There乌鸦传媒檚 a novelist who乌鸦传媒檚 written a bestseller about Daniel Boone, a non-fiction writer who voyages to Antarctica, an award-winning playwright whose work is currently being staged in Saskatchewan, and a poet whose name is more or less synonymous with creative writing in the Okanagan.
The lineup of big and local names hosting workshops at the upcoming second annual Spoke Literary Festival, Aug. 11-13, means Okanagan writers don乌鸦传媒檛 have to go far to learn from some of the best in Canadian literature.
乌鸦传媒淵ou don乌鸦传媒檛 have to go to a big centre to get a really high quality writing workshop experience,乌鸦传媒� says Spoke Literary Festival organizer Kerry Gilbert, an Okanagan College English professor who helped plan last year乌鸦传媒檚 inaugural event along with colleagues Hannah Calder and Michelle Doege.
The two-day event was such a success, they were able to build on it and draw writers whose workshops would be sought after at a major writing festival.
乌鸦传媒淓veryone is a professional writer who has experience in the publishing industry, and so it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 matter what level you乌鸦传媒檙e at in your writing career, there乌鸦传媒檚 something for you to learn and be inspired by,乌鸦传媒� says Gilbert, adding workshops cover all literary genres, from poetry and fiction to non-fiction and playwriting, as well as other elements of the writing life.
The festival weekend kicks off with a writing circle led by Vernon poet Michelle Doege at the Caetani Cultural Centre, and Saturday evening features a reading by all workshop writers, which is hosted by poet extraordinaire and UBC Okanagan professor emeritus Sharon Thesen.
乌鸦传媒淕rowing a strong writing community is a big focus for this festival,乌鸦传媒� says Calder. 乌鸦传媒淚n addition to the workshops, the evening events are a chance to make those connections and pick writers乌鸦传媒� brains. The work of writing can be quite isolating, but attending readings and events like this, that乌鸦传媒檚 part of being a writer.乌鸦传媒�
Fortunately for the festival and both emerging and experienced creative writers, the Okanagan has no shortage of talent to learn from and network with. Last year乌鸦传媒檚 festival drew participants from across the valley and beyond, and organizers are hoping even more writers will participate this year.
乌鸦传媒淲e really want to put Vernon on the map as a literary community,乌鸦传媒� says Gilbert. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 what we want to foster and create as a long-term goal.乌鸦传媒�
Author workshop lineup:
Alix Hawley 乌鸦传媒� Pulling out the Plums: Using Research in Fiction
Jay Ruzesky 乌鸦传媒� True Stories, Well Told
Corinna Chong 乌鸦传媒� Making a Scene: Structure and Transitions in Short Stories
Heidi Garnett 乌鸦传媒� Writing as Dream Work
Mike Poirier 乌鸦传媒� The Structure of Writing a Play
Melanie Murray 乌鸦传媒� Unlocking the Vault of Memory
Laisha Rosnau 乌鸦传媒� Narrative Therapy
John Lent 乌鸦传媒� Phrasing in Contemporary Poetry
The Spoke Literary Festival runs Aug. 11-13 at various locations in Vernon. A weekend pass, which includes four writing workshops and two literary/social gatherings, is $175 and can be purchased by following a link from the Spoke Festival website at . A student scholarship is available and all workshops and events are wheelchair accessible. Festival registration closes July 31 or when spaces have been filled.
