Writers might work alone much of the time, but they get together later and talk. And what talk! Still, whether they are sipping words over a cup of mint tea as the rain beads on the glass (hey, it happens), or typing in a cold basement late at night as the snow turns to a glacier outside, they need other writers and editors and publicists and friends, or they'll be homeless, in a literary sense. The country, and the world, are rich with organizations for writers. Many writers find community within them. Here are some useful ones.

Provincial Writers' Organizations
These are invaluable sites, often with manuscript reading services, information about contests, contacts, grants, awards, events, even bulletin boards. They are definitely worth a look-see.

• La Maison de la poésie
• Federation of BC Writers
• Writers' Guild of Alberta's site, includes a list of readings and writer's in residence.
• The Raving Poets are a lively group promoting performance and spoken word in Edmonton. Their site also welcomes submissions.
• Saskatchewan Writers' Guild
• Manitoba Writers' Guild: events, members services, bulletin board, manuscript reading service, contests, literary awards, resources.
• L'association des auteures et auteurs de l'Ontario français
• union des écrivaines et écrivains québécois
• Quebec Writer's Federation
• Writers' Federation of New Brunswick.
• Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia
• PEI Writers Guild.
• Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The Territorial Writers Association has no website, but organizes an annual conference and other activities. E-mail is writersofthenorth@hotmail.com.

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• The Yukon Arts Council: No website available: .
PO Box 5120, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 4S3 (403) 668-6284.
• British Columbia Arts Council.
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts
• Saskatchewan Arts Board.
• Manitoba Arts Council
• Ontario Arts Council.
• Toronto Arts Council
• Le Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Quebec
• Conseil des Arts de Montreal
• Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec in French and English.
• Nova Scotia Tourism and Culture.
• New Brunswick Arts Board
• Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council
• The Canada Council for the Arts

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National Writers' Organizations
These are invaluable sites, with much of the same benefits as the provincial sites, but operating in relationship to national goals and with the federal rather than the provincial governments. These are vital resources.

• The Writers Union of Canada, for writers of all genres, including poetry.
• The Canadian Poetry Association, our sister poetry organization.
• The Canadian Authors Association, the sister organization to the Writers' Union.
• CANSCAIP, for children's writing.
• The Canadian Conference of the Arts represents 200,000 cultural workers, and has some very valuable tax advice. Look it up. The Canadian Conference of the Arts is Canada's oldest and largest arts advocacy group. Founded in 1945 by the leading artists of the day, the CCA was created to impress upon governments and the general public the importance of the arts and cultural industries in Canadian society. The CCA is an independent, non-partisan organization and a registered charity. Online you will find a guide to the CCA's international activities, its national political activities, including submissions on New Media, Finance, and Cultural policy, valuable tax primers for artists and writers, and more.

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Copyright Organizations
These organizations are working to reimburse us for unpaid use of our writing, and to maintain the integrity of copyright. Essential reading.

• Access (formerly Cancopy) licenses literature for photocopying purposes and reimburses writers for that use. It also handles electronic rights.
• Public Lending Rights reimburses writers for library use of their books.

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International Writers' Organizations
These sites from other countries offer a different lens on poetry today.

• The Academy of American Poets is a major poetry organization in the USA.
• The Poetry Society of America has an extensive links page.
• The Writers Guild offers guidance in technical matters and markets.
• PEN Canada is the Canadian Centre of International PEN, the world association of writers, founded in England in 1921. PEN works on behalf of writers who are persecuted by governments for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression.
• The Poetry Society, part book-club, part publishing program, and a long-standing success, helps poets and poetry thrive in Britain, with class.
• The Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia also lists national and worldwide writers organizations.
• The English Regional Arts Boards Home Page provides links to, yes, arts boards throughout England.
• The Australian Society of Authors represents authors of all genres down under.

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