The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) offers three broad types of programs:
- Fostering programs create space, time, or occasion for writing, fulfilling our mission to foster creative writing and the profession of writing in Nova Scotia. (See also our Workshops.)
- Advisory programs facilitate direct writer-to-writer assistance, fulfilling our mission to provide advice and assistance to writers at all stages of their careers. (See also our Resources.)
- Recognition programs help writers grow their readerships, fulfilling our mission to encourage greater public recognition of writers and their achievements. (See also our public Events.)
The following table lists WFNS programs by type and by eligibility for writers of specific experience levels.
Summaries of (and links to) our individual programs can be found below this table.
| Program name | Type of program | Open to new & emerging writers? | Open to early-career authors? | Open to established & professional authors? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 for 50 Contest Series (50th anniversary program) | Fostering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Writers of Nova Scotia (50th anniversary program) | Recognition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program | Advisory | ✓ | ✓ if 'emerging' in the form submitted | ✓ if 'emerging' in the form submitted |
| Book Awards | Recognition | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Booktoberfest | Recognition | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee Chats | Advisory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ellemeno Visual Literature Prize | Recognition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emerging Writers Prizes | Fostering | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Jampolis Cottage Residency Program | Fostering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manuscript Review Program | Advisory | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Message on a Bottle | Fostering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Micro-Anthology Series | Recognition | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nova Writes Competition | Recognition | ✓ | ✓ if 'emerging' in the form submitted | ✓ if 'emerging' in the form submitted |
| Writers In The Schools | Fostering | — | ✓ | ✓ |
50th Anniversary Programs
The 50 for 50 Contest Series encourages Nova Scotians to reflect on the rich legacy of creative writing in our province—and to contribute to that legacy by creating and sharing new work.
The Writers of Nova Scotia profile series aims to explore and celebrate the diversity of writers across the province—including the variety of works they create and the range of backgrounds and experiences they draw from.
Annual Programs
The Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program supports writers who are on the cusp of professional publication and who are committed to their writing and creative development. It is a disciplined, focused, and supportive one-on-one mentorship program through which writers expand and hone their craft.
WFNS administers five book awards for Nova Scotian and Atlantic Canadian authors: two Nova Scotia Book Awards (for excellence in nonfiction and poetry) and three Atlantic Book Awards (for excellence in fiction, poetry, and YA & children’s literature). Each year’s shortlists introduce local, national, and international readers to a tremendous body of work and the vibrant literary culture of our region.
Booktoberfest is an annual literary festival that celebrates Nova Scotian authors & publishers—with a focus on books published over the past year—with sales, signings, and free creative writing workshops.
Our members-only Coffee Chats program connects writers who have questions about the writing life with experienced authors, who provide strategic advice and inspiration.
The Ellemeno Visual Literature Prize is an annual celebration of creative cross-pollination between the literary arts and the visual arts. The winning writer or artist receives a cash prize along with digital publication and a featured interview on the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia website.
WFNS administers three prizes for emerging and early-career writers, each of which recognizes a unique set of barriers to literary creation & recognition and supports writers as they advance book-length works-in-progress.
The Jampolis Cottage Residency Program provides writing residencies and writing retreats at Jampolis Cottage, a lovingly maintained and updated 230-year-old Georgian colonial house on the shores of the Minas Basin in Avonport, Nova Scotia.
Our members-only Manuscript Review Program connects writers with experienced and skilled authors and editors, who provide feedback and creative guidance on literary manuscripts, fiction query letters, and nonfiction pitches.
Message on a Bottle is an annual micro-writing contest for the publication of very short stories and poems on the labels of locally crafted beverages.
The Micro-Anthology Series provides publication opportunities and encourages Nova Scotian readers to discover local authors. Micro-anthologies are distributed for free in print and digital formats.
The Nova Writes Competition supports emerging writers in Nova Scotia—and more established writers exploring new forms—through developmental and publication opportunities. All entrants receive feedback from competition readers; finalists receive additional feedback from judges; and winning entries are published in the annual Nova Writes anthology.
Writers In The Schools (WITS) is WFNS’s most public educational outreach program, bringing award-winning Nova Scotian authors into elementary and secondary schools to provide presentations, workshops, and readings for students of every grade.
