by Sylvia McNicoll | Jun 28, 2014 | Sylvia McNicoll
As a writer, I love reading; it’s what led me to my career. However, with deadlines and faster turnarounds to editorial suggestions and copy edits as well as increased responsibility for self/book promotion, I often find myself sacrificing my reading.
Recently, I wrote an article called “Writers, Editors, Blueberries, Raspberries” for Canadian Children’s Booknews the Spring edition and as for many of these pieces, I investigated the process of the authors. What startled me is how Sara Harvey writes. Because she edits full-time for Orca, she treats her writing more as a holiday. She wakes up on a Saturday morning and first thing reads for awhile. Not her own work but perhaps her favourite author, Meg Rosoff. Then she writes.
I wish I could remember the second writer I read about, somewhere, perhaps on a blog–who dedicates the first part of the day to reading rather than writing. It’s like upside down supper: dessert as your entree, then your savoury dish as the ending to the meal.
While I don’t know if I can make this total reversal, I am vowing to read more. Reading is the ultimate staycation and since I’ve finished the “away” portion of my vacation in Newfoundland and my credit card needs to recuperate–I am throwing myself into reading.
So far I’ve read Whatever by Ann Walsh, The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland and Emily for Real by Sylvia Gunnery. Currently I’m reading The Darkest Part of the World by Urve Tamberg. Readers and writers out there, join me in devoting more time to reading fiction!
“Leave me alone, I’m working.”
by Sylvia McNicoll | Jun 25, 2014 | Sylvia McNicoll
This is the scene from the Valhalla B & B,
near L’anse aux Meadows where Annie Proulx stayed for a year and wrote Shipping News. After a long drive, and a quick visit to the viking ruins at the national park historical site, we felt cold and tired and I spontaneously and unknowingly chose this special place to stay. A magical coincidence. While sitting in the bedroom that could have been hers, I looked over some 30 copy edit notes on this book: 
I can’t say the creative spirit was really needed or used for this job. Still will Newfoundland inspire any new
stories?
Who can tell? What I can say is that I wanted to be a different person after visiting. Someone heartier, more entrepreneurial, I wanted to plant rhubarb and potatoes, to knit mittens and hats, make jam from wild berries, and paint the outside of my clapboard sunroom pink.
Instead, I read more, threw myself into a locally set story I’m writing and ignored all those physical tasks that Newfoundland inspired me into wanting to accomplish. The rock made me want to be a different person. Writing makes me become someone else. Travel connects the writer into the possibility of an another identity.
And really, how can I not be affected by images such as this:
by Sylvia McNicoll | Jun 3, 2014 | Sylvia McNicoll
The Secret to Getting Grants
Recently I attended a session at the Onwords Conference of The Writers’ Union of Canada called “The Desperate People” or “Get that Grant”. The speakers included Marion Vitrac, Program Officer for Canada Council’s Grants to Professional Writers, and novelists (applicants and judges) Denise Chong, Trevor Cole
and Mark Frutkin.
Marion said the CC Applicant success rate is 10 to 20% immediately disputed by author Trevor who felt it was lower. But here’s something she documented that happened to me. First the peer jurors access all the projects and rate them. The highly recommended ones receive grants until the money runs out. This occurs late February.
My project was deemed “highly recommended”, I received the note, no money. This buoyed me up hugely. Despite some many rejections from Canadian publishers who used to embrace my work, I realized my peers still felt I was a good writer. But for the chance of a different wind blowing, I would have had the money and all my financial problems solved.
In April, the fiscal year end for Canada Council, any undersubscribed grants in the other disciplines dump their
funds into the Creative Writing pool and some lucky writers have their projects funded. This wind blew a different way, and I received a nice cheque. This second Christmas is what fills in the difference between Trevor’s perception and the true percentage of grants awarded.
Some of what the panel said seems like basic common sense but I will repeat what I remember in case it’s new to you.
Take time to make a good application. Like most writers I’m afraid to give the grant proposal too much emotional investment as then my heart will break when I don’t get it. Let’s get over ourselves. Treat the application like an article, workshop the project description with your writing group or partner, set the whole thing aside for a few days and read it over against the grant requirements.
The CV Canada Council pays more attention to this than the Ontario Arts Council who asks for “blind” manuscript pages for their competition. I have had much greater luck with Canada Council, 4 for 7 compared to the OAC, 1 for 6, who don’t pass the bio along to the judges. I’ve been writing 25 years with many publications in different countries. Trevor said he likes to see that the writer is not a hobbyist, that there is an apparent devotion to craft. If you’re a full time lawyer or doctor, perhaps you shouldn’t apply.
The Project Description
Some of the projects jump out at the jurors. For nonfiction there’s a sense of enquiry that’s evident. For fiction there’s an apparent effort to grow in the writer’s craft.
Length of proposal The judges are reading tons of applications and really appreciate clear concise proposals. Show confidence and only use one page if offered one to three pages.
Sample Submission
If the section you’re submitting doesn’t end on the right note, instead of going longer, rewrite it so that it does. For Canada Council the sample doesn’t have to be from the project you’re proposing it can be from a previously published work. For Trevor that has never worked, but Mark insists it’s a great idea. In my own experience I once submitted a small segment of the project and the balance from a recently published work and the grant was successful. I like to submit from the beginning, let’s face it, that’s the starting point and the perfect introduction to your work.
Finally I hear from applicants who try once and insist they will never apply again. What’s the point? I get it, rejection is painful. Why subject yourself to it?
The point is the next time you may get it. There will be a different set of jurors and applicants with a different set of projects. There may be more money. What I like to tell myself is that it’s an altruistic thing I’m doing for other writers. My project may prove just to be cannon fodder. There needs to be a certain percentage that fails as there needs to be a healthy body of applicants. Otherwise the funding will be cut to match the lesser numbers.
Good luck. Next deadline is October 1. For more information visit:
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/en/council/grants-and-prizes/find-grants-and-prizes/grants/grants-for-professional-writers-creative-writing
As a writer, I love reading; it’s what led me to my career. However, with deadlines and faster turnarounds to editorial suggestions and copy edits as well as increased responsibility for self/book promotion, I often find myself sacrificing my reading.
“Leave me alone, I’m working.”
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