In the new issue of 807: A Northwestern Ontario Literary Review, you’ll find a conversation about the relationship between writers and geography.

Thunder Bay writer Mary Frost, in her initial salvo, admits that she might be “representative of the local writing community” in that she is ”interested in writing, in writing as well as we can, but unenterprising about feeding into the Canadian literary grid.”

Charlie Wilkins, also a Thunder Bay resident (at least part-time), sees “a reluctance up here [in northwestern Ontario] that prevents a more confident stake in the broader creation of literature. Or is it plain old fear of rejection?”

And Joe Fiorito, transplanted from Westfort to greater Toronto, mentions a “sense of inferiority–nothing good ever happened here, and I’m not good enough to be anywhere else,” while saying that writers, of necessity, remain detached observers.

What do you think?

If you live in Northwestern Ontario, how do you think that choice influences your writing? If you once lived here and have left, why did you leave and what changes did that bring? 

If a fairy godparent could wave a magic wand and remove all obstacles to your ideal writing life, what would disappear? And what would your ideal life look like?

What else do you want to say about writers and where they live–or have lived?

Note that the writers’ quotes above are just a few tidbits from a greater, wide-ranging conversation. For the whole pork chop, buy an 807 online (below) or from one of these fine Thunder Bay retailers: Northern Woman’s Bookstore, the Finnish Bookstore, the International House of Tea, Kelly’s Nutrition, Villedge Art, or Chapters.

The 2009 issue of 807: A Northwestern Ontario Literary Review is now available! Read winning entries from the 2009 writing contest and a wide-ranging conversation among writers Charles Wilkins, Mary Frost, and Joe Fiorito.

Copies of 807 are available by calling Deborah at 807 345-0353 or at the following Thunder Bay retailers: Northern Woman’s Bookstore, the Finnish Bookstore, the International House of Tea, Kelly’s Nutrition, Villedge Art, and Chapters.

You may also order copies below. The price is $8 to pick up a copy in Thunder Bay or $11 to have it mailed to you.

Pick up or Mail?

I’ll pick it up $8.00Please mail it to me $11.00

For Mail Orders: Address

 “Thunder Bay allows me a life with sufficient white space
to let things resonate.”
Mary Frost, poet

“Need we feel shy about our small-town roots?
Margaret Laurence. Alistair MacLeod.
I rest that portion of my case.”
Joe Fiorito, columnist, memoirist, and novelist

“[I]t wasn’t simply my fascination with the north
that led to the writing; it was also that the writing
led to an ever-increasing
fascination with the north.”
Charles Wilkins, journalist and memoirist

The full conversation–including the pork chops–is in the soon-to-be-released issue of 807: a Northwestern Ontario Literary Review.

The launch party for the magazine will be Monday, July 6, at 7 p.m. at the Waverly Resource Library. Enjoy refreshments and readings from the magazine. NOWW members receive one free copy; additional copies are available for $8 each or two for $15.

Check back here, www.nowwwriters.org, starting July 7 to participate in the ongoing conversation about what Charlie calls the “hassles, advantages, rewards, and curses” of being a writer in or from our region.

NOWW presented its two major literary awards and 15 writing contest prizes on Saturday, May 9.

The Thunder Bay Public Library and Thunder Bay writer Joan Skelton are this year’s winners of the major awards presented by The Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop.

See the contest page for more information and the list of winners.

Who We Are

Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW) is a group of writers-both seasoned and new-who provide inspiration and support. We offer:

• Readings of prose, poetry and nonfiction by fine authors in our region
• Writing Workshops
• a literary newsletter
• an annual Writing Contest
• a manuscript critiquing service

Membership is only $30 ($20 for full time students). You can also make a donation online.

To support the literary community in Northwestern Ontario through the work of NOWW you may click below to make a donation:

For more information, contact:

admin@nowwwriters.org

The all-new, bigger and better 2009 edition of 807: A Northwestern Ontario Literary Review will launch on Monday, July 6, 2009, at 7 p.m.

NOWW in Atikokan: The Sequel! On July 17 and 18, Atikokan Public Library hosts another NOWW-sponsored writing workshop. This time, NOWW members and writers Roy Blomstrom and Marion Agnew will address “Voice—Finding It, Playing with It, Developing It, and Refining It.” The event kicks off Friday evening with a reading at 7 p.m. Bring your writing to share!