Workshops
Inkslingers Poetry Nights – Next one: October 5th, 2015
INKSLINGERS offers a once-a-month poetry workshop evening on Mondays at C’est What? in Toronto.
(We’re in the Library Room at the back of the pub!)
This event is designed to inspire poets at every skill level to develop their craft through writing, revising, and performing.
In our new location we have also changed things up a bit. The first part of the evening will not only be writing on the spot, but will also include optional reading of the brand new work. In AWA-workshop fashion, the audience will offer immediate feedback on what’s working already in these just-written pieces.
The first part of the evening will now be facilitated every month by an AWA-certified writing instructor. For the next evening – October 5th, 2015 – our guest facilitator will be:
Susie Whelehan
AWA facilitator and host of the Writers’ Oasis monthly retreats
Susie Whelehan reads and writes in Toronto’s West End. Her work has been produced on television and published in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Windsor Review, and various anthologies. She was a finalist in CBC’s Canada Writes and won first place in poetry at the Canada Church Press Awards. With Rebecca Cunningham, Susie co-wrote Meditating Mamas: a Spiritual Resource for New Mothers, published by Novalis, and with Anne Laurel Carter she co-edited and contributed to an anthology published by Knopf Canada, My Wedding Dress: True-life Tales of Lace, Laughter, Tears and Tulle.
Bolster your poetry practice with a night of prompts, production, feedback and community!
Join Sue Reynolds, James Dewar and Susie Whelehan on Monday, October 5th at 7:30!
NEXT INKSLINGER’S FREE WORKSHOP:
MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 2014
NEW START TIME: 7:30 p.m.
NEW LOCATION: C’EST WHAT? (67 Front Street East)PLEASE NOTE THAT C’EST WHAT? SERVES FOOD AND BEVERAGES in the performance lounge starting at 6:00 p.m. (and throughout the evening).
We are very grateful for the patronage of our hosts at C’est What? All participants in the evening’s workshop are encouraged to come early and share repast with Sue & James and the Guest Facilitator prior to the evening’s event.
Inkslingers’ new home is C’est What, 67 Front Street East, downstairs. C’est What is located in the cellar of a historic 19th century building in the St. Lawrence Market area. Casual, warm, and inviting, with great craft beers and a diverse and delicious menu. An easy 3 minute walk from Union Station.
Self-publishing workshop at Stouffville PL
SELF-PUBLISHING WORKSHOP – Your book Published by Christmas
Presented by James Dewar
(Publisher of Piquant Press and Stone’s Throw Publications)
How would you like to hold a copy of your book in your hands this year?
The Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library has partnered with micro press publisher, editor, and author James Dewar to present a two part workshop that will provide professional support through the process of designing and printing your book. The cost does not include the printing of your books, but James will provide low cost printing packages customized to the project that you bring to the workshop.
This workshop is presented in two Saturday installments, 5 weeks apart:
Saturday, September 27th and Saturday, November 1st, 2014.
10:00 am to 4:30 pm (I hour lunch break)
COST:
$190 (+HST) for both full day workshops
$175 (+HST) for Library Members and members of WCDR, WCYR, WCSC.
Pre-registration is necessary. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER:
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A Novel Approach in Newmarket / York Region!
This is the year you’re going to write that book!
Do you have a great book idea, but feel intimidated by the size of the project?
Are you concerned you don’t have the writing skills you need?
Have you’ve tried before to complete your manuscript, but have lacked the discipline to write on a consistent basis?
Is your story so tough you avoid writing it? You need to tell it, but you can’t make any headway on your own?
A Novel Approach to Fiction or Memoir will help you finish the first draft of your book.
This year long workshops supplies the discipline and positive support necessary to produce the first draft of a full-length manuscript.
Throughout the year participants meet regularly (usually on a bi-weekly basis) to share their work and learn the fundamental skills of writing a book-length project:
• creating story,
• developing character,
• defining narrative arc and emotional transformation,
• designing scenes,
• exploring structural options,
• deciding on points of view,
• and much more.
Not only do participants complete their first draft, they develop greatly enhanced writing and critiquing skills through the coursework.
PLEASE NOTE: Interaction between participants during the year reinforces the key aspects of writing and storytelling. Many friendships have been created in this workshop between writers sharing each other’s inspiration and providing mutual encouragement. Share the loneliness, the camaraderie, the frustrations and the elation!
This year we have added TWO FULL-LENGTH DAYS OF WRITING to keep you on track.
DIFFERENT DATES AND LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE:
A Novel Approach to Memoir:
Wednesday mornings in Toronto (1 SPOT LEFT)
Wednesday evenings in Newmarket (Davis Dr. & Leslie St. location)
Thursday evenings in Oshawa/Whitby (Trent University, King and Thornton, Oshawa)
A Novel Approach to Fiction:
Wednesday evenings at Uplands (Near Uxbridge) (2 SPOTS LEFT)
Thursday evenings in Newmarket (Davis Dr. & Leslie St. location)
Visit www.anovelapproach.ca for full details and to register.
Writers’ Community of York Region members receive a $100 discount.
Please note: Each Novel Approach course needs a minimum of 5 participants. If there are not enough registrations to run the workshop in any location, participants will have the opportunity to choose a different location, or have their deposit refunded in full.
A Novel Approach, now in its seventh year, is offered by award-winning writers Susan Lynn Reynolds (memoir) & James Dewar (fiction).
Inkslingers makes time for your writing this summer
Here are the opportunities Inkslingers is offering for June, July and August (and a peek into the Fall too!)
June 20th
Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
Uplands Writing Retreat
June 27th
Writer’s Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
Uplands Writing Retreat
July 5th
WRITE @ THE ROM
Royal Ontario Museum
For more information about this full day Workshop….
July 12th
Writer’s Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
Uplands Writing Retreat
July 16th to 19th
Residential Summer Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
From Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon at the Uplands Writing Retreat
July 25th
Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
Uplands Writing Retreat
August 8th
Writer’s Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
Uplands Writing Retreat
August 20th to 23rd
Residential Summer Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
From Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon at the Uplands Writing Retreat
In the Fall
A Novel Approach to Fiction and to Memoir is back for its 7th year
October 24th & 25th
ELLEN BASS 2 DAY POETRY WORKSHOP
Toronto, Ontario
(Note: includes admission to Ellen’s reading
at the International Festival of Authors on Oct. 25th)
October 4th
WRITE @ THE McMICHAEL GALLERY
The McMICHAEL Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario
For more information about this full day Workshop….
Payment for Residential Summer Sanctuaries
____________________________________________________________________
Please click the appropriate PayPal link
Or pay the full amount at time of booking if desired
Please note that HST is applicable to all payments and will be calculated at checkout. HST #85309 9455
| Private Room – $480 + HST | $480 + HST |
| Shared Room/Shared Bed – $750 + HST for two people ($375 each) (this option must be signed up for together – we will not impose double sleeping arrangments) |
$750 + HST for two people ($375 each) |
| Your Own Tent – $350 + HST | $350 + HST |
| Day Rate for Locals – $325 + HST | $325 + HST |
Follow up Payments and Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel with less than 30 days remaining until the retreat begins, refunds are not possible, although you may apply 75% of this retreat fee to a later retreat. Registration fees are fully transferable to another writer if you can find someone to take your place.
Write at the McMichael Gallery, Sunday, October 4th, 2015
Join us on Sunday, October 4th at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinberg, Ontario.
This full day workshop shares the same approach as our popular Write at the ROM workshops, but with an emphasis on the ekphrastic approach to writing.
Ekphrasis is a literary description of, an engagement with, or a commentary on, a visual work of art.
There are many art galleries to choose from, but in October the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinberg provides inspiration through the autumn colours that surround it, and the impressive collection of Canadian art, particularly The Group of Seven and Inuit art.
Participants are free to write in any format they choose: poetry, nonfiction, memoir or fiction.
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2015
Time: 10:30 to 4:30
Registration: $89.00 (Covers entrance to the McMichael Gallery and all workshop activities and HST.)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CANCELLATION POLICY
Refunds are available until September 27th, minus a $25 administration fee.
After June 27th, registrations may be transferred to another writer, but we cannot issue refunds due to our commitment to the Gallery. Please contact us for more clarification if you wish to transfer your registration to someone else should the need arise.
Ellen Bass Workshop Toronto, October 24 & 25, 2015
Photo by Irene Young
Ellen Bass is an extraordinary poet, teacher and author.
Having been lucky enough to study with her in California and in Mallorca, Sue and James dearly wanted to bring her to the writing community in Toronto.
The stars (and the International Festival of Authors!) have finally aligned.
Ellen will be here teaching a 2 day workshop and reading at the IFOA the weekend of October 24 & 25. The way Ellen teaches poetry is not to be missed!
Click here for more information about the weekend, and to register
Biography:
Ellen Bass’s most recent book of poetry, Like a Beggar, was published in April 2014 by Copper Canyon Press. Her previous poetry books include The Human Line (Copper Canyon Press), named a Notable Book by the San Francisco Chronicle, and Mules of Love (BOA Editions), which won the Lambda Literary Award. She co-edited (with Florence Howe) the groundbreaking No More Masks! An Anthology of Poems by Women (Doubleday).
Her poems have appeared in hundreds of journals and anthologies, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, The Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, and The Sun. She was awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Elliston Book Award for Poetry from the University of Cincinnati, Nimrod/Hardman’s Pablo Neruda Prize, The Missouri Review’s Larry Levis Award, the Greensboro Poetry Prize, the New Letters Poetry Prize, the Chautauqua Poetry Prize, a Fellowship from the California Arts Council, and two Pushcart Prizes.
Her non-fiction books include Free Your Mind: The Book for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth(HarperCollins), I Never Told Anyone: Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse(HarperCollins), and The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse(Harper Collins), which has sold over a million copies and has been translated into ten languages.
She currently is teaching in the low residency MFA program at Pacific University and has taught poetry and creative writing in Santa Cruz, CA and at other beautiful locations nationally and internationally.
Click here for more information about the weekend, and to register
2015 INKSLINGER Retreat and Workshop Dates
We’ve just finalized the dates and locations for most of our Retreats and Workshops in 2015.
Click HERE to go to the registration page!
Unless specified, all retreats and workshops are at The Uplands Retreat and are on Saturday or Sunday.
January 11 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
January 17 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
January 24 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
February 7 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
February 8 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
February 21 – Soul Collage with Sue Reynolds
February 22 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
March 7 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
March 8 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
March 21 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
March 22 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
April 11th to 21st – Radical restoration Retreat in Umbria Italy
(That’s right, it was so beautiful and inspirational that we’rre going back to Le Torrace!)
Visit http://radicalrestoration.ca/for more information.
May 16th – RHYMES AT THE ROM Toronto workshop (Back by popular demand) (Facilitated by both Sue Reynolds and James Dewar)
May 17 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
May 23 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
May 24 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
May 30 & 31 – Soul Collage near Parry Sound
June 14 – Soul Collage with Sue Reynolds
June 20 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
June 27 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
June 28 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
July 12 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
July 16 to 19 – Residential Retreat at Uplands (Facilitated by both Sue Reynolds and James Dewar)
July 25 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
August 8 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
August 20 to 23 – Residential Retreat at Uplands (Facilitated by both Sue Reynolds and James Dewar)
September 19 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
September 20 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
September 26 – Soul Collage with Sue Reynolds
September 27 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
October 4th – Autumn Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop – at the McMichael Gallery (Facilitated by both Sue Reynolds and James Dewar)
October 17 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
October 18 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
October 24-25 – Ellen Bass Weekend Workshop in Toronto
(One of America’s most loved and respected poets brings her exceptional 2 day workshop to Canada)
November 21 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
November 22 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
November 28 – Poetry Sanctuary with James Dewar
November 29 – Soul Collage with Sue Reynolds
December 5 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
December 6 – Sanctuary with Sue Reynolds
Nov. 13th, 2014 – Cathy Petch is our Performance Feedback Host!
WRITE ● CRAFT ● READ
NEXT INKSLINGERS NIGHT: THURSDAY November 13th, 2014
This month we’re trying something a little different; instead of having a guest host for the poetry workshopping session, Inkslingers has invited a guest host to do the PERFORMANCE session.
We are delighted to announce that this month’s guest host for our performance segment will be Cathy Petch one of the most popular and gifted poets on the Spoken Word scene.
INKSLINGERS offers a poetry evening (2nd Thursday every month) at the Black Swan Tavern – 3rd floor. This evening is designed to get poets and aspiring poets all writing, revising, and performing..
WRITE
The first hour (beginning at 7:00) will consist of writing exercises facilitated by Sue Reynolds designed to give you an hour to write poetry then-and-there. Bum in chair. Engaged and present and productive. This event is open to anyone as long as they have come to write. Bring a pen and paper.
Sue Reynolds has been leading writing workshops in Canada and internationally for 15 years. Many poems and short stories written in exercises with Sue have gone on to literary publication and to win prizes in competitions. (Recently, a short story begun by a participant in Sue’s Sanctuary won the $1000 Amprosia prize and one of the participants in the Novel Approach course she taught with James just signed a 2 book deal with Simon and Schuster for the project she wrote in that course). The costs of Sue’s workshops run between $80 to $300 per day, but she is leading these exercises gratis because she believes that much of the best poetry happens in that energy of writing community.
CRAFT
The second hour (from 8:10 to 9:10) consists of workshopping poems that writers have revised to the place where they now want input from fresh eyes.
Bring at least 20 copies of a poem (no more than 30 lines) that you want to present for feedback. Each participant will have a maximum of 7 minutes to both read the poem and receive feedback on their work from those in attendance who wish to make constructive comments. (Further feedback may be offered in writing on the submitted copies).
We are normally able to review 7 or 8 poems during this hour.
This portion of the evening will be facilitated by Creative James Dewar, host of Hot-Sauced Words Poetry Performances, Now in it’s sixth year (Third Thursday every month!) at the Black Swan Tavern.
READ
The final hour (from 9:20 to 10:20) is an open mic. Writers may read a poem they created in the first hour of the night, or may read something they bring with them for this purpose. Each writer will have 3 minutes to perform a poem. After each poem is read, the audience is asked to support each reader with kudos for aspects well handled, and any suggestions for ways to make reading the poem more effective. It’s all about learning the entire craft!
This month the Performance portion of the evening will be facilitated by a guest facilitator. We’re delighted to announce that Cathy Petch will be our guest host for this portion.
Cathy Petch is a playwright, spoken word artist, haiku deathmaster and musical saw player for The Silverhearts. She has several handsome chapbooks and published her poetry book Late Night Knife Fights with LyricalMyrical Press. She has been published by Descant, The Toronto Quarterly and Joypuke journals.
She is a member of The League of Canadian Poets and “The Dildettes” a queer spoken word/comedy troupe along with Regie Cabico and David Bateman.
Petch was a member of both the 2011 and 2012 Toronto Poetry Slam Teams.
She is happiest onstage.
Find her at www.cathypetch.com
In the event that we have more poets signed up than we have time available, the Craft and Open Mic slots will be allotted by draw.
154 Danforth Ave. (3rd floor) just east of Broadview)
October 9th, 2014 – Nicki Ward is our Part THREE Host!
WRITE ● CRAFT ● READ
NEXT INKSLINGERS NIGHT: THURSDAY October 9th, 2014
This month we’re trying something a little different; instead of having a guest host for the poetry workshopping session, Inkslingers has invited a guest host to do the PERFORMANCE session.
We are delighted to announce that this month’s guest host for our performance segment will be Nichola (Nicki) Ward whose performance skills are legendary.
INKSLINGERS offers a poetry evening (2nd Thursday every month) at the Black Swan Tavern – 3rd floor. This evening is designed to get poets and aspiring poets all writing, revising, and performing..
WRITE
The first hour (beginning at 7:00) will consist of writing exercises facilitated by Sue Reynolds designed to give you an hour to write poetry then-and-there. Bum in chair. Engaged and present and productive. This event is open to anyone as long as they have come to write. Bring a pen and paper.
Sue Reynolds has been leading writing workshops in Canada and internationally for 15 years. Many poems and short stories written in exercises with Sue have gone on to literary publication and to win prizes in competitions. (Recently, a short story begun by a participant in Sue’s Sanctuary won the $1000 Amprosia prize and one of the participants in the Novel Approach course she taught with James just signed a 2 book deal with Simon and Schuster for the project she wrote in that course). The costs of Sue’s workshops run between $80 to $300 per day, but she is leading these exercises gratis because she believes that much of the best poetry happens in that energy of writing community.
CRAFT
The second hour (from 8:10 to 9:10) consists of workshopping poems that writers have revised to the place where they now want input from fresh eyes.
Bring at least 20 copies of a poem (no more than 30 lines) that you want to present for feedback. Each participant will have a maximum of 7 minutes to both read the poem and receive feedback on their work from those in attendance who wish to make constructive comments. (Further feedback may be offered in writing on the submitted copies).
We are normally able to review 7 or 8 poems during this hour.
This portion of the evening will be facilitated by Creative James Dewar, host of Hot-Sauced Words Poetry Performances, Now in it’s sixth year (Third Thursday every month!) at the Black Swan Tavern.
READ
The final hour (from 9:20 to 10:20) is an open mic. Writers may read a poem they created in the first hour of the night, or may read something they bring with them for this purpose. Each writer will have 3 minutes to perform a poem. After each poem is read, the audience is asked to support each reader with kudos for aspects well handled, and any suggestions for ways to make reading the poem more effective. It’s all about learning the entire craft!
This month the Performance portion of the evening will be facilitated by a guest facilitator. We’re delighted to announce that Nicki Ward will be our guest host for this portion.
Nicki is an outstanding poetry performer and her voice is often heard in our Part three workshops offering advice on microphone use, pauses, voice modulation and other techniques for presenting our poetry in the best light. Her finely balanced sense of rhythm, keen poetic intelligence and honed ear make her a stellar Part Three Facilitator. Don’t miss out!
Nichola (Nicki) Ward was born in London, England and lives in Toronto, Canada where she is an award winning writer, performer and poet. Her work embraces the energy of “spoken word” and the formality of “page poetry”. Examples can be found on her blog “Word Art”
She is the founder of the publishing and performance group Ground Queero and a long term member of the respected LGBT writer’s group “OUTwrites”.
She is the author of “Jackie’s Not a Real Girl”,”Little Sarah – Wordkeeper”, “Babylon Alley – A Play for Voices” and the collection “Found Album”.
In the event that we have more poets signed up than we have time available, the Craft and Open Mic slots will be allotted by draw.
154 Danforth Ave. (2nd floor) just east of Broadview)