Write! Canada in Vancouver (Write! Vancouver)
I was recently informed about Write! Vancouver, a one-day writers’ conference that promises to raise the proficiency level of both emerging and experienced writers of all ages. Featuring a high-profile, award-winning faculty, Write! Vancouver presents a rare opportunity for writers, students, songwriters, screenwriters, and radio and television producers to improve their writing skills, enable them to connect with other folks and give them opportunities to enhance their toolkit.
On Saturday, May 26, 2012, Write! Vancouver will offer a wide variety of workshops to emerging and professional writers. Write! Vancouver is presented by The Word Guild, the organization behind the annual Write! Canada and other regional writing events across the country.
Guest Speakers & Instructors:
• Dr. Iwan Russell-Jones, a BBC producer and director with more than 25 years’ experience and head of Regent College’s Christianity and the Arts program, will deliver the keynote address and lead a workshop on writing for television and radio.
• Marnie Wooding, writer and story editor with HarperCollins, and author of more than a dozen books, conducts two workshops: “The Story Editor” and “Adaptation: Making Sense out of Chaos.”
• Carolyn Arends, winner of two Dove Awards, teaches a two-session workshop on songwriting. Recognized as the West Coast Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year, Carolyn is a three-time Juno nominee who has released 10 albums to date.
• KC Dyer, freelance writer, speaker, and educator, and author of nine young adult books including the Eagle Glen Trilogy, will lead the specialized Youth Track for writers in grades six through twelve. KC brings a wealth of experience from numerous associations, including that of being New Westminster Secondary School’s writer-in-residence.
• Eileen Cook, a multi-published author with books in six different languages, teams up with KC to run the Youth Track. Her latest release, Unraveling Isobel, came out in January of this year.
• Beverley Boissery—author, editor, teacher, publisher, and scholar—offers an intensive on novel writing and a workshop on building your website in an hour.
• Diane Tucker (BFA in Creative Writing from UBC), runs the “Poetry Boot Camp” and “Writers Helping Writers” workshops.
• Marilyn Norry, with 30 years’ experience in Canadian film and theatre, explores the essentials of memoir writing in her interactive “Writing Mom’s Story” workshop (www.mymothersstory.org).
• Tanya Hawke, a copywriter with 25 years’ experience in corporate communications and a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University, presents “Writer for Hire: The World of Corporate Communications.”Novelists Kathy Tyers and Mel Anastasiou will participate with others in the networking reception and Blue Pencil—one-on-one critique sessions with professional editors and writers. Book signings will be available onsite with conference faculty and featured authors of The Word Guild.
Online registration is now open at The Word Guild website. The conference is $99 for adults and $59 for youth, with discounts available to university students and members of The Word Guild. Coffee, lunch, and refreshments are included. Cutoff date is May 18 – no onsite registrations can be accommodated.
Write! Vancouver will be held on May 26 at Tapestry, located at 3338 Wesbrook Mall on the UBC campus. More details online. I have been entrusted with a seat on the workshop, and a lucky reader of mine could make use of this excellent opportunity. All you need to do to enter my giveaway is post a comment on my site telling me why you’d want to attend Write! Vancouver. Perhaps you want to write your first novel, or screenplay. Perhaps you just want to listen to smart writers. Whatever your reason, post it online.
I will draw a winner on May 24th at 2pm. In addition to your comment, you can earn an additional entry by posting the following on Twitter:
Told @hummingbird604 which workshop I want to attend at @write_canada’s Write! Vancouver to enter to win a seat http://is.gd/ch3YFM
Love this! I’d love to attend, because, well, I write for a living! 🙂
Thank you for posting this information. It is really great to read this article and I do hope many will attend this conference. Where will you announce the winner by the way?
Sounds like this is right up my alley. A good way to learn about how to improve my craft and grow my business.
I write for a living, as well. I would love to branch out into other styles of writing, so this would be a wonderful opportunity for me.
I am a budding science writer and would love to attend this conference! I am looking to strengthen my writing skills and to get inspired by seasoned writers.
I’d love to become a better writer.
Writing is living and living is writing. It is always good to breathe in and out with other writers.
I would love to write for a living, and am always wanting to work at what I do. Plus I’m in Vancouver for that day, and it would be a great way to spend the day-and see you!
I want to see and meet writers and get to know their works
Although I’ve done lots of dry writing, including technical, academic, and legal writing, I would like to explore more creative options.
My favourite workshop would be Songwriting – something totally different for me!
I’d say both Beverly Boissery and Tanya Hawke. So many interesting things to see though! And I could totally make it to Vancouver for that day. Seems like an awesome thing to come to the mainland for!
I really just want to get a kick in my lazy writing butt.
(I hope I let enough time pass so that my participation is ethical :))
UPDATE: The winner is @JaneThePutri via Twitter. Congratulations! Please email me with your full name and address to raul(@)hummingbird604(.)com – thanks!