Blog

‘Give yourself the opportunity to find out how well you write’

January 24, 2019

Nancy O’Rourke was the winner of the 2018 CNFC creative nonfiction prize and will be one of the readers selecting the 2019 shortlist. Below she offers insight into the power of the CNF genre and words of encouragement for those hoping to submit this year. “The story need not be life shattering, or a grand tale, but it does need to remind the reader of something understood at a gut level.” CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR WINNING PIECE AND WHAT…

Excerpts from past CNFC contest winners

December 6, 2018

Contests, winners

2018 winner: “Descent into Darkness,” by Nancy O’Rourke Machetes. The weapons of choice. Crude weapons, many of them with blades stained dark by the blood of victims. Machetes used viciously in the streets, in markets, schools, and churches. Machetes used to maim and slaughter men, women and children. Machetes used by farmers, shop owners, teachers, and priests. Machetes used to kill strangers, neighbours and sometimes family members. * I’d only been reunited with the children of Kimihurura for two weeks.…

Announcing the 2019 CNFC/Humber Literary Review Creative Nonfiction Contest

December 3, 2018

Contests

The Humber Literary Review and the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) have joined forces to bring you a Canada-wide creative nonfiction contest. CONTEST CLOSES February 14, 2019 at MIDNIGHT EST. Winners will be announced in June 2019 at the annual CNFC conference in Vancouver, BC. First prize includes payment of $750 and publication in The Humber Literary Review. WHAT: Original previously unpublished creative nonfiction – maximum word length 3,000 words (no minimum). Literary journalism, memoir, the personal or lyric essay—all are welcome. WHO: The competition is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents…

One CNFC member’s very unusual publishing journey

November 7, 2018

Members Blog, Publishing

“You have stolen my image,” read the subject line. I waited until I had a few minutes of spare time to read the rest of the email. It was Friday. Deadline day at the Haliburton Echo, a weekly community newspaper where I’d been interning for two months. I had until noon to file all my stories and photos for the week. When I finally read the email, sent by an Indian photographer by the name of Udayan Sankar Pal, I…

Creative Nonfiction Master Class with Award-winning Writer Helen Humphreys, Author of The Frozen Thames and The Ghost Orchard

August 20, 2018

General News

Come prepared to write! The workshop will cover all elements of writing book-length creative nonfiction, including: research, shaping a narrative, structure, form, and voice. Helen Humphreys is the award-winning author of four books of poetry, eight novels, and four works of creative non-fiction. Her books have been widely translated, performed as stage plays and operas, and optioned for film. She lives and writes in Kingston, Ontario. DATE: Sunday, October 7 TIME: 9AM – 5PM LOCATION: Artspace Boardroom, Room 424, 100 Arthur Street, Winnipeg…

Missed our 2018 conference? Watch exclusive recordings of the Al-Solaylee Keynote Address and Maracle-Talaga Conversation

June 29, 2018

General News, Member-only content

Video recordings from the 2018 CNFC 14th Annual Writing True Conference, Emmanuel Colllege of Victoria University at the University of Toronto. Kamal Al-Solaylee’s Keynote Address, delivered the keynote presentation on Friday, May 4, 2018. In Conversation with Lee Maracle and Tanya Talaga, Saturday, May 5, 2018.

AND THE 2018 CNFC/CARTE BLANCHE CONTEST WINNER IS…

June 29, 2018

Conferences, Contests, General News, winners

“Descent into Darkness,” by Nancy O’Rourke. Congratulations to Nancy and to both our runners-up, Emily Kellogg and Julie Paul. The winning piece is now published in the current edition of carte blanche . Experienced sociologist Nancy O’Rourke’s creative nonfiction was recently recognized by Memoir Magazine. “Descent into Darkness” is adapted from a memoir-in-progress that examines processes of forgiveness, focusing on a group of children she befriended in Rwanda in 1992, lost during the genocide, and found 18 years later.

CNFC 2018 CONFERENCE WRAP-UP

May 23, 2018

General News

Our annual conference, Writing True 14, was held in Toronto in early May. We had 112 attendees, three sold-out Master Classes with waiting lists for each, and 18 presenters, speakers, and workshop leaders who all arrived on time, in the right place, in spite of some wild Toronto weather! We had many positive comments from those who completed our conference evaluation form. Standouts, in no particular order, were Dinty Moore, the conversation between Lee Maracle and Tanya Talaga, our First…

The 2018 CNFC Conference

May 3, 2018

Conferences, General News, Members, Workshops

Where? Here… Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto 75 Queen’s Park Crescent Toronto, ON M5S 1K7 Google Map Coordinates  View the digital version of our 2018 Conference Program The nearest subway stop is Museum. From Union Station, take Line 1 (University) and get off at Museum. The TTC exit is right outside Emmanuel College. The nearest accessible station on both Line 1 and 2 is St George. What’s happening when? Check out our Conference Program. Still need…

CNFC/ CARTE BLANCHE 2018 CONTEST SHORTLIST REVEALED!

April 6, 2018

General News

THE CNFC AND CARTE BLANCHE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THEIR 2017–2018 CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST SHORTLIST. The winner will be announced on May 5 in Toronto, ON at the 14th annual CNFC conference. The shortlist was selected by contest judge, Betsy Warland. “Lucky Number Seven,” by Emily Kellogg. Emily Kellogg’s writing has appeared in publications such as FLARE, The Huffington Post, and The Puritan. In 2017, her creative nonfiction work received an honourable mention in Room Magazine‘s CNF competition and…

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