The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) is a professional association representing professional freelance writer

Writer

A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....

s in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, predominately in the newspaper

Newspaper

A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...

 and magazine

Magazine

Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...

 industries. However, PWAC members also write: magazine and newspaper articles, books, speeches

Public speaking

Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...

, newsletters, media release

Media release

Media release may refer to:*Anti-tromboning, a Voice over Internet Protocol term: when a media flow is released and allowed to flow point to point.*News release, a press release or press statement....

s, white papers, annual reports, advertising

Advertising

Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...

 and brochure

Brochure

A brochure is a type of leaflet. Brochures are most commonly found at places that tourists frequently visit, such as museums, major shops, and tourist information. Brochure racks or stands may suggest visits to amusement parks and other points of interest...

 copy, sales and marketing material, Web content, training manual

Training manual

A training manual is a book or booklet of instructions, designed 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:...

s, film scripts, radio

Radio documentary

A radio documentary or feature is a purely acoustic performance devoted to covering a particular topic in some depth, usually with a mixture of commentary and sound pictures. It is broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD...

 and television

Television documentary

Documentary television is a genre of television programming that broadcasts documentaries.* Documentary television series, a television series which is made up of documentary episodes....

 documentaries, and much more.

It 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.
• Assist members in finding new business opportunities.
• Provide professional development workshops and materials for members across the country.
• Lobby for freedom of the press and freedom of expression in Canada.