Laila Doncaster

Canadian Authors Associations

Feb 25, 2018 | Author Resources, Canadian Author's Associations

It is so very important to be involved with your local Author and Writers Associations. Helpful and experienced professionals are at your disposal. Getting involved and staying involved is the key to becoming known. There are many writer’s groups out there, and yes, they are a fantastic resource and support, but you need to be a member of the association that is right for you and your genre. Get in the know, and get your memberships as soon as possible. Have I missed one? Tell me about it, and I’ll update this list.

Professional Writers Association of Canada

Editors Association of Canada

Writers Union of Canada

Writers Guild of Canada

Crime Writers of Canada

Canadian Authors

Speculative Fiction Canada

League of Canadian Poets

Outdoor Writers of Canada

Playwrights Guild of Canada

Canadian Writer’s Journal

Writer’s Relief – Submission Service

Writer’s Guild of Alberta Canada

Canadian Literary Agents – Listings

PACLA – Professional Association for Canadian Literary Agents

SOCAN – Music, Rights, Publishers Association

Canadian Urban Libraries Council

LoanStar – Libraries Book Voting System

Canadian Publishers & Associations

Feb 25, 2018 | Author Resources, Canadian Publishers & Associations

The best place to locate an Editor, Publisher, Publicist, register for and gain memberships within well-known Associations, here’s the list. Everything publishing, or rather ‘self-publishing’ and a whole lot more – getting involved and learning the industry from the ground up, will help you go farther than you could possibly imagine. Don’t delay, do it today. Are you connected to an association not listed here? Please tell me about it.

BookBaby – Free Guides

Association of Canadian Publishers

Canadian Publishers Council

Book Publishers Association of British Columbia

Book Publishers Association of Alberta

Book Publishers Association of Saskatchewan

Book Publishers Association of Manitoba

Book Publishers Association of Ontario

Book Publishers of Atlantic Canada

First Nations, Inuit, & Metis Publishers & Distributors

Canadian Music Publishers Association

Song Writers Association of Canada

News Media Canada

Literary Press Group of Canada

Magazines Canada

Wikipedia – Canadian Publishers

Penguin Random House – Associated Publishers

All Music – Free & Paid

Feb 25, 2018 | Author Resources, Music Resources

Looking for music for your book trailer, or perhaps just wanting to listen to something new? Here are the best websites that I’ve come across so far, for both free and paid music. Every genre under the stars, you’re bound to find that perfect tune. I love music, it inspires me in my writing, and I’m forever searching for that one song that will make my stories and thoughts come alive with emotion. Feel the beat, and go for a listen. If you know of a great music website that I haven’t listed yet, please contact me.

Free Soundtrack Music

MusOpen

SoundCloud

SoundClick

FMA – Free Music Archive

Zapsplat – Music & Sounds & their Licensing Policy

Free Music – Public Domain

UnRoyaly – Royalty Free Music

Online Education – Free & Paid

Feb 25, 2018 | Author Resources, Get Educated

I research a lot of topics, and I’ve come across a lot of resources. Many of these institutions offer free online courses – why not take advantage of that? Getting a Diploma, Certification, or striving forward to gain that PHD? Here’s your starting point, the beginning of a brand new future, a fresh start. Have you taken courses at any of these institutes? Let me know what your experience was like.

LayersMagazine – Tutorials

Creative Overflow – Imaging

Open2Study

Open Education Database

eCommerce SEO VideoSeries

Learn Adobe Suite

BlueLightningTV – Photoshop Tutorials

Learn Screenwriting with Lynda

Open Culture

Get Social – Essential Networks

Feb 25, 2018 | Author Resources, Social Media Essentials

As an author, it’s important to be visible to the public as much as possible, and Social Media is the key. So many tools out there, to get you connected, but also, and more importantly, for your readers to connect with you. No matter what your genre, there is a Network waiting for you, and with an open mind all of these Networks can provide you with stepping stones to success. Know of another great Network? Let me know!

Wikipedia – Social Networks List

Amazon Author Central

AZ Quotes

Authors Resources ~ Must Haves

Feb 24, 2018 | Author Resources, Authors Research

Authors need Resources – that’s a fact. Finding the right resource can be a total nightmare. Some of us, as newbie authors, have no idea just how vast and complex the book market and world really is. Here’s a list of just some of the incredible number of research and resources every author needs to know about. If you know of a great resource that’s not on my list, please tell me about it. Every author can be successful if they know the rules of the game, and where to locate those rules.

Government of Canada – Canadian Heritage

Retail Council of Canada

Canadian Electronic Library

National Library of Canada

Gutenberg Canada – Public Domain

Gutenberg Australia – Public Domain

Gutenberg USA – Public Domain