In the January meeting, we learned about the use of poetic language in fiction, presented by guest, Bob Stallworthy. We critiqued one story and heard about multiple authors’ sales, reviews and writing goals met. Please note: the Prix Aurora Awards are now open for nominations for any story published by a Canadian in 2011. IFWA’s first summer workshop has been filled, but we are planning a second, so every member can have the opportunity to attend. We plan to update the website, run a fundraising barbecue to raise prize money for the short story contest and have an IFWA table at the When Words Collideconference this summer. Next month’s skills session will be: Dealing with Amazon.

At the December meeting we critiqued an SF flash fiction and a Zombie story, heard about two members’ recent publications (Randy and Susan) and two who successfully completed NaNoWriMo, finalized details about an upcoming writers’ retreat, two summer workshopsand making our updated website live. In addition, we were given final details on the short story contest, finances (we now have 41 members), the news that Canada’s national SF awards will be held at When Words Collide in Calgary in August, and a short fiction market. Our skills session was on self-editing, January’s will be on use of poetic language and February’s will be on how to work with Amazon.

Submission guidelines for Shanghai-Steam anthology could be found here: http://www.shanghai-steam.com/?page_id=5

2012 Robyn Herrington Memorial Short Story Contest– Call for writers.

Deadline: May 3th 2012

Top 3 placings and 5 honourable mentions. Prizes 1st $100; 2nd $75; 3rd $50; honourable mentions $25

For more details: http://writtenword.org/in_places_between/