Emerging Indigenous writers have a new opportunity to seek mentorship through the Audible Indigenous WritersSA国际影视传媒� Circle launching this summer.
Later this month fifteen writers will be selected to be paired with journalist and author Tanya Talaga, 26 time published novelist Richard Van Camp, writer, publicist and audio producer Kim Wheeler, or two other yet-to-be announced Indigenous mentors.
Wheeler, an award-winning writer and producer formerly with the CBC Aboriginal Digital Unit, said that programs like these show young Indigenous people that SA国际影视传媒渢here is a place for themSA国际影视传媒� and that SA国际影视传媒渋f they do want to become a writer, they can and they can make a living at it.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I was a young journalist and a young writer, we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 really have people that we could turn to,SA国际影视传媒� she said. Now that she and her cohort have SA国际影视传媒渕ade space for Indigenous people in this industry,SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 important to be able to hold that space and help them walk through that door and have their voices heard.SA国际影视传媒�
The WritersSA国际影视传媒� Circle, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 stated goal is to SA国际影视传媒渆levate the voices of Indigenous peoples in Canada, in an effort to enhance equity and support reconciliation,SA国际影视传媒� is a six-month virtual program with three full-day immersive workshops with some of the industrySA国际影视传媒檚 leaders in publishing, writing, marketing and content management.
Writers will work with their mentors to hone their creative voices and advance their work. At the end of the program, depending on how each writer has progressed, Audible has stated that participants may have the opportunity to explore recording with Audible. Participants will also be awarded a bursary of $1,000 to support their participation in the program.
Beyond the selection criteria of being over 18, self-identifying as First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis, Wheeler said anyone with a love of writing and storytelling who is curious and open to constructive input would be a good fit for the program.
Van Camp, one of the founding members of the North Words NWT writerSA国际影视传媒檚 festival, said he hopes to see more representation of Northern writers come out of the program.
SA国际影视传媒淚 know there is talent in the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need more book deals. We need more author representation with major agency houses.SA国际影视传媒�
As a prolific author Van Camp said he has strong ties to a number of publishing houses and agencies. If the manuscripts are at a place where they can be published, he said he would be recommending the writers to his publishers or agents, if not both.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is just another arrow in your quiver as a writer in terms of taking your craft to the next level and having people who only want the best for you to be there for you for the next six months,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淚f this is really speaking to you, why not use the next six months to give yourself the time and space, and attention that you deserve.SA国际影视传媒�
