Upcoming creative writing courses and workshops

The Next Step in Creative Writing
12 weeks of creative growthThursdays, Sept 20 – Dec 6
(First readings emailed Sept 13)
6:45– 9:00 p.m.
St. Alban's Church, 537 Main Street, Georgetown (More here.)

This course will challenge you to take a step up in your writing. The format will be similar to the "Intensive" courses, but with less reading between classes each week, leaving you with more writing time.  Over the twelve weeks of classes, you’ll be asked to bring in five pieces of your writing for detailed feedback.

Fee: $160.80 13% hst = $193.  Payment in advance by mail or e-transfer.
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Note: The Next Step in Creative Writing is also offered Thursday afternoons in Mississauga, and Intensive Creative Writing is offered Wednesday afternoons in Burlington and Wednesday evenings in Mississauga. Those classes are all full, but to get on the waiting list or to reserve a spot in a winter session, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Writing & Revising

Saturday, Sept 15

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives, 9 Wellington St. E. Brampton, Ontario (More here.)

In this workshop, you'll learn how to rethink, rework and rewrite so that your manuscript will live up to your vision.

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 at the door.
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Writing for Children & for Young Adults

Saturday, Sept 22
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
(But note, the instructor will be around till 4:30 to look at samples of your work.)
Newmarket Community Centre and Lion's Hall

200 Doug Duncan Drive, Newmarket (More 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. )

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 at the door.
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

How to Build Your Story

An editor & an author explain it all
Saturday, Sept 29

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cawthra Park United Church, 1465 Leda Ave, Mississauga, Ontario (More here.)

This workshop will show you how writers plot a novel. You’ll also get the best tips on writing short stories, where to get them published and how to win contests. 

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 at the door.
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Welcome to Creative Writing
Nine weeks of exploring your creative side

Tuesdays, Oct 2 – Nov 27

12:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington (More here.)

This course will open the door to all kinds of creative writing. We’ll visit short story writing and personal writing, children’s writing, memoir 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 environment, where your words will grow and flower.
Fee: $115.04 plus 13% hst = $130. Payment in advance by mail or e-transfer.

To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Eutopia by David Nickle, one of
Monica Pacheco's clients

The East End Writers' Group presents…

How to Get Published

An editor & a literary agent reveal all

Saturday, Oct 13

World’s Biggest Bookstore, 20 Edward Street, Toronto (More here.)

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a published author, this workshop is for you. We’ll cover everything from getting started to getting an agent, from getting your short pieces published to finding a book publisher, from writing a query letter to writing what the publishers want. 

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. Guest speaker Monica Pacheco is a literary agent with Anne McDermid and Associates. 

Fee: $44 paid in advance or $48 at the door.
To register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian Henry's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency seeks romance novels

Hartline Literary Agency

123 Queenston Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15235

http://www.hartlineliterary.com/

Hartline is one of the most established literary agencies serving the Christian book market and it now works in the general book market as well.

Linda Glaz is the newest member of the team. Linda is an experienced editor, reviewer and writer, and for a couple of years was a final reader for Wild Rose Press, then for White Rose Publishing, all the while reviewing for online sites. She has worked the last couple of years as an editorial assistant for Hartline Agent Terry Burns. She was a judge for the Genesis contest for the American Christian Fiction Writers, a judge for the Emily Award for the West Houston Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, and on the faculty for Faithwriters.com annual conference in 2010 and 2011.

“I don’t connect with a lot of nonfiction,” says Linda, “but would always be happy to have peek. However, if you’ve got a great romance, either contemporary, suspense, or historic, you’ll probably make me happy. Please no fantasy, sci-fi, or children’s. And any other genre, if well-written, will certainly get my notice. Well-written…well-written…well-written. I’m not choosy as long as it’s …well-written.”

Query Linda at: linda@hartlineliterary.com

Even for fiction, Hartline requests a full proposal, including cover letter, “sell sheet,” bio, 1 – 3 page synopsis, market analysis, competitive analysis, marketing strategy, history of the manuscript, and the first three chapters. Full submission guidelines here.

Brian Henry will lead a "How to Get Published" workshop on Saturday, October 13, in Toronto with Monica Pacheco of The Anne McDermid literary agency (see here).

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

You're invited to the book launch for The Darkest Corner of the World by Urve Tamberg

Hi, Brian.

I'd like to share the news of my first book launch! It all started with one of your writing courses, so many thanks to you, and all of the wonderful writers I have met in your courses.

The Toronto launch of The Darkest Corner of the World will be:

Saturday September 29, 2012

2 to 4 pm

at Tartu College, 310 Bloor Street, Toronto
(just east of Spadina).

The event is open to all, and refreshments will be available. The novel is young adult historical fiction, so children and teens are welcome.

Yours,
Urve

About the book

Who can you turn to when the only choice is between two evils? In the summer of 1941, fifteen-year-old Madli hopes that the Soviet occupation of Estonia is temporary. But when the Nazis invade her country, friends and family find themselves divided as they try to choose which dictator they'd rather live under — Hitler or Stalin. Madli is horrified by either choice, but how long can she remain neutral? Every day brings new dangers and unimaginable decisions. In order to survive, Madli knows she can't fight the enemy, so she is determined to outwit them to save her family.

About the Author

Urve Tamberg grew up in Toronto as the daughter of Estonian immigrant parents. With a B.Sc. (Physical Therapy), and a M.B.A., her management career spanned both the private and public sectors of health care. Urve has always been inspired by little-known stories of stubbornness, ingenuity, and bravery, so a few years ago she began to write historical fiction for teens. Urve lives in Oakville, Ontario, with her husband, three children, and a little black dog named Shimmer.

Connect with Urve

If you'd would like more information, please visit Urve’s website at www.utamberg.com and www.thedarkestcorneroftheworld.com.

Urve loves to come out of her writing cave and talk to people, and she’s booking school visits, presentations, and book clubs.

If you can't make it to the book launch, The Darkest Corner of the World is available on-line here and here. It's also available at independent books stores.

The Darkest Corner of the World is published by Dancing Cat Books, an imprint of Cormorant Books. For information on submitting to Dancing Cat, see here.

Three creative writing courses starting this fall still have space: Welcome to Creative Writing in Burlington on Tuesday afternoons (see here) and The Next Step in Creative Writing, offered on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and on Thursday evenings in Georgetown (see here).

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

New posts on Brian's blog

There are new posts on my political blog. See here.

50 Shades of Natural Gray short story contest

50 Shades of Natural Gray: Spicy Stories for Seasoned Women

A collection of tasteful erotica for older women

500 to 5,000 words.

Deadline Sept. 30, 2012

First prize: $100 Second prize: $75 Third prize: $50

All winners, honorable mentions, and runners up will be published and receive a free copy

December 2012 launch date.

For more contest details, visit www.evepublishing.com

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Love letters

Katie Shea, Donald Maass literary

Hi, Brian.

I thought you might like to know that I signed with Katie Shea of the Donald Maass literary agency to represent Dead Sister Days. I’m pretty thrilled as I’m sure you can imagine. Thanks for your encouragement on Wednesday nights.

Thanks,

Amanda Hartley

Last spring, Amanda took part in the Wednesday evening Intensive Creative Writing course in Mississauga. Three courses starting this fall still have space: Welcome to Creative Writing in Burlington on Tuesday afternoons (see here) and The Next Step in Creative Writing, offered on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (see here) and on Thursday evenings in Georgetown (see here).

For information on submitting to Katie Shea at the Donald Maass literary agency, see here.

Dear Brian,

I've attended your workshops in Peterborough and Toronto, and I have to say thank you so much for taking the time to help new writers and for being willing to travel around the province to share your knowledge and experience.

I am pleased to let you know a second story of mine has been published at CommuterLit.com. My two short stories are urban fantasy about a paranormal investigator. The first takes place in Ottawa and looks at the family values of vampires and witches. The second takes place in Toronto and is about trust and shape-shifting spiders -- not for the arachnophobic. I also write about the urban fantasy genre and review books at urbanfantasyland.wordpress.com.

Thank you so much for all the work you do in creating and maintaining this community of writers.

Sincerely,

Sara Walker

For information on submitting to CommuterLit, see here.

Brian,

I’m having a poem published in The Saving Bannister contest anthology. Maybe sending things out is a good idea!

Malcolm Watts

The Saving Bannister is an annual contest run by the Canadian Authors Association, Niagara. See information about the contest here.

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Dundas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Woodstock, Orangeville, Newmarket, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Sudbury, Muskoka, Peel, Halton, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.