Writer Sanctum

Writer's Haven => Quill and Feather Pub [Public] => Topic started by: ImaWriter on September 24, 2018, 07:27:51 AM

Title: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 24, 2018, 07:27:51 AM
I saw the Australian thread and thought we should start one for Canadian authors as well. The original KB thread had a ton of relevant info, so maybe we can replicate a lot of it here.

Feel free to ask any Canadian specific questions, add useful tips, or just shout out I AM CANADIAN!

ETA. I like Eugene's idea, so I'm adding relevant links here. Much easier for everyone to find.

Canadian Banks w/US Based Accounts
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/cross-border-banking/index-i-or.html (promotion good to 11/30/2018)
https://www.rbcbank.com/index.html (the regular link of the above)
https://www.tdcanadatrust.com/products-services/banking/cross-border-banking/index.jsp

It's been a while since I researched these, so do your due diligence. I used to have the TD account, but now have the RBC. (Because I was pissed at TD in general, not because of this account.) IIRC, TD automatically gives you a better conversion rate when you transfer your money, but the fees are higher. To get the better rate with RBC, you need the premium cross border account. Depending on your sales, the higher fees may not be the smartest choice. But hey, they're a write off!

Free ISBN for Canadians
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx

Copyright in Canada
https://cb-cda.gc.ca/act-loi/index-e.html

(can get guide emailed chapter by chapter or buy one)
http://www.bdc-canada.com/BDC/services/Copyright_reg.htm?msclkid=59f3e4a72f38100beb1dbf0f064fca7d

The Writers' Union of Canada
https://www.writersunion.ca/ghostwriting
Members can offer ghostwriting. Membership cost is $100 for the first year, then $205 each subsequent year. There's a discount if you're over 80.  :icon_rofl:
Quote
For a book of 60,000 to 90,000 words, the Union recommends a total minimum fee of $40,000, payable as follows: 15% on signing; 10% on delivery of detailed outline; 25% on delivery of first draft of one chapter; 25% on delivery of first draft of entire manuscript; and 25% on delivery of revised manuscript.


If anyone has useful links, add them to a post below and then PM me so I know they're there. I'll add them here. Thanks Eugene, for suggesting this.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Tulonsae on September 24, 2018, 07:30:48 AM
Can someone post the details about how to do the "get an account in Canada that lets you get US funds deposited in the US and easily transferred into CDN"? I think it was something like "get account at CIBC and specify the US Georgia branch".
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 24, 2018, 07:34:44 AM
I have an RBC Cross Border account.

They have a promo on right now, and it's dead easy to sign up.   http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/cross-border-banking/index-i-or.html

One thing to note, if you go with the higher priced chequing account, you get a higher conversion rate when you move your money from your US to CAD account.  So it's a good idea to crunch some numbers to see if that benefits you.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Trina Lee on September 24, 2018, 09:11:42 AM
Fellow Canadian here! Saying hello from Edmonton, Alberta.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: RappaDizzy on September 24, 2018, 09:30:29 AM
I am Canadian  :banana:

Greetings from the shores of Lake Erie. :mhk9U91:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: RappaDizzy on September 24, 2018, 10:09:40 AM
And how about adding links like this along with your RBC Cross Border account info in your first post as a 'sticky'

Free ISBN for Canadians

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx)

Copyright in Canada

https://cb-cda.gc.ca/act-loi/index-e.html (https://cb-cda.gc.ca/act-loi/index-e.html)

(can get guide emailed chapter by chapter or buy one)

http://www.bdc-canada.com/BDC/services/Copyright_reg.htm?msclkid=59f3e4a72f38100beb1dbf0f064fca7d (http://www.bdc-canada.com/BDC/services/Copyright_reg.htm?msclkid=59f3e4a72f38100beb1dbf0f064fca7d)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: guest120 on September 24, 2018, 10:31:04 AM
Greetings, fellow Canadian Earthlings. Take me to your litre.
 :banana-riding-llama-smiley-em
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on September 24, 2018, 10:55:06 AM
Greetings, fellow Canadian Earthlings. Take me to your litre.
 :banana-riding-llama-smiley-em
Sorry dude.  I still drink my rum from a 40 ouncer
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: guest120 on September 24, 2018, 11:18:20 AM
Quote
Sorry

My people!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 24, 2018, 11:32:10 AM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.


Don't we all love the free ISBNs?  :banana:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Virginia McClain on September 24, 2018, 11:50:05 AM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.


Don't we all love the free ISBNs?  :banana:


The free ISBNs are the best! I am not actually Canadian yet. Just a legal permanent resident for the moment. But I'll be applying for citizenship in the near future. Meanwhile, I live with my Canadian spouse and our Canadian daughter in the city of Winterpeg.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on September 24, 2018, 12:01:39 PM
Canadian here. Hello!!

I have my Georgia RBC US bank account. I also have a US bank account on the Canadian side. It's a pain, but I transfer from the US side to the Canadian side and don't pay any conversion fees unless you mean then converting the US funds to Canadian? I tend to leave the US money there for trips to the US, or to pay off my US Visa account.

When I do convert from US to Canadian, I use one of those currency stores. As one of the bank tellers told me, you get a better rate from them.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on September 24, 2018, 12:03:00 PM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.


Don't we all love the free ISBNs?  :banana:


The free ISBNs are the best! I am not actually Canadian yet. Just a legal permanent resident for the moment. But I'll be applying for citizenship in the near future. Meanwhile, I live with my Canadian spouse and our Canadian daughter in the city of Winterpeg.

Winnipegger here! Hey, Alberta got snow a week before we did.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Virginia McClain on September 24, 2018, 12:22:57 PM

Winnipegger here! Hey, Alberta got snow a week before we did.


True! Wonders never cease. ;-)


ETA: Also, hi!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: guest116 on September 24, 2018, 12:37:43 PM
Hello from Ontario!  I never bothered with a US branch, etc. I just use my TD account for KDP and Payoneer for CreateSpace. I guess I'm not going to need the Payoneer account so much going forward.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: RappaDizzy on September 24, 2018, 12:48:53 PM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.
Don't we all love the free ISBNs?  :banana:

The free ISBNs are the best! I am not actually Canadian yet. Just a legal permanent resident for the moment. But I'll be applying for citizenship in the near future. Meanwhile, I live with my Canadian spouse and our Canadian daughter in the city of Winterpeg.


You will know you’ve become Canadian when you go to Florida and people look at you strange...and you realize you used “toonie” and “loonie” in a sentence. And you know what h-e-double-hockey-sticks means.... :icon_lol:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Virginia McClain on September 24, 2018, 12:51:23 PM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.
Don't we all love the free ISBNs?  :banana:

The free ISBNs are the best! I am not actually Canadian yet. Just a legal permanent resident for the moment. But I'll be applying for citizenship in the near future. Meanwhile, I live with my Canadian spouse and our Canadian daughter in the city of Winterpeg.


You will know you’ve become Canadian when you go to Florida and people look at you strange...and you realize you used “toonie” and “loonie” in a sentence. And you know what h-e-double-hockey-sticks means.... :icon_lol:


Well, if that's all it takes then I'm already Canadian. ;-) Except I never go to Florida. I do my snowbirding in Arizona (cause I'm sorta-kinda from AZ anyway).
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Tulonsae on September 24, 2018, 06:53:43 PM
I live in Greater Vancouver. We immigrated here 10 years ago and became citizens 5 years ago.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writer's Support Thread
Post by: Steve on September 24, 2018, 11:09:50 PM
Reporting for duty! I'm in Montreal, the land of language confusion and language police.
Salut... from the Montreal suburbs! :mhk9U91:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: EllieL on September 25, 2018, 12:13:41 AM
Hello from Climax, SK! Just a teensy little village in SW Saskatchewan that we moved to a couple years back from the big city of Calgary. Still work in Calgary, so I am only home one week out of the month. Just waiting for this writing thing to make me a million so I can be home with hubby and the dogs full time!


Still waiting...
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Royal Editorial (Katie) on September 25, 2018, 03:16:20 AM
Hello from the centre of the universe! Three guesses at my city. :P
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Steve on September 25, 2018, 03:25:28 AM
Hello from the centre of the universe! Three guesses at my city. :P
LOL Nice try, Moose Jaw  Grin
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 25, 2018, 03:39:45 AM
Hello from Climax, SK!

Please tell me you write erotica!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on September 25, 2018, 04:46:09 AM
Please tell me you write erotica!

That was my first thought :).

Still in Saskatchewan, but I want to be able to retire somewhere in the countryside in Alberta in the next few years. I just need to write some best-selling books so I can afford it.

Or go total redneck and buy one of the acreages with a cheap mobile home.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 25, 2018, 05:31:03 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?


I used to. But then, realizing that I sell mostly to the USA, I changed my spelling to American English.

I still use the metric system, though, just because I have a lot of sci-fi elements in my writing (and I consider myself mostly a sci-fi writer).


Salut... from the Montreal suburbs! :mhk9U91:


Hey, there!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: guest120 on September 25, 2018, 05:35:20 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?

I used to. But then, realizing that I sell mostly to the USA, I changed my spelling to American English.

I still use the metric system, though, just because I have a lot of sci-fi elements in my writing (and I consider myself mostly a sci-fi writer).

I use American English because that's the market I'm most focused on at the moment. I think more Americans would have an issue with Canadian spelling of certain words than Canadians would seeing American spelling of words.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on September 25, 2018, 05:36:05 AM
I use Canadian English. So far none of the reviews I've seen have given that as a reason for not liking the book.

The last novel I wrote is set in England, so it kept jumping from metric to imperial units as the PoV switched between the teenage character who grew up on metres and kilograms and the fifty-something character who grew up on feet and pounds.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Tulonsae on September 25, 2018, 05:36:24 AM
I write in American English.

For one, it's my natural English. (I was 50 when we immigrated here. Although I use Canadian English here as much as possible.)

For another, my books (if they sell) would be more accepted in the US market. I belong to a local writers' group (for several years) here - and I'm reasonably certain that I can't write anything that would appeal to the Canadian market. (I know there's some cross over.)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Steve on September 25, 2018, 05:44:24 AM
I use American English. I write contemporary thrillers based in the US.

Since French is my native language, I pretty much decided from the start to skip Canadian English. Just because. Who knew it would be a useful decision decades later? :)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Royal Editorial (Katie) on September 25, 2018, 05:49:41 AM
Canadian English! I don't sell enough to know if anyone hates it. :)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on September 25, 2018, 05:51:53 AM
Since French is my native language, I pretty much decided from the start to skip Canadian English. Just because. Who knew it would be a useful decision decades later? :)

I had a hard time deciding how much French to include in my French-Foreign-Legion-in-space novel. In the end I just used it now and again and assumed people would imagine the characters speaking it the rest of the time.

So, yeah, effectively French people in space speaking Canadian English in subtitles :). But it was my best-selling book for a year or more, regardless of that.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Steve on September 25, 2018, 05:56:09 AM
So, yeah, effectively French people in space speaking Canadian English in subtitles
#TrueFact :Tup3a:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Virginia McClain on September 25, 2018, 06:37:21 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?


I used to. But then, realizing that I sell mostly to the USA, I changed my spelling to American English.

I still use the metric system, though, just because I have a lot of sci-fi elements in my writing (and I consider myself mostly a sci-fi writer).


Salut... from the Montreal suburbs! :mhk9U91:


Hey, there!


I use American English, largely because it's what I'm most familiar with, but also because of the market. However, I prefer grey (British) to gray (North American) and luckily, my editor supports this choice. Meanwhile, I just can't get behind the extra vowels in Canadian English. ;-) (I totally use metric wherever possible though.)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Royal Editorial (Katie) on September 25, 2018, 07:00:41 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?


I used to. But then, realizing that I sell mostly to the USA, I changed my spelling to American English.

I still use the metric system, though, just because I have a lot of sci-fi elements in my writing (and I consider myself mostly a sci-fi writer).


Salut... from the Montreal suburbs! :mhk9U91:


Hey, there!


I use American English, largely because it's what I'm most familiar with, but also because of the market. However, I prefer grey (British) to gray (North American) and luckily, my editor supports this choice. Meanwhile, I just can't get behind the extra vowels in Canadian English. ;-) (I totally use metric wherever possible though.)


Nooo our vowels are the best!


Except manoeuver. That word's messed up.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Virginia McClain on September 25, 2018, 07:25:23 AM

Nooo our vowels are the best!

Except manoeuver. That word's messed up.


I'm sorry but I can't help but pronounce colour, valour, and honour as if they all contain the word 'our' at the end, and it makes me laugh every time!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Royal Editorial (Katie) on September 25, 2018, 07:32:24 AM

Nooo our vowels are the best!

Except manoeuver. That word's messed up.


I'm sorry but I can't help but pronounce colour, valour, and honour as if they all contain the word 'our' at the end, and it makes me laugh every time!


But without the U everything would be pronounced like Hodor! And that's even funnier.


(Confession: I actually have no preference and am happy to read either.)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 25, 2018, 10:37:13 PM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?

It depends.

If I write something set in T.O. I'll use Canadian English, but most of my books are set in the US since that's my biggest audience, so for those I use US English.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: EllieL on September 26, 2018, 01:32:33 AM
Hello from Climax, SK!

Please tell me you write erotica!


lol sorry, I tried my hand at erotica, but I just blush too damn hard. But I do write romance, and some of my love scenes can be pretty steamy.
The name of the village is what drew us to look around at homes. We figured, if people lived in a place called Climax, they had to be pretty awesome folks. And they are. We love it there. Incidentally, the town motto is 'You may be coming or going, but you always get to Climax.' Grin
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Steve on September 26, 2018, 01:37:46 AM
Incidentally, the town motto is 'You may be coming or going, but you always get to Climax.' Grin
:icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Trina Lee on September 26, 2018, 01:54:55 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?

I write in American English. My first few books were published with a small US press before I went indie and they edited everything to be American English. I kept going with it since the majority of my sales/audience tend to be in the US.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: guest116 on September 26, 2018, 05:07:43 AM
Question: Does anyone write in Canadian English?


I used to. But then, realizing that I sell mostly to the USA, I changed my spelling to American English.

I still use the metric system, though, just because I have a lot of sci-fi elements in my writing (and I consider myself mostly a sci-fi writer). 


I write in American English. I wrote textbooks for years for Osborne/McGraw-Hill and Coriolis Technology Press. The editors there hated my 'u's and double 'l's, so I quickly learned to adjust my writing to American English. It's so drilled into me that Canadian English just looks wrong to me now.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Rebecca M on September 27, 2018, 03:46:31 AM
I'm in Northern Ontario, planning on my first release next March or April.


I feel like I have to write in Canadian English. Other than some of the obvious words (ex. colour, favour) I wouldn't even notice I was picking the "wrong" spelling for a lot of things and would have to slow down to think about it.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on September 27, 2018, 03:51:44 AM
Spelling is the easy part, since the word processor can do it for you. The difficult part is using the correct words the way an American would, which is one reason I avoid writing stories set in America.

That said, I have two different versions of LibreOffice installed on two different PCs, and they disagree about Canadian spelling for some words.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 27, 2018, 05:39:14 AM
:mhk9U91:
Hey, Edward!

I sent you a PM the other day about the sig you said you lost. Did you get it?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on September 27, 2018, 05:40:40 AM
I sent you a PM the other day about the sig you said you lost. Did you get it?

Yeah, but I completely deleted it from kboards rather than just disabling it.

I should create a new one anyway, since it was mostly old books on there that I hadn't updated in quite some time.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: ImaWriter on September 27, 2018, 07:35:01 AM
I sent you a PM the other day about the sig you said you lost. Did you get it?

Yeah, but I completely deleted it from kboards rather than just disabling it.

I should create a new one anyway, since it was mostly old books on there that I hadn't updated in quite some time.

Okay, I guess you didn't see my post here -- in the thread where you mentioned it. I think it was in the let everyone know you're here thread.

I found your KB sig in Google cache and copy/pasted it for you in the above mentioned thread.  I'll see if I can find it and add it. 

ETA:  :mhk9U91: check this post. It has your old sig:  https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=64.msg2693#msg2693
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: CindyCarroll on September 27, 2018, 10:33:58 AM
I'm here!

I also have the RBC cross border account and I don't pay a fee either.

I set all of my books (except one series) in Canada but I write in American English since that's where most of my sales will be. Wondering if I should change them to Canadian English though.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on September 28, 2018, 09:07:51 AM
Hi everyone! I'm in West Quebec, about 30 min from the bridge into Ottawa. I switched to US spellings for the last couple of books but there was no reason. The readers didn't care. I just got it into my head it was an issue and it's not really. (I found). It's weird typing "color" instead of "colour". Looks naked without the 'u.'


(I'm suffering Canadian guilt because a Canadian company was the monkey wrench for WC.  :icon_rolleyes:  Anyone else?)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: maiasepp on September 29, 2018, 02:18:56 AM
Greetings from Toronto! Any one else from these parts?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: RappaDizzy on September 29, 2018, 01:52:31 PM

(I'm suffering Canadian guilt because a Canadian company was the monkey wrench for WC.  :icon_rolleyes:  Anyone else?)


Typical Canadian.


Sorry for breaking your board eh!  Grin
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: oganalp on October 02, 2018, 12:57:04 PM
Hey there!


Recently moved to Canada (about 15 months ago). Do you have any suggestions for any guilds, groups, associations, etc. to join? The ups and downs of these organizations, etc?


I attended to the Word on the Street at Toronto Harbourfront back on 23rd, but couldn't find much in this sense.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on October 02, 2018, 08:36:21 PM
Hey there!


Recently moved to Canada (about 15 months ago). Do you have any suggestions for any guilds, groups, associations, etc. to join? The ups and downs of these organizations, etc?


I attended to the Word on the Street at Toronto Harbourfront back on 23rd, but couldn't find much in this sense.


I'm assuming you write fantasy. There's this association which is open to indies: http://www.sfcanada.org/


I know there are some smaller regional writers' groups, but I don't know much about them.


You can also check which associations are listed in the Writers' Coalition program, in case you want/need extended health insurance or just to check some more groups. https://www.writerscoalition.ca/guest
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Edward M. Grant on October 06, 2018, 04:20:16 AM
ETA:  :mhk9U91: check this post. It has your old sig:  https://writersanctum.com/index.php?topic=64.msg2693#msg2693

Thanks. Looks like I'll have to convert it back from HTML to board format.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Rickie Blair on October 06, 2018, 08:30:11 AM
Is anyone going to the Kobo Writing Life Indie Author Library Night in Toronto on Oct. 11?
It was mentioned in the last KWL blog (and on their website).
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on October 07, 2018, 10:08:14 AM
Reporting in from the real north (Whitehorse, YT). With RBC too. And love the ISBNs.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: RappaDizzy on October 10, 2018, 05:51:47 AM
Here is a link to the Writer’s Union of Canada - this particular link is about ghostwriting and what you could make if you’re interested & someone likes your work https://www.writersunion.ca/ghostwriting (https://www.writersunion.ca/ghostwriting)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: oganalp on October 12, 2018, 04:06:21 AM
Is anyone going to the Kobo Writing Life Indie Author Library Night in Toronto on Oct. 11?
It was mentioned in the last KWL blog (and on their website).

I won't be attending this as I have to give a Macroecon exam in the morning. Could you please share your thoughts if you attend?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Rickie Blair on October 12, 2018, 04:17:34 AM
Is anyone going to the Kobo Writing Life Indie Author Library Night in Toronto on Oct. 11?
It was mentioned in the last KWL blog (and on their website).

I won't be attending this as I have to give a Macroecon exam in the morning. Could you please share your thoughts if you attend?

Sadly, I can't make it either.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on October 12, 2018, 09:20:14 AM
I have a question re: CreateSpace-KDP merge. I have royalties owing b/c being in Canada, I get a cheque when the USD hits $100, GBP 100 and Euro 100. I'm nowhere near 100 in GBP or Euro but the USD was close before the switch.
I emailed Amazon and asked what happens to those balances since I can't hit the magic 100 without sales on CS (cause the catalogue is moved). They said the balances have been shifted over to my KDP account and yes, they have. But they're in the months they were earned--months that have already been paid out by KDP.

At what point will Amazon pay the CS royalties? I assume they'll use direct deposit, but do they wait to hit the $100 mark? I don't get the accounting on this.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: EllieL on October 12, 2018, 11:19:27 AM
Good question. I got paid via a Payoneer card that I'd used to set up my CS account. A whopping 2.25!
I'm sorry I don't have an answer. You may have to contact support to ask.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on October 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
I have a question re: CreateSpace-KDP merge. I have royalties owing b/c being in Canada, I get a cheque when the USD hits $100, GBP 100 and Euro 100.

At what point will Amazon pay the CS royalties? I assume they'll use direct deposit, but do they wait to hit the $100 mark? I don't get the accounting on this.

I'm in the same situation. I'll wait for next month's KDP payments/reports, and I believe the CS royalties will be included then. The amounts are in previous months, but I think they'll pay them soon. Also, since KDP doesn't have a $100 minimum, they'll have pay right away (in one or two months). I'll wait a little to see what happens, and if they include them with the next payment.

I don't think they'll hold our payments forever because we didn't reach $100. If anything, that's one good thing about the CS/KDP merge; less waiting to get paid for paperback sales, at least for me because it takes me a while to reach $100.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Rickie Blair on October 13, 2018, 12:31:23 AM
I questioned KDP about this very thing. Here's their somewhat confusing answer:

Yes, your unpaid CreateSpace royalties will be paid based on the KDP payment method.

Royalties earned through CreateSpace that do not meet the minimum threshold will move with your books and account information to KDP.

If you move from CreateSpace to KDP in September and your earned royalties are above the minimum threshold, you will receive your payments on the following schedule:

- August CreateSpace royalties will be paid at the end of September.
- September CreateSpace royalties will be paid at the end of October.
- September KDP royalties will be paid at the end of November.
- October KDP royalties will be paid at the end of December.
- November KDP royalties will be paid at the end of January.

To learn more about KDP’s payment schedule and payment thresholds, check our Help page:
https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200641050
 

I moved my books early this month. My "prior month's royalties" in KDP show a small CS payment for September, below CS's normal payment threshold. But my CS dashboard still shows royalties owing.

So, I'm baffled. Maybe I'll get another payment at the end of this month? Who knows?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on October 13, 2018, 03:41:32 AM
Yes, that's pretty much what they told me too. I made the move on Sept 14. I've been accruing royalties throughout the year on CS and now I see those CS royalties listed in the months they were earned in in the KDP reports. (They're still listed in my CS account too so that's bewildering.)

Based on that email they sent Rickie, I'm guessing everything I've earned through CS should be paid this month cause those royalties were earned at the beginning of the year. My last sale was in August. Nothing has come in since the move. Could be a nice boost. I had given up ever meeting the threshold to get the GBP or Euro royalties.  :hehe

Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Desomond X. Torres on November 13, 2018, 07:51:31 AM
Just stopping in to say 'Yo'...
Transplanted NY'er, moved here 32 years ago. I live in Kingston, ON and loving every minute. My wife and I got involved w/Indie pubbing back in 2012 when I found out just how much of a PITA it would be to submit and go the trad pub route with my first MS. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was sooo naive back then... visions of Oprah's Book Club danced in my head, but I didn't have a clue on story structure! LOL (@ moi)

Currently, we pub under my wife's name, along w/ some other stuff. It's been a ride. The learning curve in this gig is so steep, esp when you're in your 60's and not super savvy re the internet.

We now do this full time. The $$'s okay. Not a member of the five figure club by any stretch, but there's plenty of good times at half that. If I knew how much work it would take when I started I never would have begun. If I knew how rewarding it was going to be, I'd have started twenty years ago! LOL

Enjoy the process everyone!
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Rhett Gervais on November 15, 2018, 03:27:28 PM
Bonjour de Montréal!

Glad to meet some of my fellow crazy Canucks :)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: angela on November 16, 2018, 10:46:48 AM
Hello, fellow keeners! Greetings from the soggy west coast.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on January 18, 2019, 06:28:40 AM
Did any of you get paid for your outstanding CS royalties last year that fell under the $100 threshold? And does it pay out in a cheque as per usual?

Thanks all.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: EllieL on January 18, 2019, 08:20:08 AM
Mine was included with one of my KDP payments. Sorry, can't recall which right now, but I think it was November.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: maiasepp on January 19, 2019, 07:11:52 AM
Did any of you get paid for your outstanding CS royalties last year that fell under the $100 threshold? And does it pay out in a cheque as per usual?

Thanks all.

I was owed about $90 and never got it. I haven't had the energy to go after it. I think I'm still hoping they'll send it to me :)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on February 14, 2019, 12:41:50 PM
Keyword: PRINT BOOK SHIPPING TO CANADA

I'm using Ingram for one of my books, and I just realized that it's cheaper to order it from Europe. It makes no sense whatsoever... Anyways, if I order it from the US, it's $19.50 including shipping, printing, etc. and if I order it from the UK, it's $13 Euros, which comes to less than the price from the USA.

Does anyone have a similar experience? I only realized it because I was going to send a book to a blogger in the Philippines, and it was cheaper than ordering a book for myself.  :icon_think: Then I decided to calculate the cost to send it to me from Europe, and was surprised.

Ugh. Either way, that's why I never send or do giveaways with autographed books, because for me it's usually cheaper to send the print book directly from Ingram or from Amazon. For this book, I'll do only Ingram, though. I find that I don't sell enough paperbacks to justify two PODs.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Phronk on February 22, 2019, 10:36:26 PM
Hi everyone! Just checking in here, since I live in Canada, and London, Ontario more specifically. It’s one of those cities where a lot of writers do their things independently, but once in a while they come out of their offices and show just how much awesome writing is getting done around here (e.g. the annual Wordsfest, http://wordsfest.ca/).

Nice to see this thread. It reminds me that I should check my KDP Print earnings to make sure it all moved from Createspace correctly. :)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: LeoBrophy on March 08, 2019, 12:07:05 AM
I'm in Toronto but I'm actually an economic refugee from newfoundland originally. Interesting site.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on April 05, 2019, 11:18:29 PM
Anyone using Draft2Digital? I plan to publish two books in the next 4-6 weeks and wonder if I should get my own ISBN rather than have D2D assign one.

Anyone have any other advice on D2D? Any tips?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on April 06, 2019, 12:51:42 AM
Anyone using Draft2Digital? I plan to publish two books in the next 4-6 weeks and wonder if I should get my own ISBN rather than have D2D assign one.

Anyone have any other advice on D2D? Any tips?

Considering Library and Archives Canada offers free ISBNs to Canadian publishers, there is no reason whatsoever to take a distributor's ISBN. 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b)
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: LeoBrophy on April 06, 2019, 01:12:58 AM
I've done this too. It's a great suggestion and I got ISBN's from Archives Canada.

[/quote]

Considering Library and Archives Canada offers free ISBNs to Canadian publishers, there is no reason whatsoever to take a distributor's ISBN. 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b)
[/quote]
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on April 06, 2019, 09:34:01 AM
Anyone using Draft2Digital? I plan to publish two books in the next 4-6 weeks and wonder if I should get my own ISBN rather than have D2D assign one.

Anyone have any other advice on D2D? Any tips?

Considering Library and Archives Canada offers free ISBNs to Canadian publishers, there is no reason whatsoever to take a distributor's ISBN. 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b)

I understand that I could get them from Archives Canada. So the consensus is to do that. Thanks.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Phronk on April 08, 2019, 10:17:05 PM

Considering Library and Archives Canada offers free ISBNs to Canadian publishers, there is no reason whatsoever to take a distributor's ISBN. 

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx#b)

Is there an advantage to this? Why not just take D2D’s free ISBN so you only have to click one button?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on May 18, 2019, 12:50:43 AM
Another question about ISBNs. I'm setting up my paperback on Amazon, and it's asking me the Imprint. I got my ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Are they the imprint?

If not, who is? I can't seem to figure this part out.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on May 18, 2019, 12:59:27 AM
Another question about ISBNs. I'm setting up my paperback on Amazon, and it's asking me the Imprint. I got my ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Are they the imprint?

If not, who is? I can't seem to figure this part out.
No they're not. 

Definition of imprint as per the dictionary:  the name of a publisher as it appears on a particular set of books.

You're the publisher.  Under what name do you publish?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on May 18, 2019, 01:05:49 AM
Another question about ISBNs. I'm setting up my paperback on Amazon, and it's asking me the Imprint. I got my ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Are they the imprint?

If not, who is? I can't seem to figure this part out.
No they're not. 

Definition of imprint as per the dictionary:  the name of a publisher as it appears on a particular set of books.

You're the publisher.  Under what name do you publish?

I'm the publisher. So my name?

Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on May 18, 2019, 02:36:00 AM
Your name, or whatever you want to name your self-publishing business.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on July 23, 2019, 02:28:07 AM
Possibly a stupid question, but I'm full of those.

I published back in May and got my first royalties set up to go to my RBC Georgia account. I see a lot of "Pending info from bank" on the payments dashboard. Do I need to do anything, or does it take some time for the bank to catch up on this?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on July 23, 2019, 03:15:22 AM
Possibly a stupid question, but I'm full of those.

I published back in May and got my first royalties set up to go to my RBC Georgia account. I see a lot of "Pending info from bank" on the payments dashboard. Do I need to do anything, or does it take some time for the bank to catch up on this?
All of the "Pendings" on your payments dashboard will stay that way until after the payments hit your account, since Amazon won't know what exchange rate your bank used and the final amount in CAD until the bank sends a confirmation back to Amazon after it receives the transfers.  And the payments won't hit your account until the 29th.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on July 23, 2019, 03:51:23 AM
Possibly a stupid question, but I'm full of those.

I published back in May and got my first royalties set up to go to my RBC Georgia account. I see a lot of "Pending info from bank" on the payments dashboard. Do I need to do anything, or does it take some time for the bank to catch up on this?
All of the "Pendings" on your payments dashboard will stay that way until after the payments hit your account, since Amazon won't know what exchange rate your bank used and the final amount in CAD until the bank sends a confirmation back to Amazon after it receives the transfers.  And the payments won't hit your account until the 29th.

Perfect. Thank you so much.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on September 27, 2019, 11:37:39 AM
Question for Canadians - anyone get in to the Writers Union of Canada? I applied and it took them months to reject me (after paying a $100 fee that I am supposed to get $50 back from) because my book was 'not formatted to the same quality as a trad pub' book. Talked to another author friend who mentioned he had the same problem. Curious if any indie actually gets in.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on September 27, 2019, 11:47:04 AM
That's weird. I used to be a member after I self-published but now that I think of it, I was trad pubbed first. I let membership lapse a few years ago. If that's their criteria, I'd love to know why they took me when my trad-pubbed book was literally tossed out into the world by the publisher without editing, copyediting or proofreading--with my name on the cover.
I found out my book was coming out by a bookseller who wanted to know if she could host my launch.  :HB
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 30, 2019, 12:13:11 AM
Question for Canadians - anyone get in to the Writers Union of Canada? I applied and it took them months to reject me  because my book was 'not formatted to the same quality as a trad pub' book.

Curious: what formatting did your book have? Vellum? Did you send print copies?

Anyway, this is such humongous BS. They say they want to see "commercial intent" in self-published books, and yet they don't demand anything even slightly similar from trad pubbed books.

And we know that some of these books are published by small presses and sometimes sell as few as 50 copies.

I joked the other day (about an event) that even though self-published books don't count, a book published by the author's beer buddy's "small press" selling 50 copies counts. A woman (representative of an association of publishers) said I offended every single English press in Quebec. I guess I did.  :shrug

Anyway, tiny presses publishing their beer buddies self absorbed , navel gazing attempts at literary greatness by clueless noobs have the right to exist and the right to be recognized. What sucks is the double standard.

In Quebec, the QWF (provincial federation), simply doesn't consider self-published authors as professional members. Period.

Again, if your book is "published" by your buddy's "small press", selling only 20 copies at the launch party, for friends who won't even read it, then you're accepted. It's such, such, such BS.

And this kind of issue causes people to have a lot of power and no accountability as seen in #Canlitaccountable issues.

I'd like to speak out about it and bring these matters to public attention, but I'm not sure who would listen to it or how to do it. It's a serious matter because "published" writers can get grants, and those small presses get money from the government. Nothing against it. Art needs to be funded, sure.

The issue is how independent writers, who are the hardest working writers, don't have any access to this.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on September 30, 2019, 06:29:09 AM
Question for Canadians - anyone get in to the Writers Union of Canada? I applied and it took them months to reject me  because my book was 'not formatted to the same quality as a trad pub' book.

Curious: what formatting did your book have? Vellum? Did you send print copies?

Anyway, this is such humongous BS. They say they want to see "commercial intent" in self-published books, and yet they don't demand anything even slightly similar from trad pubbed books.

And we know that some of these books are published by small presses and sometimes sell as few as 50 copies.

I joked the other day (about an event) that even though self-published books don't count, a book published by the author's beer buddy's "small press" selling 50 copies counts. A woman (representative of an association of publishers) said I offended every single English press in Quebec. I guess I did.  :shrug

Anyway, tiny presses publishing their beer buddies self absorbed , navel gazing attempts at literary greatness by clueless noobs have the right to exist and the right to be recognized. What sucks is the double standard.

In Quebec, the QWF (provincial federation), simply doesn't accept self-published books period. Period.

Again, if your book is "published" by your buddy's "small press", selling only 20 copies at the launch party, for friends who won't even read it, then you're accepted. It's such, such, such BS.

And this kind of issue causes people to have a lot of power and no accountability as seen in #Canlitaccountable issues.

I'd like to speak out about it and bring these matters to public attention, but I'm not sure who would listen to it or how to do it. It's a serious matter because "published" writers can get grants, and those small presses get money from the government. Nothing against it. Art needs to be funded, sure.

The issue is how independent writers, who are the hardest working writers, don't have any access to this.

I can't be bothered with any of it.

Not to derail, but I joined my local writers' guild several years ago and it was filled with snooty trad pubbed authors and desperate-to-be trad pubbed authors. And you'd think all these authors had major deals with the big 5, but no, they were all pubbed by small presses and selling maybe 50 books. One author had sold a 1000 and everyone was so impressed. I had a hard time not rolling my eyes.

So I let my membership lapse because why bother.

I rejoined the guild a year ago. Most of the same attitudes remained, but I'd gotten a trad deal so maybe they were more receptive to me. I did notice that a lot more of the authors were interested in self-pubbing but the trad dreams remained. For info, I rejoined mostly because I was asked to rejoin and help them with fundraising. There are a lot of good people in my guild.

What did floor me is that one member who has several books published with a big 5 took me aside. He's a pretty big deal where I live and I have a Toronto friend who fangirls over him. So he's no slouch. He spent half hour talking to me about self-pubbing and licensing (I've licensed several of my works for gaming rights and it's been lucrative). This big 5 author who's pretty big, is struggling to make ends meet. He's sick of being beholden to publishers and paying his agent 15%.

I don't know much about the Writers Union of Canada, but it sounds exactly like my guild. And while attitudes are slowly changing, for the most part, I think these organizations are a waste of time for self-pubbed authors.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 30, 2019, 07:30:14 AM

I don't know much about the Writers Union of Canada, but it sounds exactly like my guild. And while attitudes are slowly changing, for the most part, I think these organizations are a waste of time for self-pubbed authors.

Oh, I agree. That's why I want to roll my eyes that they want to see commercial intent from independent writers when 99% of traditional publishers in Canada don't have any.

My issue is that there are certain opportunities reserved only for trad authors. I write YA, and they have programs to read in schools, for example.

Another issue, which is not related to these unions, are the Federal and provincial grants. They are only available for trad authors. https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/grants/explore-and-create/concept-to-realization  And then, maybe they are related in a way, because it's about the mentality dominating the writing circle.

Yeah... I mean. OK. They need those grants because they don't make money otherwise. OTOH it's public money going towards stuff nobody wants to read. OTOH, some people need to create that stuff. I don't know. I feel conflicted. I just wish they accepted independent writers too. We could use some help to develop our writing career, too, and some support.

But then, at the end of the day perhaps we should be just happy that Canada gives us free ISBNs. If you think about it, self-published authors are the ones who benefit the most from them.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: WriteOn on September 30, 2019, 11:00:32 PM

I don't know much about the Writers Union of Canada, but it sounds exactly like my guild. And while attitudes are slowly changing, for the most part, I think these organizations are a waste of time for self-pubbed authors.

Oh, I agree. That's why I want to roll my eyes that they want to see commercial intent from independent writers when 99% of traditional publishers in Canada don't have any.

My issue is that there are certain opportunities reserved only for trad authors. I write YA, and they have programs to read in schools, for example.

Another issue, which is not related to these unions, are the Federal and provincial grants. They are only available for trad authors. https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/grants/explore-and-create/concept-to-realization  And then, maybe they are related in a way, because it's about the mentality dominating the writing circle.

Yeah... I mean. OK. They need those grants because they don't make money otherwise. OTOH it's public money going towards stuff nobody wants to read. OTOH, some people need to create that stuff. I don't know. I feel conflicted. I just wish they accepted independent writers too. We could use some help to develop our writing career, too, and some support.

But then, at the end of the day perhaps we should be just happy that Canada gives us free ISBNs. If you think about it, self-published authors are the ones who benefit the most from them.

I do hope attitudes change. And I do think they are slowly changing. Very slowly.

I do love the perk of free ISBNs though.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on October 01, 2019, 10:53:12 AM
Question for Canadians - anyone get in to the Writers Union of Canada? I applied and it took them months to reject me  because my book was 'not formatted to the same quality as a trad pub' book.
Curious: what formatting did your book have? Vellum? Did you send print copies?
I format via Word myself, don't bother with anything else since Vellum doesn't work with what I do (Tables). I sent an e-copy, think it was in PDF or .mobi format. I think it was mobi actually, that's the requirement but it was ages ago.

And yeah, the only real reason I'm looking at joining one up here is to get the extended health and because they were willing to talk to me about the ebook.bike issue and were at least looking into it. Right now, I'm just ignoring them and talking to the SFCanada people.

I much prefer people who are willing to just take info on amount earned.

And I completely agree about the rubbish way these things get locked off because we are self-pubs.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on October 01, 2019, 11:12:56 PM

And yeah, the only real reason I'm looking at joining one up here is to get the extended health and because they were willing to talk to me about the ebook.bike issue and were at least looking into it. Right now, I'm just ignoring them and talking to the SFCanada people.

I much prefer people who are willing to just take info on amount earned.

And I completely agree about the rubbish way these things get locked off because we are self-pubs.

Yeah, SFCanada has pretty easy requirements, much in line with what they request from trad authors. I've considered joining them, just to support an association that seems cool and treats indies with dignity (so it's in our interest to strengthen it). Let us know if you join them if and if you like it. Now that I'm writing this post and thinking about it I'm considering joining them ASAP just because they're indie-friendly.

For the extended health plan, I'm not sure. I looked at other options and they are not that much more expensive than the one fro Writer's Coalition. I think I even saw one cheaper. Maybe I'd need to research it more carefully. Anyway, for the health plan you can go with SFCanada.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on October 14, 2019, 04:56:43 AM
Joined. Took a bit since they wanted the proof of sales in a very specific format, which was a bit annoying. Had to deal with multiple e-mails, even though what I sent them was definitely more than enough to work out that I had done enough. But, whatever.

I'm supposed to get the logins / etc but I have yet to see that happen. I don't know if I just had it eaten by spam mail, e-mailing them today.

And yeah, I have to follow up on the extended health plan. If it's good, I'll let people know. It's more a 'just in case' than anything I think I need... well, beyond dental. :) Dental is always nice.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on March 02, 2020, 01:53:10 AM
Does anyone have works eligible for the Aurora Awards?

Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on March 02, 2020, 03:38:35 AM
Mine is (A Thousand Li: the First Step, Tao Wong)

Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 23, 2020, 12:28:28 AM
I'm writing a blog post (I'll post it on Medium or somewhere else, too) about discrimination against self-publishing in Canada.

Would any Canadian writer be willing to provide a comment? Or if anyone here is writing full-time or at a professional level, would you allow me to mention you? I'd appreciate it.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Eric Thomson on September 23, 2020, 02:29:39 AM
I'm a full-time Canadian author who publishes through his own incorporated business, and I'm doing very well. Feel free to mention me. You can check out my official website as well: thomsonfiction.ca 

That being said I don't feel discriminated against by the Canadian literary scene because I live in a different universe. CanLit is irrelevant to me. I don't aspire to be on Canada Reads or one of the CBC's author radio programs or get the GG's prize for literature. I just want to write entertaining books and don't care what the trad pubbed scene thinks of them. However, I have plenty of Canadian fans. I write military scifi, and a lot of serving and retired Canadian military personnel have reached out to me after reading my books, including some who were very high up in their day.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: tired1680 on September 23, 2020, 02:52:03 AM
I'm more than happy to be quoted and/or mentioned. I do feel frustrated that some of the grants aren't available, especially for things like translations.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 23, 2020, 03:30:10 AM
I'm a full-time Canadian author who publishes through his own incorporated business, and I'm doing very well. Feel free to mention me. You can check out my official website as well: thomsonfiction.ca 

That being said I don't feel discriminated against by the Canadian literary scene because I live in a different universe. CanLit is irrelevant to me. I don't aspire to be on Canada Reads or one of the CBC's author radio programs or get the GG's prize for literature. I just want to write entertaining books and don't care what the trad pubbed scene thinks of them. However, I have plenty of Canadian fans. I write military scifi, and a lot of serving and retired Canadian military personnel have reached out to me after reading my books, including some who were very high up in their day.

Thanks, Eric, that's awesome.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Denise on September 23, 2020, 03:30:49 AM
I'm more than happy to be quoted and/or mentioned. I do feel frustrated that some of the grants aren't available, especially for things like translations.

Hey tired, can you send me a dm mentioning your pen name, and what you feel? Thanks!

Update: I wrote the article but the conclusion I came too is similar to Eric Thomson; it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day we're thriving. Not all of us are making full-time income, but we're all finding readers, growing, etc. If successful self-published authors can't join Canadian professional associations, it's not the end of the world. There are more associations for us and there's a lot of community support for us.

I don't know, while I think that it would be neat to be able to apply to read in schools, for example, I guess we have so many other perks...

In terms of grants, there are a few here and there that accept self-published authors, so it's a matter of looking.

It's a strange conclusion, but I find that if I write an article detailing how professional Canadian associations are losing out on having indie writers, nobody's going to understand.

Again, the truth is that we are thriving. Most of the trad authors aren't. Sometimes all that those authors have is the validation, so let them have their validation, I guess?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: E. Satterfield on May 27, 2023, 04:29:17 AM
Another question about ISBNs. I'm setting up my paperback on Amazon, and it's asking me the Imprint. I got my ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Are they the imprint?

If not, who is? I can't seem to figure this part out.
No they're not. 

Definition of imprint as per the dictionary:  the name of a publisher as it appears on a particular set of books.

You're the publisher.  Under what name do you publish?

I'm the publisher. So my name?

Re: "I'm the publisher. So my name?"

Can one make up a name (a name that is not being used by anyone else), like 'Far Out Press" or Bazillion Moons Publishing" , and use that with no further fuss? Or does the name have to be registered as a limited company, or sole proprietorship,  etc ?
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: littleauthor on May 30, 2023, 03:12:18 AM
Another question about ISBNs. I'm setting up my paperback on Amazon, and it's asking me the Imprint. I got my ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Are they the imprint?

If not, who is? I can't seem to figure this part out.
No they're not. 

Definition of imprint as per the dictionary:  the name of a publisher as it appears on a particular set of books.

You're the publisher.  Under what name do you publish?

I'm the publisher. So my name?

Re: "I'm the publisher. So my name?"

Can one make up a name (a name that is not being used by anyone else), like 'Far Out Press" or Bazillion Moons Publishing" , and use that with no further fuss? Or does the name have to be registered as a limited company, or sole proprietorship,  etc ?
Yes. I have two imprints that I publish under. One is for the pen and one is for my name. When I fill out my ISBN form, in the Notes section, I record which imprint is getting the ISBN and the name of the author. ADDED: I don't have a LLC or anything registered. I am the publisher the company is BlahBlahBooks. As long as the tax man gets paid, it's fine.
Title: Re: CANADIAN Writers' Support Thread
Post by: Hopscotch on May 30, 2023, 06:30:29 AM
I'm pretty sure the "publisher" for Amazon has to be a legally registered company.  Something that would prevent your made-up name from accidentally mimicking a registered corporate name.  But I'd like to hear a definitive answer, too, as I can't find it on KDP.