Writer in ResidenceTag

Playlist for How Do I Look?

To wrap up my Open Book Residency, and to lead us into December, I thought I’d leave with a little goodbye present: a good ‘ol playlist! I don’t ever listen to music while I write - I get distracted ...

Some Ways To Deal With Writer's Block

I used to think that writer’s block just meant not having any inspiration or ideas. If only it was just that! Now I know it’s many things - and for me, it’s mostly anxiety caused by both lack of ...

Comparing Myself with May from My Day With Gong Gong

Writing May, the main character in my kids book My Day With Gong Gong, was a joy! It was my first time writing from the perspective of a kid as an adult, and for kids as a main audience. A lot of her ...

Things That Are Not Poetry, But Are

When you and your friend message the same thing at the same time.Ripe fruit, and new ways of describing it.Remembering all the words and key changes to a song you thought you had forgotten at karaoke.When ...

Things I Love About Readings: In-Person vs. Virtual

In-Person ReadingsPutting on my lipstick (burgundy), earrings (fake gold), and favourite clothes (burgundy again).Listening to music on public transit on the way over.Seeing familiar faces and hearing ...

Screenwriting Lessons

Sometimes I forget that I majored in screenwriting during my undergrad, even though it ended up playing a key part in what and how I write now. I had chosen this major because I wasn’t sure what to ...

25 Writing Rules & Routines

I'm trying my best not to write about the moon, but it’s hard, isn’t it?Sometimes a poem just needs to be a diary entry. Sometimes a diary entry just needs to be a poem. Same goes for tweets.Try keeping ...

Written and On-Screen Selves: On Diaries and Social Media

Do you remember your first diary?Mine was a baby blue hardcover with a cute little rhyme on it that I still remember to this day:People, places, faces. My life in words and phrases. All I've thought ...

"Boring the Reader is the Worst Crime of All" Meet Our October writer-in-residence Dietrich Kalteis

As the temperature dips, there is no better time to curl up with a piano-wire-taut pageturner. Which is why we are so excited to welcome award-winning author Dietrich Kalteis as our October 2020 writer-in-residence ...

When Your Father is Your Biggest Fan

I don’t believe that any father was more proud of having a son for a writer than my own dad.  Whenever I met somebody who knew him—it might be a waiter in a restaurant—the person would say, “Oh, ...