Workshops

A workshop is a 75-minute, one-time session that gives you a look at a specific topic. This year Write! Canada is offering a total of 18 workshop topics in three time slots. Each participant will choose three workshops, one in each of time slots C, D and E.

You also will choose one 60-minute welcome session to attend Thursday afternoon in time slot A, plus one 60-minute bonus session to attend Thursday evening in time slot B, for a total of five choices.

Sessions are grouped A to E according to when they take place in the conference schedule:

A – Thursday afternoon
B – Thursday evening
C – Friday early afternoon
D – Friday late afternoon
E – Saturday morning

They are also numbered 1 to 6 according to subject or area of interest. You can take all the workshops in one track or choose from the different tracks.

Track 1 is geared for beginner and intermediate writers.
Track 2 focuses on writing fiction.
Track 3 focuses on nonfiction writing
Track 4 features screenwriting intensive.
Track 5 features nonfiction writing for advanced/professional writers.
Track 6 is specifically for author development for experienced writers.

A: Welcome Sessions, Thursday 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Orientation Session for First-Timers

Instructor: Belinda Burston

All first-time attendees are encouraged to attend this session to learn how to get the most out of the conference.

Faculty Meeting

Facilitators: Jane Twohey, Jan Cox

All faculty members are encouraged to attend this session, to be briefed by conference organizers and to meet each other.

Welcome Workshop for Alumni: What Writers Need to Know About Bookkeeping

Instructor: Denise Rumble

You love words so why should you care about the numbers? Do you want to know where your money is coming from and going to? Do you want to make things easier at tax time? Do you want to understand what your accountant is actually saying? Then join us and find out if words and numbers can really get along.

Welcome Workshop for Alumni: Sharpen your Writing Skills

Instructor: Wendy Elaine Nelles

The less editing your writing requires, the more professional your reputation and the more editors and publishers love you. Bring your pen (or a pencil and eraser!) and join the gang for some fun, hands-on writing and editing practice. Discover some of the most common writing mistakes, and how to avoid them.

B: Thursday Evening Bonus Sessions 8:45 to 9:45 p.m.

Jump to: A B C D E

Get Published in Canadian Christian Magazines

Moderator: Marcia Laycock

Panelists: Ethel Rowntree (Beyond Ordinary Living); Ross Muir (Canadian Mennonite); Eric Wright (Fellowship LINK); Marg Gibb (Women Alive) ; Ken Bosveld (The Beacon)

Come and hear from editors of Canadian publications. Find out what they are looking for and learn how to write articles that they will be eager to buy.

Get Published in Canadian Christian Newspapers

Moderator: N.J. Lindquist

Panelists: Johanne Robertson (Maranatha News); Robert White (ChristianWeek Ontario); Fazal Karim Jr. (The Christian Herald); Lloyd Mackey (BC Christian News; OttawaWatch)

Come and hear from editors of Canadian publications. Find out what they are looking for and learn how to write articles that they will be eager to buy.

Get Your Book Published in the USA

Moderator: Janice Dick

Panelists: Steve Barclift (Kregel); Les Stobbe (Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency); Andy Meisenheimer (Zondervan); Ron Benrey

Meet agents, editors and publishers. Find out the latest trends and markets in book publishing in the U.S.

Get Your Book Published in Canada

Moderator: Keith Clemons

Panelists: Larry Willard; (Castle Quay Books and BayRidge Books);
Lloyd Kelly (CollinsCanada and Zondervan); Les Lindquist (That's Life Communications)

Meet agents, editors and publishers. Find out the latest trends and markets in book publishing in Canada.

Speed Networking and Professional Pitch Practice

Facilitators: Wendy Elaine Nelles and Sandra Reimer

You've heard about speed dating? We're going to do speed networking, to give you an opportunity to meet each other in a light-hearted setting. Then we're going to practice our pitches. No, we're not going to play baseball. As a writer, you should be able to tell someone about what you do in 30 seconds--what book you have to sell, what professional services you have to offer, what topics you can speak about. All registrants and faculty members who are not attending other sessions are welcome to join the conversation.

C: Friday Early Afternoon, 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.

Jump to: A B C D E

Understanding the Consumer Magazine Industry

Instructor: Laurie Jennings

Track: Beginner/Intermediate

The consumer magazine publishing industry is in transition as markets shrink and competition increases. New publications are launching while established publications fold. Learn from an industry insider how the mainstream magazine industry works, how freelance writers get hired, how to look for story ideas, and how to work with an editor.

What is a Platform and Why Do I Need One?

Instructor: Bill Jensen

Track: Fiction

Discover what it takes to get noticed by a publisher and why a platform is imperative. You may be surprised at the importance of editorial content versus the marketability of the author and book. Today a well-written book is not enough. This workshop will equip you to build a platform that will get the attention of publishers.

Writing for the Business World

Instructors: Linda Wegner

Track: Intermediate/Advanced Nonfiction

Writing for and about business brings its own set of challenges and benefits. This seventy minute workshop is designed with intermediate writers in mind and presents, among other things, an overview of the unique skills needed to research and write reports, respond to Requests for Proposals, prepare budgets and build networking and marketing opportunities. As well, participants will be introduced to the importance of business planning and team building.

Writing for Documentaries: Part 1 of 2

Instructor: Marjonneke Grech

Track: Screenwriting

Learn to use your writing skills to create innovative and compelling documentaries that will speak to hearts and minds. In part one of this two-part workshop, you'll learn how documentaries are unique, how to choose the right approach for your project, which story to tell and the three "musts" for every successful script. Using practical examples and scripts, Marjonneke Grech will explore the dynamic partnership between the writer and other "voices" that bring a story or subject to life and shape its emotional trajectory.

Commando Editing: How to Restructure Non-fiction Manuscripts

Instructor: Don Bastian

Track: Non-fiction Advanced

Many non-fiction manuscripts suffer from the lack of a clear premise, promise, and purpose. If the manuscripts were published, readers would stop reading after a few pages, asking, “What is this? Where is it heading? Why should I read this? How will it help me?” Commando editing is sometimes bloodless, requiring simple revisions to the beginning pages of the manuscript. At other times it is ruthless—requiring a complete reorganization. This workshop provides helpful editing tactics for writers.

Yes, They Will Judge a Book by the Cover

N.J. Lindquist with Keith Clemons and Larry Willard

Track: Author Development

Sure, you know what's really important is how good the book is. But, unfortunately, a lot of people - from distributors to booksellers to reviewers to consumers - will make an instantaneous judgment based solely on the appearance of your book. We'll talk about the things you need to do to make sure they gravitate toward it instead of passing by - and what you can do if you already have a book with a poor cover.

D: Friday Late Afternoon 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

Jump to: A B C D E

Reliving the Pain While You Write

Instructors: Mary Haskett; Marcia Laycock

Track: Beginner/Intermediate

How do you write about personal pain in ways that connect with readers? Can you avoid the “glue” of self-pity? How will your story help readers retell theirs? In this workshop, you’ll discover feelings as facts; understand “pay-back” for the reader; discern how to pay your dues as a wordsmith; examine the novelist’s skills to shape your creative non-fiction; unpack some page-turning urgency; reframe the gift of pain as uninvited blessing; stimulate heart-to-heart writing; distinguish universals from particulars; move beyond mere details; and welcome specificity as a key to authenticity.

Using Fiction to Communicate A Message

Instructor: Keith Clemons

Track: Fiction

Some people believe that putting a message into fiction gets in the way of the story and diminishes the quality of the work. Others contend that a story without a message is mere entertainment and has little value. From the Tales of Aesop to The Cider House Rules, message-driven fiction has been around since the beginning of literature and is here to stay. In this workshop, fiction writers who want their writing to be more than just entertainment will learn to avoid pitfalls that make their writing sound preachy or weak.

Reading Backwards: From Buyer to Delivery System to Publisher to Manuscript

Instructor: Don Bastian

Track: Nonfiction Intermediate/Advanced

It can be useful to plan the writing—or rewriting—of a manuscript in light of the result you wish to achieve, both as a writer and in terms of marketing your book. Whether the manuscript is fiction or non-fiction, this means starting with the readers you wish to purchase your book and then working backwards from how the book came to their attention, to who published it, and finally to how the manuscript should be constructed, written, and submitted.

Writing for Documentaries: Part 2 of 2

Instructor: Marjonneke Grech

Track: Screenwriting

In Part Two of this workshop, participants will focus on a larger role for the writer, the art of the interview and the basics of documentary production. Reviewing the steps needed to move a project from concept development and research to the final stages of post-production, the instructor will cover topics such as: writing for a visual medium, the power of style, finding a subject's unique contribution to the story, the three sacred 'C's, and the difference between the pre- and various post-shoot scripts.

The Changing World of Book Publishing: What it Means to Writers

Instructor: Bill Jensen

Track: Non-fiction Advanced

This class will discuss the significant changes in the book world in recent years and the impact it has on publishers’ decisions. Writers need to know about these trends, both current and emerging, and adapt to the changing environment. The future world of publishing will be only for the “fittest who survive.”

From Pen to Live Event

Instructor: Eric Spath

Track: Author Development

Discover the steps required for an author to create a dynamic speaking event so that he or she can actively develop bookings rather than wait for invitations. Participants are asked to send instructor Eric Spath a copy of their latest book and any related marketing materials (such as one-sheets, bookmarks, media kits, etc.) in advance, no later than May 25. Several authors, with their permission, will be selected to use as case studies during the workshop. This workshop is for attendees who meet The Word Guild's professional membership requirements and either have published a book that is currently in print, or have a book coming out soon. Mailing instructions are included in the registration materials you will be e-mailed after you have registered online.

E: Saturday Morning Workshop 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Jump to: A B C D E

Strength to Write: Finding Your Path as a Writer

Instructor: Bonnie Grove

Track: Beginner/Intermediate

In this dynamic, interactive workshop, you’ll find your unique strengths as a writer. Through joyful self-exploration, you’ll determine your specific long- and short-term writing goals. You’ll learn how to apply your strengths to the journey of becoming the writer you want to be. You’ll have fun, be encouraged, and it will absolutely change your life.

Understanding and Negotiating Book Contracts

Instructor: Les Stobbe

Track: Fiction / Nonfiction

Contracts from book publishers vary from 3 to 19 pages – and are still growing in length. Let a former contract negotiator for three publishers, who now negotiates for clients as a literary agent, help you understand the key elements of a book contract, including when you have leverage, what areas may be negotiable, at what stage in your career you no longer have to accept “rookie” contracts, and when you can retain certain rights as technology changes.

How to Write a Blog That People Will Actually Read

Instructor: Kathy Shaidle

Track: Nonfiction

Every successful writer today needs to understand how to use the blogosphere. Some of the questions that will be answered in this workshop include: How can you use your blog to position yourself as a writer? How can you advertise your blog so that people know it exists and will visit it regularly? How can you get paid to blog? How can journalists use blogging to generate paid writing assignments? How can authors create synergy between blogging and their books to increase sales?

How to Sell Your Screenplay Without Selling Out

Instructor: Kevin Miller

Track: Screenwriting

Now that you’ve written that killer screenplay, how do you get it into the hands of the people who can turn it into box office gold? And how do you sell your screenplay without including your soul in the bargain? The answers to these questions are far from simple. But this workshop will get you started down the right track. Topics covered include: pitching, queries, representation, market trends, studio vs. independent projects, and alternate methods for marketing your script.

Alternative Markets: Writing for Radio, Music Ezines, Missions and New Media

Facilitator: David Spencer

Panelists: Bob Du Broy; Lindsay Whitfield ; Darren Hewer; Steve Burchell; Annette Cooper

Track: Non-fiction

Seasoned Canadian Christian radio and new media professionals explain what opportunities are available for writers and editors.

Get Your Book Noticed in Canada

Facilitator: N. J. Lindquist

Panelists: Fazil Karim, Jr.; Rev. Ed Hird ; Ellen Graf-Martin

Track: Author Development

So you have a book. Now what? You need people to know about it. And that means seeing that it gets stocked in bookstores, reviewed in the media, and noticed by the people you hope will buy it. So, what can you do to make all that happen? Come and find out.