Writer’s Resources – Organizations and Associations

The Writers’ Union of Canada 
This organization serves published writers but has helpful information for beginning writers.  There are helpful publications under the “resources” section.

CWILL  Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC
An organization for published writers and illustrators of British Columbia.

Children’s Writing Resource Center
Presented by Childrens Book Insider, The Newsletter for Children’s Writers. Has information on numerous aspects of publishing and children’s literature, such as InfoCenter, a Research Center, results of various surveys, and secrets on getting published.

Editor & Publisher
This site provides up to date industry news, with other opportunities such as a research area and bookstore, a calander of events and classifieds.

Reader recommended (US sources) 

Recommended Reading

  • Crook, Marion. Writing for Young Adults and Children. North Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press. 2008
  • Chicago Manual of Style. 16th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2010.
    Cool, Lisa Collier.
  • How to Write Irresistible Query Letters. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 2002.
  • James, P.D. Talking About Detective Fiction. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2010
  • Kilian, Crawford. Writing for the Web 3.0. North Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press, 1999, 2009.
  • Larsen, Michael. How to Write a Book Proposal. Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books, 2011.
  • Pope, Alice. 2011 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market.  23rd ed.Cincinnati: Writer’s Digest Books. 2011
  • Sands, Katharine. Making the Perfect Pitch: How to Catch a Literary Agent’s Eye. Kalmbach Publishing Company. 2004.
  • Secretary of State. The Canadian Style: A Guide to Writing and Editing. Toronto: Dundurn, 1997.
  • Strunk, William, and E.B. White. The Elements of Style. Penguin Press. 1918, 2008
  • Zinsser, William, ed. Worlds of Childhood: The Art and Craft of Writing for Children. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.

Support for Reading in Canada

National Public Readings Program
Through funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, The Writers’ Union of Canada funds author visits to public venues across Canada. To be eligible for funding, the reading(s) must be held in a publicly accessible venue (a library, book store, festival location, etc.) and advertised to the community at large.
The Union pays the author a $250 honorarium per full (solo) reading or a $125 honorarium per half (joint) reading upon receipt of the author’s completed Reading Report and Invoice. There is a maximum of $300 (solo)/$150 (joint) in travel expenses per reading available (travel expenses outside of Canada cannot be covered). The host organization is responsible for the author’s accommodations and meals. There is a maximum of 2 full or 4 half readings per host, and 2 full or 4 half readings per author, per fiscal year, which runs April 1 to March 31.

Only hosts can apply to the program, and once a reading is approved, the host is charged an administrative fee. To be eligible, applications must be received from the host organization at least 4 weeks in advance of the reading, and the application must follow all guidelines that are listed on The Writers’ Union website.

Menu