The Whistler Writers Group, better known to most as the Vicious Circle, is launching a new series of writing awards with $2,500 in cash prizes.
The Whistler Select Writing Awards debuts this year, with three categories of awards: Whistler Features, Whistler Untold, and the Postcard Jam. Respectively, the three categories recognize the best published journalism that features Whistler, the best telling of an untold local story, and the best undiscovered work of fiction from the Whistler region.
“We’re launching this awards series to celebrate craft, community, place and perspective, which we believe are the key ingredients required to cook up a great story,” said Lisa Richardson, coordinator of the awards. “And we’re thrilled to have the support of local businesses like Whistler-Blackcomb, Watermark Communications, and Pique Newsmagazine . It’s really exciting to launch this recognition of great writing through a partnership between the tourism, arts and business communities in Whistler.”
With a total of $2,500 to be awarded, the new Whistler Select Writing Awards boast one of the largest cash prizes ever offered in the field of travel writing.
The winner of the Whistler Features category will receive $1,000 for their piece of published journalism featuring Whistler that has appeared in a print magazine or newspaper between Aug. 15, 2007 and Aug. 15, 2008.
The best piece of non-fiction writing under 2,000 words that presents a new tale, twist or character from Whistler to the rest of the world, or provides a new and creative take on a Whistler story, will receive $1,000, as well.
Finally, $500 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions in the Postcard Jam category. These stories must be no longer than 300 words and should not have appeared in print before. The top three stories will be published in Pique Newsmagazine and the winner will be invited to read their piece alongside guest writers at the Whistler Writers and Readers Festival, Sept. 12-13.
Submissions should be sent to
xxx@theviciouscircle.ca
by Monday,
Aug. 25.
Writer in residence
In addition to their generous new writing awards, the Vicious Circle will also be holding their Writer in Residence program during the month of September.
Canadian author, Candas Jane Dorsey, will be meeting with a group of 10 writers from Sept. 1 to 30, offering up advice and guidance through one-on-one sessions and weekly group workshops.
Stella Harvey, Director of the Writer in Residence program, explained that they look for a well-rounded writer to help participants expand and improve their abilities.
“We’re always looking for different kinds of writers,” Harvey said. “People who are experimenting in different genres and who have a broad base of experience with various genres.”
They accept 10 participants at different levels of abilities, and the enrolment fee is $250.
This year’s program is almost full already, but those interested in participating should contact Stella Harvey at stella25@telus.net .
Real World: Whistler?
If you were in Whistler during the winter season, you probably remember the exciting rumours that were circulating around town about a new reality television series focusing on the lives of young Whistlerites.
Grant Fraggalosch, creative producer of the new series, said they actually filmed a short pilot, featuring seven or eight people, during the winter season. They shopped the 10-minute finished product around to different networks, and so far they’ve received some positive feedback, and gained momentum and support.
“It was sort of more of a proof of concept for the networks, to show them that, ‘hey, there are great characters up here, and there’s really kind of exciting and dramatic storylines, and you should really consider doing a series there,’” Fraggalosch explained.
Now, they are coming back to Whistler to cast additional characters to add to the existing cast, and shoot more material.
“The nature of Whistler is that people come and go, and not everybody that was cast last year will likely be available again for this year,” Fraggalosch said.
Producers will be back in Whistler in a few weeks to continue with the casting process, holding auditions and callbacks during the week of Aug. 4, with the idea that they would return to Whistler to shoot again in November if the series gets a green light from one of the networks.
Interested applicants between the ages of 18 to 25 years of age should visit www.snowboard.com/whistlertv to complete the application questionnaire before Sunday, July 27.
Bears and berries
Join Whistler’s local black bear expert, Michael Allen, for a free educational experience in the great outdoors this weekend.
As part of the Whistler Museum’s Natural History Speaker Series, Allen will be hosting a talk on black bears, entitled, “Mother Matters: Berries and Black Bear Behaviour,” at Lost Lake Park on Saturday, July 26. Starting at 9 p.m., the local bear researcher and educator will share recent photos and observations about Whistler’s black bear population, including the impact that last year’s poor berry crop and the dramatic reduction of cub numbers has had on the species.
Remember to bring warm clothes, a blanket or chair, and bug
spray. For more information, visit
www.whistlermuseum.org
.
