Join us for a discussion on creativity in a world that worships productivity. The authors and editors of Bad Artist offer pragmatic reflections on resisting the culture of productivity while also providing empathy and comradery to artists struggling to honour their artistic impulses. A reminder for all artists that creativity comes in many different forms […]
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An outdoor installation created by students from the OCADU writing programme, featuring looping calming audio and projections to encourage reflection, contemplation and calm. A quiet oasis in the stimulating atmosphere of the festival.
From page to performance, poetry makes the leap with ease. Join accomplished poets Afra Atiq and Martin Gomes for a performance followed by a conversation on the fascinating process of writing and performing poetry. This event is supported by Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Join authors Lesley Crewe and Sarah Leipciger for this spirited talk on the stories, characters, and plot twists that juuuuust didn’t quite make it. Together, they’ll share their experiences, answer questions, and shed light on the process of constructing narratives by highlighting what worked…and what didn’t. Moderator: Nancy Lam
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. How Much Is Too Much: On The Power of Withholding and Restraint In Writing Often the impact in a piece of writing comes not from what you put in but what you leave out […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. How to Write a Non-Fiction Novel What happens when literature gives up on fiction? What is the line that separates – or unites – the novel and the literary reportage? How can we write […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Heart First, Head Follows: Writing with Instinct and Emotion You’ve read tips about structure and plot outlines, but they didn’t feel right to you. You prefer to start stories without knowing how they will […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. The Uses of Research for Writing Fiction Join author and professor Joe Kertes on using research to create authentic, believable fiction. Whether you’re a seasoned author or an aspiring novelist, this session will illuminate […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Writing and Housing All writing comes from a sense of place, and that place is defined by our connections to home, real and imagined. Join poet, writer and performer, Holly Pester, whose much-anticipated debut […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. From Fact to Fiction – Cutting the Broadcloth of Events into the Pattern of Narrative Traditional fiction has shape, whereas life is mostly one damned thing after another. Dad’s cranky opinions, a self-published memoir, […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Reimagining the Edit with Harriet Alida Lye The first draft of a book is the clay, and in the edit, you sculpt your material into its final form. After your first draft is complete, […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Point of View One of the most crucial questions a writer needs to ask themselves is which point of view best suits the story they are telling. First person or third person? Just because […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Don’t Explain: Smashing Things Together in Poems One of the things poems can do is encourage us to make unusual connections. This masterclass with poet Adam Sol will focus on how we can utilize […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. From Outline to Draft Whether you outline every scene in detail, or just jot a few notes about the story’s main beats, turning an idea into a draft can be intimidating. In this class, […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. How to Eat an Elephant…and Other Plotting Advice. Have you thought of writing a novel but find the prospect daunting? Have you written novels and are eager to explore a more streamlined approach? Not […]
Join J.M. Frey and Markus Harwood-Jones for this panel on bringing queer narratives to life. From romance to the supernatural, they’ll discuss what it means to bring authentic new voices and experiences to long standing genres, how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go. Moderator: Trevor Campbell
Writing can be hard, but we’re here to help! Join seasoned professionals and best sellers J.M. Miro and Jackie Lau for this panel on what not to stress about when it comes to crafting narratives and getting published. They’ll share experiences, tips, and answer questions to help break down barriers writers may feel they are […]
Writers Collective of Canada moderates a compelling, timely and necessary panel discussion around the social impact of making art. Join Randy Boyagoda, Roddy Doyle and TIFA Director Roland Gulliver for an immersive conversation about the power of writing and storytelling to transform lives.
Write your way home with Writers Collective of Canada in an exploratory expressive writing workshop that will broaden your perspective, ignite your imagination and inspire your authentic voice. No experience needed.
Let’s be honest, we’re all suckers for a good romance trope… But which one is The Best? Join some of the leading Canadian romance authors as they battle head-to-head in a Romance Trope Smackdown. Are you Team Enemies-to-Lovers or Team Only-One-Bed? Lily Chu, Markus Harwood-Jones, Jackie Lau and Lynn Painter will let you know their […]
We’ve gathered our favourite Toronto writers of spooky stories to go head-to-head and decide what the best horror trope is within the book genre. Join Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez and A.G.A. Wilmot as they debate and talk about their favourites. Do you like an abandoned place or a cursed artifact? This conversation is sure to keep you […]
Have you ever wanted to write a cookbook? Now’s your chance to ask all your burning questions to the pros! Join Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma and Devan Rajkumar as they discuss their latest cookbooks and the process of creating one. From the recipes to the stories to the photos, discover the ingredients that go into a book good […]
Learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. Laurah Norton is the author of Lay Them To Rest and host of the popular true crime podcasts One Strange Thing and The Fall Line. In this masterclass, get acquainted with the art of […]
Margaret Cannon, The Globe and Mail crime fiction reviewer, and Otto Penzler, publisher and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop (New York City), share their unfiltered opinions on tropes in crime writing – including who they think does it best! They’ll touch on the best and the worst of trends in the genre, revealing which tropes […]
