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.

Joining The Virtual Branch

Any CAA member with a computer and Web access can now join this Internet-based Virtual Branch Listserv at no extra cost.

To Subscribe

1. Yahoo! ID Needed

You must have a Yahoo! ID in order to register (the listserv is provided to us by Yahoo! Groups). If you already have a Yahoo! ID, you can proceed, otherwise, obtain your Yahoo! ID here before joining.

2. Submit Your Request to Join

Just send a message with your name and branch affiliation (or Member-At-Large status) to telling us you would like to become a member. You will be welcomed to a friendly network that stretches from coast to coast.

More Information

There is more information on the Virtual Branch brochure (PDF - 13k).
The Yahoo! Groups CAA-VB listserv page has archives and the various group e-mail addresses.
The Virtual Branch is available to CAA members only.

If You Have Difficulty

If you have difficulty, contact the list moderator, Anne Osborne at (note the numeral one in the address).

You must reply to the confirmation message in order to have your subscription approved and your name added to the list of subscribers.
If you or your ISP use spam-blocking software, you will want to be sure to add the address to your friends- or white-list so these messages are not blocked.

Return to Top

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.

Return to Top