Join us this fall for “Intensive Creative Writing”

Intensive Creative Writing

Offered online at 2 different times:

Tuesday evenings online 6:30 – 9:00
First readings emailed Sept 8
Classes: Sept 15 – Dec 1 (or to Dec 8 if the class fills up). No class Oct 20

Wednesday afternoons online 12:30 – 3:00
First readings emailed Sept 9
Classes: Sept 16 – Dec 2 (or to Dec 9 if the class fills up). No class Oct 21

Intensive Creative Writing isn't for beginners; it's for people who are working on their own writing projects. You’ll be asked to bring in several pieces of your writing for detailed feedback. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand-alone pieces, such as short stories or essays or a picture book manuscript. You bring whatever you want to work on. 

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group. In addition to learning how to critique your own work and receiving constructive suggestions about your writing, you’ll discover that the greatest benefits come from seeing how your classmates approach and critique a piece of writing and how they write and re-write. This is a challenging course, but extremely rewarding.

Fee: $292.04 + hst = $330

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

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 called Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Saskatoon to Toronto to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published.  

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

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

Note: To get new posting delivered to your Inbox as they go up, go to the Quick Brown Fox Substack and subscribe: https://brian999.substack.com/

Kudos to Dave, Marg, Kim, Sara, and Sue!

Hi, Brian.

Just a note to thank you for helping me with “You’ve arrived at Your Destination.”

The story was accepted by Whisper HousePress for an anthology of horror stories on the theme of Doomscroll. (Putting my story in the horror category might be a bit of a push, but Whisper House says they publish and promote horror capturing life's mundane absurdities. This is certainly absurd!)
The story was one of short submissions in our Intensive class.

David Bellerive

Note: We still have spots open in the Wednesday afternoon online Intensive class this summer. Details here.

 

Hi, Brian.

Just heard that "Stitching," the piece I shared at the Elm Hurst Retreat, will be posted on Commuterlit next week. Thanks for the encouragement to send it there.

Marg Heidebrecht

You can read Stitching on CommuterLit here.

For information about submitting to CommuterLit (and to a few other places), see here.

Marg’s the author of two essay collections: Mosaic Through East-Facing Glass (here) and In the Shade (here).

If you’re thinking about a writing retreat, check out details of our end-of-summer retreat at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park here, and see details of our Fall Colours retreat at Sherwood Inn on Lake Joseph in Muskoka here. Our next retreat at Elm Hurst Inn and Spa in Ingersoll will be Friday, April 23 – Monday, April 26, 2027. Details to come.

 

Hi, Brian.

I'm very excited to share that I have a poem in the May/June 2026 issue of the fabulous Chirp magazine! This issue is all about ponds and features fantastic activities, stories, and information for young readers. My poem, "A Pond at Night" asks and answers fun questions, such as ... "Do snails take naps? / Can beetles fly? / Do turtles still snap / With stars in the sky?" 

Print and digital copies of Chirp magazine are widely available. Find out more here.

Thank you, 

Kim 

Kim T. Harrison 

https://kimtharrison.ca/

 

Hi, Brian.

I am so thrilled to share that my memoir My Father's Shadow, Uncovering The Stories Between the Lines, was voted a finalist in the International Book Awards, the Nonfiction Cross-genre category, out of hundreds of submissions.

Sara Aharon

Yay, Sara!

Read more about My Father’s Shadow here.

 

Hi, Brian.

Just had to share this link to a new organization and online magazine: North of 50, for women over 50.

My story is published here. When you click the link scroll to the very end of the magazine. It is best opened on a laptop or computer. 

I wrote this story about 5 years ago but it is now relevant given the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

You can read the magazine here.

Cheers,

Sue Kelly

For information about submitting to North of Fifty see here.

***

See where else your fellow writers are winning accolades or getting short pieces published 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

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

This fall, join us for “Welcome to Creative Writing”

Welcome to Creative Writing 

 ~ Let loose with your creative side

Online: Monday evenings
 6:30 –8:30 p.m.
Oct 26 – Dec 7 (or to Dec 14 if the class fills up)

This is your chance to take up writing in a warm, supportive environment. We’ll explore writing short stories and writing true stories, writing in first person and in third person, writing techniques and getting creative, getting down your very best writing and just for fun writing.

You'll get a shot of inspiration every week and an assignment to keep you going till the next class. Best of all, this class will provide a zero-pressure, totally safe setting, where your words will grow and flower.

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 Saskatoon to Toronto to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he’s has helped many of his students get published. 

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

Fee: $257.52 plus 13% hst = $291

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

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