Hi Everyone!
Oh, it’s getting so close. The contest is almost open. Make sure you contact Kara at WCWFcontest@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.
There’s a lot happening to get ready for the Festival so make sure you subscribe to the newsletter. One went out today so check your email.
Get those stories and poems submitted.
Hello everyone!
The planning and behind the scenes work for Wine Country Writers’ Festival 2023 is well underway.
The 3rd Annual WCWF Writing Contest Opens at noon on March 29 and closes on June 30, 2023
So mark that calendar and get those stories done.
Here are some pix of past winners!
Remember if you were a first place winner in 2022, your registration for this year is waived. Remember to still fill in the registration form when it opens though so we have your name etc. for the badges and such.
Which of course leads right into REGISTRATION.
Can you believe that we’re going into our third year already?
Plan to be with us for
September 22/23/24, 2023 at the Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre. Blocks of rooms have been put aside. Please ask for the Festival Rate.
Plan your weekend. Friday we will start around 3:30, then full day Saturday, and until mid to late afternoon (start and end times will be specified by registration opening. This is just to give you an idea so you can plan.)
Registration will open noon May 31, 2023 with the Early Bird Registration being $189.
At midnight of August 01, 2023, the Registration will increase to $219.
We have many exciting and dynamic presenters coming to share their stories and knowledge with us, and some exciting new programing too.
Make sure you following the Newsletter if you’re not already.
We’re still in 2022 and it’s not even Christmas yet, but we wanted to remind you to mark your calendars for September 22, 23, and 24, 2023 in Penticton, British Columbia.
Right now we’re taking applications for those who wish to present at WCWFest.
We are looking for presenters who want to promote the community and connection of those involved in the writing world.
We pride ourselves on our boutique style of Festival and want interactions between presenters and guests to be a natural progression of the experience.
This is a paying gig.
There will be an accommodation allowance and honorarium. Some travel allowances as well. If you have any questions please contact either Faye or Jim at wcwfestival@gmail.com
Complete the form. Due no later than January 15, 2023.
Thank you.
Introducing Kelley Jo Burke who won first place for her short story Everything’s Got a Moral, if Only You Can Find it. She wasn’t able to attend the Festival so sent us these awesome pix when she received her certificate and anthology in the mail.
Huge congratulations to you Kelley Jo! In her recent note to WCWF, Kelley noted that these pix were taken by Eric Eggertson and that she’d see us next September! YAY!!🎉🎉
If you won or placed in the WCWF 2nd Annual Writing Contest, send us a picture with your certificate and anthology. Always celebrate the victories–it’s a big deal!
Brian sent us this picture this morning as he recently received his certificate and anthology.
After coming in second in the fiction category for his short story Lieber’s Report, Brian chose to drive to, and attend, the Wine Country Writers’ Festival. So awesome. We sure hope to see him next year too.
Thanks for sending this Brian!
If you have your certificate and anthology, please send us a pic so we can post it. It’s a big deal to win a writing contest. Don’t under estimate the achievement.
Send to wcwfestival@gmail.com
It feels like we planned for the in-person Wine Country Writers’ Festival for–EV–errrrrrr!
Finally, on September 23 and 24, 2022, it all came true and it was fantastic.
The energy was palpable as we talked writing, craft, and business for the first time in what seems like a lifetime. There were readings, talks, lessons, music, food, and wine… A little of everything to get us recharged to take over our creative endeavors.
The same venue at the Penticton Lakeside Hotel and Conference Centre has been booked for next year and we decided to expand the Festival to include Sunday.
Save the dates: September 22, 23, 24, 2023.
Thank you to all our sponsors, guests, and presenters. Make sure you subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss any important dates or information.
Here are a few pix from the 2022 Festival!
Below we have Mike Arcand (center), Owner/Operator of The Raven’s Oddities, the sponsor of the WCWFestival Writing Contest. The entire list of winners is on the website under the Contest Tab.
Also on stage is Kara Antifeau (R) the WCWFestival Contest Co-ordinator.
Here are some of the winners who were able to also make it to the Festival.
A little bit of wine at the Wine Country Writers’ Festival. Thank you Time Winery.
More pix to come soon. Save the dates for next year. Stay in touch.
On Sunday, September 25th join us for a wine tour down to the Oliver Wine Village.
Though this is not an official part of the Wine Country Writers’ Festival we will facilitate the van transport from the Lakeside to the Village and return.
Cost is $41 (transport and gst included)which must be paid before.
This is an opportunity to sample more wines and even a craft brewery. Space is limited to 14 in one van but another can be commissioned.
If you’re interested please email wcwfestival@gmail.com and put WINE TOUR in the subject line.
$41 is the cost of transportation only and does not include any of the wine tasting.
The wine tasting costs vary per winery. Please check the website.
Thank you.
Have you checked the schedule online yet? It’s jam packed with great presenters and workshops!
The last session of Saturday September 24 will be a SLUSH PILE.
This is always a lot of fun.
What’s a slush pile? Wikipedia does a great job of defining it as follows:
In publishing, a slush pile is a set of unsolicited query letters or manuscripts that have either been directly sent to a publisher by an author, or which have been delivered via a literary agent representing the author who may or may not be familiar to the publisher.
as per Wikipedia
In other words it’s a pile of stuff that will be dealt with sooner or later… or not at all.
These are the places where query letters and manuscripts go an fight a valiant fight to be noticed amongst the others.
Well, we’ll have our own little slush pile party. Bring the first (yes first) page of your manuscript. No name as its anonymous.
Polish it off and bring it along with you. There’ll be a collection bin at the registration table where you can leave it.
Pages will be randomly selected and read aloud to the panel and audience. Those on the panel will then tell everyone their thoughts on the writing, the premise, the hook… Normally this exercise is done with agents and publishers but we’re using authors too. The critique will be about the words on the page… does it hook me? do I want to read more? does the writing need help?
Remember it’s anonymous. You do not need to reveal your identity unless you want to.
This means you can hear the good and perhaps the not-so-good, of each reading.
Learn from the different styles, voices, and techniques. Listen to what the expert panel has to say.
This is an opportunity for anonymous feedback from industry professionals.
Print it off and bring it along… no names–remember.
Source of cover pic: DrewChialAuthor.com
This is a Festival that offers an in-person experience to reconnect and build your writing community.
There is an agent looking for clients to pitch to him. He’s looking to represent commercial and literary fiction.
There’s also a publisher who is looking for diverse voices, domestic fiction and nonfiction, cook books, Canadiana, and poetry.
There’s another publisher/editor looking for the next sensational horror writer…
On top of ALL that, there are over ten presenters who will teach you different things about the literary world, its craft, and it’s business.
Get registered. It’s time now. Cost is only $179–which is GREAT value but if you email me at wcwfestival@gmail you’ll receive $20 off.
Wine Country Writers’ Festival
September 23 and 24, 2022 in Penticton, B.C. at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre. Start at 4 pm Sept 23.
CA$179.00
Wine Country Writers' Festival 