Apply to Join the Writers' Council
Writers’ Council status is a special, permanent designation for WFNS members who have produced a professional body of work.
Members of the Writers’ Council are eligible for numerous competitively compensated opportunities through WFNS programs.
If your General Membership ever lapses, you will retain your Writers’ Council status and will be eligible for all Writers’ Council benefits as soon as you renew your General Membership.
- Instructing: lead creative writing & professional development workshops for members and the public ($125 per hour of instruction)
- Instructing: present readings, talks, and workshops at Nova Scotia schools through our Writers in the Schools (WITS) program ($175 per half-day visit)
- Jurying: join juries for our numerous peer-assessed programs, prizes, and competitions ($315 + $5 per item assessed)
- Mentoring & advising: assist newer writers through our Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program ($3000), Manuscript Review Program ($100+ per manuscript, dependent on length), and Coffee Chats program ($65 per 30-minute consultation)
- Speaking & reading: participate in public writers' panels and readings ($150 for a shared reading; $200 for panel participation; $300 for a solo reading)
Rates of pay are noted in parentheses.
You must be a General Member in good standing of the WFNS and have produced body of work that is professionally recognized according to one of the below streams.
Stream 1
Writers with a book professionally published by a third-party book publishing company
Supporting documentation
A link to your book’s listing on your publisher’s website or a link to your book’s library listing or other public info demonstrating the book’s professionally-published status
If your book is self-published or published through a partner or hybrid press, please apply under Stream 3.
Stream 2
Writers with works in periodicals published by third-party editorial boards or committees
Supporting documentation
A list of eligible periodical publications that total 30,000 words; for each work, note the word count and provide a link to the work as published (if online) or a scan of the work as published (if in-print only)
Contact our office if you are unsure whether a periodical you have been published in counts towards your total.
Stream 3
Writers with a full professional membership in another professional writers’ association or organization
Supporting documentation
Confirmation from the association that you are a full professional member in good standing, such as a link to your profile on the association’s website or a confirmation email from the association sent directly to the WFNS
Membership in the association or organization must be granted only after an application process and cannot be associate- or friend-level membership
Eligible associations include but are not limited to The Writers’ Union of Canada (which accepts writers who have self-published or published through a partner or hybrid press), the League of Canadian Poets (Full membership), the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada (Professional designation), Canadian Authors’ Association (Professional designation), and CANSCAIP (Member).
Contact our office if you are unsure whether your professional designation counts or if you are a playwright, screenwriter, or other type of writer not covered under the above.
Stream 4
Spoken word artists and storytellers with a full body of work demonstrating a professional commitment and proficiency in their field (as determined by the Membership Committee)
Supporting documentation
An outline of your performance history and involvement with the spoken word or storytelling community and links to audio tracks or videos that the membership committee can listen to or view online
A full body of spoken word or storytelling work may include
- a recorded studio album
- participation on a spoken word team, including touring and competing for at least two years
- three featured performance sets of at least 15 minutes each
- print materials, including chapbooks, anthology contributions, publications in literary magazines, etc.
- commitment to the community through teaching and/or creating performance spaces for other artists
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted at any time.
- Ensure you are a General Member in good standing of the WFNS. Before assembling an application, ensure you have paid your annual dues for the current membership year. Check the status of your General Membership at any time in the “Memberships” tab of your Account page.
- Email your biography, declaration, and supporting documentation to director@writers.ns.ca with the subject line “Writers’ Council – [Your name].”
- A brief biography (no more than 500 words), including either a statement that you are a Nova Scotia resident or an explanation of your significant connection to Nova Scotia (as determined by the membership committee)
- A simple declaration that you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant
- The supporting documentation outlined under one of the four streams under the “Eligibility” tab
- Wait for the review and approval of your application by the WFNS Membership Committee and the WFNS Board of Directors. This process can take up to six weeks, as our Membership Committee and Board of Directors meet once per month, excluding July and August.
- Upon notification of your application’s approval, you will be eligible to create a publicly accessible Writers’ Council profile on the WFNS website. You may then complete or update your Writers’ Council profile at any time in the “Writers’ Council / WITS profiles” tab of your Account page
