The Writers' Union of Canada : TWUC Publications

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $20.1 million in writing and publishing throughout Canada.

	The Ontario Arts Council is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

The Writers' Union of Canada has information available to writers regarding how to get published in book format, the publishing process, and the business of publishing in relation to writers. All of this information is available in book format, except for The Writers' Guide to Canadian Publishers, which is an online database and is available as a subscription (please see below).

Online Subscriptions:
Writers' Guide to Canadian Publishers (2006) $10.00
An informative list of publishers who currently accept unsolicited manuscripts.
Includes a breakdown of which genres the publishers specialize in.
Sample page: sample Writers' Guide to Canadian Publishers page.

This publication is available as an online subscription (not available in print), valid for one year, and is updated by Canadian Publishers. You can purchase your subscription by clicking the button below to take you to PayPal's site.

Publications:
Anthology Rates and Contracts (2006) $9.00
This document provides notes on contributions to anthologies, suggests minimum rates, and provides a suggested anthology contract.

Author & Editor (1983) $9.00
(By Rick Archbold, Doug Gibson, Dennis Lee, John Pearce, and Jan Walter) A booklet describing the relationship between author and editor, including a list of dos and don'ts for both parties.

Author and Literary Agent (2007) $5.00
Guidelines and responsibilities governing the relationship between the author and the literary agent.

From Page to Screen (1999) $9.00
A reference guide regarding options, film, and TV contracts for original literary works, including information on minimum and maximum rates paid.

Ghost Writing (1995) $9.00 (By Marian Hebb)
This publication includes various details to consider when negotiating a ghost writing agreement, including a sample contract.

Glossary of Publishing Terms (2003) $9.00
An aid to authors when dealing with the book publishing industry — usually during contract negotiations. Intended as a user-friendly, alphabetical reference guide to terms commonly used within the industry.

Income Tax Guide for Writers (2002) $9.00
A useful tax guide for those in the business of writing, including details aboutGST as it pertains to writers' income.

Incorporation for Writers (2001) $5.00
A guide for writers, including the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation.

New Technologies (2006) $9.00
Information on e-books and print-on-demand publishing.

Writers' Guide to Grants (2001) $9.00
An informative list of grants available to Canadian writers; includes information about writing samples, types of juries and how they judge, and application procedures.

CONTRACTS SELF-HELP PACKAGE
Model Trade Book Agreement (2010) and
Help Yourself to a Better Contract (2006): $25.00
If you have been offered a contract by a publisher, or anticipate such an offer in the near future, help is available. This package helps writers evaluate and negotiate contracts offered by publishers. The Model Trade Book Contract is an example of an equitable publishing agreement between an author and publisher. Help Yourself to a Better Contract (written for the Union by legal-counsel Marian Hebb) is a guide to the negotiation process, including a checklist of favourable contract provisions.

Model Trade Book Agreement (2010): This comprehensive model contract provides reasonable minimum terms for trade book contracts and is a useful comparative tool for evaluating your publisher's contract, complete with a model royalty statement.

Help Yourself to a Better Contract (2006): (By Marian Hebb) Checklist of favourable book contract provisions with advice on what to ask and what to watch for. Designed to aid writers in book contract negotiations with their publishers.

Please be aware of the following: The Union's Self-Help Package usually answers most writers' questions about publishing contracts, and the Union encourages writers to evaluate and negotiate their own contract; a publisher's contract (like other personal contracts) is not written in stone — it is a document to be negotiated; the publisher should provide sixty days in which you may consider the contract offer and seek advice; if you wish to use any of the Union's contract services, you should contact the Union as soon as possible after receiving a publishing offer.

How to Order:
Publications can be purchased by sending a cheque or money order in the mail with your request, or with VISA by contacting 416-703-8982 ext. 224. All prices include postage, handling, and GST.

Mail orders with payment to the Toronto office only:
The Writers' Union of Canada Publications
90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200
Toronto ON M5C 1P1

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