BookTok has transformed the way readers discover romance, turning unexpected titles into viral sensations overnight. Authors Briar Boleyn and Lily Chu dive into the impact of this powerful community on the genre. They’ll discuss how BookTok shapes reading trends, the challenges and joys of having a book catch fire online, and what it means for authors trying to […]
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From enemies to lovers, fake dating, and the ever-iconic second chance at love, tropes are the beating heart of romance fiction. Authors Melodie Edwards, Jenny Holiday, and Emily Ohanjanians unpack why readers can’t get enough of familiar storylines told in fresh, surprising ways. Together they’ll explore how tropes evolve with each generation, how they reflect cultural […]
Do you dream of writing hilarious meet-cutes and heart-warming happily ever afters, but don’t know where to start? Look no further! Join bestselling author Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon for a Writing Romance for Beginners workshop. Explore the romance genre, discover your audience, develop your characters, and learn about pitfalls to avoid. This 90-minute […]
Jeremy Tiang is a Singaporean author, translator and playwright who will be discussing his fiction, non-fiction, and the role translation places in his creative life. His history as a translator- he has translated over thirty books from across the Chinese-speaking world – comes into play in his upcoming book Violent Phenomena: Essays Toward the Future […]
Cho Nam-Joo is a South-Korean author whose novel, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, has been a runaway bestseller that has sold over one million copies internationally, is the most important book to have come out of South Korea since Han Kang’s The Vegetarian. This has been followed by novels and short stories including Miss Kim Knows […]
James Baldwin once described himself not as a writer so much as a re-writer. Too often we expect our stories to come to us in flashes of inspiration. The ideas do, eventually leading to words on the page. But good, publishable prose is constructed through painstaking, top-to-bottom rewriting. We will discuss the significance of rewriting […]
How do bestselling authors keep readers turning the pages? They make the reader see, hear, feel, taste and touch what the protagonist is experiencing in real time. In this Masterclass, Internationally bestselling author Alka Joshi walks you through the craft of sensory writing with tips, tricks, and exercises you can use to hone your narratives. […]
Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, HP Lovecraft, Stephen King – all great writers who know that the stories that have the biggest impact are often the scariest. In this masterclass, we will look at techniques to elicit fright on the page, dissecting a few famous passages to see what makes them so effective. From there, participants […]
We tend to think that a meaningful writing practice must include hours set aside every day, with ambitious word counts and project deadlines propelling us to completion on a set timeline. But for many writers, both aspiring and established, this isn’t possible, let alone sustainable. In this talk, we will examine how one builds a […]
Discover the art of bringing real lives to the page, and explore the craft of biography, including how to research, shape a compelling narrative, and balance fact with storytelling. Whether you’re working on a biography, memoir, or creative non-fiction, this session with acclaimed writer Francesca Wade will provide insight and practical tools to help you […]
A storytelling rule of thumb: the wilder and more otherworldly the setting, the more the writer has to do to make it feel real. This workshop looks at how we can bring imagined worlds to life by world-building through character and setting, so the reader feels they are truly living in a created world. We […]
In some literary circles “politics” is treated almost like a dirty word. Politics gets a bad rap because political literature can often come across as didactic, pedantic, perhaps with images of characters on a soapbox raging against the machine. Who, in their right minds, wants to read that? But done the right way, political literature […]
We sometimes think of poems as being expressions of ideas we’ve already figured out, but poems can also be wonderful ways of working through confusion, conflict, ambivalence, and the moment where our feelings change. We’ll explore ways to reflect these dynamic moments in poetry, and look at some inspiring examples. TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer […]
Small press publishing is at a crossroads. More writers than ever are seeking to publish, yet fewer readers are buying books, leaving independent presses navigating shrinking markets and shifting landscapes. Still, they persist, driven by passion, creativity, and a deep commitment to voices and work that might otherwise go unheard. This event gathers three small press […]
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, you will need to figure out what questions your book is asking, and read to assess how, and whether, those questions are being answered. Freeing yourself of dead […]
Picture books have hardly any words, so writing one must be easy, right? Not at all. In fact, they are one of the most difficult forms to tackle. In this masterclass with the bestselling author of The Misewa Saga, On the Trapline, and the recent memoir All the Little Monsters, you will explore the process […]
Dive into the books you picked up over the course of the festival, by participating in a reading party on Sunday evening! Join 50 readers for a Reading Party hosted by Reading Rhythms Toronto. There will be dedicated time for reading to low-fi background music, and facilitated discussion to connect with other readers. Bring any […]
Enjoy the sonic landscape of many writers writing, connect with a typewriter, or receive a bespoke letter, poem or piece of flash fiction from a student in OCAD University’s Creative Writing program. All pieces produced are signed and ready to take home.
Ramona Emerson’s crime series with forensic photographer Rita Todacheene has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers. In this masterclass, Ramona will outline the keys to her success from finding the hook for her hero, blending genres of crime and the supernatural, and how her background in media arts brought a unique imagery to her […]
This masterclass will explore how to research and investigate a true crime story. France’s leading true crime journalist and authors of The Alice Crimmins Case, Anaïs Renevier, will share her approaches on investigating true crime, from cold cases to recent crimes, drawing on the case studies featured in her books. She will cover a range […]
Plot twists are some of the most exciting moments in storytelling, but pulling them off successfully takes careful planning and strategy. Over the years, bestselling British crime writer, Jane Corry, has honed the art of crafting twists that leave readers gasping and eagerly turning pages. In this class, Corry will guide you through the process […]
Every great story pulses with tension. It propels readers forward, keeping them on the edge of their seats, eager to find out what happens next. Learn from master storyteller Denise Mina the essential techniques for introducing and maintaining tension, while mastering the art of pacing to captivate your audience from beginning to end. MOTIVE’s Creative […]
Calling aspiring authors! Join our panel of experts from across the publishing industry in Canada, UK and the US, for a conversation filled with insights and advice from these who have the hard-won knowledge and experience of successfully getting a book from idea to print to reader. Get valuable tips and tricks on effectively pitching […]
What happens when a crime writer turns to love—and a romance writer turns to murder? Join bestselling authors Hannah Mary McKinnon and Uzma Jalaluddin as they cross genre lines in unexpected (and wildly entertaining) ways. McKinnon, known for her twisty psychological thrillers, is capturing hearts with her romance novels written as Holly Cassidy. Meanwhile, Jalaluddin, […]
