Writing Your Life & Other True
Stories
Saturday, April 16, 2016
10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
London Central Library, 251 Dundas Street, London, Ontario (Map here.)
Have you ever considered writing your
memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the
tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the
techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for
your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.
Fee: 40.71+ 13% hst = 46 paid in
advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at the door
To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Writing for Children &
for Young Adults, the world’s hottest market
Offered in two locales:
Saturday, April 30
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Harcourt United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, Ontario (Map here.)
A mini-conference with three guest speakers:
Yasemin Uçar, senior editor at Kids Can
Press, author Jennifer Mook-Sang,
and author Kira Vermond
Fees: 45.13+ 13%
hst = 51 paid
in advance or 48.67 + 13% hst = 55
at the door
And
 |
| Author Alan Cumyn |
Sunday, May
29, 2016
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nepean Sportsplex, Hall E, 1701
Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario (map here)
With guest speaker Alan
Cumyn, author of the Owen Skye series for kids and numerous
acclaimed novels for adults
Fee: 40.71+
13% hst = 46 paid
in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49
at the door
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 3 copies of
the opening couple pages (first 500 words) of your children’s book or young
adult novel (or 1,000 words if that will get you to the end of your picture
book or to the end of your first chapter.) If you’re not currently working on a
children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get you started on the spot!
More details of April 30 workshop in Guelph here, and more details of May 29 workshop in Ottawa here.
 |
Author Andrew Pyper, one of many authors,
editors, and literary agents speaking at the
Windsor International Writers Conference |
Writing Query Letters that Get a Yes
Saturday, May 7, 2016
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church
Road, Windsor, Ontario (Map here.)
If you want to get the attention of
an agent or a publisher, you need to
craft a good query letter. Using real life examples, this seminar shows you how to do it. There isn’t
just one way to write a successful query, and your query doesn’t have to be
perfect; it just needs to persuade an agent that you’ve got a book that they
can successfully pitch to a publisher.
This seminar is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, which runs Thursday, May 5, through Sunday,
May 7. Full conference details and registration here.
Query Letter Clinic
Saturday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
and Sunday, May 8, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Ambassador Bridge Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church
Road, Windsor, Ontario (Map here.)
You’re invited to
bring a draft of a query letter you might use to interest an agent or publisher
in your book. Book your 20 minutes and bring two copies of your query and we’ll
whip it into shape so that you’ll have agents begging to see your manuscript.
This clinic is part of the Windsor International Writers Conference, which runs Thursday, May 5, through Sunday,
May 7. Full conference details and registration here.
How to Write
Great Characters
Saturday, May 14, 2016
10:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Glenview Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Room, 1 Glenview Ave, Toronto (Map here)
Whatever
you're writing ~ fiction or nonfiction ~ readers will care about your story only
if they care about your people. In this workshop, you'll learn techniques for
creating fictional characters and depicting real people. You’ll learn how to
breathe life into the page so that your characters start telling you how the
story should go.
Fee: 40.71+
13% hst = 46 paid
in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at
the door
To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Saturday, May 28, 2016
10:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Unity Church, Unit 8, 3075 Ridgeway Drive, Mississauga (Map here.)
If you want to refine your
story-telling skills and cut the time you will need
to spend editing, this workshop is for you. You'll learn how to step back from
a manuscript in order to find – and fix – flaws in your plot, structure,
characterization and style. You'll learn how to rethink, rework and rewrite so
that your manuscript will live up to your vision.
Special option: Participants are invited to bring a piece of
their own writing (though you don’t have to!) If you do bring a piece, bring 3
copies of something short (1,000 words absolute maximum, though 750 words works
better).
Fee: 40.71+
13% hst = 46 paid
in advance or 43.36 + 13% hst = 49 at
the door
To reserve a spot now, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing teacher for more than 25
years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops
everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. But his
proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book
published.
See Brian’s full schedule here, including
writing workshops, writing retreats, and creative writing courses
in Algonquin Park, Alton, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon,
Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener,
London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa,
Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto,
Windsor, Halton, Ingersoll, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York,
the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
