This week’s blog offers information on local writer gatherings, book launches, in-person and online writing workshops, the University of King’s College’s limited residency Creative Nonfiction and Fiction MFA programs, the 2nd annual Indigenous Art Writing Award, and much more – including links to recordings you may have missed.
For more October events around the province, view our previous blog here.
Note: the Federation of BC Writers is not directly affiliated with the following organizations or groups.
Submit your event or announcement to our next blog post here, or contact Rachel at rachel@bcwriters.ca.
Writers Group – Vernon
Saturday, Oct 14, 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Okanagan Regional Library, 2800 30 Avenue, Vernon, BC
FREE
Write here, write now. Come work on your short story, poetry, non-fiction piece, or future bestselling novel! Unleash your creativity in a supportive group setting, where you can write and discuss your work in progress. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary to participate.
Wheelchair accessible, has gender-neutral washrooms, and is a relaxed performance.
Click here for more information.
Workshop: Character Creation for Fictional Worlds
Saturday, Oct 14, 2:45pm – 3:45pm
Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Center, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC
FREE
Character Design can be a highly rewarding, cathartic, and collaborative experience. The goal of this workshop is to inspire creativity, foster new ideas, and introduce some methods of developing a character from scratch. Through prompts and collaborative exercises, you will express the first iteration of your character in a written or visual format depending on your preference. The main focus of this workshop is the creative process. It is ideal for those looking for a creative community to collaborate with, those at the beginning of their creative journey, those experiencing a creative block, or those with no prior knowledge or experience who may be interested in learning about Character Design.
All ages and identities are welcome!
Click here for more information.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) – Creative Nonfiction and Fiction
Applications Open: Sunday, October 15, 2023
Limited Residency Program
University of King’s College, Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs at the University of King’s College are growing, becoming one of Canada’s premier settings for learning the art and craft of storytelling.
Like the MFA in Creative Nonfiction, the MFA in Fiction is a limited-residency program. In each of the two years of the MFA programs, students travel to Halifax in June for a 9-day residency on campus, take part in 6-day online January residencies alternating in focus on the Toronto and New York publishing industries and spend the rest of the year working from their home locations on their manuscripts and course work while in contact with program mentors and faculty. The Fiction program welcomes applications from students interested in pursuing genre and commercial fiction—mystery, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, romance and more—as well as literary fiction.
For more information, click here to access our MFA program digital brochure. More information can be found here.
Kelowna Writers Social + Reading
Thursday, October 19, 6:30-8:30 pm
Third Space Cafe, 1708 Dolphin Ave. Kelowna (wheelchair accessible)
Admission by donation.
Calling all Kelowna Writers! Join us for an opportunity to connect with other local writers – everyone welcome! We’ll kick things off with an open mic and then listen to readings by Nils Donnelly, Cherie Hanson, Sharon Lancaster, and Mathew Wanbon. There will be time to socialize in the breaks. Books and refreshments available for purchase.
Author Reading
Tuesday, October 24, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Summerland Library, 9533 Main St, Summerland, BC
Join us for an author reading at the Summerland Library. Hear from the Okanagan’s own Angela Douglas, Don Gayton, Meaghan Hackinen and Luke Whittall.
For more information, contact Meaghan Hackinen at meaghan@bcwriters.ca
#writingcommunity #amreading #booklaunch #read #justread
Everything There Is: In Conversation with M. G. Vassanji
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 pm; Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Conference Centre, Cedar Bldg., Room 1205, KPU Surrey Campus, Surrey, BC
Refreshments will be provided.
Please join Asma Sayed for a conversation with M. G. Vassanji who will speak about his latest novel Everything There Is “that vividly examines the seemingly incongruous worlds of science, religion and desire.”
For further details, please contact Dr. Asma Sayed at asma.sayed@kpu.ca
This event is in-person only. Registration is required.
Meet and Greet and Book Signing: Ken McGoogan
Friday, October 27, 3:00-4:00 PM
Munro’s Books, 1108 Government St., Victoria, BC
Free Admission
In his latest book, Searching for Franklin: New Light on the Great Arctic Mystery, arctic historian Ken McGoogan approaches the legacy of nineteenth-century explorer Sir John Franklin from a contemporary perspective and offers a surprising new explanation of an enduring Northern mystery. McGoogan will captivate readers with his first-hand account of travelling to relevant locations, visiting the graves of dead sailors and experiencing the Arctic—one of the most dramatic and challenging landscapes on the planet.
For more information, visit https://munrobooks.com/events
Panel Discussion: Writing Traditionally Under-Represented Characters
Sisters in Crime-Canada West
Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:00 am Pacific time
ONLINE and FREE
In this panel discussion moderated by Amber Cowie, Hyacinthe Miller and Anthony Bikulka will discuss diversity in Canadian crime writing. They will speak to tropes, stereotypes, and crafting an authentic cast of characters, and will touch on how to draw believable, diverse characters, avoid stereotypes, determine whether an under-represented character ‘fits’ your plot, and much more.
Registration is required: https://sinc-cw.ca/upcoming-events/
Indigenous Art Writing Award
Call for the Indigenous Art Writing Award
Deadline for submission: Monday, Oct 30, 2023
C Magazine and the Indigenous Curatorial Collective / Collectif des commissaires autochtones.
We’re thrilled to launch the 2nd annual Indigenous Art Writing Award, an initiative created to support, compensate, and platform three standout individuals who are advancing critical and creative thought about Indigenous contemporary art.
Indigenous writers are invited to submit a single non-fiction (creative non-fiction welcome!) text about an artist, project, exhibition, performance, event, initiative, or theme. Suggested length for submissions is between 1000-2000 words.
One submission per applicant. Complete the submission form by October 30, 2023. Please write to editor@cmagazine.com if you require any accommodation during the application process.
Click here for more information about the award. More information about writing for C Magazine can be found on our Submissions page.
Register NOW!
Ghost Story Writing Retreat
3-nights, All-inclusive
November 13-16th, 2023
Loon Lake Lodge, UBC Experimental Forest, Maple Ridge, BC
Single and shared rooms are still available for the 8th Annual Golden Ears Writers – Ghost Story Writing Retreat. (Ghost story writing is the theme, but not a requirement.) Come write with us in an inspiring wilderness setting that is easily accessible from the lower mainland. Nine meals are included in the price. Write in front of a cozy fire, at large tables in the meeting room (overlooking the lake), or at the desk in your room. There are also hiking trails, and an outdoor fire pit. For more details, please contact Katherine (KT) at citizen@shaw.ca
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Recording: Word Vancouver Panel on Publishing Trends
The Federation of BC Writers sponsored a panel of publishing experts at Word Vancouver in September. It’s not too late to view the discussion, as Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho leads Sylvia Skene (Executive Director of MagsBC), Richard Kouwenhoven (CEO of Hemlock Printers), and Annie Boyar (Director of Marketing for Douglas & McIntyre) in conversation about the changes that have impacted writers and readers since the onset of the pandemic.
Recording: Author Discussion on The Family Code
Author Wayne Ng recently met with Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho to discuss his new book, The Family Code, his first work not featuring an Asian protagonist. Learn their thoughts on what it means to both stray from and remain within the lane of immigrant tropes.
