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Writing From Life with Jane Silcott
Jane Silcott

Life writing—What does it mean to write from life? What part? How do I choose? And what will my mother say?

This workshop is for you, if:

  • You are working on (or thinking about) a memoir, true story or personal essay;
  • You are embarking on the life-writing adventure for the first time;
  • You are underway with a manuscript, or with a revision.

You will spend the afternoon writing a lot and talking a little in exercises designed to help you get things moving, find your voice, find out what you're really writing about and focus your project. The workshop will also cover the ethical questions of writing and publishing true stories—all in the salubrious company of other writers.

Jane Silcott is a writer and teacher at the UBC Writing Centre, the SFU Southbank Writing Program, and the University of King’s College MFA Program. Her writing has been published in Geist and other literary magazines and has been recognized by the CBC Literary Awards, the National and Western Magazine Awards and the Creative Nonfiction Collective of Canada. Jane's debut collection of personal essays, Everything Rustles, was a finalist for the Hubert Evans Non-fiction Prize.

Writing From Life
Location: SFU Harbour Centre — Room 1520
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Price: $50 (includes a one-year subscription to Geist for yourself or a friend!)
Workshop Bundle: $75 (includes this workshop and The Art of the Column with Stephen Henighan, plus a one-year subscription!)

Register for Writing From Life ($50)
Register for Writing From Life & The Art of the Column ($75)


The Art of the Column with Stephen Henighan

Create lively and provocative opinion columns! In this 3-hour hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to:

  • Write effective opening paragraphs;
  • Incorporate anecdotes as evidence;
  • Maintain a clear line of argumentation.

The Art of the Column provides a valuable look at the role column-writing can play in a writer’s identity and career, and is perfect for anyone looking to write consistently for magazines, journals or blogs.

Stephen Henighan is an award-winning writer and longtime Geist columnist. His latest novel is The Path of the Jaguar (Thistledown Press, 2016). He lives in Guelph, Ontario. Read his work at stephenhenighan.com and follow him on Twitter @StephenHenighan.

The Art of the Column
Location: SFU Harbour Centre — Room 1520
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2016
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Price: $50 (includes a one-year subscription to Geist for yourself or a friend!)
Workshop Bundle: $75 (includes this workshop and Writing From Life with Jane Silcott, plus a one-year subscription!)

Register for The Art of the Column ($50)
Register for The Art of the Column & Writing From Life ($75)



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