Current and Future

A Novel Approach to Fiction 2014 ONLINE

A one year workshop designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel. This is a special ONLINE version of A Novel Approach. Intakes every four months.
Next two intakes: October 15th and February 15th, 2015.
Visit A Novel Approach ONLINE for more details.
 

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Poetry Sanctuary Writing Retreats (Monthly)

Spend a day at Uplands writing and sharing poetry. A short instruction about the craft of poetry starts the retreat and provides a theme for the day.

Details at Inslingers.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Radical Restoration Writing and Yoga Retreat in Italy: April 2015

I’m thrilled to be returning to Le Torrace in Umbria, ITALY from April 11th to 21st, 2015! I will be facilitating two half day workshops on poetry, offering manuscript reviews and once again emceeing the final evening Bistro Reading.

 
 
 
 
 
Radical Restoration International Writing and Yoga Retreats

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Sue Reynolds and I share the beautiful Uplands Retreat location so we created Inkslingers to centralize the full descriptions and registration pages for most of our current and future offerings.
 

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Inkslingers Free Monthly Poetry Workshop

Sue Reynolds and I started the Inkslingers free monthly poetry workshop at the Black Swan Tavern in Toronto on April 11th. (2nd Thursday every month). Sue and I facilitate part one and three of the workshop and we invite well known poets/instructors to guest facilitate the second (feedback) portion.
Free Poetry Workshop (Second Thursday of the month)
Guest Poetry Feedback Facilitators:
 

A Novel Approach to Fiction 2014:

Started September 10th. A one year workshop (September 2104 to June 2015) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel. Authors meet twice a month, write, discuss each other’s work, share the journey, celebrate the achievement.
Next intake: September, 2015
Visit A Novel Approach for more details.
 

A Novel Approach SECOND DRAFT:

Started September 9th. (co-facilitated with Sue Reynolds) A one year workshop (September 2104 to June 2015) designed to help authors finish the Second draft of a novel, develop a marketing strategy and pursue publication. Authors meet every three weeks to compare notes, share progress and hone their writing and self-promotion skills.
Next intake: September, 2015
Visit A Novel Approach for more details.
 

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Earlier in 2014

Secrets of Self-Publication and Understanding Contracts Workshop

Presented to The Writers’ Community of Simcoe County on September 21st. Details at WCSC
 

Canadian Authors Association CanWrite! Conference in Orillia

Facilitated morning poetry writing workshops June 19th, 20th and 21st.
Canwrite!
 

Workshop on Writing Fiction and Marketing Yourself as an Author

co-facilitated with Sue Reynolds.
Presented to the Canadian Author’s Association, Simcoe branch in Orillia, Ontario on May 29th.
 

Radical Restoration Writing and Yoga Retreat in Italy: April 2014

April 18th – April 29th: Facilitated a half day workshop on poetry at the .
Radical Restoration International Writing and Yoga Retreats
 

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2013

Rhymes at the ROM

Sept. 21st: Facilitated, with Sue Reynolds, the Rhymes at the ROM full day workshop at the Royal Ontario Museum.
RHYMES at the ROM
 

Canadian Authors Association CanWrite! Conference in Orillia

Facilitated morning poetry writing workshops June 14th and 15th.
Canwrite!
 

Poetry workshop

to The Spirit of the Hills monthly Writer’s Group in Grafton, Ontario, April 20, 2013. Part of Poetry Month Celebrations.
Spirit of the Hills
 

Inkslingers Free Monthly Poetry Workshop

Sue Reynolds and I started the Inkslingers free monthly poetry workshop at the Black Swan Tavern in Toronto on April 11th. (2nd Thursday every month). Sue and I facilitate part one and three of the workshop and we invite well known poets/instructors to guest facilitate the second (feedback) portion.
Free Poetry Workshop (Second Thursday of the month)
 

A Novel Approach to Fiction

A one year workshop (January to December) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel.
 

The Final Approach Workshop

Co-Facilitated with Sue Reynolds and Acquisition Editor Robyn Read. This prototype workshop was designed to assist authors in the completion of book length projects and refer them to an experienced editor for professional assessment.
Robyn Reads
 

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2012

A Novel Approach to Fiction

A one year workshop (January to December) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel. Authors meet twice a month, write, discuss each other’s work, share the journey, celebrate the achievement.
A Novel Approach to Memoir or Fiction.
 

“Hook, Line and Sinker” Writing workshop

for Purdue Pharma Corporation in Pickering, Ontario. A workshop I created to introduce employees to creative writing elements that will help them compose engaging, readable newsletter articles with the necessary corporate information embedded. August 27 2012.
 

Poetry Chapbook Workshop

Sponsored by the League of Canadian Poets.
A Full day workshop in Toronto, Ontario. Participants leave workshop with ready-to-print chapbook templates.
 

Presentation and workshop on Poetry

at the The Writers’ Community of Simcoe County (WCSC), April 15 2012.
April is National Poetry Month. So what is poetry? What makes it so unique and why does it scare so many people? Join James Dewar in a fun, interactive presentation on “that other kind of writing”. It’s harder than it looks and easier than you think.
 

The Fundamental Novelist

The Essential Elements of Publishable Book-Length Storytelling
A 10 week workshop in the spring at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge.
 

Chapbook Workshop (Revised)

Sponsored by the Stouffville Public Library
A 2 full day workshops (one month apart) in Toronto, Ontario.
Participants leave workshop with ready-to-print chapbook templates.
 

50 Shades of Naughty

The erotic writing continuum from romance to porn.
Two evening workshops at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Get Published Poetry Workshop

An 8 week workshop in the autumn at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, culminating in the publication of an anthology.
 

Managing Your Own WordPress-Based Website

A Full day workshop at Trent University, Oshawa Campus. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Final Judge for the Grimm’s Postcard Writing Contest

Sponsored by The Stouffville Public Library, August 2012.
 

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2011

A Novel Approach to Fiction

A one year workshop (January to December) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel. Authors meet twice a month, write, discuss each other’s work, share the journey, celebrate the achievement.
 
A Novel Approach to Fiction.

One of the three final judges for the Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Contest for Youth

Sponsored by The League of Canadian Poets.
February.
 

Create Your First Blog Website in One Day: WordPress for Beginners

A Full day workshop at Trent University, Oshawa Campus. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Get Published Poetry Workshop

A 10 week workshop in the autumn at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, culminating in the publication of an anthology.
 

Self-Publishing workshop on Editing, Layout and Book Design

A 3 hour workshop at the Annual The Ontario Writers’ Conference.
 

Yes I Will, No I Won’t

An Overview of Publishing Contracts and Copyright Law.
– Mini-Workshop at the Ajax Convention Centre.
 

Managing Your Own Website

– Full day workshop at Trent University, Oshawa Campus. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

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2010

A Novel Approach

(w/Sue Reynolds)
A one year workshop (January to December) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel or memoir. Authors meet twice a month, write, discuss each other’s work, share the journey, celebrate the achievement.
A Novel Approach to Fiction.
 

Poetry in the schools presentation

April 22nd at All Saints High School, Whitby, Ontario
sponsored by The League of Canadian Poets.
 

Full day writing workshop, co-presented with Penn Kemp

MAY 5th
at Traill College, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario. Sponsored by the Peterborough Board of Education and Trent University.
 

I Hate Poetry, but I Love It Anyway

A Full day workshop at Trent University, Oshawa Campus.
 

The Craft of Writing LECTURE SERIES

A 4 part lecture series presented at the Whitby Main Library. (w/Sue Reynolds)
1. Lovesongs – The Poetry of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.
2. Reading As Writers
3. I Hate Poetry, but I Love It Anyway
4. Full Disclosure – The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Expression

 

Show Don’t Tell

Writing fiction that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps it.
A Full day workshop at The Dubliner’s Pub, Oshawa. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Secrets of Slam!

Competitive Poetry Performance Techniques Mini-Workshop at the Ajax Convention Centre.
 

Workshop Presentation at Wordstock

Sept. 2010
Facilitated an Erotic writing workshop: “Writing with a slow hand: From Romance to Erotica and Beyond” (w/ Sue Reynolds)
at “Wordstock”, the annual writing symposium put on by the Ryerson University Journalism Program.
Hightlight: Ian Brown’s keynote address.
 

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2009

A Novel Approach

(w/Sue Reynolds)
A one year workshop (January to December) designed to help authors finish the first draft of a novel or memoir. Authors meet twice a month, write, discuss each other’s work, share the journey, celebrate the achievement.
A Novel Approach to Memoir or Fiction.
 

Introduction to Poetry Workshop

– Full day workshop at Uplands Retreat, Uxbridge.
 

Advanced Creative Writing

(10 weeks) Durham College. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

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2008

Advanced Creative Writing

(10 weeks) Durham College. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Writing with a Slow Hand

A Full day Erotic Writing Workshop at Uplands Retreat, Uxbridge
(w/Sue Reynolds)
 

Writing With a Slow Hand Part Two – Going Deeper

A Full day Erotic Writing Workshop at Uplands Retreat, Uxbridge
(w/Sue Reynolds)
 

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2007

Writing with a Slow Hand Erotic Writing Workshop

A Full day workshop at Pickering Public Library. (w/Sue Reynolds)
 

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2006

Developing Confidence in the Writing, Editing and Public Performance of Poetry

A Full day workshop at Pickering Public Library and two months later at the Brighton Public Library)