Mary W. Walters

Mary W. Walters (born 25 November 1949) is a Canadian novelist, essayist and short story writer. She has won a Writers Guild of Alberta award for excellence in writing and an Alberta Achievement Award, and she has been short-listed for several other awards. She is also an editor, primarily for academics, and her guide to grant-writing for researchers and scholars was published by the Johns Hopkins University Press. As The Militant Writer, she blogs regularly on writing and publishing and, due to her experience with both traditional and self-publishing, Walters was named by The Writers' Union of Canada as one of two leaders for its 2014-15 cross-Canada professional development workshop series,. She is listed in Canadian Who's Who, She is a lifetime member of The Writers Guild of Alberta, and a member of The Writers' Union of Canada

Fiction

• The Woman Upstairs (1987, novel, winner of the Georges Bugnet Award for Excellence in Writing, Novel Category, from the Writers Guild of Alberta).
• Bitters (1999, novel)
• Cool (2000, 16 short stories, 14 of which were previously published in literary journals and mainstream magazines)
• The Adventures of Don Valiente and the Apache Canyon Kid(with John A. Aragon, 2013. Awarded a BRAG Medallion, denoting excellence in self-published books)
• Rita Just Wants to Be Thin (2014, novel, previously published as The Whole Clove Diet. Received a BRAG Medallion denoting excellence in self-published books)
• Anthologies: "Print Dresses" in 'Alberta Bound (Fred Stenson, Ed., 1986); "The Milk Wagon" in Alberta Rebound (Aritha van Herk, Ed., 1990); "Men, Boys, Girls, Women" in Boundless Alberta (Aritha van Herk, Ed., 1993); "Show Jumping" in Journey Prize Anthology(McClelland & Stewart, 1999)
• Short Stories: In 1979, Walters sold her first short story to the Canadian literary journal Grain. Soon afterward, she sold another story to the mainstream Canadian magazine, Chatelaine, and one to CBC Radio's Alberta Anthology. In subsequent years, she has written and sold short stories to many other Canadian journals, including The Malahat Review, Dandelion, Prism International Prairie Fire and Geist. "Show Jumping," which was published by Prairie Fire in 1999, was short-listed for The Journey Prize.

Non-fiction

• Write An Effective Funding Application: A Guide for Researchers and Scholars (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008)
• Numerous essays, reviews, articles, including Managing Writers in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers, which appeared in The Rumpus

Broadcasts

Walters has sold several short stories to CBC radio programs including Between the Covers (2005), Alberta Anthology (1980,1984) and CBC Saskatchewan's Gallery (2006) and Sound X-Change (2008). Her radio drama "Honey Cat" was a winner in the Alberta Culture-CBC Write-for-Radio competition, and was broadcast nationally on CBC's Vanishing Point (May 20, 1990).

She also wrote and narrated two one-hour documentaries for CBC's national radio program Ideas

• "Reflections on Solitude" (1993, Producer: Bill Law)
• "In Defence of Procrastination" (2001, Producer: Dave Redel)

Blogs

• The Militant Writer Commentary and advice on writing, publishing, self-publishing, and related topics.
• In 2010, Walters chronicled her solo trip to India on her occasional blog, I'm All Write
• Walters also maintains several other blogs, including one for book reviews and one on the focuses on procrastination

Positions held

Walters has been a freelance writer and editor since 1980, editing numerous books, scholarly journal articles, professional and academic newsletters, speeches, etc. She has also worked as a university awards facilitator, editor in chief of a publishing company, executive director of a writers' organization, and as a teacher.

Following her graduation from the University of Alberta (1970, B.Ed.) she taught junior high school (language arts and several electives) from 1971-1975 in Thorhild, AB, Wetaskiwin, AB, and with the Edmonton Public School Board, Edmonton, AB.

In 1981, Walters was elected secretary of the newly established Writers Guild of Alberta, a position she relinquished when she applied successfully to become the Guild's first executive secretary (subsequently becoming executive director). She was employed by the Guild from 1981 until 1987. As executive director of the WGA, Walters established the first-ever Alberta Book Fair, and coordinated it for three years. She served on the boards of the Alberta Book Fair Society and the WordWorks Society of Alberta. In 1984, she was appointed as a charter member of the Alberta Foundation for the Literary Arts by then Minister of Culture Mary LeMessurier. In 1988, she was awarded an Alberta Achievement Award for her service to the Alberta literary arts community.

From 1988 to 1990, Walters was editor in chief of Lone Pine Publishing, where she edited and supervised the production of several notable and award-winning books. She also served on the board of the Alberta Publishers' Association, and was appointed chair of the Writers and Publishers Advisory Committee to the Minister of Culture.

In 1990, Walters became a freelance writer and editor, writing and editing articles for various government agencies, private companies, academics, faculties and departments at the University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge. In 1993, Walters completed a short-term writer-in-residency at Grant McEwan Community College in Edmonton, AB, and for several years after that she taught creative writing (fiction) in the Extension Department at the University of Alberta.

Walters worked half time for the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) from 2004 to 2007 as the University's first-ever awards facilitator, assisting faculty with nominations for awards, prizes, fellowships and major grants.

In 2009, Walters moved to Toronto where she has since worked as a freelance writer and editor, primarily for academics at Ryerson University,the U of A, U of S, and other universities in Canada and abroad. She also works as a substantive and copy editor of books and articles for private clients from a variety of fields.

Publishing

Walters was an early adopter of self-publishing among writers who have been previously published by traditional presses. Her first blog post – "The Talent Killers: How literary agents are destroying literature, and what publishers can do to stop them" (April, 2009) – received 5457 views within a few hours. At that time, she was still firmly opposed to what she considered to be "vanity publishing." As she has gradually become an advocate for independent publishing (aka self-publishing), she has documented her thinking about the future of writing and publishing, and her experiences.

She re-released her first novel, The Woman Upstairs, and two new novels, Rita Just Wants to Be Thin and The Adventures of Don Valiente and the Apache Canyon Kid (co-authored with John A. Aragon of Santa Fe, New Mexico) independently, making use of her background in publishing, editing and book design. Both of the latter two books have been awarded B.R.A.G. Medallions, which acknowledge quality in self-published books.

Walters was named by The Writers' Union of Canada as one of two leaders for its 2014-15 cross-Canada professional development workshop series, "Publishing 2.0 – Tips and Traps." Her presentation focused on "Independent Publication," while her co-presenter Caroline Adderson discussed "Traditional Paths to Publication."

Awards/honours

Walters has been awarded writing grants by the Canada Council, the Alberta Foundation for the Literary Arts, Alberta Culture and the Saskatchewan Arts Board. She has served as a juror on several awards panels, has read in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario, has been a judge of various writing competitions, and is listed in Canadian Who's Who.

• The Whole Clove Diet (subsequently re-titled Rita Just Wants to Be Thin) was a Top 100 SemiFinalist, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition, 2008
• The Woman Upstairs Winner, Writers Guild of Alberta Award for Excellence in Writing, Novel Category, 1988
• Walters won an Alberta Achievement Award in 1988
• "Honey Cat," Winner Alberta Culture/CBC Write-for-Radio Competition, 1989
• "Show Jumping" short-listed for The Journey Prize, 1999
• "Machisma," honourable mention, Geist Literary Postcard Competition, 2008
• "Managing Writers in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers," 2nd prize, 2008 Saskatchewan Writers Guild Short Manuscript competition, non-fiction category
• Nominee: Edmonton YWCA Tribute to Women Award, 1989
• Two short stories short-listed in CBC/Saturday Night Literary Competition
• Lifetime Member, Writers Guild of Alberta

Personal life

Walters was born in Wainwright, Alberta, the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, Robert Kenneth Walters (born in Abertillery, Wales), and his fourth-generation Canadian wife, Marjorie Alice (née Roe). Shortly after Walters's sister was born in 1951, their father died, and their mother returned home to Toronto. Six months later, the family moved to London, Ontario.

When Walters was 14, her mother died and she and her sister were sent to live in Edmonton with their aunt (the Canadian watercolorist Barbara Roe Hicklin) and her husband. Walters completed a Bachelor of Education (English major, Psychology minor) at the University of Alberta in 1970. She taught junior high school English from 1971-1975 in Thorhild, Wetaskiwin and Edmonton, Alberta.

Walters was married to Gerald A. Riskin from 1973 to 1980. Together they have two sons, Daniel K. Riskin and Matthew Riskin.

Walters is married to accountant and bluegrass player Arnold J. Resnick. They live in Toronto.

External links

• Official website
• The Militant Writer
• I'm All Write

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