You're invited to “Writing Personal Stories”

“Writing Personal Stories” 

 ~ A weekly class dedicated to the pleasures of writing your stories & insights

Online: Tuesday afternoons, 1 – 3 p.m.
July 8 – Aug 19, 2025
Offered on Zoom and accessible from anywhere there's internet 

If you've ever considered writing your personal stories, this course is for you. We’ll look at memoirs, travel writing, personal essays, family history – personal stories of all kinds. Plus, of course, we’ll work on creativity and writing technique and have fun doing it. 

Whether you want to write a book or just get your thoughts down on paper, this weekly course will get you going. We'll reveal the tricks and conventions of telling true stories, and we’ll show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Weekly writing exercises and friendly feedback from the instructor will help you move forward on this writing adventure. Whether you want to write for your family and friends or for a wider public, don't miss this course.

We’ll also have a published author as a guest speaker for this course.

Instructor 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, taught creative writing at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John.  But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.  

Read reviews and other pieces about or inspired by Brian's writing courses, workshops, and retreats here (and scroll down).

Fee: $220.35 plus 13% hst = $259

To reserve your spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here. 

Kudos to Denisha and Evana, Jayne, Barbara, and Susan!

Hi, Brian.

I hope you’re well. I do miss your classes and am looking forward to the June retreat. I am coming!

Also, Evena and I will be reading our pieces from  Prairie Fire Magazine 50 over 50 issue May 1st. I’m attaching the poster and I hope you can put it on your blog and maybe even attend :)

Thanks for your help in all things writing,

Denisha Naidoo

The launch of Prairie Fire Magazine 50 over 50 issue will be Thursday, May 1; 6–8 p.m. at High Park Library, 288 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto (Map here). Come and hear Denisha, Evena, and other great writers featured in this issue read their stories aloud.

For information about upcoming writing retreats, including the June retreat at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park, see here (and scroll down)

 

Hi, Brian.

I'm thrilled to let you know that my first person essay about homesickness, workshopped in our Wednesday Intensive Writing Class, is to be published in the Globe and Mail online on April 8th and in print on the 9th! Thanks to you and everyone in my small group for their support and feedback!

 Best wishes and see you in class

Jayne Evans 

Read Jayne’s piece in the Globe and Mail here.

Note: I’ve started to post summer courses. Tuesday afternoons will be Personal Stories, Wednesday evenings will be Writing for Children and Young Adults, and Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons will be Intensive Creative Writing classes. If you’re interested, send me an email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca  

 

Hi, Brian.

I'm getting a lot of mileage out of this piece, “Why does spring also have to be dog poop-bag season?” Between the comments on the online print at The Globe, social media and random strangers looking me up to find my email address to tell me their horror dog poop stories – it's been a fun few days. 

Barbara Wackerle Baker

You can read Barbara’s piece in the Globe and Mail here.

For information on submitting a First Person essay to the Globe and Mail {and a few other great places to submit}, see here.

 

Hi, Brian.

I am excited to announce that my fourth novel, Stranded, has just come out, published by Evernight Teen.

It is available in e-copy at evernightteen.com or in paperback from Amazon here.

Thanks for all the support!

Susan Thomas

Note: See all my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here. ~Brian

See where your fellow writers are getting short pieces published here (and scroll down). And see more books from your fellow authors here (and scroll down).

If you’ve had a story (or a book!) published, if you’ve won or placed in a writing contest, if you’ve gotten yourself an agent, or if you have any other news, send me an email so I can share your success. As writers, we’re all in this together, and your good news gives us all a boost. Email me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

You're invited to Writing Kid Lit, a weekly class for grown-ups

“Writing Kid Lit” 

~ Picture Books to Young Adult Novels

Online: Wednesday evenings, 7 – 9 p.m.,
July 2 – August 13 {or to Aug 20 if it fills up}
Offered online and accessible from anywhere there's internet 

This course is for adults {or teens} interested in writing picture books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade books, or Young Adult novels. This course is accessible for beginners and meaty enough for advanced writers. Through lectures, in-class assignments, homework, and feedback on your writing, we’ll give you ins and outs of writing for younger readers. If you want to write for kids, this is the course you need to make sure you’re on the right track.

We’ll also have a published children’s author as a guest speaker (TBA).

Instructor 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, taught creative writing at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. Brian is the author of a children's version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute Publishing). But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.  

Read pieces about ~ or inspired by ~ Brian's retreats, courses and workshops here (and scroll down).

Fee: $220.35 plus 13% hst = $259

To reserve your spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.

Kudos to Carleigh, Debra & Sandra, Johanna, and Suzanne ~ they all have new books!

Note: If you’ve had a story (or a book!) published, if you’ve won or placed in a writing contest, if you’ve gotten yourself an agent, or if you have any other news, send me an email so I can share your success. As writers, we’re all in this together, and your good news gives us all a boost. 

Also, be sure to let know if you're looking for a writers' group or beta readers; a notice in Quick Brown Fox, will help you find them. 

Email me at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Hi, Brian!

I'm very excited to share that my middle grade nonfiction, Adventures in Math, is coming out October 7! I'll send you a copy :-) 

Thank you so much for your support! I workshopped the first drafts in your Writing for Children class, and through your workshops, I met Patricia Ocampo, from Kids Can Press. Patricia was amazing to work with, I learned so much, and I'm thrilled with how the book turned out!! 

I also submitted a humorous short story for Red Deer Press's YA anthology, I'm Here – and it too will be published this fall! 

I hope you are doing well! Thanks again!!

Warmest regards,

Carleigh Wu

Adventures in Math is available for pre-order from Indigo/Chapters here.

For information on submitting to Kids Can Press, see here, and for information on submitting to Red Deer Press, see here.

And if you’re interested in writing Kid Lit, I have a “How to Get Published” workshop coming up May 31 with literary agent Bridgette Kam of Westwood Creative Artists. Kid Lit is one of Bridgette’s specialties. Details here.

Also, I’ll have a new weekly Kid Lit course this summer. Details to come. ~Brian

 

Hi, Brian.

Sandra Baker and I just self-published our book called, Spirit Leads The Way, Stories of What Spirit and Our Intuition Have Taught Us.

 A heartfelt thank you for doing what you do!

Only the best,

Debra Falco

Spirit Leads The Way is available on Amazon here.

 

Hello, Brian;

I just wanted to let you know that my novel The Hunger Winter is now available through the publisher Wipfandstock.com (here) and Chapters/Indigo (here).

This is the story of two teenage sisters in the Netherlands who are forced to learn to collaborate during the famine and the final year of WWII. Suitable for adult readers and mature YA, the book offers book club and further research resources.

Thanks for past courses and workshops. Will keep an eye on future offerings. 

Johanna M. Selles

 

Hi, Brian.

Just thought I’d share my news. I have a picture book coming out with Owl’s Nest Publishers in 2026. It’s a middle grade novel in verse titled Swimming with Dolphins.

Suzanne Purvis

Note: Owl’s Nest Publishers is a new independent publisher specializing in Middle Grade and YA. It’s also reprinting classics that in the public domain – which hopefully works out as a good revenue stream for them. See more about Owl’s Nest here.

 

See all my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day  retreats here. ~Brian

See other new books by your fellow writers here (and scroll down).

See where your fellow writers are getting short pieces published here (and scroll down).

Note: You can get new postings on Quick Brown Fox delivered straight to your Inbox as I publish them. Subscribe to Quick Brown Fox on Substack here: https://brian999.substack.com/

A new children's book by Lenna Rhodes: Penelope The Miner

Hi, Brian.

I would like to thank you for your brilliant and golden feedback regarding the revision of Penelope the Miner.

 I did really well with Penelope at the PDAC conference (Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Conference) in Toronto, and since then, I’ve gotten incredibly busy, including being invited to do storytelling in our community at an exciting “literacy based” event in early April. I will be arriving with my book and story telling props to entertain children and their families. 

Thank you greatly for all that you do.

Warmest Regards, 
Lenna

P.S. This summer, I penned a second children's book!

Penelope The Miner by Lenna Rhodes

Embark on an adventurous journey with Penelope the Miner and dig into the fun world of mining. Penelope’s mother wishes for her to become a ballet dancer, a beauty queen, or a model. Penelope prefers hard hats, safety glasses, bedazzled work overalls, and books about mining. She’s inspired to follow her career dreams by her father, a geologist, and her Aunt Molly from South Africa.  

Written for youngsters 7 to 9 years old. Penelope aims to educate and inspire children to get involved in the mining industry but keeps things cheerful and fun with magical events. The book includes an educational section called: “Digging Deeper into the Book.”  This section encourages children to research earth science facts and to have opinions about the story.

Anyone interested in ordering a copy of Penelope the Miner for $20 can reach out directly to me through my email: lenna.mc.rhodes@gmail.com ~Lenna

***

See more books from your fellow authors here (and scroll down), and see where they’re getting their short pieces published here (and scroll down).

See all my upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here. ~Brian