Free Writing Get-Togethers, plus two great workshops: Writing for Children & for Young Adults, and How to Build Your Story with author Hannah McKinnon

Meet Ups for Writers

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2017

3:30 – 5: 30 p.m.

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

I’m hosting five 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 together 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 is free, but phone the library and tell them which days you plan to attend so that we know how many to expect. Come to one or come to them all (or play it by ear). 

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. It’s unlikely we’ll fill the room, but if by chance the Holland Room does overflow, there will always be room at the café.) ~Brian

The Awakening a YA novel
by Kelley Armstrong, a New York Times
#1 bestselling author and Brian's student

Writing for Children & for Young Adults 

~ the world’s hottest market ~
Saturday, November 11, 2017
10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

London Public Library, Stevenson & Hunt Room B , 

251 Dundas St, London, 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 – 1,000 words) of your children’s book or young adult novel. If you’re not currently working on a children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get you started on the spot!

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance

or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53 if you wait to pay at the door

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

How to Build Your Story

Plotting novels & Writing short stories

Saturday, November 25, 2017

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Burlington Central Library, Centennial Hall,2331 New Street, Burlington, Ontario (Map here)

This workshop will show you how writers plot a novel and will give you the best tips on writing short stories. We’ll also look at where to get your stories published and how to win contests. Best yet, you’ll see how to apply the story-building techniques you’ve learned to your own writing.

Guest speaker Hannah McKinnon, the author of Time After Time (published by HarperCollins in Britain), a novel about love, loss and second chances that’s full of humour. Read a review of Time After Time here.

Hannah’s second and third books have been acquired by MIRA (a North American imprint owned by HarperCollins). The first of these, The Neighbors, a novel about the implosion of two families, is scheduled for March 2018, and her third book a year later. 

When she’s not writing novels for adults, Hannah’s three boys give her plenty of material for children’s books. . At the workshop, Hannah will be speaking about the different trial and error approaches she’s used to plot her novels and short stories. She’ll also be sharing her story of her writing career so far.

Fee: 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 paid in advance by mail or Interac

or 46.90 + 13% hst = 53 if you wait to pay 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 teaches at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. 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. 

Read reviews of Brian's classes, workshops and writing retreats here (and scroll down).

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