Joanne Betzler (she/her)
@jo-betzler.bsky.social
I am a late-blooming
#writer , scrambling to sort the clutter of stories in my head.
#writer , scrambling to sort the clutter of stories in my head.
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
The Writers’ Union of Canada has opened submissions for the 33rd annual Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers. This long-running competition highlights new voices in Canadian fiction and nonfiction, offering a $2,500 prize and publication consideration for the winner and eleven finalists.
December 12, 2025 at 4:42 PM
The Writers’ Union of Canada has opened submissions for the 33rd annual Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers. This long-running competition highlights new voices in Canadian fiction and nonfiction, offering a $2,500 prize and publication consideration for the winner and eleven finalists.
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Finally moving forward with TSPA. 📖 My publishing research/journey has felt confusing, discouraging and endless.Now, I feel heard. #theselfpublishingagency
December 12, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Finally moving forward with TSPA. 📖 My publishing research/journey has felt confusing, discouraging and endless.Now, I feel heard. #theselfpublishingagency
Score! I'm not always quick enough to catch the river traffic but love it when the timing is right. #outmybedroomwindow #FraserriverNewWest
November 29, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Score! I'm not always quick enough to catch the river traffic but love it when the timing is right. #outmybedroomwindow #FraserriverNewWest
rclas.com/wp-content/u...
2025 Write On Contest winners live now. Scroll a bit through some great pieces to find my short fiction Gun Control (2nd place)
2025 Write On Contest winners live now. Scroll a bit through some great pieces to find my short fiction Gun Control (2nd place)
November 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
rclas.com/wp-content/u...
2025 Write On Contest winners live now. Scroll a bit through some great pieces to find my short fiction Gun Control (2nd place)
2025 Write On Contest winners live now. Scroll a bit through some great pieces to find my short fiction Gun Control (2nd place)
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
The beautiful RCLAS 2025 Special Winter Edition of Wordplay at Work is now available free for download. It features the winners and runners up of the 2025 Write On! Contest. Enjoy for some winter reading!
rclas.com/2025-write-o...
rclas.com/2025-write-o...
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The beautiful RCLAS 2025 Special Winter Edition of Wordplay at Work is now available free for download. It features the winners and runners up of the 2025 Write On! Contest. Enjoy for some winter reading!
rclas.com/2025-write-o...
rclas.com/2025-write-o...
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
We're thrilled to offer a 90-minute Zoom session with agent Sara Megibow as a donor bonus for our GoFundMe. Donate $250CAD or more Nov 15 - 30 inclusive to get an invite to the Dec 4 Zoom. We're incredibly grateful to Sara for her generosity! www.gofundme.com/f/support-siwc
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
We're thrilled to offer a 90-minute Zoom session with agent Sara Megibow as a donor bonus for our GoFundMe. Donate $250CAD or more Nov 15 - 30 inclusive to get an invite to the Dec 4 Zoom. We're incredibly grateful to Sara for her generosity! www.gofundme.com/f/support-siwc
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Know a writer of exceptional promise with a manuscript in progress, who has faced significant barriers to fulfilling that promise? Yosef Wosk VMI Fellowship applications are open until November 10, 2025!
Apply at www.vancouvermanuscriptintensive.com @vmiprogram.bsky.social
Apply at www.vancouvermanuscriptintensive.com @vmiprogram.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Know a writer of exceptional promise with a manuscript in progress, who has faced significant barriers to fulfilling that promise? Yosef Wosk VMI Fellowship applications are open until November 10, 2025!
Apply at www.vancouvermanuscriptintensive.com @vmiprogram.bsky.social
Apply at www.vancouvermanuscriptintensive.com @vmiprogram.bsky.social
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Writers: couple new workshops coming up! First up is a session about what to do after you've written the manuscript (revision, thinking about publishing etc) and the second is a goal-setting and creation session on the very first Sunday of the new year!
myerswrites.substack.com/p/new-worksh...
myerswrites.substack.com/p/new-worksh...
October 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Writers: couple new workshops coming up! First up is a session about what to do after you've written the manuscript (revision, thinking about publishing etc) and the second is a goal-setting and creation session on the very first Sunday of the new year!
myerswrites.substack.com/p/new-worksh...
myerswrites.substack.com/p/new-worksh...
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~ Dorothy Parker
October 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." ~ Dorothy Parker
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
I really like the Surrey International Writer's Festival. It should be happening right now. But they canceled their event because of the workers who are fighting for a fair deal from the hotel that usually hosts the convention.
It was the right thing to do, but the cost to SIWC was $$$$$. help?
It was the right thing to do, but the cost to SIWC was $$$$$. help?
Donate to Support the Surrey International Writers' Conference!, organized by Jenn Striemer
For thirty-two years, the Surrey International Writers’ Conference… Jenn Striemer needs your support for Support the Surrey International Writers' Conference!
www.gofundme.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I really like the Surrey International Writer's Festival. It should be happening right now. But they canceled their event because of the workers who are fighting for a fair deal from the hotel that usually hosts the convention.
It was the right thing to do, but the cost to SIWC was $$$$$. help?
It was the right thing to do, but the cost to SIWC was $$$$$. help?
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Congratulations Laura!!!
September 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Congratulations Laura!!!
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Five Canadian horror novels you may not have read:
* Green Fuse Burning by @tiffmorris.bsky.social
* The Marigold by @afsulli.bsky.social
* Linghun by @aijiang.bsky.social
* The Hunger We Pass Down by @jensookfonglee.bsky.social
* No One Will Come Back For Us by @premeemohamed.com
* Green Fuse Burning by @tiffmorris.bsky.social
* The Marigold by @afsulli.bsky.social
* Linghun by @aijiang.bsky.social
* The Hunger We Pass Down by @jensookfonglee.bsky.social
* No One Will Come Back For Us by @premeemohamed.com
Five Canadian horror films you may not have seen:
* Red Rooms
* The Strings
* Clearcut
* The Editor
* Les Affamés
* Red Rooms
* The Strings
* Clearcut
* The Editor
* Les Affamés
If you follow me, I know you know this. But Canadian art and culture actually fucking rules now. ESPECIALLY our horror. This was a big topic of a panel I did with @daviddemchuk.com and @elliottgish.bsky.social a couple weeks ago.
October 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Five Canadian horror novels you may not have read:
* Green Fuse Burning by @tiffmorris.bsky.social
* The Marigold by @afsulli.bsky.social
* Linghun by @aijiang.bsky.social
* The Hunger We Pass Down by @jensookfonglee.bsky.social
* No One Will Come Back For Us by @premeemohamed.com
* Green Fuse Burning by @tiffmorris.bsky.social
* The Marigold by @afsulli.bsky.social
* Linghun by @aijiang.bsky.social
* The Hunger We Pass Down by @jensookfonglee.bsky.social
* No One Will Come Back For Us by @premeemohamed.com
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
On Sunday, Nov 2 at 2 PM PST, join Gail Anderson-Dargatz for Step Outside and Jumpstart Your Writing, a live online workshop all about getting out of your comfort zone to find new stories and creative energy.
You can register here: bcwriters.ca/event-6349094
You can register here: bcwriters.ca/event-6349094
October 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
On Sunday, Nov 2 at 2 PM PST, join Gail Anderson-Dargatz for Step Outside and Jumpstart Your Writing, a live online workshop all about getting out of your comfort zone to find new stories and creative energy.
You can register here: bcwriters.ca/event-6349094
You can register here: bcwriters.ca/event-6349094
When you wake up an hour or so early, panicking over demands and details of preparing to put your house up for sale, take a minute.
Look at the sunrise. Then zoom in a little, recognize how small your problems are in the universe's own massive scheme.
Take a breath get busy. #mindreset #breathe
Look at the sunrise. Then zoom in a little, recognize how small your problems are in the universe's own massive scheme.
Take a breath get busy. #mindreset #breathe
September 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
When you wake up an hour or so early, panicking over demands and details of preparing to put your house up for sale, take a minute.
Look at the sunrise. Then zoom in a little, recognize how small your problems are in the universe's own massive scheme.
Take a breath get busy. #mindreset #breathe
Look at the sunrise. Then zoom in a little, recognize how small your problems are in the universe's own massive scheme.
Take a breath get busy. #mindreset #breathe
I thought it was tomorrow, but a friend sent a message this morning and reminded us both 🤣 that today is our 31st anniversary. Happy Anniversary Grant 💗 #theloveofmylife #mybestfriend #timeflies
August 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I thought it was tomorrow, but a friend sent a message this morning and reminded us both 🤣 that today is our 31st anniversary. Happy Anniversary Grant 💗 #theloveofmylife #mybestfriend #timeflies
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
I was lucky enough to speak with Kate Braid about her new essay collection, The Erotics of Cutting Grass (@caitlinpress.bsky.social), at her book launch in May. We expanded on that conversation for a print interview which is now online at @eventmags.bsky.social. I hope you enjoy it!
The Relationship of Body and Harmony: Rob Taylor interviews Kate Braid - EVENT
Kate Braid has written many books of poetry and creative non-fiction. Her awards include for the Remarkable Woman of the Arts and Pandora’s Collective BC Mentor’s Awards in Vancouver, and for poetry, ...
www.eventmagazine.ca
August 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I was lucky enough to speak with Kate Braid about her new essay collection, The Erotics of Cutting Grass (@caitlinpress.bsky.social), at her book launch in May. We expanded on that conversation for a print interview which is now online at @eventmags.bsky.social. I hope you enjoy it!
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
Save the date for the next #TWSOchat on Sunday, September 14th at 10:30am (PDT). We will discuss How Do You Build Your Community? Join in with TWS alumni + mentors to ask q's and share your knowledge. #writerschat #WritingCommnunity
August 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Save the date for the next #TWSOchat on Sunday, September 14th at 10:30am (PDT). We will discuss How Do You Build Your Community? Join in with TWS alumni + mentors to ask q's and share your knowledge. #writerschat #WritingCommnunity
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
The rules are the rules because they’re the rules.
That seems to be the argument Port Coquitlam city council made when they decided last week to delay approving a supportive-housing development.
But that circular logic is why housing remains out of reach for many. @jfatkey.bsky.social writes.
That seems to be the argument Port Coquitlam city council made when they decided last week to delay approving a supportive-housing development.
But that circular logic is why housing remains out of reach for many. @jfatkey.bsky.social writes.
Vulnerable People Need Homes, Not Vacant Parking Stalls | The Tyee
The delay of a PoCo supportive-housing building illustrates the need for more flexibility by local politicians.
thetyee.ca
July 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The rules are the rules because they’re the rules.
That seems to be the argument Port Coquitlam city council made when they decided last week to delay approving a supportive-housing development.
But that circular logic is why housing remains out of reach for many. @jfatkey.bsky.social writes.
That seems to be the argument Port Coquitlam city council made when they decided last week to delay approving a supportive-housing development.
But that circular logic is why housing remains out of reach for many. @jfatkey.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
A beautiful night of poetry with amazing poets celebrating the winners of the #CogswellAward Dominique Bernier-Cormier and andrea bennett @akkabah.bsky.social with juror @roblucastaylor.bsky.social, host @jessicaleemcmillan.com and our champion @janetkvammen.bsky.social.
July 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A beautiful night of poetry with amazing poets celebrating the winners of the #CogswellAward Dominique Bernier-Cormier and andrea bennett @akkabah.bsky.social with juror @roblucastaylor.bsky.social, host @jessicaleemcmillan.com and our champion @janetkvammen.bsky.social.
Reposted by Joanne Betzler (she/her)
The next #TWSsprints will be in person at Waves Coffee House at Howe and Smithe this Sunday, July 27 at 10:30am (PDT). All writers are welcome to join in on the sessions. It's a great space for TWS online students to meet their cohort in person too. Everyone from the local writing community welcome!
July 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
The next #TWSsprints will be in person at Waves Coffee House at Howe and Smithe this Sunday, July 27 at 10:30am (PDT). All writers are welcome to join in on the sessions. It's a great space for TWS online students to meet their cohort in person too. Everyone from the local writing community welcome!