The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) is a professional

association Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...

representing professional

freelance ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...

writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, plays ...

in Canada, predominantly in the newspaper and magazine industries. However, PWAC members also write:

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

and newspaper articles,

books A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical ar ...

speeches This list of speeches includes those that have gained notability in English or in English translation. The earliest listings may be approximate dates. Before the 1st century *c.570 BC : Gautama Buddha gives his first sermon at Sarnath *431 ...

newsletters A newsletter is a printed or electronic report containing news concerning the activities of a business or an organization that is sent to its members, customers, employees or other subscribers. Newsletters generally contain one main topic of in ...

, media releases,

white papers A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper ...

, annual reports, advertising and

brochure A brochure is originally an Information, informative paper document (often also used for advertising) that can be folded into a template, pamphlet, or Folded leaflet, leaflet. A brochure can also be a set of related unfolded papers put into a po ...

copy, sales and marketing material, Web content,

training manual A training manual is a book or booklet of instructions, used to improve the quality of a performed task. Training manuals are widely used, including in business and the military. A training manual may be particularly useful as: * an introduction t ...

film script ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fea ...

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

documentaries, and much more.

History

The association was formerly known as the Periodical Writers Association of Canada but changed its name to better reflect reality in 2005. It was founded in 1976 and has nearly 600 members across Canada. There are three categories for membership: Professional Members (80% of members are Professional), Associate and Student (for full-time university students). PWAC's Mandate: * Develop and maintain professional standards in editor-writer and client-writer relationships. * Encourage higher industry standards and fees for all types of freelance writing. * Offset the isolation felt among freelance writers by providing networking opportunities, regular meetings and the chance for writers to share their experiences online and in person. * Provide professional development workshops and materials for members across the country. * Lobby for freedom of the press and

freedom of expression in Canada Freedom of expression in Canada is protected as a "fundamental freedom" by section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however, in practice the Charter permits the government to enforce "reasonable" limits censoring speech. Hate ...

. * Assist members in finding new business opportunities.

External links

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Writer Brett GraceAuthor Kyle DufordProfessional Writers Association of Canada fonds (R11523)
at

Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is th ...

Professional associations based in Canada Canadian writers' organizations {{Canada-org-stub