CAA Virtual Branch

Hassle Free Writing Network

You want to be part of a bright, upbeat, co-operative group of people who know writing? And are professionals? Consider subscribing to the Virtual Branch Listserv of the CAA.

There are discussions with members of relevant issues about writing, selling, promoting and distributing our work.

Subscribers are free to join in, or merely read and reflect on their own. Reading and discussing are at your convenience (no traffic jams, parking problems, baby-sitter conflicts, bad weather, etc.) You can still belong to your present branch while enjoying the on-line discussions.

How Does it Work?

The Virtual Branch (VB) of the Canadian Authors Association is the answer for members who would like to communicate with others of similar writing interests but are unable to attend regular branch meetings. In the past, conflicts of time, distance, or health conditions often prevented such members from enjoying the fellowship of regular meetings with their peers.

Nowadays, the Virtual Branch meets on the Internet, so it is available to any CAA member who is able to use a computer with online access. Sometimes “meetings” have“speakers” who agree to provide a thoughtful address, and usually are willing to discuss relevant issues with members. At other times, members raise a question or topic of interest. Reading and discussing it can go on at all hours of the day or night, or indeed, all month for interested VB members. Those who merely wish to read and reflect on their own are welcome, too.

Whether you are a Member-at-Large (i.e. not attached to a specific branch), or a member of a regular branch who cannot attend meetings because of conflicts of time, distance, or health, and feel that being part of our National Virtual Branch suits your needs for communication and fellowship with other members, you’ll be happy to know you can join today.

You will be welcomed to a friendly network of members that stretches from coast to coast and has grown to several European countries.

To Subscribe

If you are a CAA member with a computer and Web access, you can join this Internet-based Virtual Branch mailing list at no extra cost. Here's how….

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Q&A

How many messages will I likely receive?

On average, we've been posting 175 messages a month.
Sometimes people get very interested and have more to share.

Who's there already?

Members-At-Large were first to join, then regular branch members who were looking for people with whom they could share writing concerns came along. Now we have members from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

What do you talk about?

E-publishing and Print on Demand
Creativity in writing
Writing goals for the year
The challenges of creating a script from something already written
Researching
Revising
Promoting our writing
Copyright issues
Agents
Memoir Writing
Travel Writing
Self publishing
The list goes on…

What else have you done?

Interested members have set up a database containing their names, writing interests, and contact information so they can form their own "writing buddy" pairs etc. to exchange work for constructive critiquing.
Members with special expertise who have consented to share with interested others are listed.
Members' publications for sale are listed on a database.
Our critiquing service allows members to sign up to send a piece of writing to the moderator and have it scheduled for critiquing by interested members who share their considerable knowledge of craft and genres.

To Subscribe

If you are a CAA member with a computer and Web access, you can join this Internet-based Virtual Branch mailing list at no extra cost. Here's how….

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