Creative Writing classes starting this month

“Welcome to Creative Writing”

~ 9 weeks of exploring your creative side ~

Tuesday mornings, Sept 23 – Nov 18, 2014 

9:45 – 11:45 a.m.

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

This is your chance to take up writing in a warm, supportive environment. This course will open the door to all kinds of creative writing. We’ll visit short story writing and children’s writing, writing in first person and in third person, and writing just for fun. 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.

Fee: 140.71 plus 13% hst = 159

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

Writing your life and other personal stories

9  weeks of sharing your writing and your life with new friends

Tuesday afternoons, Sept 23 – Nov 18, 2014 

12:45 – 2:45 9.m.

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

If you've ever considered writing your memoirs, your family history or just getting 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 or for a wider public, don't miss this course.

Fee: 140.71 plus 13% hst = 159

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

Intermediate Creative Writing

12 weeks of creative growth

Wednesday evenings, Sept 17 – Dec 10
6:45 – 9:00 p.m.

First readings emailed Sept 10

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave, Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

This course will challenge you to take a step up in your writing.  The format will be very similar to the “Next Step” courses, but with a slightly smaller group and with slightly more opportunity to have your writing critiqued. Over the twelve weeks of classes, you’ll be asked to bring in five or six 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. You bring whatever you want to work on.

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group. , and 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.

Fee: 184.96 + 13% hst = 209. 

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

The Next Step in Creative Writing

12 weeks of creative growth

Offered in two locales:

Thursday afternoons, Sept 18 – Dec 11

12:30 – 2:45 p.m.

First readings emailed Sept 11

Unity Church Unit 8, 3075 Ridgeway Drive, Mississauga (Map here.)

or Thursday evenings, Sept 18 – Dec 11
6:45 – 9:00 p.m.

First readings emailed Sept 11

St. Alban's Church, 537 Main Street, Georgetown (In the village of Glen Williams. Map here.)

Note: The Georgetown class is a particularly strong and welcoming group of writers and has space for a few more participants.

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. All your pieces may be from the same work, such as a novel in progress, or they may be stand alone pieces. You bring whatever you want to work on.

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group. , and 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.

Fee: 184.96 + 13% hst = 209. 

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

Intensive Creative Writing

12 weeks towards mastering your craft 

Wednesday afternoons, Sept 17 – Dec 10

12:15 to 2:45 p.m.

First set of readings emailed Sept 10

Appleby United Church, 4407 Spruce Ave,Burlington, Ontario (Map here.)

Intensive Creative Writing isn't for beginners; it's for people who have been writing for a while or who have done a course or two before and are working on their own projects. Over the twelve classes, you’ll be asked to bring in six 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. You bring whatever you want to work on.

Besides critiquing pieces, the instructor will give short lectures addressing the needs of the group, and 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: 184.96 + 13% hst = 209.  Payment in advance by mail or Interac.

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

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Barrie, Brampton, Bolton, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Niagara on the Lake, Oakville, Orillia, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Stouffville, Sudbury, Toronto, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond. 

Carly Watters promoted to VP and Senior Agent at P.S. Literary Agency

Carly Watters

P.S. Literary Agency

20033 – 520 Kerr Street
Oakville, Ontario
L6K 3C7 CANADA
http://www.psliterary.com/

Note: Don't ever miss a post on Quick Brown Fox. Fill in your email in the box to the right under my bio, and get each post delivered to your Inbox. ~ Brian

The P.S. Literary Agency is a relative newcomer to the agenting world, having been established by Curtis Russell in 2005, so all its agents are actively looking for authors.  P.S. located in Oakville (a suburb of Toronto) and represents literary and commercial fiction, Young Adult and Middle grade fiction and picture books, and nonfiction.

 "P.S. seeks to work with clients who are professional and committed to their goals. It is our desire to work with clients for the duration of their careers. In addition to contract negotiations, editorial and marketing guidance, our commitment extends to post-publication in pursuing foreign, audio, digital, TV/film and serial rights. Our team attends major national and international industry conferences and travels periodically to New York City to network with top editors."

Carly Watters has been promoted to VP, Senior Literary Agent. 
Congratulations, Carly!

Previously, Carly was promoted to full agent in January, after starting with P.S. Literary Agency in 2005 as an Assistant Agent. Carly represents a diverse list of fiction, nonfiction and children's authors including Mary Akers, Ian T Healy, Jay Onrait, and Colin Mochrie. 

Carly is actively looking for Literary and Commercial fiction, World literature, Women’s fiction, Literary thrillers, high concept Young Adult novels and Picture books, and up-market nonfiction in Health, Wellness, Pop science and Pop psychology.

Carly also represents select titles in North America for the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency. Carly did her MA in Publishing Studies at City University London in the UK where she worked in the publishing industry at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency, and Bloomsbury PLC before returning to Canada in 2010 to join the P.S Literary Agency. She blogs here.

Many readers will know what a treasure Carly is from when she’s been my guest speaker at “How to Get Published” workshops.

Maria Vicente

Maria Vicente – Associate Agent

Maria is the newest member of the team at P.S. Literary. She began her publishing career an intern with Bree Ogden at D4EO Literary Agency and then interned at P.S. Literary before joining the agency as an associate agent. Maria has a B.A. in English Lit from Carleton and a Bachelor of Education from Western. She blogs here.

Maria is actively looking for Literary and Commercial fiction, New Adult, high-concept Young Adult, Middle Grade, high-concept Picture Books, and nonfiction in the Pop Culture, Pop Psychology, Design and Lifestyle categories.

Maria was my guest speaker at a How to Get Published workshop Sunday, June 22, in Ottawa.

Curt Russell

Curtis Russell – President & Principal Agent
Curtis began his publishing career nearly a decade ago as proprietor of a micro press. In 2005 he crossed to the other side of the desk and founded the P.S. Literary Agency. He has a wide-ranging and diverse client list, and is interested in discovering writers with unique ideas, no matter what the category.

Curtis is currently acquiring both fiction and nonfiction. In terms of fiction, he is seeking Literary, Commercial mainstream, Women's fiction, Romance, New Adult, Young Adult and Middle Grade novels, and Mysteries & Thrillers.

In terms of nonfiction, he is looking for Business, History, Politics, Current Affairs, Memoir, Health, Wellness, Sports, Humour, Pop science and Pop psychology.

Submissions:
Query by email only at: query@psliterary.com 
No attachments unless specifically requested.  Limit your query to one page and include...
Paragraph One – Introduction: Include the title and category of your work (i.e. fiction or nonfiction and topic), an estimated word count and a brief, general introduction. 
Paragraph Two – Mini-synopsis: A concise summary or overview of your work. 
Paragraph Three – Writer’s bio: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background (awards and affiliations, etc.). 

Full submission requirements here.

Olaga Filina

Brian Henry will lead “How to Get Published” workshops in Oakville on Saturday, Sept 27, with literary agent Carolyn Forde (see here) and in Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, March 1, with literary agent Olga Filina (see here).

He has a “Writing for Children & for Young Adults” workshop Saturday, Nov 8, in Guelph (see here).

Other upcoming workshops, include: “How to Make Yourself Write,” Saturday, Sept 13 in Brampton (see here),  “Writing & Revising,” Saturday, Sept 20, in Toronto (see here), and “How to Write s Bestseller," with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, Saturday, Nov 22, in Burlington (see here) and Saturday, Dec 6, in London (see here). See Brian's full schedule here.

But the best way to get your manuscript ready for publication is with a weekly course. This fall, Brian will be offering weekly classes for writers from beginning to advanced. Check out details of all six upcoming classes here. 

Specifically, Brian is offering “Welcome to Creative Writing” Tuesday mornings in Burlington (see here), “Writing Your Life & Other Personal Stories” Tuesday afternoons in Burlington (here), “The Next Step in Creative Writing” Wednesday evenings in Burlington (here), Thursday afternoons in Mississauga (here) and Thursday evenings in Georgetown (here). He’s offering “Intensive Creative Writing” Wednesday afternoons in Burlington (here).

To register or for more details of any course or workshop, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian's full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Barrie, Brampton, Bolton, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Niagara on the Lake, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Stouffville, Sudbury, Toronto, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Excerpt from The Forgotten, a YA novel in progress by Kym Mulder

Prologue

In a town where secrets are impossible to keep, I’ve managed well.  I have a secret and from that secret more and more grow.  Secrets and lies are like ivy.  At first, they seem benign, even fanciful as they stretch out, wrapping themselves around you, a protection from what you don’t want others to see. 

But eventually, both grow out of control.  It’s amazing what you’ll do to keep a secret when all things may be lost.  I know one thing for sure, ivy and secrets are weeds. 

At some point they’ll tear you apart.  I can read minds.  That’s my secret and I might just happen to know yours. 

Chapter One

“If you like, you can take the biology test tomorrow, Miss Burwood,” Mr. Chambers says.  He only calls me Avery if I’m in trouble.  “I would understand if you wanted to go back home.  You can always take it another time.”

“No thanks, Mr. C.  I’d rather get it over with,” I say. As I slide into my seat, everyone’s staring at me. 

I hate that.  That’s the problem with living in a small town like Lopart.  You can’t hide and everyone knows your business.  Heck, my entire class, all whopping 15 of us were absent this morning, just for me.  They were staring then too.  All dressed in black.  Could I have felt any more like a freak? 

Maybe it would have been better if I’d stayed at home, but I thought school would be alright.  If I build a cocoon around myself, I won’t escape as a butterfly, I’ll smother.  That’s the problem with being human, change can suck.   

And why can’t everyone look at old Mr. Chambers?  I feel the heat on my back from the stares.   They’re expecting me to fall apart.  I’m the spectacle of the month, maybe even the year if nothing else happens in our lazy town.  I’m sure Gabe and the boys are even putting money on it.  Poor Avery, they’re saying, she’s about to crumble like last week’s donut. 

Luckily Dean sits next to me in class.  He’s one of my best friends.  We bonded back in fourth grade when our class went to a working farm and Dean and I helped birth a calf.  We both smelled so bad for the rest of the day that no one would play with us.  So we were linked by the stink. 

Plus, the calf was really cool.  Of course, our class was more into the two roosters who were having a cock fight.  The farmer went nuts at the thought of one of them dying, but death is a fascination to us.  No one ever dies in Lopart – well, hardly ever.

Dean tosses me a note and it’s a small scribble of a happy face.  His way of cheering me up, I guess. 

Dean’s really great.  He’s as tall as me, but he looks Grecian, with olive skin and dark hair.  And he’s insanely smart.  I think he tries to dumb things down for me sometimes.  I can’t say anything bad about the guy, especially since he’s been so great to me lately.

Mr. Chambers finally lets us flip our papers over to begin.  I give a quick head nod to Dean as he dives into his test.  Of course, he would know all the answers.  But his thoughts move too fast.  I won’t be able to catch them.  Not today, when I’m off my game. 

That’s when I feel someone watching me.  Most everyone has their heads down invested in their papers.  Everyone except River.  He’s the town’s only mystery.  He lives out in the forest with his grandfather and they keep to themselves.  I’ve known him my whole life, but still can’t say I know anything about him.  The girls are always trying to grab his attention because of his large biceps, strong jaw line, and shoulder-length, dirty blond hair.  His eyes are a crystalline blue.

I’ve never trusted him. 

I can feel River’s eyes search me from across the room.  His stare invades my space.  His eyes are like a touch of heat which lingers on my hair, shoulders, and comes to rest on my mouth.  I feel an invisible pull toward him and for some reason I can’t seem to break the hold with his distrustful, radiant eyes.

Something inside of my deadened heart stirs and releases pent up energy.  An excitable need takes over and I can feel myself begin to respond to him, but it’s fully against my will.  I don’t want to notice him, but I do, and I involuntarily lick my lips.  They’re wet and moist, and I can’t understand why this simple movement feels so seductively right. 

My body shudders when I hear him shift in his seat and for some reason I like that too.  He breaks our eye contact, but I’m still hyper aware of his movements.  It’s as if we’re touching, but we’re not.  No one catches River’s attention like this. 

I sweep my hair back behind my ears, slowly drawing my fingers down the sensitive spot on my neck.  It tickles a bit.  Turning my head fully toward him, I continue to caress my neck. Then my finger gently crosses my jaw and traces an invisible line up to my mouth.  When I finally look up into his eyes, River’s still taking me in.  I bite on my nail and he’s hooked.  I hold his eye and he holds mine.  Heat rushes my cheeks.  It feels like we’re the only two who exist on this side of the Milky Way.

“Heads forward, River and Avery,” Mr. Chambers chokes out, his face red with embarrassment.  

His words dissolves the spell and regret floods my every nerve ending.  Where did that come from?  It didn’t make any sense at all.  I’m not interested in River or any of the guys in our school.  I’ve known them all too long to find them remotely sexy.  I have to chalk it up to misdirected energy from exhaustion. 

My heart is still fluttering as I turn back to my work.  I tell myself not to look at River.  Whatever just happened, needs to never happen again.

Thank goodness for the test to distract me, but it’s all about chemical synaptic responses or something.  Science is not my thing, but Jenny, my other best friend, is usually pretty reliable as an expert.  I know I probably shouldn’t cheat, but Jenny is my best friend, and if she knew about my power, she’d understand why today of all days, I need to do this. 

I steady my breath, practicing deep breathing and open my mind.  I send all thoughts of the day out and begin pulling.  I don’t know how else to explain it.  It’s like I’m grabbing pictures or impressions from different minds.  When I concentrate hard and think of someone close by, thoughts and images come flooding at me.  Sometimes it’s memories, other times, it’s current thoughts.  In this case, I’m searching through Jenny’s mind.  She’s really worried about me, but that’s not going to help with the test.

I pull some more and I can see that her crush on Gabe is still strong, but I doubt there is anything much to be done about that.  I’ll just have to give her another lecture about the big jock later.  I push that thought aside and I slide into what she’s thinking about right now.  I can see her figuring out the answers.  The first one is neurons, then neurotransmitter, and axon.  I hold her mind, jotting down the answers, until she’s done with the test. 

Releasing a mind once I’m done is a strange affair.  It’s like I’m tossing out a perfectly good, tasty slice of pizza.  It shouldn’t be done.  But searching around someone’s head space is gratifying and exciting.  I just love it.  I think it’s the energy surge I crave.  But, I never stay too long in anyone’s thoughts – that can cause problems all around. 

Kym Mulder is the mother of two crazy and wonderful kids, but she also seeks out and relishes the few quiet moments in her day when she can write.  After four years as a secondary school English teacher reading all her student’s favorite YA novels, she now aims to publish one of her own works.  She is grateful to Brian Henry and all of her classmates for their help and support.

See Brian Henry's schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Barrie, Brampton, Bolton, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Niagara on the Lake, Oakville, Orillia, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Stouffville, Sudbury, Toronto, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.