In this exploratory writing session, Mari Mendoza and Britt Smith from Firefly Creative Writing will help you kick off your festival by tapping into your own creative voice.  

They’ll lead the group through 2–3 reflective writing prompts (with some optional sharing — no pressure) to gather inspiration and connect to the joy of writing, leaving you primed and ready for a week full of the magic of words.

Everyone is welcome, whether you identify as a “writer” or not — no experience necessary!

This is an online event | $5 | Included in Weekend Pass

What stories can images tell? What words do colour, shapes and forms suggest? What can visual art teach writers? In this walk- and write-around the Art Gallery of Hamilton, participants will discover the thousand words in pictures and, guided by award-winning novelist, poet, visual and multimedia artist Gary Barwin, create new writing inspired by what they see.

$30 | Includes Admission to the Art Gallery of Hamilton

This event is made possible by the support of the incite Foundation for the Arts.

In this intro to speculative poetry workshop by Terese Mason Pierre, participants will learn: the basics of defining, writing and identifying speculative poetry; how to use literary devices to enhance the speculative elements in their poems; and how to use poetic types to bridge speculative content and form. Time will also be allotted for writing exercises and sharing resources.

$25 | Limited Spaces Available

Drawing on the advice and experiences of writers dead and alive, world-famous and niche, award-winning author and coordinator of Humber Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Creative and Professional Writing Meaghan Strimas offers attendees an insider look at how published authors manage common obstacles like writer’s block, imposter syndrome, and rejections, through intentional writing practices, expectation management, and the building of critical relationships with writers and other creative professionals.

$25 | Limited Spaces Available

What is plot and how is it related to character? How do writers create stimulating storylines and generate characters that spring to life on the page? What steps are necessary to formulate a plot that makes a book “unputdownable?” In this workshop, Edward Y. C. Lee, the author of The Laundryman’s Boy, will lead a discussion about plot creation and character development. He will talk about various methods used to generate plot, the classical three-act structure, brainstorming, backstory, limit-setting, and how strong characters can drive plotlines. The workshop will also explore how character needs and desires can fuel action and suspense. Examples will be drawn from published works and the workshop participants themselves.

$25 | Limited Spots Available

In this workshop, author K.J. Aiello discusses the challenges, barriers, and strategies of safely writing trauma. Topics covered will include self-assessments, use of imagery, caring for yourself and your readers, and how to write about difficult people. Writing exercises (either in-workshop or take-home) will be provided.

$25 | Limited Spaces Available

You've endured the gauntlets of actually writing and getting published, so you think you're in the clear. But then you get the call: now you have to read it. Out loud. In front of people. Maybe in front of a lot of people. If you're a writer, you're going to have to read what you've written. This workshop hosted by Trevor Copp, a multifaceted theatre professional with over 20 years of experience, gives you the chance to get feedback on how to extend your words out to a crowd. 

Each participant is asked to bring a couple pages of their own text plus an anecdote about it to share. Please note this smaller workshop will be capped at 15 participants. 

$25 | Limited Spaces Available

Capturing voice when writing for teens can be very intimidating. Adult writers venturing into the Upper YA space often worry about how to keep up with the ever-changing trends and slang common with teens without their writing sounding “boomer-coded.” In this writing workshop, YA novelist Maya Ameyaw will share her tips and tricks for honing a fresh, yet timeless, teen writing style that keeps young readers engaged. The workshop will delve into the complex emotional mindsets of modern teens, the responsibilities and issues they face, as well crafting characters and dialogue that feel authentic to the teen experience. Through examples, group discussion, and writing exercises, participants of all experience levels will have the opportunity to work on developing their teen writing voice.

$25 | Limited Spaces Available

It’s no secret that a story never really feels like it’s “done.” We can spend so much time adjusting a sentence, a word or even a comma (we’ve all been there), that we lose sight of the story-at-large. This workshop, hosted by Sadi Muktadir, will explore self-editing strategies, and the process of bringing a story or manuscript from a draft to completion. We’ll work through strategies to detach yourself from your own work, how to “kill your own darlings,” and committing to an idea. These strategies will help writers be more satisfied with their writing.

$25 | Limited Spaces Available