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WRITE THE MAGAZINE OF THE WRITERS’ UNION OF VOLUME 40 NUMBER 4 CANADA SPRING 2013 Rethinking Royalties: Why Writers Need a Cut of Resale 14 Admit Some: Reflections on Membership in Changing Times 16 Robots, Rebels, and the Coming Writing Renaissance: Celebrating 40 years of The Writers’ Union of Canada 23 TWUC ads Spring 2013 3/22/13 9:54 AM Page 1 Our Spring Fiction Is All About Translation A Special Collection ~ 13 Yiddish Women; 8 would call Canada home THE ALMOST-LOST VOICES OF OUR YIDDISH WOMEN WRITERS This important book, which includes various texts never before translated into English, and most of which originally appeared in books, journals and newspapers, is the first to emphasize the work of so many Canadian-Yiddish women writers, like Chava Rosenfarb, Rachel Korn and Ida Maze. The short stories, excerpts from novels and memoirs, and several personal essays, were written at points in these women’s lives when they were looking out to and at the world around them. They were facing a traditional world confronting moder- nity: family life during a tumultuous period when parental authority was chal- lenged by political and social movements; sexual awakening during a profound revolutionary period in Europe; longings for independence, education, and cre- ative, artistic expression; the conflicted entry of Yiddish-speaking women into the modern world, beyond the restrictions of traditional Jewish life; the Holocaust and “These are vibrant women, and its aftermath, and adjustment after immigration. their writings should not be read To date, the major anthologies of Yiddish prose in translation have con- only as something from the past, centrated on popular male writers and excluded not only fiction by women but something important to our but their memoirs and other prose writing as well. By their exclusion from days, despite the passing years. For all of us who lost family members these anthologies, Yiddish women writers were denied their place in history, in those times, and want their story and important voices were never heard. Yiddish women writers provide the told – and read – this book is an vital link to understanding Jewish experience in Europe, North America, Israel excellent collection of important and other parts of the world. This anthology represents a transformation of writers who tell those stories, sto- ries that should never be forgotten.” Yiddish literature and with it a fresh understanding of Ashkenazi and —DAVID HOMEL, winner, Governor Sefardi life. General’s Award for Translation 328 pages ISBN 978-1-55096-311-3 $19.95 Scan this QR, or access our special discounts page at: www.tinyurl.com/30-SpringDiscount to purchase or pre-order Spring titles with a 30% discount; shipping is free! Choose Code TWUC Exile Editions was founded in 1976. Over the years, this literary house has defined itself in Canadian publishing by way of a special vision, one that first places an emphasis on bringing out new generation and emerging writers who are redefining the literary landscape with innova- tive works. Added to that – and what wonderfully rounds out each annual list of 12-16 books, over 450 releases to date – are the mid-career writers shaping their vision by exploring/pushing boundaries, as well as those works by established writers well known for their craft. EXILE EDITIONS ~ publishers of fiction, poetry, translation, drama and nonfiction Scan this QR for our PDF Catalogues, or via URL at: www.tinyurl.com/ExileCatalogues Great books from Exile Editions! www.ExileEditions.com • see our inside back cover ad for more... Contact us at: [email protected] ExileWriters From the Chair By Merilyn Simonds Our 40th birthday is just weeks away, and like all birthdays, it fills me with an odd mix of nostalgia and anticipation. Will there be presents? Cake? And a more sober thought, rising from my Scots Presbyterian roots: Ah, and what has been done, lass, to merit such celebration? TWUC is a member-driven organization. Everything that happens Task Forces are intended to be lean working groups with specific in the office, everything discussed by National Council is directed mandates and timelines, formed to grapple with a particular issue. by you — through the Strategic Plan developed by members, This year, in response to critical situations and member demand, through the survey you answer every few years, through your we have created: calls and letters and discussions on the listserv and Forums, and • Digital Copyright Infringement Task Force through the men and women on National Council elected by • Task Force on Repression of Free Expression you, directly representing writers in every region of country and • Task Force on Membership Criteria advocating for the issues at the top of your agenda. • E-lending Task Force And what a terrific National Council you elected for this anniversary year! We have met three times: immediately following The Forums engage members in broad discussions of particular the 2012 AGM, three-day meetings in September and January, topics, a place where we share our views and experiences. and we’ll meet briefly again immediately prior to the 2013 AGM. Conversations now underway: This face time is crucial, but miniscule compared to the year- • Membership Criteria Forum, discussing if and how we long meeting on our National Council listserv, with new business might extend TWUC membership to self-published writers. brought forward for discussion each Monday morning. • Copyright Infringement Forum, where writers are Much of what we do is prompted by changes in the literary reporting infringements on their work, as we gather landscape, which this year have been seismic. We have: evidence on the negative impact of the new Copyright • developed a TWUC Statement on Fair Dealing Modernization Act. • staged and recorded an intervention at a copyright “training • International Opportunities & Information Forum, where session” for college teachers writers share news about residencies, readings, and • urged university presidents to sign licensing agreements international issues. • provided template letters to members to voice their • Cultural Diversity Forum, where members share concerns to educational institutions experiences and ideas about cultural diversity issues. • developed a campaign for members to protest changes in • Gender Issues Forum, where members discuss gender collection and access policy at Library and Archives Canada disparities in publishing and reviewing. • published a report on the meaning of “Book” Prompted in part by this structural renewal and in part by new • prepared an inventory of tax legislation affecting writers rules governing nonprofits, a new Constitutional Reform Task We have issued press releases on: Force is working with legal counsel Marian Hebb to revise our 40-year constitution, which has stood up remarkably well for four • suppression of free expression among scientists, and other decades. Amended eight times since 1973 (last in 2007), it now government workers needs a few tweaks to bring it in line with contemporary needs. • suppression of free expression at Library and Archives Canada Our membership is now over 2,000. With more responsive • abuse of “fair dealing” in the schools press releases and actions, we are acknowledged as a powerful • the decline in books coverage in print media voice on cultural issues in Canada. The strength and power of We have remained close to the evolving story of the D&M that voice depends on your engagement. It depends on a strong insolvency and bankruptcy, reporting to members, but meeting, National Council that reflects our members and their views. As too, with government agencies to see what can be done to the organization becomes more professional, the demand for minimize damage to writers in these dire situations. intelligence and skill around the table grows, too. That’s the external side of the job. Internally, this National This all sounds pretty serious, I suppose, as a prelude to a party, Council has been working hard, hiring a new Executive Director but Scot blood flows in my veins, so I’m prone to seeing the and instituting proper Board orientation. We are moving forward smoke rising from the glittering candle flame. K with work begun last year under Chair Greg Hollingshead, to Come to the AGM. Have a blast. And on Sunday morning, haul UN F renew the internal structure of the Union and make its working yourself up from your revels, and vote to have the best among you RLIS groups more responsive to members. Beginning in 2013-14, this represent your interests at the National Council table. : MA pilot project will see existing committees evolved into Forums and Thank you to all the wonderful people I’ve worked with this O T Task Forces (depending on the work they do) with Membership year, on National Council and in the office. It has been a privilege. O PH and Nominating becoming Constitutional Committees. That’s the nostalgia part. Now on with the party! SPRING 2013 national council Grievance Chair Barbara Killinger Merilyn Simonds Nominating First Vice-Chair Susan Crean and Dorris Heffron Myrna Kostach Contents SPRING 2013 Second Vice-Chair Race Issues Genni Gunn Wali Alam Shaheen Treasurer Rights and Freedoms Silver Donald Cameron Ron Brown 3 Chair’s Report BC/Yukon Representative Status of Women Writers 5 Executive Directions Michael Elcock Betty Jane Wylie 6 News Alberta/NWT/Nunavut membership committee Representative Jillian Dagg (Chair) Glenn Dixon Writer’S BLot Norma Charles 8 Writer’s Prompt Manitoba/Saskatchewan Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer Representative John Parr 9 Industry Q+A Anita Daher Ann Walsh Ontario Representative twuc national office Dispatches Steve Pitt Executive Director 10 “Creative Non-Fiction”: Why You Don’t Need To Quebec Representative John Degen, ext. 221 Make It Up Joyce Laird Scharf [email protected] Atlantic Representative BY CHArloTTE GRAY Associate Director Lee D. Thompson Siobhan O’Connor, ext.