Writer FAQ

How can I apply for the main mentoring program?

We send out an open call for submissions every spring for our main mentorship program. Please check back then, or sign up for our mailing list.

I'm working on a novel. Can I submit a chapter of it in order to be considered for the program?

We discourage chapters or excerpts from longer work because the idea behind the mentorship program is that writers will complete it with a finished piece ready for submission to journals, magazines, and for possible inclusion in TOK: Writing the New Toronto.

Is everyone who is accepted into the program published in TOK?

No, being considered for TOK is a separate and optional process. Due to space constraints not all pieces can be published in TOK.

Getting Published

The literary industry is a very competitive marketplace and publishers get unsolicited manuscripts daily, so if you’re looking to get published, it’s best to do a lot of research. Below are a few links to get you started. Please also visit our Writer Resource Wiki and Forum where you can find the latest resources, contribute to discussions or add new helpful information for other writers.

• Association of Canadian Publishers
• Writer’s Union of Canada:
• Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario
• The Canadian Author’s Association has information on contracts, pay scales, and literary agents.
• The Canadian Literature journal has compiled a list of links to other Canadian literary magazines and journals.
• For playwrights, here’s an interview with Anne Gibson of Playwrights Canada Press from The Playwrights Guild of Canada website.
• And don’t forget to visit our Writer Resource Wiki here: wiki.diasporadialogues.com
• And our Diaspora Dialogues Forum here: forum.diasporadialogues.com

The Writer's Craft

The basic ingredients for improving your craft are read a lot, write a lot, and get good feedback a lot. But sometimes we also need a little bit more structure or guidance. The following are some links to various resources you may find useful in helping you take your writing where you want it to go.

Writer's Union Programs:

• Professional Development Workshops
• Manuscript Evaluation Service

The Banff Centre Programs:

• Literary Arts
• Drama

Playwright Development units:

• Tarragon Theatre
• fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre
• Theatre Kairos
• Nightwood Theatre's Write from the Hip program

College and University Programs and courses:

• College and University Creative Writing Programs in Canada from our Writer Resource Wiki.

Wiki and Forum

Please also visit our Writer Resource Wiki and our Diaspora Dialogues Forum for other topics related to improving your craft.

Finances

Below are some links to resources useful when seeking out funding, employment, career and business management ideas.

• Toronto Arts Council
• Ontario Arts Council
• The Canada Council for the Arts
• Metcalf Foundation
• Writer’s Trust of Canada
• Cultural Careers Council Ontario
• Cultural Human Resources Council

Please also visit our Writer Resource Wiki and our Diaspora Dialogues Forum for other topics related to finances.