    This summit of international authors and aspiring writers features conferences led by some of the worlds most talented authors, journalist, poets, playwrights, screenwriters and literary agents. Stimulating talks, interviews, readings, Q&As and workshops.
  • ASJA Writers Conference
    The American Society of Journalists and Authors annual writers conference is one of the premier events in the United States for professional independent writers, with more than 600 attendees each year.
  • Geneva Writers’ Conference
    The international conference brings together English-language writers for high-level instruction, inspiration, support, advice, networking and feedback. Writing genres covered include fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s writing and poetry. (From The Book and Periodical Council (The BPC))
Writer's Quote:
Writing Tip:
Tip 14: "Sometimes I type in a large font to have the words and sentences bold before me. Sometimes, in the middle of a document I will start a new topic on a fresh sheet to have that clean feeling. Then, I’ll cut and insert it into the larger document.

I wait until my paper is done before I examine my word usage and vocabulary choices. (And reading this column it has reminded me that no two words are ever exactly alike.) So at the end, I take time to examine my choice of words. I have a lot of fun selecting the exact words to pinpoint my thoughts or points.” ~ Yvette (From 34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer website)
Quote: “The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”
~ Maya Angelou