Great Writing Workshops & the Windsor International Writers Conference ~Don't miss any of it!

Writing Your Life & Other True Stories

Saturday, April 16, 2016

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

London Central Library, 251 Dundas Street, London, Ontario (Map here.)

Have you ever considered writing your memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.

Fee: 40.71+ 13% hst = 46 paid in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at the door

To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Jennifer Mook-Sang with two copies of
Speechless 

Writing for Children & for Young Adults, the world’s hottest market

Offered in two locales:

Saturday, April 30

10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, Ontario (Map here.)

A mini-conference with three guest speakers:

Yasemin Uçar, senior editor at Kids Can Press, author Jennifer Mook-Sang, 
and author Kira Vermond

Fees: 45.13+ 13% hst = 51 paid in advance or 48.67 + 13% hst = 55  at the door

And

Author Alan Cumyn

Sunday, May 29, 2016

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Nepean Sportsplex, Hall E, 1701 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario (map here)

With guest speaker Alan Cumyn, author of the Owen Skye series for kids and numerous acclaimed novels for adults

Fee: 40.71+ 13% hst = 46 paid in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at the door

If you want to write the next best-selling children’s books or just want to create stories for your own kids, this workshop is for you. Learn how to write stories kids and young adults will love and find out what you need to know to sell your book.

Special option: You may, but don't have to, bring 3 copies of the opening couple pages (first 500 words) of your children’s book or young adult novel (or 1,000 words if that will get you to the end of your picture book or to the end of your first chapter.) If you’re not currently working on a children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get you started on the spot!

More details of April 30 workshop in Guelph here, and more details of May 29 workshop in Ottawa here.

To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Author Andrew Pyper, one of many authors,
editors, and literary agents speaking at the
Windsor International Writers Conference

The Windsor International Writers Conference presents…

Writing Query Letters that Get a Yes

Saturday, May 7, 2016

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor, Ontario  (Map here.)

If you want to get the attention of an agent or a publisher, you need to craft a good query letter. Using real life examples, this seminar shows you how to do it. There isn’t just one way to write a successful query, and your query doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to persuade an agent that you’ve got a book that they can successfully pitch to a publisher.

This seminar is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, which runs Thursday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7. Full conference details and registration here.

Query Letter Clinic

Saturday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

and Sunday, May 8, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church Road, Windsor, Ontario  (Map here.)

You’re invited to bring a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher in your book. Book your 20 minutes and bring two copies of your query and we’ll whip it into shape so that you’ll have agents begging to see your manuscript.

This clinic is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, which runs Thursday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7. Full conference details and registration here.

How to Write Great Characters   

Saturday, May 14, 2016
10:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Glenview Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Room, 1 Glenview Ave, Toronto (Map here)

Whatever you're writing ~ fiction or nonfiction ~ readers will care about your story only if they care about your people. In this workshop, you'll learn techniques for creating fictional characters and depicting real people. You’ll learn how to breathe life into the page so that your characters start telling you how the story should go.

Fee: 40.71+ 13% hst = 46 paid in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at the door

To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Writing and Revising

Saturday, May 28, 2016
10:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Unity Church, Unit 8, 3075 Ridgeway Drive, Mississauga (Map here.)
If you want to refine your story-telling skills and cut the time you will need to spend editing, this workshop is for you. You'll learn how to step back from a manuscript in order to find – and fix – flaws in your plot, structure, characterization and style. You'll learn how to rethink, rework and rewrite so that your manuscript will live up to your vision.

Special option: Participants are invited to bring a piece of their own writing (though you don’t have to!) If you do bring a piece, bring 3 copies of something short (1,000 words absolute maximum, though 750 words works better).

Fee: 40.71+ 13% hst = 46 paid in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at the door

To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published.

See Brian’s full schedule here, including writing workshops, writing retreats, and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Alton, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Halton, Ingersoll, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.