Our Mission

The New Quarterly (TNQ) believes that literature and literacy are key elements in creating a culturally, socially, and economically vibrant society. TNQ magazine, and the Wild Writers Literary Festival, inspire and celebrate writers and readers alike, both locally, and nationally.

TNQ is a national award-winning magazine of Canadian fiction, poetry and essays that has been publishing in Waterloo for 32 years. We nurture emerging writers by publishing and promoting their work alongside that of well-established writers. Our writers have gone on to be nominated for Giller Prizes, Governor General’s Awards, Griffin Poetry Prizes, Writers’ Trust Notable Author Awards, Journey Prizes, National Magazine Awards, and more. TNQ’s mission is to reach readers, and to publish and promote writers, from all parts of Canada, while bringing talented regional writers and artists before a wider audience. Our mandate is to nurture emerging writers by publishing and promoting their work alongside that of well-established writers we admire, and to provide an editorial context in which both can be read.

About The New Quarterly Literary Society Inc.

Established in 1981 by Harold Horwood (founder if the Writers Union of Canada), TNQ has grown from a small staple-bound publication to a handsome perfect-bound source to discover the rising stars of Canadian literature. The New Quarterly has consistently shown publishing excellence over more than a quarterly of a century, working with new and established writers and chronicling the writing life. Its effors have won it praise, support, and national awards.

More than just a magazine, TNQ has been actively engaged with the community from early on, hosting readings and literary symposia, taking part in One Book One Community, and pioneering collaborations with other magazines and arts organizations. The latest collaborative project of TNQ is the Wild Writers Literary Festival, which brings together outstanding Canadian writers from around the country to share their skills and their work with a diverse and enthusiastic audience of literature lovers and aspiring writers.