The Writers' Collective
Encyclopedia
The Writers' Collective was founded in 2000 as The Collective for Professional and Developing Writers to provide a service to the Manitoba writing community. They operate with the assistance of Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism and The University of Winnipeg
. They also receive generous donations from the Winnipeg Free Press, Friesen’s Printers, CBC Radio, and other local sources. The Writers' Collective is housed on the fourth floor of The University of Winnipeg's main campus.
The Vision Statement of the Writers' Collective is: "Celebrate the individual voices of writers by connecting them to each other, their audience and their communities."
The Mission Statement of the Writers' Collective is: "Support, encourage and recognize emerging and established writers in Manitoba."
in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The 2010 line up for “100 Minutes with an Author” included professional writers like poet Sally Ito, author and memoirist Beatrice Mosionier, and mystery writer Karen Dudley.
Past winners include Jason Booth and Beverley Johnston.
All members of The Writers' Collective are entitled to their own free, online copy of The Collective Consciousness. Members and non-members alike can also buy their own hard copy of this journal.
was introduced to the Manitoba Book Awards on October 23, 2007. After successful negotiations between Aqua Books
and The Manitoba Writers’ Guild
, the Lansdowne Prize for Poetry became the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/prix Lansdowne de poésie. Sponsorship of the prize includes the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry Series and is hosted in conjunction with The Writers’ Collective. The award is intended to honor the best book of poetry by a Manitoba author.
In 2010, the prize went to Jan Horner’s Mama Dada: Songs of the Baroness’s Dog, published by Turnstone Press. Other nominees included: La lune en mille gouttes by Bertrand Nayet and From Out of Nowhere by John Toone.
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
. They also receive generous donations from the Winnipeg Free Press, Friesen’s Printers, CBC Radio, and other local sources. The Writers' Collective is housed on the fourth floor of The University of Winnipeg's main campus.
Vision and Mission Statements
The Writers' Collective aims to help connect the writing community of Manitoba by bringing together the writers, their audiences, and their communities. They celebrate and encourage those people who may be new to writing, but they also involve the more seasoned, well-established writers of Manitoba.The Vision Statement of the Writers' Collective is: "Celebrate the individual voices of writers by connecting them to each other, their audience and their communities."
The Mission Statement of the Writers' Collective is: "Support, encourage and recognize emerging and established writers in Manitoba."
Products and Services
The Writers' Collective offers several services for both new and established writers. Some of these services are ongoing, and most of these are hosted in conjunction with specific partners.100 Minutes With an Author
This series allows novice writers to spend one hundred minutes with a professional writer to learn about various aspects of writing. These authors present lectures on writing, offer readings, and host a Q & A session. All events are held in the Carol Shields Auditorium of the Millennium LibraryMillennium Library (Winnipeg)
The Millennium Library is the main branch of the Winnipeg Public Library located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was previously known as the Centennial Library ....
in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The 2010 line up for “100 Minutes with an Author” included professional writers like poet Sally Ito, author and memoirist Beatrice Mosionier, and mystery writer Karen Dudley.
Contests
The Writers’ Collective has four annual contests that are open to everyone, regardless of membership in The Writers’ Collective itself. In the fall they hold an adult poetry competition and The Winnipeg Free Press non-fiction contest. In spring they hold the Winnipeg Free Press short fiction and Marie Barton postcard fiction contests. The contest winners receive cash prizes and publication.Past winners include Jason Booth and Beverley Johnston.
Speaking Crow
Speaking Crow is Winnipeg’s longest running open-mic event and is held on the first Tuesday of every month. The show takes place at Aqua Books and starts at 7:00 PM with a reading from a selected local poet. This is followed by two open-mic sets. The 2010 featured readers included published writers such as David Arnason, Michelle Eldrick, and Mariianne Mays.Writers' Circles
Meeting on a monthly basis, Writers’ Circles are hosted by The Writers’ Collective and give both emerging and established writers the opportunity to share their current work and receive helpful criticism from group members and a professional facilitator. Circles are typically only open to current members of The Writers’ Collective.Workshops
Facilitated by writing professionals, workshops are hosted by The Writers’ Collective from September thru May. Various topics have been covered in the past, including freelance writing, blogging, tapping into creativity, mystery writing, children’s books, and poetry.The Collective Consciousness
The Writers' Collective publishes a quarterly journal called The Collective Consciousness. The Collective Consciousness accepts submissions of many kinds from different people. These submissions include poetry, reviews, drama, fiction and non-fiction. Though produced by The Writers’ Collective, both members and non-members of the organization are allowed to submit their work to the journal for a chance to appear in The Collective Consciousness. Submissions not chosen for publication receive constructive criticism to assist the writer in the future. The journal is a place for aspiring writers to publish their work and receive genuine feedback from experienced individuals.All members of The Writers' Collective are entitled to their own free, online copy of The Collective Consciousness. Members and non-members alike can also buy their own hard copy of this journal.
Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry Series
The Lansdowne Prize for PoetryAqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry
Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/prix Lansdowne de poésie, established in 2007, is awarded annually to the best full length adult book of poetry in either French or English by a resident of Manitoba, Canada....
was introduced to the Manitoba Book Awards on October 23, 2007. After successful negotiations between Aqua Books
Aqua Books
Aqua Books is a Canadian independent bookstore opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba by Kelly Hughes in 1999. It has been acknowledged for helping revitalize downtown Winnipeg and creating an eclectic mix of programs and events for the Winnipeg arts and culture community.- Overview :Aqua Books consists of a...
and The Manitoba Writers’ Guild
Manitoba Writers' Guild
The Manitoba Writers' Guild was inaugurated in August 1981 at Aubigny, Manitoba, as a grassroots organization for and of Manitoba writers. The Guild has grown from the twenty members who joined after that first meeting to a membership of over 600. The Manitoba Writers' Guild's primary aim is to...
, the Lansdowne Prize for Poetry became the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry/prix Lansdowne de poésie. Sponsorship of the prize includes the Aqua Books Lansdowne Prize for Poetry Series and is hosted in conjunction with The Writers’ Collective. The award is intended to honor the best book of poetry by a Manitoba author.
In 2010, the prize went to Jan Horner’s Mama Dada: Songs of the Baroness’s Dog, published by Turnstone Press. Other nominees included: La lune en mille gouttes by Bertrand Nayet and From Out of Nowhere by John Toone.