OIW External Links

Why should we link?

To extend networking, info-sharing, advocacy, and "visibility" for the OIW -- and other Canadian writers' groups -- we are now reaching out to other writers' organizations on a national, regional, local -- and generic -- level. Visitors to this page from other writers' groups are warmly encouraged to contact us should they wish to join this national writers' group network.

If you think there should be a link that's not listed here, send it to Media and Communications Manager It just might appear here with thanks to you!

Please note: Links provided may not be associated in any way with OIW. OIW does not bear any responsibility for the content of any links nor of the availability of the linked websites.

LOCAL WRITERS' GROUPS

Canadian Poetry Association: [www.canadianpoetryassoc.com] The main aims of the association are to promote the reading, writing, publishing and preservation of poetry in Canada through the individual efforts of members; To promote communication among poets, publishers and the general public; To encourage leadership and participation from members and to encourage the formation and development of autonomous local chapters.
Capital Crime Writers has a wonderful website up and running [www.capitalcrimewriters.ca]. You can find information on who we are, what we do, and updates on our upcoming activities and meetings.
Ottawa International Writers' Festival [www.writersfest.com]: In presenting a 10 day international writers festival every September, their dual mandate is the development of an informed and educated audience for literature, as well as increased exposure and recognition for our finest new and established voices by placing them on stage with some of the greatest writers from Canada and around the world.
The Ottawa Romance Writers Association [www.ottawaromancewriters.com]: The Ottawa chapter of the Romance Writers of America is dedicated to the support of its authors and the romance genre in general. Our members cover the broad scope of romance and fiction writing.
The Ottawa Storytellers [www.ottawastorytellers.ca]: This association exists to promote the art of storytelling in our community, to nurture and inspire both beginning and experienced storytellers, and to provide tellers and listeners of all ages with opportunities to come together to share and enjoy stories.
Valley Writers' Guild [www.valleywritersguild.ca] has been operating since 1990, encouraging and educating Eastern Ontario writers in the process of writing and getting published. They meet in Kemptville and cover the area between the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers.

FREELANCE WRITERS' GROUPS

Freelancers Working Together is a new Facebook group designed to allow freelance writers worldwide to share news, information, gripes and suggestions, to help each other in this difficult working environment. Conceived by Barbara Florio Graham, and sponsored by the Cassell Network of Writers (which is offering members a $5 discount on any new membership, including a year's subscription to Freelance Writer's Report), this is an interactive forum where members can exchange information, ask questions and provide answers. This group includes writers from all countries and all genres, regardless of membership in writing organizations. Membership in the Facebook group is free to all, whether or not they take advantage of the special offer. Go to: facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=283032441028 to join.

OTHER WRITERS' GROUPS

The Alberta Romance Writers' Associaton [www.albertaromancewriters.com] is based in Calgary but has a Canada-wide membership. This writing group is focused on the craft of writing as it applies to all genres, not strictly to romance, although that is its market niche. It has been in existence for almost twenty years, has a strong, active membership, often holds contests and workshops, and publishes a monthly newsletter.
American Medical Writers Association - Canada Chapter [http://www.amwa-canada.ca] AMWA is an international, nonprofit professional organization that brings together medical, allied-health and science communicators as well as educators interested in improving the quality and effectiveness of biomedical communication in all media. The Canada chapter provides its members with professional development and networking opportunities. Nonmembers are welcome to participate in chapter events.
L'Association des auteures et auteurs de l'Ontario français (AAOF) [www.francoculture.ca/aof] was founded in Ottawa in 1988 to develop and promote Franco-Ontarian literature.
l'Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec (ACS) [www.acs.qc.ca] regroupe des professionnels de l'information scientifique francophone grand public de différents milieux (journalisme, muséologie, édition, loisir, multimédia, recherche, organismes publics et entreprises scientifiques).
Canadian Association of Journalists [www.caj.ca] promotes excellence in journalism, encouraging investigative journalism. We serve as the national voice of Canadian journalists, and we uphold the public's right to know.
The Canadian Authors Association (CAA) [www.canauthors.org] is one of Canada's oldest writing organizations. Founded in 1921, the CAA has played a key role in the support and development of the Canadian writing community. It has charitable status as a registered National Arts Service Organization.
The Canadian Church Press [www.canadianchurchpress.com] is an association that offers fellowship and support to its members, who are united in a common bond of Christian communication. Members are encouraged, in an atmosphere of Christian openness and concern, to lay aside denominational differences in an effort to maintain high standards of religious journalism.
The Canadian eAuthors Association [ceauthors.com] created this site to feature, showcase, and promote Canadian writers who have been published electronically. The CeA site was also created as a medium for demystifying electronic books (ebooks) and electronic readers (ereaders).
Canadian Science Writers' Association [www.sciencewriters.ca] is a national association with over 275 members including media professionals, communications officers in Science and Technology institutions, technical writers and educators - all of whom are involved in communicating Science and Technology to non-specialist audiences.
The Crime Writers of Canada [www.crimewriterscanada.com] is a national organization for Canadian crime writers, associated professionals, and anyone else with a serious interest in Canadian crime writing. Its mission is to promote Canadian crime writing and to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers from coast to coast.
Editors' Association of Canada [www.editors.ca] promotes professional editing as key in producing effective communications. Its 1,000-plus members, salaried and freelance, work with individuals and in the corporate, technical, government, non-profit, and publishing sectors.
League of Canadian Poets [www.poets.ca] , a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and performing poets in Canada. Its purpose is to enhance the status of poets and nurture a professional poetic community to facilitate the teaching of Canadian poetry at all levels of education and to develop the audience for poetry by encouraging publication, performance and recognition of Canadian poetry nationally and internationally.
In 1998 the National Press Club Canada [www.pressclub.on.ca] celebrated its 70th anniversary, looking back on its rich history, while keeping a firm eye on the future.
The North American Travel Journalists Association [www.natja.org] is the world's premiere professional associaton of writers, photographers and editors, dedicated to the travel and hospitality industries.
The Professional Writers Association of Canada [www.pwac.ca], a national organization, established in 1976, represents approximately 600 members. Its mandate is to protect the rights and careers of freelance writers.
The Quebec Writers Federation [www.qwf.org] was born when members of FEWQ (Federation of English Writers of Quebec) and QSPELL (Quebec Society for the Promotion of English Language Literature) voted in 1998 to unite their activities. The two organizations had been co-funded by SODEC since 1994 and shared an office at the Atwater Library. They shared similar mandates and had already collaborated on joint projects, such as Write pour Ecrire, Tongue-tied/langue-liee and the Irving Layton Tribute, as well as the initial Writers & Writing series of literary readings.
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators [www.scbwicanada.org]: Our members are illustrators, writers or writer-illustrators of materials for young people.
The Society of Environmental Journalists [www.sej.org/index] is the only U.S.- based membership organization of working journalists dedicated to improvements in environmental reporting.
The Society for Technical Communication [www.stceo.org] is is the world's largest and fastest growing professional organization devoted to advancing the theory and practice of technical communication. The Eastern Ontario Chapter meets in Ottawa and serves the Eastern Ontario region.
Writer's Circle of Durham Region [www.wcdr.org] is a non-profit unbrella organization dedicated to encouraging and promoting the art and skill of writing, fostering literacy, and providing moral support to writers through education and networking.
The Writers' Union of Canada [www.writersunion.ca] was founded in 1973. It is a national organization of professional writers of books for the general public.

REAL PLACES

The National Library of Canada [www.nlc-bnc.ca/index-e.html]: The Library's collections focus primarily on Canadiana, works in all subjects written by, about or of interest to Canadians, published in Canada or abroad. To see the ongoing list of public programs, click here [www.nlc-bnc.ca/1/index-e.html].
In its 75th year as the traditional comfort zone for Parliament Hill professionals and Ottawa journalists, the National Press Club provides a friendly, stress-free environment in the heart of the Nation's Capital for its members and various other Ottawa groups. [http://www.pressclub.on.ca].
The Ottawa Public Libary [ biblioottawalibrary.ca/index_e.html]: "We nurture the love of reading and the pursuit of knowledge. People use the resources of the Ottawa Public Library to read, think, learn, interpret, imagine and connect with each other and the world."
The Prime Crime Mystery Book Store [www.primecrimebooks.com] "is a tiny perfect place to scout out the latest in the mystery and crime fiction genre or find your old favourites or just chew the fat about what's happening. We're located in Ottawa, at 891 Bank Street, in the Glebe (613) 238-2583. If you look hard you'll find us sandwiched in between Irene's Pub and Mexicali Rosa's. The skeleton in the window will be your first clue.
Rasputin's Folk Café [www.rasputins.ca] for all you lyricists, storytellers and songwriters out there.
The Reader's Digest Resource Centre [www.carleton.ca/spresource] houses materials for the School of Journalism and Communication (Journalism and Mass Communication Programs) and the School for Studies in Art and Culture (Film Studies, Music and Art History Programs) at Carleton University.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social Networking - What works, what doesn't work: [www.fastcompany.com/1579162/...]

MEDIA

Art Deadlines List [www.artdeadlineslist.com]
Bywords [www.bywords.ca] publishes on a monthly basis poems on the web, a Calendar of Literary Events , and the Bywords Quarterly Journal. Its aims are to publish emerging and established poets who reside, study or work in Ottawa. Bywords will reflect Ottawa's rich multicultural diversity.
Book Promotion Newsletter [www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com] is a free on-line newsletter to help authors of all genres to promote their books.
Bourque Newswatch [www.bourque.org]: "The Canadian Drudge, Pierre Bourque. If our Canadian posters don't know about this lively page yet, they should click it. It's majorly cool." - Lucianne.Com. "The king of Canadian news junkie Web sites"- Charles Adler, Winnipeg Sun.
Canadian Content [www.canadiancontent.ca] is published online on an 'in progress' basis, and freely available. " articles: we look for work on topics of general interest, or aimed at making readers informed. it doesn't have to be about canada, but should at least relate to being human. they should be well thought out. articles with spelling errors will be destroyed on contact (if you don't care to spellcheck, why should we waste our time?)."
Canadian Press News Service [www.ntr.ca] publishes the Canadian Press Stylebook and Caps and Spelling, which can be ordered from this site.
CHUO-FM 89.1's Click here [aix2.uottawa.ca/~s376764] is a one hour interview-based programme broadcast on CHUO-FM89 [www.chuo.fm] Wednesdays from 5 to 6 pm. It deals with the arts, socio-political issues, and community events, and includes the Beyond Borders multicultural and development feature.
CKCU-FM [www.ckcufm.com] is Canada's oldest campus and community radio station. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day and reaches a radius of 120 kilometers. Listen in on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for Jane Crosier's Literary Landscape.
Contentious [www.contentious.com] is a webzine for online writers.
Freelance News [www.proofpositive.com]
MagPortal.com [www.magportal.com] is a free website that provides a full-text search engine for and categorization of online magazine articles. It indexes over 130 magazines from many different publishers across a broad range of subjects.
The National Capital Freenet "Media related contacts" [www.ncf.ca/~dw413/rw_melst.htm] includes: Radio, TV, Newspapers and Magazines, listed in alphabetical order.
North American newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations [www.newsdirectory.com]
Public Broadcasting [www.publicairwaves.ca] belongs to all Canadians. They are Our Public Airwaves and they must serve as a national cultural expressway of enlightenment and entertainment.
The Puritan: [www.puritan-magazine.com] Ottawa's New Literary Prose Journal. Currently looking for submissions...
Storyteller [www.storytellermagazine.com], Canada's short story magazine: Back in the late eighties, Ottawa's Terry Tyo, publisher of Storyteller, asked himself why, whenever he wanted to read short stories, he was turning to American magazines and books to find them. And what he was finding was magazines and books devoted to only one type of story. Where was the variety? Although Canada has a reputation for great writers and a wide and literate audience, he couldn't find a Canadian magazine devoted to the short story that published mystery, or adventure, or even comedy. Thus was born the concept of Storyteller.
Writer's Block [www.writersblock.ca] is a clean, well-lighted Ottawa e-zine that addresses issues of relevance to Canadians in the writing trade. Published quarterly, issues include features, essays, poetry, book reviews, articles on business practices, and origins of words and phrases.
Writer's Digest [www.writersdigest.com]
Writer's Weekly [www.writersweekly.com]

EDUCATION

The Canadian Screen Training Centre [www.cstc.ca] provides courses, workshops and seminars on television and film writing, producing, performing and directing, all taught in the Ottawa areas by well known professionals.
The Carleton University School of Journalism and Mass Communication [www.carleton.ca/jmc]: Journalism has been central to Carleton's mission from the university's earliest days. The mass communication program at Carleton concentrates on the history, theories, political economy, technology and impact of communication.
Critiquing 101 [www.cyberus.ca/~alette/Critique.htm] is a course taught by Alette Willis through the Continuing Education Department of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. As part of the course, there are a series of web pages outlining why critique groups are useful to writers, some suggestions of how to go about critiquing and a page of links to online critique groups and local writers' groups.
Electric Editors [www.users.zetnet.co.uk/bywater/ee_res01.htm] is a UK site for online writers and editors. It is a great learning site for beginners and pros alike.
A Practical Guide to Negotiating Licenses for Electronic Products can be ordered at this site [www.freepint.com/shop/report] as well as other useful books.
About.com's Guide Sites include: celebrate rejections [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mB], this week's writing exercise [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mC], technical writing [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mD], jump start your freelance career [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mE], essential products for writers [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mF], and how to… [glclk.about.com/?zi=3/5mG].
The ins and outs of copyright laws online [ondisc.ca/crawf.html] is produced by the OnDisc (Online Distributed Content) Alliance, content owners, private sector and institutional partners working together to test the distribution of digital content and account for its use in secure environments. The site contains a number of sections including definitions and Permission Wizards.
Join the Community of Writers at the Tatamagouche Centre [www.tatacentre.ca] on Nova Scotia's beautiful north shore.
WritingSchool.com [www.writingschool.com]

PUBLISHING

www.SimonTeakettle.com/options.htm is a page on OIW member Barbara Florio Graham's Web site that describes a variety of different publishing options. It also contains links to other free pages on her site with information/advice about contracts, links to articles on this subject and a description of different printing options for those that decide to self-publish.
www.privatelypublishedbooks.com is a site dedicated to writers/sellers to advertise their work to browsers/buyers. Buyers purchase directly from the writer via the site to avoid commissions and discounting.
Renouf Publishing Company [www.renoufbooks.com] has been Ottawa's "government books store" forever. It was "founded in 1888 by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Michael Renouf." The company offers new books, reports and documents from many suppliers, both governments, NGOs and private industry. You can subscribe to their free e-mail newsletter to be notified of new titles and you can search their Web site for new and old entries.
Trafford Publishing Talent Pool [trafford.com/4dcgi/talent.html]
For over twenty years Vehicule Press [www.vehiculepress.com] has been publishing prize-winning books: poetry, fiction, social history, Quebec studies, Jewish studies, jazz history and restaurant guides. Their site is a celebration of Canadian writing and the city of Montreal.
Writers Write [www.writerswrite.com] is a new resource for self-publishing. With articles, features and links, this new section can help you find out the information you need to self-publish. It also has an entire section on book promotion.
Ygdrasil: A Journal of the Poetic Arts [www.synapse.net/~kgerken] is an international monthly founded and adroitly edited by Klaus J. Gerken in Ottawa.

PUBLICITY SERVICES

www.randyray.ca is the Web site of Ottawa-based publicist Randy Ray, a veteran author and freelance writer who helps authors, small businesses and charities from across Canada get their messages into the media. The site includes links to other services such as editors and Web content specialists.

RESOURCES

A Subsidy Author's Bill of Rights [tinyurl.com/ykffgt7] was written by Joel Friedlander, the founder of The Book Designer and well-respected in the industry. He publishes an excellent free newsletter where this first appeared.
The Writers' Trust of Canada's Canada Book Week [www.canadabookweek.com]
The Canadian Government e-directory [www.canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html] provides a directory of MPs, government employees, departments and services.
The Children's Writing Research Centre [www.write4kids.com/research.html] is an invaluable list of links for writers of all genres.
Collected Works Bookstore [www.collected-works.com] is now online. Find out about upcoming readings and events in Ottawa.
The City of Ottawa's portal into the arts [ottawa.ca/city_services/culture/2_0_en.shtml]
Cornerstone Writers' Resources [www.writing-world.com]
The Copyright Society of the U.S.A. [www.copyrightkids.org] is a nonprofit corporation that was founded in 1953 to foster interest in and advance the study of copyright law and the rights in literature, music, art, the theater, motion pictures, and other forms of intellectual property.
The Council for the Arts in Ottawa [www.arts-ottawa.on.ca/] is pleased to provide an on-line version of the Arts & Heritage Directory, a Comprehensive Guide to Ottawa-Carleton's Cultural Community. The directory includes: Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts & Crafts, Film and Video, Books and Writing, Arts Children & Youth and Festivals. The "Books and Writing" section will be of particular interest to local writers.
Freelance Online [www.freelanceonline.com/index1.html] is a solid directory and resource site for freelancers of all sorts.
Freedom to Read [www.freedomtoread.ca] provides the very low down on book-banning, bowdlerising, burning and bashing in Canada.
OIW's former treasure(r) Barb Collishaw says look at the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy [www.h2g2.com] website and build your own fairy tale.
The Speculative Literature Foundation [www.speculativeliterature.org] has a mission "to promote literary quality in speculative fiction, by encouraging promising new writers, assisting established writers, facilitating the work of quality magazines and small presses in the genre, and developing a greater public appreciation of speculative fiction."
Internet sources for journalists and broadcasters [www.synapse.net/~radio] is veteran Ottawa journalist and broadcaster Hal Doran's master list for neophytes and "old hacks" all.
Journalism.org [www.journalism.org] is the brainchild of the Project of Excellence in Journalism and the Committee of Concerned Journalists. The site effectively serves as a portal and utility for persons interested in journalism, and contains a catalog of tools, techniques and ideas, empirical research, job links, and numerous other helpful materials. Research reports cover such topics as "Jessica Lynch: Media Myth-Making in the Iraq War", "Quality and the Bottom Line" and "Does Ownership Matter in Local Television News."
The Lambda Foundation for Excellence [www.lambdafoundation.com] is a federally- incorporated, non-profit organization with a unique mission - to build bridges of understanding across Canadian communities by promoting the achievements and culture of gay and lesbian people. The Lambda Foundation for Excellence funds scholarships for gay and lesbian studies.
LibrarySpot.com [www.libraryspot.com] brings valuable research information together with insightful editorial in one user-friendly spot. The site simplifies the search for top-notch reference tools, periodicals and online texts, library information and much more.
Media Link [www.medialin.com] is a searchable directory of experts for journalists, providing free research and contacts from Halifax since 1987.
Patrick Meikle's Writer's Deadline listserv [www.writersdeadline.ca]
"Ideas, tools and resources for communication agents" [www.masternewmedia.org/translation] has two pages that provide information relevant to online translation services and issues.
A new resources for environmental writers [www.natureserve.org], NatureServe is an online encycopedia of life developed by the Association for Biodiversity Information. It provides authoritative conservation information in a searchable database for more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communities of the United States and Canada.
Reverse Dictionary [www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml]: Rather than looking up a word and finding what it means, with the reverse dictionary, you enter the meaning and it returns a list of words.
rob mclennan [www.track0.com/rob_mclennan] is an Ottawa-born and based writer, publisher, critic, visual artist and a few other things, as well as the author of six poetry collections & over three dozen chapbooks. This site has info on his latest books, tour schedules, and SPAN-O.
Russell Smith's CanLit contest list [www.wcdr.org/canlitcontests.html]
Towse's links to online submission guidelines [www.internet-resources.com/writers/markets/online-guidelines.htm], agents, publishers and markets for writers.
Travelwriters.com [www.travelwriters.com] is run and operated by Marco Polo Publications, Inc., a privately held company that puts the world within reach, linking together such diversified areas of the travel industry as travel writers, tour companies, public relations agencies and, of course, travelers. More than 4,000 travel writers use travelwriters.com on a regular basis to receive market news and use our marketing tools.
The TREE Reading Series is "Ottawa's longest running reading series. We've been bringing you the finest up and coming poets, writers and literary artists for two decades!
Web guru Jakob Neilsen's pioneer site on usable information technology [www.useit.com]
WritersVision.com [www.writersvision.com] offers new and fresh work and resources to inform, educate and aid writers of all levels.
Work For Writers [www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/WorkForWriters]

OIW MEMBERS

Rosaleen Leslie Dickson: [www.flora.org/rosaleen]
Barbara Florio Graham: [www.SimonTeakettle.com]
Theresa Jobateh: [www.deepblondethoughts.ca]
George Laidlaw, [www.georgelaidlaw.ca]
Randy Ray, [www.randyray.ca]
Dwight Williams, Storyteller: [web.ncf.ca/ad696/]