WCYR ushered 2021 out in style. While we could not gather IRL (in real life), virtual party-goers grabbed our hot beverages of choice and took to the Zoom room on December 5th. Many of us enjoy socializing between writing sprints during our weekly WCDR and WCYR write-in sessions and spending time together at our events and training sessions. During the virtual social, we wrote and played together. We started with a short line-by-line collaborative story-writing adventure. We then enjoyed friendly competition when Maaja Wentz facilitated Kahoot games for us. Roderick Turner took us through two writing exercises — we brainstormed lists of words and phrases related to a winter theme, and wrote a short piece using some techniques he taught us — which were both fun and educational. We shared our writing with each other and received helpful feedback. We left the session full of energy and enthusiasm about the writing year ahead. We are hopeful that we will be able to gather in person for the 2022 social, but even if we can’t, the year ahead will without a doubt bring more fun and fellowship within our strong writing community. Happy New Year to all of our writerly friends.
Fate, misfortune and opportunity entangle three rivals in a quick-paced suspense thriller.
Without warning, Multima Corporation’s CEO Suzanne Simpson must fend off accusations of corporate money laundering on two continents at the same time a global pandemic wreaks havoc on Multima Supermarkets. She’s bewildered by the accusations and haunted by information her arrest was driven by someone close to the American White House.
At the same time, a former director of Multima’s board—Howard Knight—flees from the Caribbean to Asia, trying desperately to elude both an Interpol Red Notice and a dangerous criminal outfit called The Organization.
Fidelia Morales is a former lover of the wayward director who weaves a web of deceit that entangles them all as she stakes her role as head of a powerful criminal element on an outrageous cyber scheme to steal millions from banks and corporations around the globe.
A Web of Deceit portrays how easily people and companies become entrapped by powerful criminal elements and how despairingly difficult it is to escape.
About Gary:
Writing started after a career in the world of business. I’ve worked in supermarkets, sold appliances, distributed motorcycles, launched an automobile dealer network, and provided financing to help businesses grow. Every industry was different from the other. Each company had a distinctive culture and character, but all were units of large corporations with operations around the globe.
Travel was a large component of my business roles, and I’ve visited more than 650 towns and cities in more than fifty countries. Experts say we should write about things we know best. For me, that’s business, travel, and people. My goal now is to entertain readers around the world — one at a time.
It’s unique for a person to be the first member of the Editors’ Association of Canada. According to Greg Ioannou, the key to this distinction was his participation in a 1979 meeting to create the association and become its first director of membership. This inside scoop was one tiny bit of information Greg shared with an enthusiastic crowd of WCYR members and guests at the November Zoom event.
Folks found it interesting that he has edited more than 2,000 works since starting his editing career in 1977, including books for Margaret Atwood, Peter Gzowski and Robertson Davies. Of course, he’s also a successful author and a publisher, so his audience required no prompting to pay attention and benefit from his years of experience and acquired wisdom about all things “writing.”
As expected, he shared his views on four different types of editing and the purposes they serve:
Substantive Editing (getting the overall structure, content, and flow right)
Line Editing (style and accuracy)
Copy Editing (polishing the prose and consistency)
Proofreading (catching the small details as a final step)
For an hour, Greg shared tricks to help every writer edit better by asking questions that ranged from:
“Is the document aimed at a clearly defined readership, and will it meet the demands and needs of that readership?”
to
“Despite the brilliant writing, does the author actually resolve the plot?”
He used examples from mysteries to erotic thrillers, unintentional humor, and the 70-page description of a party in Lord of the Rings to demonstrate what editors look for and what writers should remember as they craft their work.
Participants enjoyed his focus on approaching a story like a movie script, using dialog to tell the tale. Greg encouraged us to assess prized characters to see if they are really needed and serve the intended purpose. He also emphasized the importance of research, attention to subtle details (the colour of the lights on a Vancouver snowplow), and making each character’s voice distinctive and distinguishable from others.
This WCYR event came at a perfect time for me. This month is round three of editing for my next suspense thriller. For a good number of participants, the end of NaNoWriMo will be the start of another deep dive into editing. For all of us, the session underscored why many people believe the fundamental difference between a good story and an excellent product is the quality of editing—and a writer’s embrace of the suggestions put forward!
As an academic and technical writer and poet, a conference focused on fiction was exactly what this first-time attendee, first time blogger, and all-round fiction-writer-wannabe needed.
“The space that exists between the published and unpublished writers among us is not a gaping, yawning, unbridgeable chasm … sometimes all that separates the published from the unpublished is a very, very thin, blurry, permeable, gossamer line.” Thank you, Terry Fallis for the inspiration. With his opening address at this year’s York Writers Conference, Terry set the tone for the entire proceedings. Not only did he establish that we are all writers, regardless of where we are in our journey, Terry vowed that to be a writer, we simply need to write. And where best to learn how to hone those writing skills than at a writing conference.
After an evening of party games and “scholarly” discussion on writing, we started the morning with an engaging session about character building. Sacha Black’s presentation on “Villains & Heroes” reminded us that villains and heroes have both good and bad in them, and writing about this duality makes our characters come alive and become more loved by our readers. Using examples from literature, Sacha showed us how characters play off against each other to create the conflict that keeps our readers engaged and our fans wanting more.
Next on the agenda was Rob Firing, from the Transatlantic Agency, to discuss “Agents and Publishers.” In his talk, Rob explained what agents do and why we need them, how agents are paid, and how a book deal is made. Rob’s presentation was a definite eye opener for anyone interested in getting their book published in a traditional manner.
Our keynote speaker, Andrew Pyper, spoke of the “f word”: failure. Everyone experiences failure, even award-winning authors. Wherever we are on the writing journey, it is “not only important to endure failure but to look forward to more.” Failure is how we become better writers. Andrew spoke of the excitement of planning out a book and asking “what if she does this.” Although it can be overwhelming to “fix” a finished novel, it is all worth it in the end.
Michelle Fox’s talk on “Digital Marketing” provided many tips and tricks related to marketing, software, apps, and promotion. Not only did Michelle speak about paid advertisements, she highlighted the benefits of and approaches to cross-promotion.
The final workshop of the day was provided by Maria Mutch, who led a session about short stories. Using an interactive approach, Maria began by talking about what makes a good story and then tested our powers of observation by showing us a picture of a space alien holding up a sign. After a discussion about the characteristics of a good story, we looked at the picture again. Next, we explored potential problems with short stories, followed by more examination of the alien picture. Each time we looked at the illustration and wrote about what we saw, the story became more well-defined.
An Open Mic Night concluded the day, giving us a taste of a screenplay, poetry, and stories. There were definitely lots of talented people attending the conference.
The conference was exactly what I needed to motivate me to get words on paper and tell the story that only I can tell. I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but as the words flow from my pen and characters dance before my eyes, I know that I will follow the journey of many that have come before me. Because I am a writer.
MJ Moores’ members-only workshop this October was all about preparing for November’s NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). So, let’s get ready!
MJ started by reminding us that a lot of planning happens in our head. Think about your story. Give yourself the space to daydream. That’s part of the writing process. Stare off into space. Stare at nothing. Imagine your main character taking form, going about their day. Let your mind wander.
Let’s talk goals. The official NaNoWriMo goal is 50,000 words in one month. But that doesn’t have to be your goal. Make your goal something tangible. How many words do you think you can reach in one month? Maybe word count isn’t your real goal. Maybe it’s about exploring a genre, experimenting with POV, or setting discovery. Any words on the page can be part of your word count, even if they don’t make it into the manuscript.
Even though we’re not trying to put too much pressure on ourselves, we also want to hold ourselves accountable. Make your goal public. You can do that on the official NaNoWriMo website, or you can do it on the WCYR Word by Word Facebook group. Word by Word was born though the WCYR’s Mini-Nano years ago and thrives every November. Find a space for accountability and encouragement. Join in at the WCYR (& WCDR) Write-Ins. On Sunday, Monday and Thursday, find writers like you trying to meet their November goals. Come to one or all. Don’t forget to reward yourself when you hit a milestone. A tasty treat or new notebook goes a long way.
Remember: NaNoWriMo is about getting words on the page. They don’t have to be the best words, they just have to be words.
Don’t forget self-care. MJ emphasized that we should be taking care of ourselves during this undertaking. Tell your friends and family what you’re doing. They can support you and also leave you alone. Share your writing schedule with them. Can they help you? Tell them how. Achieving 50,000 words should not come at the cost of your sanity.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo or the Mini NaNo? Let us know!
Over the past couple of months, the WCYR has hosted the annual BDO Writing Contests, culminating at the York Writers Conference, which was held from October 22 to 24, 2021. The theme of the competition was “From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary” and we had three separate divisions running, including:
Short Story
Glimpses: Flash Fiction
Glimpses: Poetry
During the opening ceremonies of the conference, we announced the winners of the judged short story division. Throughout the conference, attendees were encouraged to peer-judge and select their favourite entry from each of the competitions. At the closing ceremonies, we announced the winners. Here they are:
The BDO Writing Contests Winners
Short Stories
First Place: “Silence Between Footsteps” by Kimberley Aslett
Second Place: “Renovations” by Leslie Johnstone
Third Place: “Respite in Hell” by Gloria Ferris
Honourable Mention: “My Masterpiece” by Kayla Kurin
Honourable Mention: “The Dream” by Ewa Anderson
Honourable Mention: “Survival Training” by Maria Marchese
Glimpses – Flash Fiction
First Place: “Handicapped” by Barb Bisonette Second Place (Tied) “Splash from a Leaping Trout” by Kimberley Aslett Second Place (Tied) “The Idea Pit” by Jeanette Paule
Honourable Mention: “Override” by Cathy Hird
Honourable Mention: “Bathroom Tiles” by Maria Marchese
Glimpses – Poetry
First Place: “I Shall be a Witch” by Barb Bissonette
Second Place: “To My Son” by Sylvia Ding
Congratulations everyone! The competition was fierce and the judges were on point, excited about the many, varied stories submitted based around our theme.
We’d also like to thank all the anonymous judges for the short story contest, who were compiled from the conference speakers, as well as from some enthusiastic past WCYR monthly seminar speakers, who are all professional writers, coaches, or publishing experts.
A special thanks to our final judge, Maria Mutch, author of the novel, Molly Falls to Earth, the short story collection, When We Were Birds, and the memoir, Know the Night, which was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards and the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize.
The winners and honorable mentions will receive an invitation to be involved in the WCYR No Ordinary Day not-for-profit anthology, which is planned for publication in Winter/Spring 2022. The WCYR is also opening the anthology for general submissions as a perk to members only. Click HERE for more details.
National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo is fast approaching. In this month-long goal to write 50,000 words, word-crafters across the world unite.
Here at the WCYR we like to celebrate with our own Mini-NaNo.
What’s that, you may ask?
Well, whether your plan is to write the full NaNo or just set your own personal goal for the month, the WCYR is here to support you. Every year, for the past six years, the WCYR has held a Mini-NaNo, where you get to choose your own goal (anywhere from 1,000 words to 50,000+ words) for the month of November.
On our writing support Facebook page, Word by Word, we work toward helping you achieve your personal writing goal by:
Holding a declaration draw, where you can state your writing goal for the month of November, along with your form/genre(s) of choice, and automatically get entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card to put toward an e-book, or a discounted print book from one of our published members.
Holding a survival draw, where you state how close you made it to your goal (same prizes as above) at the end of the month.
Having an opportunity to discuss plot bunnies or characters that don’t listen, or celebrate a great session of writing.
Sharing fun/funny/encouraging memes, and taking silly polls to bolster your spirit.
Checking in once a week with a general update on how it’s going.
Sharing favourite quotes from your work-in-progress (WIP) that can be turned into fun graphics.
Joining us at our weekly write-ins for face-to-face support and comradery, which will take place Sunday mornings, and Monday and Thursday evenings.
Not sure what to write? Can’t commit to a large goal? We’ve got you covered! Hope to see you there!
Upcoming Activities and Events
The WCYR is soliciting open submissions to our No Ordinary Day not-for-profit anthology. Submission dates are Nov 1 – Dec 3. We are looking for poetry, flash fiction, and short stories on the theme of “From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary.” This not-for-profit anthology will be brought together by a team of WCYR members and volunteers to help our organization get back on its feet after dealing with four waves of COVID. Our coffers are low and in-person meetings are on the distant horizon. If you’d like a chance to be part of this great cause, be sure to check out the information page at https://wcyork.ca/2021-anthology/.
The open house and first event of the WCYR 2021/2022 season welcomed author Douglas Smith. Doug led us on a journey through the craft of creating short stories.
One of the first things Doug did was encourage us to make use of our toolbox. We’re writers and members of a great writing community. Many of us have attended seminars and workshops from various guest speakers over the years. We have learned a lot (and we still keep learning). It was time to put those skills to use and learn how they all fit together.
One of the most common questions writers get asked is: “Where do you get your ideas?” Many writers are writers because they are always getting ideas for stories. Doug explained a helpful way to sort through those ideas and discover what will make the best stories. You have to “triage” your ideas. Which ones are BAD ideas, which ones will make a good story SOMEDAY, which ones are SCREAMING to be written? The screaming idea is the one that should be dealt with first – write to quiet the loudest voice in your head. The best stories often combine two or three of the story doorways: an usual idea, a striking image, an interesting character.
When you have an idea, how do you develop it? As an example of this process, Doug took examples from his own story, “Scream Angel”. Ask questions about your idea. How did the situation arise? Who are these people? Where did they come from? Why are they here? Where is “here”? When is “here”? Doug is a sci-fi/fantasy writer, but these questions can be applied to any genre, from historical romance to space opera. A good story will often have non-obvious answers to these questions. We need the reader to care. Finally, Doug told us we need to “bring the pain.” We should also take chances. We won’t know until we try.
Doug referenced many great sources during his presentation, including “Deep Dive Into POV” with our very own Kim McDougall, a workshop she conducted in May 2021. Close POV is a valuable tool in that toolbox. Doug took us through story structure, character development, symbolism, and more. It was an invaluable presentation. We hope Doug will come back so we can further explore the toolbox.
Suffering sea monsters! Can Hubert brave the storm?
Meet Rainbow Reef’s fabulous fish kids: Aiden, the panicky pufferfish, Sparky the doggone friendly dogfish, Olga the eight-legged bully, her little sister Red, and Hubert, a tiny hermit crab with Skyfall ambitions. He wants to be a superspy, but the sea harbors monsters, ghosts, and worse.
When Hubert and friends play hide-and-seek in the spooky Kelp Forest, Red Octopus gets lost. With a storm raging, can Hubert bring her home safely?
Finding a tiny octopus in the ocean is trickier than detecting one grain of sand on the beach. Fortunately, Hubert has a secret weapon. Read about it in The Hunt for Red Octopus.
Kids and adults will enjoy Hubert’s laugh-out-loud adventures. The Hunt for Red Octopus was released on July 31st, 2021.
This project was designed by a teacher-librarian who was missing her “kids.” Get a free book with jokes and activities for kids here: https://www.apricotbanks.com/about/
About Apricot:
Apricot Banks (Maaja Wentz) writes fun books for kids that adults like too. A teacher-librarian, she loves sharing funny adventures to inspire a love of reading. Each book includes games and jokes in the back so that children can enjoy themselves offline.
Moved by school closures last spring, Maaja recorded a read-aloud to allow children to follow along with the complete text of the first book in the Saltwater Spy Series, Marina Royale. Watch it on YouTube.
Reviews are needed. Please get your free review copy of the book via StoryOrigin.
After losing a friend in battle, it takes time for the Solid Gold team of heroes to get back into the monster hunting game. A new leader, Dracula’s resurgence, and a handful of ghosts are just what they need.
What do a group of slapstick goofballs with a side of knuckle-busting action and all the feels have in common? They all love to save the world.
A bit about Allison:
Allison Danger is an analytical romantic that uses the art of storytelling to best express her sentiment and emotionality. Her works are influenced by pop culture, and she believes every story needs a soundtrack. She studied at Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Humber College School of Health Sciences Alumnus.
One kind gesture ignites a series of events that shatters Louisa’s world. Determined not to get mixed up with the daughter of the syndicate’s leader, a sense of duty and friendship pushes her to defy the man who would be king.
To make matters worse, Louisa faces an ultimatum for keeping her job, at the same time she stands to lose her heart. This maid-turned-inventor’s assistant might forfeit both just when the syndicate’s cross-hairs target the next victim.
Shadow Phoenix Volume 2 Episodes 1-4 is the anticipated first half of Volume 2 of the Shadow Phoenix young adult steampunk serial, and was released on June 30, 2021.
If you like face-paced adventure, a kick-butt female protagonist, and a dash of mayhem with a Victorian twist, you won’t want to miss the latest installment of Shadow Phoenix.
Pick up a copy and feed your need to read today!
About MJ:
MJ Moores has traditionally e-published two non-fiction industry guides and one marketing guide. She has completed her Sci-Fi/Fantasy series The Chronicles of Xannia and has waded into the world of Romantic Suspense, Steampunk Superheroes, and demon hunters. Her articles have appeared in Authors Publish Magazine, Indyfest Magazine, Easy Writer, and in the Writers Guide: The Writing Spiral. MJ taught high school English, was a genre writing coach, freelance writer, and is currently an acquisitions editor for DAOwen Publications (Ontario). She loves nothing more than helping writers through this crazy journey.
Hannah will resort to anything to save her mother’s life. Including blackmail. Even if the target is the former boyfriend of her goody-goody best friend, Stacy.
Except, he just moved to the West Coast, and now it’s up to Hannah to convince Stacy to hitchhike with her cross-country to confront him.
It’s 1971. Change is happening. And Hannah’s understanding of the world is about to be tested by those she encounters along the way, including a gorgeous draft dodger.
Someone is about to face a deathly experience. But it’s not Hannah’s mother.
The Somewhere I See You Again is an extraordinary story about the life-changing power of love and friendship against insurmountable odds. The ebook was released on June 2nd, the print book will be released this August.
A bit about Nancy:
Inspired by the romance and courage of youth, Nancy Thorne is an award-winning YA novelist and short story writer.
When not writing books or reading, you can find Nancy going on road trips or conjuring up untested recipes for brave family members and friends.
She lives in Whitby with her family, along with an energetic Labrador and entertaining corgi.
Nancy is a member of the Historical Novel Society, CANSCAIP, Toronto Romance Writers, and The Writer’s Union of Canada.
Kyra Greene is a pest controller, not an exterminator. She has to be clear about that when the pests can be anything from pixies to dragons. But when her fledgling business teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, Kyra takes on a job that blurs those lines.
Now she’s deep in the lawless Inbetween, trying to clear a mysterious infestation from a fishing village. But these homesteaders won’t make it easy for her. Superstitious natures are easily provoked. And a banshee living in the hills above the village makes a good scapegoat.
Can Kyra find the source of an infestation before the homesteaders force her to make a life-or-death decision?
Ride along with Kyra Greene—pest controller to extraordinary beasts—into the Inbetween, where magic is the only rule of law.
The Girl Who Cried Banshee is a Valkyrie Bestiary prequel and takes place ten years before Dragons Don’t Eat Meat.
A Bit About Kim
If Kim McDougall could have one magical superpower, it would be to talk to animals. Or maybe to shift into animal form. Definitely, fantastical critters and magic often feature in her stories. So until Kim can change into a griffin and fly away, she writes dark paranormal action and romance tales from her home in Ontario, Canada. Visit www.KimMcDougall.com for more information about Kim’s books and to join the her reading group.
When an entire town is locked in déjà vu, the D.E.M.ON. agents are relieved to manage a simple case for a change. That is, until they link the disappearance of two young boys to the time-altering supernatural clouds invading Keswick – and discover the creature at fault.
It’s up to Junior to make a connection with the hormonal teen hatchling to save the kids. But not everyone wants the boys found or the beast banished …
Dive into the fourth installment of D.E.M.ON. tales, where Men in Black meets Supernatural in a tongue-in-cheek blend of action and humour. Double-Dog Dare Ya was released on April 30th.
A bit about MJ and Nanci:
Nanci Pattenden and MJ Moores have been writing critique partners for almost 10 years. They began writing very different genres, Nanci in historical mystery, and MJ in sci-fi / fantasy. But over the years, they rubbed off on each other. But in a good way. Nanci now dabbles in urban fantasy, and MJ has fallen for the Victorian era, writing young adult steampunk.
MJ and Nanci, our former WCYR Board Chair and Secretary respectively, remain very active volunteers for the Writers’ Community of York Region, and when permitted out in public at some future date, will continue to enjoy attending book events to ply their wares.
We thank them for all the work they have done and continue to do for the WCYR and look forward to reading their new novella.
You’ve done it. You’ve decided to be a writer. An aspiring writer. And that’s the first thing stopping you from getting your draft done. You are a writer. You don’t aspire, you write. A few things may still stand in your way: writers’ block, doubt, and time, but all of them are manageable. These obstacles were explained at the June WCYR event led by Charles F. French, a speculative writer and English professor.
Writers’ block and doubt generally go together. The former is caused by stress and fear, while the latter can be a result of self-doubt and lack of support for your work. An effective way to combat stress is deep breathing. Try to breathe in slowly, expanding your diaphragm and stomach, instead of lifting your shoulders. Hold your breath for a bit, then slowly breathe out. Doing this helps relax your body and gets you into a good headspace for writing. Next, try a few writing exercises, such as freewriting, which allows you to shake off doubt and perfectionism because there are no boundaries or expectations. Set a timer, for a minute or maybe five, and write whatever comes to mind. The goal is to avoid mulling over word choice or grammar to generate a burst of ideas.
How does all this apply to finishing your first draft? What if you’ve beat your writers’ block and your self-doubt, only to realize that you don’t have any time to write? Time can’t magically materialize. What you can do is increase your efficiency. While the best method is different for every writer, Charles suggests committing to a writing schedule, aiming to increase your daily word count over time, and experimenting with different settings, to find the best time and place to foster your productivity and creativity. Finally, to get to the end of your draft, you need to stop going back and revising every second sentence and just move forward to crafting the next scene or chapter. That’s the only way you’ll begin to see the finish line for your first draft. Don’t forget to treat yourself when you get there!
