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Please join us for a chat with Harriet Zaidman, whose book, Second Chances, was just nominated for the 2023 Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Northern Lights Award. To attend this event, email to receive the Zoom instructions. Harriet Zaidman is a 3rd generation Canadian, the descendant of Russian Jews who experienced all the hardship and discrimination society had to offer in the early 1900s. Her successes are a result of their hard work and sacrifice. …

Our August Book Chat will feature Guild member Nancy Chislett. She recently launched her debut novel Bombing the moon. To hear her read from her novel and answer questions, such as what it was like to launch her first novel, email for the Zoom instructions. About Nancy: Nancy is an avid traveler, having visited almost 50 countries on six continents. She also plays classical music on piano and composes a little jazz. Career-wise, she …

The Manitoba Writers’ Guild is delighted to announce the return of our much-heralded Docudrama Workshop series. “I had an idea for a story, but what to do with it? This Docudrama workshop was the perfect solution for me. I would give it a 5-star recommendation!” –Marilynn Slobogian (Participant in the 2021 workshop series) Creating a docudrama involves many of the literary arts, as it can include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, music, song, dance, film clips – …

Announcing: Manitoba Book Awards/Les Prix du livre du Manitoba 2022 Nominees / Candidats 2022 From the official Manitoba Book Awards website: https://manitobabookawards.ca/index.php/2022-2/shortlist-liste-de-preselection/ Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction / Prix Alexander-Kennedy-Isbister pour les études et essais Sponsor: Manitoba Arts Council Dadibaajim: Returning Home Through Narrative by Helen Olsen Agger, published by University of Manitoba Press Manitobaines engagées par Lise Gaboury-Diallo et Michelle Smith, publié par Les Éditions du Blé Persephone’s Children: A Life in Fragments …

Are you interested in writing non-fiction but not certain how to get started? Bob’s presentation will help you delve into the world of nonfiction and explore: Different types of Non-fiction Are you clear on what you are writing? Is it literary non-fiction, memoir, for trade, or academic publication? Do you know the market for your work?  Bob will review and explore the different forms of non-fiction. Writing styles and process What is your process, for …

Do you have an idea for a children’s book but don’t know how to get started? Whether your idea is more suitable for young readers or older, now’s the time to dust off that idea and turn it into a reality. During this workshop, some of the topics covered will be: – writing for a specific age group – setting the scene – developing characters – developing plot –  illustrations Come prepared to write! Bring …

“PHOENIX RISING!” A SPRING SHORT STORY CONTEST The deadline has been extended to April 30th! Despite the last few days of rough weather, (at least here in Manitoba!) that doesn’t mean we, at the Writers’ Guild, aren’t gearing up for Spring. That includes our latest short story contest. The theme? What’s normally associated with Spring? Snow melting and nature coming out of a big sleep! The end of the old and the beginning of something …

It’s a Wrap – A Christmas Themed Short Story Contest It might be fall, but we all know how the holidays sneak up on us, so we made that sneaky habit of the holiday season the theme of this new short story contest! There’s only one rule: Your story needs to be centered around getting ready for the Holiday season. And yes; ALL winter-themed celebrations are welcome in this contest, whether it be a based …

Without our usual gala, we were unable to suitably honour those who won awards during this year’s Manitoba Book Awards season. The Manitoba Writers’ Guild works as a team member of a coalition of organizations that coordinate the Awards, along with the Association of Book Publishers (AMBP), the Winnipeg International Writers Festival (WIWF) and the Winnipeg Libraries Association. The coalition organizes the submission process, finds jurors for each of the categories and organizes meetings with …

The Manitoba Writers’ Guild has been collaborating with the Shoestring Players to develop another video to answer the question, how can the Creating a Docudrama workshop series help me improve my writing? You can find the videos on YouTube (see below for the links). Watch Marilyn Slobogian, Nathan Zassman, Maureen Taggert and Karl Eckstrand discuss their manuscript problems and learn why they should become a team to take part in the workshop series. During this …

We, at the Manitoba Writers’ Guild, are pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Manitoba Book Awards / Les Prix du livre du Manitoba 2021 Winners List   Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction / Prix Alexander-Kennedy-Isbister pour les études et essais Sponsor: Manitoba Arts Council   Winner – Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory by David A. Robertson, published by HarperCollins Nominees: For The W: A Look Back at the 2019 Grey Cup Championship Season by Ed Tait, …

Manitoba Book Awards / Les Prix du livres du Manitoba MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE 30 APRIL/AVRIL 2021 (Winnipeg, MB) – On behalf of the coalition producing the 2021 Manitoba Book Awards/Les Prix du livre du Manitoba, we are excited to share the shortlists for 11 separate awards recognizing excellence in Manitoba writing, book design and illustration, and publishing. Congratulations to all the nominees! As the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic weigh down upon us, we’re seeing …