Join us for an information session about all of the Writing Circles that open for registration in January! Circle facilitators will be on deck to pitch their groups and explain how their Circles will function. We will also share general Writing Circle guidelines and expectations. We anticipate the preview will take about an hour with an additional 15 minutes for questions at the end (75 minutes total).
Please note that registering for this event is separate from registering for a Writing Circle. Registration for Winter Writing Circles will open on Monday, January 13 at 12:00 pm. Visit https://bcwriters.ca/circles to view up-to-date descriptions and register.
Digital Doors Open at 5:25 PM, Event Starts at 5:30 PM Pacific Time
*This event is being recorded. If you cannot attend, please register and a link to the recording will be emailed to you within 48 hours of the event.
NEW Winter 2025 Writing Circles
Challenges in CNF Writing (creative nonfiction)
In each meeting of this group, we will select a particular challenge in creative nonfiction writing and discuss various ways we might approach that challenge, using examples from our own or others' writing. For example, we might look at finding the narrative arc in a story where what might be considered the climax event doesn't happen at the beginning of the narrative. Or we might look at the challenge of using dialogue to liven the text when we don't have dialogue that we can quote with any accuracy, such as when we can only try to reconstruct dialogue as we remember it or as we imagine it might have been. Another challenge might be scene setting or character building when we have limited information, such as when entire relationships happened over the internet during the pandemic. Or we might look at finding themes and incorporating them or at finding the universal message in a CNF story. The challenges of CNF writing are limitless and this group will take the time to examine imaginative ways to deal with them.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 4th Wednesday at 7:00 pm
Duration: 30 to 120 minutes (group will discuss and decide)
Creative Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Narrative Journalism Circle (creative non-fiction)
This is a group for non-fiction writers of all kinds who seek to capture the world in all its weird and wonderful variety. As a circle, we will provide accountability, motivation, and support as each of us works through the challenges of writing non-fiction. Gentle and constructive critique of pieces no longer than 1000 words is possible but not required. No pre-reading necessary.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 2nd Thursday at 7:00 pm
Duration: 90 minutes
Lightning Ink (all genres)
Get your pen moving! Join our prompt-based writing circle and tackle fresh prompts in a supportive, fun environment.
Max # of participants: open
Date/time: Every 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 pm starting Jan 21, 2025
Duration: 90 minutes
Nature Writing (all genres)
We will explore the history and present status of nature writing. This genre has a romantic past, but where will it go in a future filled with environmental crises? Participants will engage in this important conversation. A bit of writing (fiction, non-fiction) will be encouraged in a latter session.
Max # of participants: 10
Date/time: 3 sessions (Wed Feb 12, Feb 26, March 12) with possibility to continue meeting based on member interest.
Duration: 90 minutes
Penning Neurodivergence (all genres)
This group welcomes writers of all genres whose work features or focusses on neurodivergent characters and/or experiences. The purpose of this circle is to foster a space where authors can brainstorm and bounce ideas off of one another about their work without fear of stigma or misunderstanding. The goal during meetings will be to both write and share ideas that go beyond stereotypes and get to the rich and complex heart of portraying neurodivergence through story and words. Hosted by a self-identified AuDHDer (autistic + ADHD).
Max # of participants: 5
Date/time: 4th Thursday at 11:00 am
Duration: 120 minutes
Storytelling Sprints for the Serious (or the Stuck) (novel-length fiction)
This group is for novelists already working on a project, who are looking to share motivation and accountability. We’ll spend approximately 30-60 minutes in conversation/commiseration, and then another 60 minutes doing timed writing sprints (5-15 minutes at a time) focusing on our current projects. Though we may choose to read from our work, this isn’t a critique group.
Max # of participants: 5 (4 spaces available)
Date/time: 4th Thursday at 11:00 am
Duration: 90-120 minutes
Visit https://www.bcwriters.ca/circles to view all Circles open for registration.
