Workshops
Flex your writing muscles. Fun, info-packed, affordable short workshops that deliver practical writing skills—a perfect jump-start for new writers, and a quick, smart tune-up for professionals. The workshops are led by Geist editors and writers, in comfortable rooms, in salubrious company. Take one workshop or take ’em all. All workshops are sponsored by The Listel Hotel and UBC Creative Writing Program.
The Art of Talking the Talk
a live performance workshop for writers and poets
Next workshop: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Join Ivan Coyote for a three-hour workshop that will help you transform your nervous energy into a memorable reading. Tips on selecting material, preparing your work for performance, memorizating (or not), and how to make your body language work for you. Ivan will also share some stage secrets about microphones, sound guys and selling your books. Please bring along a short (3-minute) selection to read.
Ivan Coyote is the author of six collections of short stories, one novel, four short films and three audio CDs, but she makes most of her living from live performances.
The Art of the Personal Tax Return
Last workshop: Saturday, March 6, 2010
Join Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Brad Cran (who is also an accountant), for a 3-hour tour of the personal income tax return. This workshop is for artists, designers, cultural freelancers and proprietors of small businesses.
Writing the Narrative Scene
Last workshop: Sunday, October 25, 2009
The scene is the dramatic heart of fiction, where plot, setting and character come together on the page. In this intensive workshop we will study examples of successful narrative scenes, analyze their elements, including the effective use of dialogue, and, of course, write them. Write lots of them! Useful for both short fiction writers and novelists, this course is led by fiction writer and teacher Caroline Adderson.
The Art of Writing for Children
Last workshop: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Why write for and about children? In this workshop we’ll take a look at the pleasures and challenges of writing for and about children and young adults, people in the making. Led by children’s author Sarah Ellis, the workshop will include an overview of genres, some fast and dirty writing exercises and plenty of Q&A.
Last workshop: Sunday, September 20, 2009
A hands-on workshop for anyone who wants to write what they think — in as few words as possible. Patty Osborne, a regular contributor to Endnotes, will lead participants through the process of honing in on what needs to be said in a short review and what is the best way to say it.
Read the reviews written at past workshops.
Last workshop: Saturday, September 19, 2009
A fun and intensive training session for those who want to whip their poetry into shape. Poets Elizabeth Bachinsky and Gillian Jerome will coach participants through ten exercises — creating ten poems — in just three hours.
Last workshop: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Renowned Vancouver photographer and Geist contributor Brian Howell gives a three-hour workshop on the art of storytelling through photography. Howell will show examples of his own work and walk participants through the creative process of the photo essay — from conception to completion. Participants are encouraged to bring their own work (prints or digital files) to Howell’s brand new Studio 42 gallery, just steps away from the Skytrain station in New Westminster, B.C.
Last workshop: Sunday, May 10, 2009
This workshop is for creative writers who need some inspiration to get their ideas onto the page. Whether you struggle with writer’s block or simply don’t know where to start, this session is designed by Geist editors Sarah Maitland and C.E. Coughlan to get you over the hurdle and running.
Last workshop: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Join us for a hands-on, info-packed afternoon of tips and techniques for drawing people, dogs, toasters, whisper balloons, plewds, squeams and more — and making it all into a story. With your toon guide, Eve Corbel—comix creator and cartoon editor for Geist magazine.
Click here to see photos of a past workshop.
The Art of Life Writing: Gaining Momentum
Last Workshop: Saturday, October 18, 2008
A workshop for women who are underway on a life-writing project — a story or essay about yourself or people you know. If you need practical advice and enjoy working in a supportive environment with experienced instructors and other women writers — this workshop is for you! This is a hands-on workshop, so bring your life-writing work-in-progress with you, on paper or on your laptop. Workshop leaders: Mary Schendlinger, Senior Editor of Geist magazine and teacher of writing and publishing at UBC and SFU, and C.E. Coughlan and Sarah Maitland, editors at Geist.
Taking It to the Net
Last workshop: Saturday, July 12, 2008
A hat trick of workshops for do-it-yourself journalists. Learn how to use blogs, podcasts and YouTube to get your opinions out there. Hosted by Geist magazine and the SFU Writing and Publishing Program. Workshops led by Shannon Rupp, Alexandra Samuel, and Gary Shilling.
Last workshop: Saturday, May 10, 2008
A workshop for women embarking on the life-writing adventure, or just needing a tune-up for an ongoing project. We’ll talk, you’ll write, we’ll read. Led by Mary Schendlinger, Senior Editor of Geist magazine and teacher of writing and publishing at UBC and SFU.
The Art of the Short Narrative
Last workshop: 4 Mondays, April 19 – May 10, 6:30 – 9:30 pm, Vancouver
This advanced course in writing short narratives (a few pages in length), with special attention to the craft of sentence-making and the art of paragraphing, is for writers who wish to enhance their narrative powers. Fiction and non-fiction forms will be considered in a series of intensive writing workshops. Led by Stephen Osborne, founder and editor of Geist magazine.