Laura Power
Northern News Services
Monday, July 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Writers in the Northwest Territories may have trouble accessing the resources they need, but according to Fort Smith writer Richard van Camp, this is about to change.

Author Richard van Camp of Fort Smith performs at Folk on the Rocks in Yellowknife earlier this month. He will be one of the guest artists at the Northwords Writers Festival in Yellowknife Aug. 2-4. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

Yellowknife will play host to the second annual Northwords Writers Festival later this week. Keeping with this year's theme, Stories From the Rock, authors from along the Canadian shield have been invited to participate by performing and hosting workshops throughout the three-day event.

Van Camp is one of the participating authors, and an organizing member of the festival. He said he feels this festival is an opportunity to showcase the writing talent in the territory.

"I think that there are writers in every community in the NWT," he said. "We wanted writers from Canadian Shield country from East to West Coast, and I think we've got a pretty rock solid lineup."

Other writers from within the territory include Shane L. Koyczan, a Yellowknifer who recently performed at Folk on the Rocks with his spoken word group T.O.F.U., and Mindy Willett, who will talk about storytelling. Authors from other parts of Canada who will be in Yellowknife for the event include Michael Johansen and Drew Hayden Taylor.

Wayne Johnston, author of novels such as The Colony of Unrequited Dreams and The Custodian of Paradise was scheduled to appear, but was unable to make it. His replacement will be Deborah Ellis, an award-winning children's author now living in Ontario.

Jennifer Knowlan, president of the Northwords Writers Festival Association, said this is "a chance to learn from local and visiting authors."

It is also a chance for people to take part in a writing competition along the theme of "Seriously Northern," where the stories must be about what's great about living in the North. The deadline is midnight Aug. 2. The winner will be announced Aug. 4.

She said the festival will also have workshops, a comedy night, an open mic and a storytelling barbecue.

"People of any kind of level or stage are welcome to sign up," she said. "There should be something for everybody."

Van Camp said that growing up in Fort Smith, he never got this kind of experience with writers and performers from outside his community. He said accessibility is one of the main problems for people who want to tap into the industry.

"The problem most artists face in the NWT is accessibility to agents, editors, peer support and publishing houses," he said.

"This festival is a bridge for questions, support, celebration, inspiration and encouragement."

Van Camp will host a workshop based on comics and graphic novels during the festival. Other workshops will include "Secrets of the Writing World" with playwright Drew Hayden Taylor and "Magazine Writing" by Above and Beyond editor Annelies Pool.

People looking for advice about the craft will also be given a chance to have one-on-one sessions with the visiting authors.