Freelance Writing in Canada

Download SocButtons

Let's take a look at the opportunities and resources for freelance writers in Canada, and those freelance writing for Canadian markets.

Canada is a bilingual nation with English and French as official languages. With a population of around 34 million there are plenty of national publications to write for as well as regional publications representing the ten provinces and three territories.

Some Canadian writers will also be able to take advantage of being in Canada, or Canadian, in order to write for publications in:

United States - Canada's common border with United States to the south and northwest is the longest border in the world. Many publications provide complete North American coverage.
United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries - Canada retains strong ties to UK with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state.
Other French speaking countries.

Although Canadian freelance writers can write for publications based in United States and elsewhere, sometimes it is not so easy for writers in other countries to write for publications in Canada. Why is it that many Canadian publications prefer to work with Canadian writers? One reason is that smaller publications and presses may be receiving literary grants of financial assistance which require them to hire Canadian writers.

For an indication of typical writer's rates of pay (what to pay a writer, or for writers, how much to charge) see http://www.writers.ca/whattopay.htm

In terms of annual earnings, according to Statistics Canada, Canadian writers earn an average of between $18,000 and $22,000 from their writing. Until recently getting medical benefits as a freelance writer could be complicated. Now writers can get medical benefits through Canada's Writers' Coalition Program.

The following links will take you to many Canadian freelance writing resources.

Shortcuts: Canadian Writers' Markets - Canadian Writing Contests - Canadian Grants for Writers - Canadian Writers' Organisations - Canadian Editors - Canadian Publishers & Agents

Canadian Writing Markets

We have around 75 Canadian writing markets in our free markets database.

Our Markets Plus premium database has around 230 Canadian writers' markets.

Here are some further links to help you find more Canadian writing markets.

Writing Contests in Canada

Scotiabank Giller Prize - Winner of this fiction prize receives $50,000.
Writers' Union of Canada has an annual literary award ($10,000 Danuta Gleed Literary Award) and 3 writing compettions.