Opportunities for Writers Age 19 and Under:

sites, journals, contests, reading, workshops, DIY publishing

Bywords, http://www.bywords.ca/ Ottawa-based literary site with calls for submission, news, workshop info, on line poetry, a calendar of literary events, calls for submissions from other local magazines, links and more; contact me for further info / questions: Amanda Earl: editor@bywords.ca

Canadian Authors Association
http://www.canauthors-ottawa.org/contests.shtml
youth short story contest but no youth poetry category although anyone can enter the main poetry contest; they are also in the process of developing a youth program. Further info is available thru Sharyn Heagle, President, Ottawa Branch: sharyn_40@yahoo.com

The Claremont Review, the literary magazine for young adults (age 13-19)
also has an annual contest http://www.theclaremontreview.ca/

The League of Canadian Poets Young Poets’ Division http://www.youngpoets.ca/
resources, online poetry magazine where you can submit poems, contests, links, talks with writers

MASC (Connecting Artists and Learning, Ottawa non-profit organization that hires artists to give workshops in schools and community venues in various arts disciplines, including literary arts; Contact: Wendy Hartley, Director of Programming, 613-725-9119, wendyhartley@masconline.ca.

The Ottawa Public Library Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest for Ages 9-17; they’re also selling an anthology thru the library called Pot Pouri www.ottawapubliclibraryfriends.ca/en_awesome.html

Ottawa Public Library literary programming and activities for youth, adults and seniors in the form of workshops and courses, reading series, reading clubs, and 'book chats' - pick up a copy of their monthly guide 'Preview' at anyone of the City's 33 branches or check their website at: www.biblioottawalibrary.ca/events/todayevent_e.cfm Contact: Jane. Venus@ottawa.ca or Janis.Perkins@ottawa.ca, of OPL's youth programming.

Other writing courses offered within the City's Community Centres (including the sportsplexes of Nepean, Walter Baker, and Orleans) that might be more flexible about the age maximum of 18. I note that under "Adults-Arts- Literary" on p. 82 of the City's Recreation Spring/Summer Guide, that in addition to the four Writers in the Community one time 3 hour workshops, three community centres: Cyrville, John G. Mlacak and Richelieu-Vanier, are offering longer once a week courses, ranging from 2 months to 2 weekend days.

Ottawa Small Press Fair http://smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com/ includes info on the Ottawa Small Press Fair that takes place twice a year; next one is on June 21 at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. Young people are welcome to vend ($20/table) as well as attend. see blog.

Places for Writers http://www.placesforwriters.com/ includes calls for submission, contests, a list of publishers and journals, not specifically aimed at youth

Shameless Magazine for sassy young women, rooted in feminism and DIY culture; it has a teen editorial collective:
http://shamelessmag.com/ (not so much for poetry, but teen topics, especially non fiction)

Zygote, Arts Ottawa East magazine accepts poetry http://www.artsoe.ca/publications_zygote.html

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thanks to Faith Selzer and Nancy Burgoyne of the City of Ottawa for their help in creating this list...are there any others we should add?

Poetry in the Capital

Don't forget about Poets Without Borders on April 30. Poetry month may end but poetry never stops as the calendar shows.

On May 9-10 we have the Re: Reading the Postmodern, a Canadian Literature Symposium. It will have panels, keynotes, and readings with an impressive group of people including: Robert Kroetsch, Frank Davey, Christian Bök, Dennis Cooley, Christine Stewart, Stephen Cain, Gregory Betts, Louis Cabri, The Max Middle Sound Project, and Andy Weaver.

The Haiku Canada Weekend will be May 16-18, 2008 at Carleton University. More info on registration is at the Haiku Canada site. There will be book launches, workshops, presentations and renga and more. To get idea of what to expect in 2008 check out what William J. Higginson shows on a site he made of the Haiku Canada conference 2007.