Author Archives: M Gardner

Magazines of British Columbia

Want to write for a magazine? This page is devoted to the magazines of British Columbia (BC). I’ve compiled as many legitimate ‘zines as I could, organized alphabetically within genres, to give you a one-stop shop for your outreach. If I’m missing any, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

What is a taboo deformation?

Some of the most common turns of phrase you’ve heard in life are taboo deformations, so what exactly are they? I’m so glad you asked! Taboo deformations are excellent stand-ins for things you don’t actually want to say — a minced oath, like “fudge!” for . . . well, you know — or things your culture is scared of saying — such as the word bear — and are definitely not taboo to say. These deformations are useful not just because they let us swear without swearing and talk about the unspeakable, but because they broaden our languages and provide creative fuel for storytellers. And as storytellers, we want all the tools in our language kits so we can tell the best stories.

Writers festivals in Nova Scotia

Packing a punch with their local festivals, the writing scene in Nova Scotia is lit! Now to get yourself more involved with it. Content here seems to focus a lot more specifically on Canadian topics, and the family-friendly options are interesting. Here are the writing festivals in Nova Scotia (NS) you need to know about and attend.

Writers festivals in Ontario

Being a writer is a whole gig. The writing part is hard enough, but add to that the pressure of getting your book seen and sold? Yikes. Luckily there are places you can go to commiserate and gain new skills and networks top help you out. If you’re in Ontario (ON), these are the writing festivals you should know about if you’re serious about your craft.

How to submit to Harlequin

So you want to be a romance writer, eh? I got you. Did you know you can submit to Harlequin, Canada, for free? Yep. Unsolicited, free submissions. There are obviously some strict rules around submissions, but Harlequin is quite friendly to new talent. I’ll take you through their submission process, and also give you some tips on writing a story for Harlequin.

Writers festivals in British Columbia

In a bit of a topical diversion from my usual posts, today I’m going to talk about all the writers festivals here in British Columbia (BC). One of the best ways to hone your craft is to be inspired by other writers and get constructive feedback on your own writing. Even if you’re already involved in a writing group at, say, your local library, you should consider some professional development with writers, editors, and various publishing industry professionals. Not only are these events good for your craft, they’re also good for your networking and marketing ideas.

How to use AI to help your writing

We’re in the age of AI, it’s true. Artificial intelligence is here to stay, so might as well make the best use of a new and (honestly) helpful tool. While there are important privacy and copyright considerations at this early stage, there are many ways to take full advantage of this software. We’ll get into them here in this article, and suggest a few ways to protect yourself when working with this new tool.

Why (fiction) writers should play D&D

By now, no non-traditional suggestions I make should surprise you. But on the off chance this one has, you really should hear me out when I tell you that writers should play Dungeons and Dragons, especially if writing fiction. There is a ton of overlap between how a D&D world is structured and world-building a story. IFYKY (if you know, you know), and if you don’t, that’s why you’re here! We’re going to explore the overlaps and suggest ways in which you can justif—I mean, utilize playing D&D with your friends to help you overcome writer’s block or work through a tricky character transition you’re not sure will hit.

Why you should set yourself writing homework

To write well, you actually need to, well, write! Writing is a skill that needs to be honed. What are you currently doing to sharpen that skill? If you want to take your writing to the next level, it’s time to take writing exercises seriously. It’s time to assign yourself some homework.