It’s time to renew your membership — and if you renew before October 31, you pay only $30 (instead of $35; students pay $20 all year). To join, click here: you can download a form or join online using Paypal.

You may also join NOWW at any of our upcoming events! Add those dates to your calendar.

For your membership, you receive 3 issues of NOWW, our magazine with writing and news of NOWW members; a reduced rate for using the Blue Pencil service; and free entry into the 2011 NOWW Writing Contest (details to be announced).

In addition to providing support for the contest, NOWW memberships, along with the generous contributions of our sponsors, help make it possible for NOWW to offer our series of writing workshops and readings FREE to the public. So come to the workshops and readings — and bring a friend!

NOWW Memberships run in conjunction with our program year. If you joined NOWW to participate in our 2010 contest in the spring, please consider renewing your membership at this time – you save $5 and will continue to receive emails about writing and literature in Northwest Ontario.

NOWW Magazine challenges NOWW members to write a dramatic, snappy postcard story (250 – 500 words long, not including the title) that relates to the image above. The relationship can be as tangential as you like, so long as there is some clear connection to “bicycle.”

Deadline: August 21, 2010

Send your submission to noww.editors@gmail.com as an attachment. Please include your name and contact information.

We will publish the cleverest, liveliest, most surprising submissions in the September edition of NOWW Magazine. Writers of stories published will be paid an honorarium.

Open to NOWW members only. If you’re not a member, join today! Limit of 2 submissions per writer.

The July issue of the NOWW Magazine is available! The cover features artwork by Thunder Bay artist Luke Nicol. Inside, you’ll find the winning entries from the 2010 Writing Contest.

The magazine is free to NOWW members and is available electronically or in print.

Print copies are available for purchase at Northern Woman’s Bookstore and at Elizabeth Campbell Booksellers in Kenora.

Or click below to purchase! Copies are
$5 + $2 for postage = $7 total.

Your address (in Canada):

At the Literary Awards Party on May 15, NOWW bestowed the following awards:

Elizabeth Kouhi Award: Hazel Fulford. For a list of Hazel’s books, check out the NOWW Books page: http://nowwwriters.org/?page_id=292

Sheila Burnford Award: The Sleeping Giant Writers Festival. For this year’s slate of invited speakers, go here: http://www.sleepinggiantwriters.com/

Winners of the 2010 NOWW Writing Contest
To everyone who entered the contest: Congratulations! Submitting work is an important part of the writing process. Thank you for participating.

Memoir
1^st: Elizabeth Campbell, Keewatin, “Bedrock”
2^nd: Jim Foulds, Thunder Bay, “I Never Got to Work for My Father”
3^rd: Bonnie Tittaferrante, Thunder Bay, “Frog and Snake”

Poetry
1^st: Holly Haggarty, Thunder Bay, “Three Speech Acts”
2^nd: Elizabeth Creith, Thessalon, “The Wheel of the Year—Four Sonnets”
3^rd: Elizabeth Pszczolko, Nolalu, “Winter Bones”

Children’s Story
1^st: Judith Johansen, Fort Francis, “Picker’s Kid”
2^nd: Eleanor Albanese, Thunder Bay, “Nonno’s Nickel”
3^rd: Bonnie Tittaferrante, Thunder Bay, “The Amida Tree”

Flash Fiction
1^st: Elizabeth Creith, Thessalon, “Dark Chocolate”
2^nd: Jack Shedden, Thunder Bay, “Dreaming in Black”
3^rd: Sue Blott, Thunder Bay, “Stan, My Man”

Fiction
1^st: John Pringle, Atikokan, “Fresh Snow”
2^nd: Roy Blomstrom, Thunder Bay, “Polly”
3^rd: Roy Blomstrom, Thunder Bay, “Last Game of Hearts”

Look for the first-place winners in the June issue of NOWW Magazine. Congratulations to the winners!

Celebrate 

Literature and Writing

in

Northwestern Ontario!

NOWW is proud to host the annual Literary Awards Party and Fundraising event on Saturday, May 15, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Current River Community Center, 450 Dewe Street.

Come celebrate

• The winner of the Elizabeth Kouhi award for excellence in writing
• The winner of the Sheila Burnford award for building writing and literature in the region
• The winners of NOWW’s 12th annual writing contest
• The achievements of NOWW members in 2009 and 2010

With door prizes and the opportunity to win baskets of writing-themed goodies, you’re not likely to walk away empty-handed. And if you renew your NOWW membership (at the low price of $30) for the 2010-2011 year, you will be eligible for a special draw.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Hot and cold appetizers will be served and a cash bar will be available. For tickets, email Erin at admin@nowwwriters.org or phone 768-1701. Tickets are also available at the Northern Woman’s Bookstore.

This is YOUR CHANCE to

• Say a hearty “Thank you!” to NOWW’s partners in the community
• Support NOWW programs and win fabulous prizes
• Join NOWW or renew your membership
• Learn of upcoming opportunities for writers
• Connect with writers – others who know the sting of rejection and the sweet thrill of a well-crafted sentence

NOWW MEMBERS: Have you heard “yes” this past year?

Send the facts (the name of publication, award, or nomination, the date, the title of the piece that was recognized, perhaps a link to the website), along with a picture of the book or publication and/or yourself to Bonnie Tittaferrante, bonnieheather@tbaytel.net. Bring a copy of the actual book or magazine to the party for display on the table. 

Send your Celebration information by May 1.

NOWW is a proud sponsor of

Advanced Creative Writing
and
Foundations of Creative Writing

two special writing classes
taught by Charlie Wilkins
running from mid-March to late April
(locations TBA)

Open to NOWW members AND non-members

For full course descriptions, click here.
To register, email Erin Stewart at admin@nowwwriters.org

The 12th Annual NOWW Writing Contest is now open!

Five categories!
Distinguished Judges!
15 Prizes!

Judges: Betsy Struthers (poetry), Lynn Coady (fiction), Gordon Korman (children’s story), Anne Coleman (memoir), and Pasha Malla (flash fiction).

Entry is FREE for paid-up members of NOWW. Non-members pay $10 per entry. Limit 2 entries per category.

For complete information, click the Contest link at the top of the page. Entry information is also available at public libraries and institutions of higher education across northern, northwestern, and northeastern Ontario.

The poster is here.

The Ontario Arts Council has established a special pilot project for its Writers’ Works in Progress program. The project is designed to attract more applications from writers in Northern Ontario. This one-time deadline is January 25, 2010, with cheques awarded by March, 2010.

For complete details and entry forms, go here: http://www.arts.on.ca/Page3612.aspx

Thank you to all of you for your attendance this fall at workshops, readings, and other events in support of writing and literature in Northwestern Ontario.

As you can see from the Events listed to the right, we have more fun and learning planned for 2010 already—keep checking here for updates.

Oh, and get those contest entries ready!

Mark these dates! Readings on September 21, October 12, and November 9 at the Brodie Library; Workshops on October 26, November 16, and November 30 at the Waverley Resource Library

NOWW is taking its summer break–but the writing doesn’t have to stop!

NOWW’s Literary Awards Party will be held May 15, 2010, from 7 to 10:30 at the Current River Community Centre, 450 Dewe, in Thunder Bay. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at door); phone Erin at 768-1701 or email admin@nowwwriters.org to get tickets.

Kathy Ashby (nee Filipovic), brings her novel Carol ‘A Woman’s Way’ to Thunder Bay for readings: May 1, 2:30-4:30 pm at the Northern Woman’s Bookstore and May 3, 7-9 pm at the Brodie Library Fireside Reading Room. Who is Kathy? Click below.

Jim Foulds will meet with writers in Sioux Lookout and the region on April 9 (7 to 9 pm) and 10 (10 am to noon) at the A-Frame Gallery on Front Street.

Come to the Brodie Library Reading Room at 7 p.m. on March 23 to hear thoughts about Successes, Failures, Milestones, and Defeats–and bring your own to share at the open mic!

Dr. Bruce Meyer will give a public lecture, “What Makes Great Literature,” on Friday, March 5 at 7 pm at the ATAC Building at LU. He will also present a workshop, “Making Your Writing More Visual,” on Saturday, March 6 at 2 pm at Waverley Resource Library.

Have a premonition that you’re in a predicament about the predictions you made earlier this year? Time to chase them away with a proclamation! Bring a poem to the open mic portion of this reading at 7 p.m. at the Brodie Street Library in Thunder Bay.

NOWW has two workshops scheduled for 2010, with one on a Saturday afternoon! Mark these dates on your calendar: Tuesday, February 9 and Saturday, March 6.

January 26, 7 p.m., Fireside Room at Brodie Library: come hear Jim Foulds, Dorothy Colby, Christine Prentice, Sandi Boucher, and a selection from a 2010 Contest judge. Bring a short poem to read at the open mic!

What will 2010 mean to you? Start writing and mark your calendars for readings on the following dates: January 26, February 23, and March 23. Readings are at 7 p.m. in the Brodie Library Fireside Room, 216 Brodie Street, Thunder Bay.

On Monday, November 23, at 7 p.m., come to the Waverley Library Auditorium to learn ways to re-invigorate the written word with the sound of the language. Even if you missed Part I of the workshop, please come to Part II!

It’s all about the drama at this reading! Come share the comedy and tragedy — and bring a dramatic monologue or poem of your own to share. See you at 7 on November 17 at the Brodie Library, 216 Brodie Street, in Thunder Bay.

Join Scott Pound for a two-part workshop about how sound operates in all genres of writing and how you can capture sound on the page. November 9 and 23, 7 p.m. at the Waverley Library Auditorium, Thunder Bay. Attendance at the first session is NOT required for attendance at the second — and vice versa!

NOWW’s Annual General Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. SHARP on Tuesday, October 27, in the Waverley Library Auditorium. Come select the officers and members of the Executive for the coming year and review your organization’s activities for last year.

What’s the difference between a character in a story and the narrator of the story? How can you make your characters distinctive? Join Roy Blomstrom to explore answers to these questions at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, in the Waverley Library Auditorium.

An abundance of readers will sow poems across the landscape — bring one short poem to share at the open mic! The festivities are on October 20 at 7 p.m. in the Fireside Reading Room of the Brodie Street Library, Thunder Bay.

Curious about blogs? Learn from Susan Goldberg, “momoirist” extraordinaire.

Come to a lively evening of readings and oustanding word-smithery, September 22, 7 p.m. in the Fireside Reading Room of the Brodie Resource Library.

Ready for some word play? Come to readings on September 22, October 20, and November 17.

Sharpen your pencils and charge up your laptops: the fall season of NOWW workshops is drawing near! Mark these dates on your calendar: October 6, October 27, and November 9 and 23.

NOWW Member Duncan Weller invites you to the opening celebration for Constellations, a visual art show of new and unusual work. Friday, August 21, 7 p.m. at 12 St. Paul Street.

Extension of time
To August 27
For Haiku Contest

Through August 15, you can register for the entire Sleeping Giant Writers Festival (Aug 28, 29, and 30 at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay) at the earlybird price of $159.

Hailing Haiku Writers! The Thunder Bay International Arts Association must receive your entry (+ $10 fee) by 5 p.m. on July 29.

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!

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.