Welcome to Writing Circle 2023 Fall Intake Registration! Writing Circles are designed to provide support to members of the Federation of BC Writers based on area of focus, audience, and or identity.
We have many new groups starting to help you advance your writing goals. Most of the circles will be using the same zoom link and splitting into breakout rooms after the meeting starts. Below are the circles you can join. Each circle is set up as a different type of ticket for when you select registration and most have a waitlist enabled. Please note that most of the circles operate at the same time, so please only register for 1 circle unless you have confirmed that they don't overlap.
For more information, contact meaghan@bcwriters.ca. To suggest a Circle, please complete this form.
A zoom link will be sent to you based on the circle you join closer to the first session. For the sake of this registration, we have set the date as September 13th, the first day for most circles
NEW CIRCLES
Strategies for Self-Editing: Guided Critiques
Group members will learn and practise self-editing strategies, from simple to complex, applying these strategies to their work in guided critique sessions.
Max # of participants: 6
Date/time: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm PT
Duration: 120 minutes
Lightning Ink
Join us and inspire your inner wordsmith by writing to a variety of prompts amidst a community of like-minded individuals. Open to all genres and levels of experience.
Max # of participants: open
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Historical Fiction
My idea of this writing group is to add some discipline to a writing schedule, to share ways to problem solve historical narrative so that it is feasible to the story, and to share elements of fiction (dialogue, setting, inciting incidents, suspense, chapter titles, etc.). For anyone in the process of writing who likes to include historical context.
Max # of participants: 5
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Duration: 60 minutes
Kid Lit Writers
This group is welcoming all writers of kid lit from picture books, to middle grade, and young adult. Our goal is to create a supportive community to connect, share and learn from other writers.
Max # participants: 12
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday, 7 pm PT
Length: 60 minutes
Memoir
A memoir writing group focused on discussion, support, critique and self-care. Bi-monthly submit a writing sample of 2000 words for feedback.
Max # participants: 6
Date/time: 4th Wednesday, 7 pm PT
Length: 90 minutes
Note: start Sept 27, 2023
Nature Writing
Nature plays a role in genres ranging from scientific articles to poetry, short fiction, memoir, and novels and often serves to disperse tension, develop characters, or create mood. In Nature Writing, participants will observe nature in their day to day lives and incorporate findings into their writing which will then be shared or written, sometimes with prompts, during the circle meetings. Facilitator, Carolyn Redl, recently published Four Seasons by the Salish Sea which celebrates many aspects of local nature.
Max # participants: 10
Date/time: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm PT
Length: 60 minutes
Personal Essays and CNF Short Stories: A Critique Group for Writers Submitting to Publications - FULL: waitlist enabled
If you want to develop or strengthen a writing habit that includes submitting short-form creative non-fiction for publication, please join us. In our twice-monthly sessions, we’ll provide supportive and balanced critique and share insights to prepare our work for publication. You can submit one essay or story (up to 2,000 words) for feedback each month and should be prepared to provide critique for up to four essays or stories twice a month.
Max # participants: 8 (including 2 hosts)
Date/time: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm PT
Length: 90 minutes
Group name: Encre Créative - En Français!
En français:
L’objectif sera d’offrir des défis à notre créativité. Une série de sujets sera offerte. Les périodes d’écriture seront courtes pour que l'on puisse faire une variété d’exercices pendant chaque séance dans le but d’étendre et de repousser nos capacités créatives. Du coup, certains exercices seront plus innovants que la normale et ne seront peut-être pas tout à fait évidents à faire au début. Voyez ce groupe comme des séances de musculation pour votre créativité tout en gardant un esprit ouvert, bienveillant et toujours jovial.
Les séances seront offertes entièrement en français. Notez que pour participer à ce groupe il est obligatoire de garder votre caméra allumée pendant toute la durée de la séance sur Zoom.
In English:
A series of prompts and off-the-wall writing exercises to stretch, expand and flex our creative muscles. The writing periods will be short to allow us to do a variety of prompts and exercises in every session and thus expose us to explorations from various creative angles. Think of this group like weight training workouts for your creativity with a fun, supportive and open spirited vibe. The group will be conducted entirely in French.
Open to francophones and bilingual francophiles (level C1 or higher). Please note that, to participate in this group, it is obligatory to leave your camera on during the entirety of each Zoom session.
Max # of participants: Open / Ouvert
Date/time: 4th Thursday of the month at 1:30 pm / 4ième jeudi du mois à 13h30
Duration: 60 minutes
Screenwriting
Open to anyone who wants to practice and discuss the craft of screenwriting. I'm hoping to balance discussing films as cultural texts, sharing and critiquing the work of members, and giving exercises as inspiration for those who aren't currently in progress on a larger project of their own.
Max # participants: 20
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Length: 90 minutes
Twilight Writers
The purpose of this group is to learn about the elements of poetry and use those elements and writing prompts to write. The audience for this group is adults. This will be a write and share meeting.
Max # participants: 8
Date/time: 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Length: 90 minutes
The Seeds of a Story
This circle explores the seeds of a story in fiction from the initial idea, to the layout & how we nurture steady growth. In the end, you'll have improved your craft, have written a short story and or have a stronger vision for a longer piece.
Max # participants: 5
Date/time: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm PT
Length: 120 minutes
Contact: Jeremiah Benskin
Queer Manuscript Group
A critique group for queer writers. Everyone reads aloud for ten minutes, followed by 10-20 minutes of constructive commentary and feedback.
Max # participants: 10
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Length: 120 minutes
Contact: Chloe Sekouri
Self-Publishing
To answer questions about self-publishing and help authors on their journey to publishing their books.
Max # participants: 15
Date/time: 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Length: 120 minutes
"Going Viral" - Nurturing a Creative Habit and Publishing Online
In "Going Viral," we'll start with a monthly check-in to talk about how we're showing up for our creative process, then move to either a discussion on an aspect of online publishing or a feature of group member's work (with feedback opportunities), and conclude with what we plan for our platform next.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Fiction Workshop
Readers and writers of this fiction group enjoy learning and improving their craft by sharing constructive commentary. Members are willing to read and review submissions prior to the meeting and provide focused commentary. Discussion will be based on submissions.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Submissions due: 3rd Wednesday (max 4,000 words)
Duration: 120 minutes
Novel Writing
The group is for peer feedback on writing, brainstorming potential solutions to writing problems, and accountability for meeting goals — all as needed/wanted by participants.
Max # participants: open
Date/time: 1st Sunday of the month at 10:30 am
Length: 90 minutes
Keep it Short: Short Story Development
In this workshop you will have a hands-on approach to short story writing. All students will complete a short story(s) during the length of the class.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 pm PT
Duration: 90 minutes
CURRENT CIRCLES
Travel Writing
A monthly meeting focused on the craft and business of travel writing, with opportunities to check in and share how your writing projects are going, solicit advice/recommendations, workshop a short piece, and discuss topics related to travel writing.
Max # of participants: 12
Date/time: 4th Thursday at 2 pm PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Mid-Career Writers
“If you're already a professional writer or published author and you want to grow your career, this group is for you. The Mid-Career Writers' Group will be a place for established writers to connect with peers and share knowledge to take their careers to the next level.”
Max # of participants: Open
Date/time: Last Thursday of the month at 12 pm PT
Duration: 60 minute
Poetry - FULL, waitlist enabled
Calling all poets! Come write, discuss each other’s poetry, and keep ourselves inspired and accountable with prompts, co-writing and critiquing.
Max # participants: 10
Date/Time: 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Duration: 90 minutes
Creative Non-Fiction - FULL: waitlist enabled
We're a small group focussing on memoir and other forms of CNF. We plan to meet once a month and we'll be taking turns sharing work for critique while also supporting each other's growth as developing writers.
Max # participants: 8 (space for 2)
Date/time: 2nd Sunday, 10:30 am PT
Length: 120 minutes
Fiction - FULL: waitlist enabled
For fiction writers who hone their craft through the art of giving and receiving critiques. Members upload their works to a shared drive where critiques and comments are added to the document prior to the meetings. The twice monthly meetings then serve as an opportunity to highlight key points and to engage in thoughtful discussions.
Max # participants: 6 (space for 2)
Date/time: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 7 pm PT
Length: 120 minutes
Accountability Club - FULL: waitlist enabled
For writers who want a little extra support to stay on track. This group checks in at our meeting on our progress on our goals at the start of the meeting and then sets new ones for us to report on for the next. We are often each other's cheerleaders and share tips and tricks to help each other.
Max # of participants: 8
Date/time: 2nd Wednesday at 7 pm PT
Duration: 60 minutes
