Free get-togethers in November, plus 3 great workshops: Writing & Revising, How to Write Great Characters, and Writing for Kids

Meet Ups for Writers

Wednesdays, November 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2016

3:30 – 5: 30 p.m.

Holland Room, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street, Burlington, Ontario (Map here)

I’m hosting four writing support sessions at the Burlington Central Library. When you get a warren of writers all writing together, the room buzzes with energy and it’s a great motivational boost. So we’ve booked the Holland Room at the library where we can all write tighter for a couple hours each week. Or join your fellow writers at the Café in the library’s foyer, where we’ll be chatting about writing and the projects we’ve got on the go (leaving the Holland Room quiet for those getting words on paper).

This event coincides with National Novel Writing Month, but you don’t have to be taking part in NaNoWriMo to participate in our meet-ups. All you need is an urge to hang out with some fellow writers. 

This event is free, but phone the library and tell them which days you plan to attend so that we know how many to expect. Call: 905-639-3611 ext 1321

(Though if you decide to come at the last minute, that’s fine with me. Just show up with your laptop or pad and pen. If by chance the Holland Room overflows, there will always be room at the café.) ~Brian

Writing and Revising

Saturday, November 5, 2016

1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

North Simcoe Sports & Rec Centre, Multi-Purpose Room, 527 Len Self Boulevard, Midland, Ontario (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: You’re invited to bring the first 500 – 1,000 words of one of your pieces of writing. You don’t need to bring anything, but if you do, three copies could be helpful.

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53  at the door

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

How to Write Great Characters   

Saturday, November 12, 2016
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Grace United Church, 350 Grove Street East, Barrie, Ontario (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: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53  at the door

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

Anne Shone, senior editor
Scholastic Books

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

With Anne Shone, senior editor, Scholastic Books

Saturday, November 19, 2016

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Unity Church, 3075 Ridegeway Drive, Unit 8, Mississauga, Ontario (Map here)

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 2 or 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!
Guest speaker Anne Shone is a Senior Editor at Scholastic Canada. Anne has worked in book publishing for close to twenty years, concentrating on children’s books for the last fifteen. In that time, she has worked with many of Canada’s top children’s book authors and illustrators. 

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53  at the door

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

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers and is the author of a children’s version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute Publishing Inc). But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published. 

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