Posts Tagged ‘Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick’
guest post in the South Branch Scribbler
I find writers are very supportive of one-another. In New Brunswick we have an active writing community and lots of evidence that writers want to work together to improve their craft and promote the work of others!
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Many communities have writing groups who meet regularly — I belong to two groups: “Wolf Tree Writers” who have met for over 25 years and “Fictional Friends” who have been together for almost ten years. Every month, I have a chance to hear about the writing lives of the other members, to hear them read from their work, to practice reading my own work and to obtain feedback.
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I also belong to the New Brunswick Writers’ Federation (WFNB) ( https://wfnb.ca/about-3/ ). WFNB is province-wide with over 260 members. Each year, the WFNB hosts two main workshops: WordSpring and WordsFall. The Annual Writing Competition is a great opportunity for writers in various categories to get recognition for their work. The WFNB also has a writers-in-the-schools program and produces a bimonthly newsletter NBInk, packed full of information on writers, places to publish and contests.
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selling my book (within easy reach, 2016) at WFNB`s WordSpring with fellow author Edith Miller (Crow Impressions, 2016)
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Individual writers are also very supportive of one-another. A few have blogs where they celebrate the writing community. One of these is the South Branch Scribbler http://allanhudson.blogspot.ca/ . The Scribbler is hosted by Allan Hudson and features interviews and blog posts by and about various authors, many from New Brunswick. Allan is himself a writer, the author of the Drake Alexander novels: Dark Side of a Promise (2014) and Wall of War (coming soon).
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This month I am so happy that Allan has featured my writing in his blog http://allanhudson.blogspot.ca/2017/03/guest-author-jane-tims-of-new-brunswick.html . Have a look at his other posts including articles and interviews with New Brunswick authors Beth Powning (writer of Home: Chronicle of a North Country Life, 2014, and A Measure of Light, 2015) and Chuck Bowie (writer of the Donovan: Thief for Hire books — Steal It All, 2017; AMACAT, 2014; and Three Wrongs, 2013).
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Thank you to Allan for featuring me on his blog — I took the opportunity to write a bit about managing multiple writing projects!
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a photo of me, taken inside one of New Brunswick`s covered bridges
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Copyright Jane Tims 2017
in the shelter of the covered bridge – final manuscript
In the last weeks, I have been working towards completion of the book-length manuscript for ‘in the shelter of the covered bridge’. It includes poems and drawings about the plants and animals living in and around some of the covered bridges in New Brunswick.
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Earlier this summer I was lucky enough to win a mentoring package from the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick. I chose a talented, award-winning local poet to work with me on the manuscript and during the early part of the summer, with her expert guidance, I made revisions to the poems. She focused my attention on word choice, clarity and ‘showing not telling’. She also helped me with a handful of poems I thought were not salvageable and now some of these will make it into the manuscript!
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In the last few weeks, I have worked on revisions, ordering of the poems, and, hardest of all, my footnotes. Since the poems are about the remaining covered bridges in the St. John River watershed, I want to include some basic information in the footnotes as well as notes I made during my visits to each bridge. I have also worked on the drawings I will include in the manuscript.
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The process of preparing a manuscript is long and certainly goes beyond the fist few lines written on the page way back when this manuscript was just an idea. But if the way is about the journey, this has been such a memorable experience. Best of all, I have been lucky to make the acquaintance of many of New Brunswick’s covered bridges. Last Thursday, as we returned home from a visit, we saw a double rainbow in the sky and I was able to snap a shot as we waited to take our turn crossing the covered bridge across the Rusagonis River (the Patrick Owens Bridge):
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double rainbow over the Rusagonis #2 Covered Bridge in Rusagonis, New Brunswick – August 19, 2016
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
update – ‘within easy reach’
This past weekend, I attended the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick WordSpring event. This is an annual celebration for writers in new Brunswick and includes readings and workshops. On Friday evening, I participated in the book sale and readings for my poetry book within easy reach. My publishers (Chapel Street Editions) came all the way from Woodstock to attend the sale and signing. Showing my book to the people at the event and signing books was a wonderful experience! The other author at my table was Edith Miller who has just published a book of poetry, Crow Impressions & Other Poems, also by Chapel Street Editions.
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photo courtesy of Chapel Street Editions
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The painting on the table beside me is ‘berries and brambles’, the second I have painted to celebrate my book. Anyone who purchases a book from the publisher will be entered in a draw to win this painting. Blogging friends who buy the book from my publisher have a chance to win the cover art for the book, the painting entitled ‘brambles’. They will also be entered for the draw to win the second painting ‘berries and brambles’. That’s right, two paintings to be won!
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This is also a reminder that the draw to win ‘brambles’, cover art for the book, ends June 7, 2016. To enter the draw for ‘brambles’ (and be entered in the draw for the second painting ‘berries and brambles’), purchase a book from my publisher ( www.chapelstreeteditions.com ) and leave a comment on my blog. See the post for May 25, 2016 for more information https://janetims.com/2016/05/25/update-my-book-within-easy-reach/
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I am busy, practicing for my reading this evening at 6:30 at the L.P. Fisher Library in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Wish you could be there!
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Copyright Jane Tims 2016
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