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  • Writing Intensive: Back to Basics

    • 17 Mar 2025
    • 9:00 AM
    • 21 Mar 2025
    • 3:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register



    Join us for 5 days of digital learning from March 17-21, Online.

    Back to Basics is our attempt to help writers of all skill levels to hone their skills in core ideas like setting, plot, point of view, dialogue, and more.

    All times are in Pacific (Vancouver) time.


    KEY DETAILS


    SESSIONS AND ACTIVITIES (Titles are not yet Finalized)

    • Plot
    • Character
    • Point of View
    • Setting
    • Editing
    • Journey of Writing
    • Dialogue
    • Journaling


    We are finalizing our roster of speakers, please check back as we update the list. The list of speakers will be updated as contracts and presentation titles are finalized.


    ZOOM LINK

    • The Zoom link will be sent out in the days immediately before the event and will be included in most communications to you after that date.
    • We will be using the same zoom link for the duration of the event.
    • Please watch your email for a confirmation of registration email.
    • If you do not receive it within 24 hours of registration, please check you spam folders.
    • Contact us at hello@bcwriters.ca if you have not received your confirmation by Friday March 14th to ensure we can get you the needed information.


    RECORDINGS

    • Sessions, (except social/discussion-based events) will be recorded and made available for 45 days after the last session.


    WHAT TO EXPECT

    • Our goal is to help you on your journey to publication. You do not need to be ready to publish to attend. Participants who have a work in progress, an idea for a project, or have a finished manuscript will benefit the most from these sessions.
    • Sessions will be a combination of talks, activities, and workshops.
    • Most sessions will be 1 hour in length. Q&A may extend the session longer, but participants are not required to stay.
    • Participants are encouraged to have a pen and paper handy for all sessions.
    • If you are working on a specific project, it is advisable to consider who you plan as your intended audience to help you get the most out of the sessions. Don’t stress about this, but it is helpful to consider if you are writing for the general population, a specific community, or friends and family.


    RATES

    EARLY BIRD (UNTIL Jan 31 AT 11:59PM 2025)

    • FBCW MEMBERS: $65
    • GUEST: $80

    REGULAR (AS OF Feb 1st, 2025)

    • FBCW MEMBERS: $75
    • GUEST: $90

    SCHOLARSHIP:

    • Limited scholarship-based discounts are available for those experiencing financial difficulties.  Please email us at hello@bcwriters.ca to inquire.


    SCHEDULE

    (Specific Presentation times will be released in Late-January. Current listed presentations may shift to other slots as we finalize the schedule.)

    MONDAY


    9:00:AM: Tech Help and Welcome


    11:00 AM: Panel on Plot: Planners Vs Pantsers with Frances Peck and  J.T. Siemens


    2:00 PM: Journey of a Book with Bryan Mortensen



    TUESDAY


    9:00 AM: Journaling and Writing Sprints


    11:00 AM: Point of View: Whose Story Is It? with Traci Skuce


    WEDNESDAY


    9:00 AM: Journaling and Writing Sprints


    11:00 AM: Where in the World: On Setting with Michelle Barker


    2:00 PM: Writing Dialogue: Writing Out Loud with Andrew Buckley



    THURSDAY


    9:00 AM: Journaling and Writing Sprints


    11:00 AM: Character Lab: Depth, Drive, Dilemma with David Brown


    2:00 PM: Thinking Like a Developmental Editor with Tara Avery




    FRIDAY


    9:00 AM: Journaling and Writing Sprints


    11:00 AM: Setting with Amber Cowie




    POLICIES

    RECORDINGS

    • Our presenters are provided with contracts that stipulate the length of time that recordings are available. We are obligated to respect these contracts. No extensions are possible. We have increased the time frame by 15 days to enhance your experience.
    • Reach out if you have any tech challenges related to access of the recordings by March 28th so that we can help you in the timeframe available.

    REFUND POLICY

    • Full refunds will be issued up to March 14th.
    • Refunds for half of registration fees will be be issued until March 20th 11:59pm.
    • No refunds are possible after March 20th at 11:59pm except in the case of severe illness, death, or other urgent situations determined on a case-by-case basis.

    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

    • We are an organization that cherishes the work of writers and artists. To that end, we ask that all participants respect the intellectual property of our presenters, recordings, and material shared. Do not reproduce or distribute Writing Intensive materials without written permission.
    • Similarly, if other participants share information or excerpts from their projects, please respect their intellectual property.

    LIABILITY

    • In registering, participants understand and agree that the Federation of BC Writers (FBCW), its board, staff, presenters, and members are not liable for any damages or losses arising and waive any of the above from any and all liability.
    • The FBCW provides a space for presenters to share their experiences and insights with participants. The writing industry is a complex and ever-changing environment.  As such, the FBCW does not endorse any specific information shared in our programming as being complete or accurate in all scenarios. Participants have a responsibility to research and make informed decisions on any information given or implied.
    • Difficult and triggering topics can arise as part of artistic practices that are unforeseeable for staff, volunteers, and other participants. The FBCW is not liable for any damages or harms caused by participating in our programming.

    PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS

    • The FBCW is an organisation that celebrates diversity and inclusion and that taking part in the program means that participants are expected to be respectful, inclusive, and support the dignity of all people regardless of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, language, ability, nationality, ability, health status, religion, and socioeconomic status. All people have identities that intersect the categories above. Examples of behaviour that undermine the above are: crude jokes, unwanted communication, statements minimising others’ experiences/histories, and threats.
    • Participants are expected to arrive a few minutes before sessions start.  This allows for any technical issues to be resolved without the group being disrupted.
    • If a participant is late, we ask that they refrain from asking “what did I miss” type questions so that the event can proceed smoothly.  Staff and facilitators will do the best they can to assist if vital information has been shared, but the recording should be able to resolve any questions of this nature.
    • We ask that participants be mindful of the amount of time they speak at events. All participants should have the ability to join in. Participants are expected to keep comments on topic and under a minute so that as many people as possible can participate.
    • Participants understand that if they are muted, it is not an intentional slight to them, but is needed to keep the session moving forward.  Participants can be muted at the discretion of the FBCW facilitators.
    • Difficult topics can arise participants understand that we cannot always know or understand other people’s histories. To help make the space as welcoming and safe as possible, if a participant’s is to share information or read excerpts from works that contain certain themes (outlined below), they will identify this prior to reading it to the group. (e.g. sexual assault, extreme violence, self-harm/eating disorders/suicide ideation, abortion/miscarriage, mental illness, graphic adult content).
    • Participants are expected to understand, be sensitive to, and respect the fact that the work of writers, and their opportunity to read their work may be triggering and/or therapeutic to them. Artistic works require vulnerability and the safety to be vulnerable, especially with sensitive topics. Participants agree to do their best to maintain a safe and supportive space for the sharing of the work, regardless of its nature.

    ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY

    • The Federation of BC Writers strives to make our events accessible to folks across ability and neurodivergence. We will do what we can to make our programming available to all people.
    • Our programming is based on zoom which means there are some limitations on what can be accomplished, but also advantages such as closed captioning and the ability to join from anywhere.
    • Accommodations are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
    • Accommodations that would significantly hinder the ability of other participants to be involved or participate are not possible.
    • Some accommodations may be beyond our financial and administrative capabilities. In such cases, we will seek funding or alternatives if possible.
    • Sessions normally last for an hour. Participants are welcome to step way from their computers if they need to while turning off their camera and microphone, but we will not be able to fill people in on what they missed. Participants are asked to return to the recording in such instances.


    Show details

  • 2023 Roots to Branches Anthology Launch

    • 18 Mar 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Roots to Branches Anthology Virtual Launch

    The Federation of BC Writers is thrilled to launch our third book from the anthology series, Roots to Branches, which celebrates the winners, runners-up, and shortlisted writers from our 2023 Literary Contests. 

    Join us for our free virtual launch of Roots to Branches: Volume 3 on Tuesday, March 18th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm to hear readings from anthology authors and poets. Attendees will also be entered for door prizes!

    Register here and a Zoom link for the event will be sent to you. When it’s time for the event you can click on the Zoom link to join.

    Digital doors open at 6:55 pm


    Show details

  • Regional Spotlight: Salish Sea Writers

    • 25 Mar 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Join us Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 pm Pacific for a Regional Spotlight featuring the Salish Sea Writers with host Meaghan Hackinen and readers:

    • Leanne Boschman
    • Sharon Easton
    • Lorraine Kiidumae
    • Judith Lapadat (Regional Host)
    • Gail Madjzoub 

    Register here (bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers) and a link will be sent to you. When it's time for the event, click on the link to join the live Zoom event. We look forward to seeing you there!

    Digital Doors Open at 6:55 pm!

    *This event will be recorded.

    Leanne Boschman is a Vancouver Island-based writer. She has loved the music and mystery of poetry her entire life. Besides publications in journals and anthologies, Leanne has two collections of poetry: Precipitous Signs: A Rain Journal (Leaf Press, 2009) and Here at the Crux (Silver Bow Publishing, 2022). Leanne is a former co-artistic director of the Planet Earth Poetry reading series and has facilitated and hosted events for Pandora’s Collection. 



    Sharon Easton: Storyteller & Writer. Sharon Easton, author of Beach Moose & Amber: Finding My Jewish History (2023), creates engaging storytelling events enhanced with slideshows that explore her family’s history. Her stories resonate deeply with audiences intrigued by history, loss and survival. Sharon is presently working on her second manuscript.









    K. Lorraine Kiidumae is a graduate of the Simon Fraser University Writers Studio and the Humber College School of Creative & Performing Arts. Her work has appeared in various anthologies and literary magazines in the UK, USA, and Canada. In 2021, her first novel, River of Forgiveness, was published with Saguaro Books, LLC in the USA. She completed her Master of Arts (MA) in Creative and Critical Writing (with distinction) through the University of Gloucestershire (UK) in 2022. She works from her home in the small seaside resort of Nanoose Bay on the eastern shore of central Vancouver Island where she is currently completing a book of short stories and a second novel.



    Judith Lapadat lives on Snaw-Naw-As territory in Nanoose Bay. Mixed Messages, her first book of poetry published by Caitlin Press, was followed by a co-authored collection, Groping Our Way Beyond Grief. Her poems, stories, and scholarly articles have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. She is currently working on a series of climate fiction novels set in the near future. You often can find her in the rainforest being taken for walks by her Schnauzer.






    Gail Madjzoub is a writer as well as a former educator and healthcare professional. She lived and worked for three decades in diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic environments in Europe and Africa. Since returning to North America, she has lived on both the East and West Coasts. She makes her home in Nanaimo. Her writing explores human rights, the equality of women, freedom of expression, and educational and economic justice.







    Meaghan Hackinen (FBCW host): is a bike-obsessed bookworm on a lifelong hunt for exceptional cycling routes, both on and off the pavement. Her cross-continental bike race memoir, Shifting Gears, was released by NeWest Press in 2023 and available in print, ebook, and audiobook. Find her online: meaghanhackinen.com 


    Show details

  • 2024 Literary Contest Winners and Runners Up Announcement Live

    • 26 Mar 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Join us for the long awaited results of the 2024 Literary Contest!

    Sign up today for a free ticket to attend via zoom.  Donations always welcome and appreciated!

    Show details

  • Editors' Panel: Pitching to Magazines

    • 27 Mar 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register

    Join FBCW host Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho and panelists Allan Cho, Jessica Key, and Cadence Mandybura as we explore what it takes to make a successful pitch to a magazine editor. What are editors looking for? How important are cover letters? How can writers make their pitches stand out in a positive way? Why are submissions rejected?

    There will be time for your questions as well.

    Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho writes fiction and creative nonfiction. Her award-winning short stories and personal essays have appeared in River Teeth, Ricepaper magazine, ROOM, PRISM international, Pulp Literature, WordWorks, and several anthologies. A strong champion of writing communities, Wiley is a member of the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop, the Federation of BC Writers, and the North Shore Writers’ Association. Originally from Taiwan, she now lives on the ancestral territories of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations aka North Vancouver, where she can be frequently found hugging trees.

    Allan Cho is a dedicated editor, writer, and cultural advocate, best known for his role as the Editor-in-Chief of Ricepaper Magazine. This pioneering publication celebrates Asian Canadian literature, arts, and culture. With a passion for amplifying diverse voices, Allan has played a pivotal role in shaping the magazine into a vibrant platform for emerging and established writers, artists, and thinkers from the Asian diaspora. His editorial vision emphasizes storytelling as a means of bridging communities and fostering dialogue about identity, heritage, and belonging. In addition to his editorial work, Allan is an accomplished writer and researcher interested in the intersections of literature, history, and identity. He holds a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he has also been involved in projects that explore the preservation and promotion of intercultural narratives.

    Jessica Key is the Managing Editor of subTerrain Magazine, Publishing Associate at Anvil Press, and Senior Editor of the 3-Day Novel Contest. She has been with subTerrain for eight years, and before that worked with a variety of BC-based literary magazines and small presses, as well as serving as the Marketing Coordinator for the Iceland Writers Retreat. She is a graduate from Simon Fraser University’s Masters of Publishing Program, and has a BFA in Creative Writing from VIU.

    Cadence Mandybura has never veered far from her passion for telling stories and fixing apostrophes. She edited the FBCW’s WordWorks magazine from 2022–23 and helped launch their Roots to Branches anthology series. A graduate of the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University, Cadence further honed her storytelling skills as the associate producer for the fiction anthology podcast The Truth and a first reader for Flash Fiction Online. She is grateful to live in Victoria on the land of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. CadenceMandybura.com

    Show details

  • Writing Sprint Serenade: Live Musical Inspiration

    • 28 Mar 2025
    • 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Join us for Writing Sprint Serenade on Friday, March 28th at 10:30 am PT by registering here (bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers) and a Zoom link for the event will be sent to you. When it’s time for the event you can click on the Zoom link to join the event.

    Pianist Andrew Sims creates a space for us all to be inspired. He accompanies us while we engage in our craft.  This event has a simple, but creative premise: Andrew plays while we write.

    Andrew will play two 20-25 minute sets and we will check-in on how everyone is doing between the two.  

    Andrew Sims completed the Bachelor of Music in piano from Baylor University and Master of Music in piano from the University of Alberta. He maintains a busy teaching studio of students ranging from beginners to advanced. Andrew is an examiner for the Canadian National Conservatory of Music and is in demand as an accompanist in the Comox Valley; he specializes in creative, wholistic, and positive teaching, particularly with music learning theory and developing music audiation and literacy. andrewsimspiano.com

    Digital Doors Open at 10:25

    *This event is being recorded

    Show details

  • Writing Intensive: Poetic Possibilities

    • 7 Apr 2025
    • 9:00 AM
    • 11 Apr 2025
    • 3:00 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Join us for 5 days of digital learning from April 7th to 11th, Online.

    Poetic Possibilities explores the creative and practical components of many poetic forms. Whether you are new to poetry, poet laureate, or anywhere in between, there will be something for you at this event. Join us as we celebrate National Poetry Month with workshops, actives, and discussions to help you on your poetry journey.

    All times are in Pacific (Vancouver) time. Our event is focused on the steps towards publication. Please note the times listed are a range and may vary, especially on the first day)


    KEY DETAILS


    SESSIONS AND ACTIVITIES (Titles are not yet finalized and may be subject to change)

    • 2x Workshops on Specific Poetic Forms
    • Chap Book Making
    • Editing and Refining Poetry
    • Panel on Publishing Options for Poets
    • Planning a Poetry Reading Event and Funding
    • Spoken Word Workshop
    • Poetry Open Mic
    • And more

    We are finalizing our roster of speakers, please check back as we update the list. The list of speakers will be updated as contracts and presentation titles are finalized.


    ZOOM LINK

    • The Zoom link will be sent out in the days immediately before the event and will be included in most communications to you after that date.
    • We will be using the same zoom link for the duration of the event.
    • Please watch your email for a confirmation of registration email.
    • If you do not receive it within 24 hours of registration, please check you spam folders.
    • Contact us at hello@bcwriters.ca if you have not received your confirmation by Friday February 21st to ensure we can get you the needed information.


    RECORDINGS

    • Sessions, (except social/discussion-based events) will be recorded and made available for 45 days after the last session.


    WHAT TO EXPECT

    • Our goal is to help you on your journey to publication. You do not need to be ready to publish to attend. Participants who have a work in progress, an idea for a project, or have a finished manuscript will benefit the most from these sessions.
    • Sessions will be a combination of talks, activities, and workshops.
    • Most sessions will be 1 hour in length. Q&A may extend the session longer, but participants are not required to stay.
    • Participants are encouraged to have a pen and paper handy for all sessions.
    • If you are working on a specific project, it is advisable to consider who you plan as your intended audience to help you get the most out of the sessions. Don’t stress about this, but it is helpful to consider if you are writing for the general population, a specific community, or friends and family.


    RATES

    EARLY BIRD (UNTIL March 7 AT 11:59PM 2025)

    • FBCW MEMBERS: $65
    • GUEST: $80

    REGULAR (AS OF MARCH 8TH, 2025)

    • FBCW MEMBERS: $80
    • GUEST: $95

    SCHOLARSHIP:

    • Limited scholarship-based discounts are available for those experiencing financial difficulties.  Please email us at hello@bcwriters.ca to inquire.


    SCHEDULE

    (Specific Presentation times will be released in Late-February. Current listed presentations may shift to other slots as we finalize the schedule.)

    MONDAY


    9:00:AM: Tech Help and Welcome


    11:00 AM:


    2:00 PM: 



    TUESDAY


    9:00 AM:


    11:00 AM:


    WEDNESDAY


    9:00 AM:


    11:00 AM: 




    THURSDAY

    9:00 AM:


    11:00 AM: 




    FRIDAY


    9:00 AM:


    11:00 AM: 




    POLICIES

    RECORDINGS

    • Our presenters are provided with contracts that stipulate the length of time that recordings are available. We are obligated to respect these contracts. No extensions are possible. We have increased the time frame by 15 days to enhance your experience.
    • Reach out if you have any tech challenges related to access of the recordings by May 22nd so that we can help you in the timeframe available.

    REFUND POLICY

    • Full refunds will be issued up to March 28th.
    • Refunds for half of registration fees will be be issued until April 4th 11:59pm.
    • No refunds are possible after April 4th at 11:59pm except in the case of severe illness, death, or other urgent situations determined on a case-by-case basis.

    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

    • We are an organization that cherishes the work of writers and artists. To that end, we ask that all participants respect the intellectual property of our presenters, recordings, and material shared. Do not reproduce or distribute Writing Intensive materials without written permission.
    • Similarly, if other participants share information or excerpts from their projects, please respect their intellectual property.

    LIABILITY

    • In registering, participants understand and agree that the Federation of BC Writers (FBCW), its board, staff, presenters, and members are not liable for any damages or losses arising and waive any of the above from any and all liability.
    • The FBCW provides a space for presenters to share their experiences and insights with participants. The writing industry is a complex and ever-changing environment.  As such, the FBCW does not endorse any specific information shared in our programming as being complete or accurate in all scenarios. Participants have a responsibility to research and make informed decisions on any information given or implied.
    • Difficult and triggering topics can arise as part of artistic practices that are unforeseeable for staff, volunteers, and other participants. The FBCW is not liable for any damages or harms caused by participating in our programming.

    PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS

    • The FBCW is an organisation that celebrates diversity and inclusion and that taking part in the program means that participants are expected to be respectful, inclusive, and support the dignity of all people regardless of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, language, ability, nationality, ability, health status, religion, and socioeconomic status. All people have identities that intersect the categories above. Examples of behaviour that undermine the above are: crude jokes, unwanted communication, statements minimising others’ experiences/histories, and threats.
    • Participants are expected to arrive a few minutes before sessions start.  This allows for any technical issues to be resolved without the group being disrupted.
    • If a participant is late, we ask that they refrain from asking “what did I miss” type questions so that the event can proceed smoothly.  Staff and facilitators will do the best they can to assist if vital information has been shared, but the recording should be able to resolve any questions of this nature.
    • We ask that participants be mindful of the amount of time they speak at events. All participants should have the ability to join in. Participants are expected to keep comments on topic and under a minute so that as many people as possible can participate.
    • Participants understand that if they are muted, it is not an intentional slight to them, but is needed to keep the session moving forward.  Participants can be muted at the discretion of the FBCW facilitators.
    • Difficult topics can arise participants understand that we cannot always know or understand other people’s histories. To help make the space as welcoming and safe as possible, if a participant’s is to share information or read excerpts from works that contain certain themes (outlined below), they will identify this prior to reading it to the group. (e.g. sexual assault, extreme violence, self-harm/eating disorders/suicide ideation, abortion/miscarriage, mental illness, graphic adult content).
    • Participants are expected to understand, be sensitive to, and respect the fact that the work of writers, and their opportunity to read their work may be triggering and/or therapeutic to them. Artistic works require vulnerability and the safety to be vulnerable, especially with sensitive topics. Participants agree to do their best to maintain a safe and supportive space for the sharing of the work, regardless of its nature.

    ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY

    • The Federation of BC Writers strives to make our events accessible to folks across ability and neurodivergence. We will do what we can to make our programming available to all people.
    • Our programming is based on zoom which means there are some limitations on what can be accomplished, but also advantages such as closed captioning and the ability to join from anywhere.
    • Accommodations are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
    • Accommodations that would significantly hinder the ability of other participants to be involved or participate are not possible.
    • Some accommodations may be beyond our financial and administrative capabilities. In such cases, we will seek funding or alternatives if possible.
    • Sessions normally last for an hour. Participants are welcome to step way from their computers if they need to while turning off their camera and microphone, but we will not be able to fill people in on what they missed. Participants are asked to return to the recording in such instances.


    Show details

  • April Writers' Social

    • 8 Apr 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Join us for a Writers' Social on Tuesday, April 8 from 7:00 - 8:15 PM Pacific by registering here (bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers) and a Zoom link for the event will be sent to you. When it’s time for the event you can click on the Zoom link to join the event.


    Many of us strive for a connection with our fellow writers. This members-only monthly event is designed to bring us together for casual chats with breakout rooms. Join us to talk craft, career, and connection for about 75 minutes over Zoom. Meet new people and get the most out of being a part of a provincial organization! Below are the proposed discussion groups for April's meeting (subject to change). Please consider which discussion group you would like to join before you arrive, and email meaghan@bcwriters.ca if you would like to suggest a discussion topic. See you soon!


    Discussion Groups:

    • Memoir/CNF writers connect
    • Self Publishing
    • Next steps: what to do when you’ve finished your novel/book/collection, including finding a publisher or agent
    • Creating a writing practice for Au/ADHD writers
    • All about poetry
    • Connecting writers with chronic illnesses
    • Creating vibrant settings
    • General writing discussion

    Digital Doors Open at 6:55 pm, Event Starts at 7:00 PM Pacific

    Show details

  • Regional Spotlight: Writers Connect Penticton

    • 15 Apr 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Join us Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 pm Pacific for a Regional Spotlight featuring Writers Connect Penticton with host Meaghan Hackinen and readers Faye Arcand, Karen Barrow, Angela Douglas, LaVonne Gould, and Kathryn Jenkins.

    Register here (bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers) and a link will be sent to you. When it's time for the event, click on the link to join the live Zoom event. We look forward to seeing you there!

    Digital Doors Open at 6:55 pm!

    *This event will be recorded.

    Faye Arcand is a writer, author, and creative with a twisted writer brain. Every experience, observation or reflection is fair fodder for her writing. Arcand is an award-winning short story writer in both contemporary and literary works. Her work has also appeared in publications such as Writers’ Digest and Outdoor Living. Arcand has a degree in criminology and worked in the justice system for several years to hone her twisted brain. Her debut novel, a psychological domestic suspense titled INSIDE OUTSIDE, came out in 2024. Arcand loves to travel, study people, and watch ‘reality’ TV. She lives in western Canada with her family. https://fayearcand.com/






    Karen Barrow is a Trinidad-born Canadian author. Her post-secondary studies brought her to Canada, where she eventually settled. Years later, Karen fulfilled a lifelong dream by combining a love of storytelling and a passion for travel to inspire her historical fiction novels. Her first published work, Palmyra, was the winner of the Whistler Independent Book Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Guernica Prize and the Page Turner Awards. For more on Karen, go to https:/www.kamabarrow.org/

    She lives in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. 




    LaVonne Chantal is a writer and a bartender of pizza. Akin to the unique flavour combinations on her pizzas, she uses mental processes in her writing like distinctive ingredients to create thrilling fictional tales. For more information on LaVonne, go to LaVonneChantal.com or PeculiarPickles on Substack.











    Angela Douglas is a Canadian author who lives in the Okanagan with her husband and kids. Her debut thriller, EVERY FALL, was published in January 2025, and her sophomore novel, THE BONE TRAIL, will follow in June 2026, both with Rising Action Publishing. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, the Federation of BC Writers, Sisters in Crime - Canada West and the Writer’s Union of Canada. When she isn’t working or hanging out with her family, she hides in her studio, writing her next book. You can find her at angeladouglasbooks.com or @angeladouglasbooks on social media.





    Kathryn Jenkins has published a number of personal essays for Okanagan Life magazine. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories (less than 1000 words) with a surprising twist at the end. Her non-writing interests vary each day and include dreaming of remaining a writer!  








    Meaghan Hackinen (FBCW host): is a bike-obsessed bookworm on a lifelong hunt for exceptional cycling routes, both on and off the pavement. Her cross-continental bike race memoir, Shifting Gears, was released by NeWest Press in 2023. Find her online: meaghanhackinen.com 


    Show details

  • Book Club for Writers: "Writing the Breakout Novel" with special guest Frances Peck

    • 15 May 2025
    • 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
    • Zoom
    Register


    Member Price: Free (with donation options)

    Non-Member Price: $10

    **Digital doors open at 6:55 pm; event starts at 7:00 pm

    **Portions of this event will be recorded and made available to registrants to view for 30 days. Breakout room discussions will not be recorded.


    The Federation of BC Writers invites you to participate in our newest programming initiative: Book Club for Writers! This online book club for writers offers an opportunity to read and discuss books related to the craft of writing. Book Club events are 75 minutes long and feature a combination of small group discussion using breakout rooms, large group discussion in the main room, as well as an opportunity to hear the author, contributor, editor, or special guest’s insights and ask questions.


    Our March 2025 pick is Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. We are thrilled that award-nominated writer and FBCW Ambassador Frances Peck will join us to share her insights and lead the conversation. Register here (bcwriters.ca/events-for-writers) to receive the event link, discussion questions, and reminders. Purchase the book, review the discussion questions, and when it's time for the event, click on the link to join the live Zoom event. We look forward to seeing you there!


    BOOK BLURB:


    Maybe you're a first-time novelist looking for practical guidance. Maybe you've already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout novel - one that rises out of obscurity and hits the best-seller lists.


    Maass details the elements that all breakout novels share - regardless of genre - then shows you writing techniques that can make your own books stand out and succeed in a crowded marketplace.

    You'll learn:
       • establish a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place
       • weave subplots into the main action for a complex, engrossing story
       • create larger-than-life characters that step right off the page
       • explore universal themes that will interest a broad audience of readers
       • sustain a high degree of narrative tension from start to finish
       • develop an inspired premise that sets your novel apart from the competition


    Then, using examples from the recent works of several best-selling authors - including novelist Anne Perry - Maass illustrates methods for upping the ante in every aspect of your novel writing. You'll capture the eye of an agent, generate publisher interest and lay the foundation for a promising career.


    PRESENTER BIO:


    Frances Peck worked as an editor, ghostwriter, and instructor of editing and writing for three decades. Then she returned to her childhood preoccupation, creative writing. Her debut novel, The Broken Places, about a major earthquake rocking Vancouver, was a Globe and Mail best book of 2022 and a finalist for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Her second novel, Uncontrolled Flight, about the death of a BC firefighting pilot, made 2023 book-of-the-year lists at 49th Shelf and Consumed by Ink. Frances grew up in Cape Breton, lived in Ottawa, and in 2005 moved to North Vancouver. She is at work on a new novel.


    STEPS:

    1. Register here to receive the discussion questions and event link

    2. Purchase your print or electronic version of the book

    3. Read the book and consider the discussion questions (emailed two weeks before meeting)

    4. Join the Book Club meeting using the Zoom link to discuss your responses and hear from the authors!


    Please email Meaghan@bcwriters.ca if you have any questions, or would like to suggest a book.

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