Everything is cancelled… ALMOST!
I know! I know!
We all had some major plans and a detailed vision of how 2020 was going to go for us, but then everything we had planned exploded into tiny pixels and all we can see in the near future is the everlasting smoke clouds circling around us. We are impatiently waiting for the sunshine to break through.
Several of my plans for writing retreats and writing conferences have been cancelled for this entire year, as I isolate myself at home. This sounds like devastating news, however, there is a silver lining to all of this…
Alternative dates are being made for most major events or there will be a change to hosting events online. This means, if you couldn’t afford to attend some of the writing conferences before, you can now omit the cost of flights and hotel bills and join the workshops online at a reduced cost.
Of course, you will miss out on seeing all your writing buddies in person, but you will still get the course information. Plus, you could organize a fun Late Night Visit to the Virtual Bar with your friends and talk about writing (unless your internet sucks like mine). But hey, you can have fun without me… it’ll be hard because I like to be the life of the party, but still, you can try. Ha! Joking. I’m never the life of the party, but I’m usually good for one laugh or two and a great photo opportunity. We’ll save that for next year.
Take a minute to check out a few of the upcoming writing and author events online:
Happening Now:
First Chapter Fun Project happens every day at 11:30 am LIVE over on Hannah Mary McKinnon’s Facebook Page. She reads the first chapter of some amazing novels (Womens’ Fiction, Suspense, Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Mystery, etc.). Every day she highlights a new author. Did I mention she has an amazing British accent? Love it!
Pandemic Response Reading Series by Lauren Carter. Canadian Literature. This event is a private Facebook Group via Zoom connection.
Writers’ Sanctuary with Inkslingers ~ Online creative workshops. Make the decision to nurture your creative self by connecting with Writers’ Sanctuary. See the schedule for available spots online via Zoom.
Write Your Way In presents online creative writing workshops with various dates to choose from. It is a place where you can be alone to write and write together at the same time.
Write Ramble with Lauren Carter ~ Private Group on Facebook via Zoom. You can ask to join for daily writing prompts that you do together.
Master Class with over 80 instructors on various topics of interest. Here is a list of writing classes you might be interested in:
- Margaret Atwood teaches Creative Writing
- Dan Brown teaches Writing Thrillers
- Billy Collins teaches Reading & Writing Poetry
- Neil Gaiman teaches The Art of Storytelling
- Malcolm Gladwell teaches Writing
- Joyce Carol Oates teaches The Art of the Short Story
- James Patterson teaches Writing
- David Sedaris teaches Storytelling & Humor
- Aaron Sorkin teaches Screenwriting
- R.L. Stine teaches Writing for Young Adults
- Bob Woodward teaches Investigative Journalism
- Plus, there are other interesting things to learn besides writing. You could learn Acting, Comedy, Cooking, Filmmaking, Magic, Photography, Tennis, etc.
- NOTE: At the moment, they are running a buy one annual membership and share one for free with a friend. Limited time offer!
Happening Soon:
As part of the National Arts Centre Canada Performs program, there will be LIVE Facebook Reading & Author Chat with Canadian Authors (only a few are listed here. Go to the website to see the complete list):
- April 20th ~ TODAY ~ Catherine McKenzie, author of ten novels, The Good Liar, Fractured, and the most recent I’ll Never Tell.
- April 22nd ~ Hannah Mary McKinnon, author of Sister Dear, Her Secret Son, The Neighbours and Time After Time.
- April 27th ~ Roz Nay, author of two novels, Our Little Secret and the most recent Hurray Home.
- April 30th ~ Amy Stuart, author of Still Mine, Still Water and her newest release is called Still Here.
- Note: Other events are happening at Canada Performs besides author chats. Check the website for music, dance, theatre, comedy, etc.
May Workshop for Toronto Romance Writers – Writing Intimacy with Molly O’Keefe – Live 2-hour workshop via Zoom from 1-3 pm. This was scheduled for a full-day event, but they have reduced it in time.
The FOLD Canada (The festival of Literary Diversity) is holding its festival online on Friday, May 1st. This is FREE, but you must register for the event. Space is limited. Some of the authors taking part are Mona Awad, Sheena Kamal, Adnan Khan, Sonya Lalli, and Ann YK Choi.
Alice Munro Festival of the Short Story has been cancelled, but the short story contest is still happening. They are hoping to host an online event on June 6th.
The Thrillerfest Conference usually held in NYC was cancelled for July. I’m so sad, as this is the one conference I hate to miss. However, they have announced they will be holding an online conference. Stay tuned to Thrillerfest.com for more information on signing up for that event.
October’s Bouchercon – World’s Mystery Convention in Sacramento has been cancelled. They are hoping to offer an online option. Go to: bouchercon.com for more information.
If none of these events above interest you, are you even a writer? Ha!
I suppose you could hunker down in a quiet spot and write the next bestseller without attending any of the events above, however, it would be a whole lot easier to accomplish this task with some advice from other authors (you know, the ones who have already blazed a path for you and encountered some problems and they are willing to tell you about them). If you have time, check it out.
I will leave one last comment for the writers reading this post today…
Yes, everything is being cancelled and we are sad and depressed about it, but try to look on the bright side… if you are staying home, you are safe and you are helping to flatten the curve. If you are an essential worker and you have to leave the house every single day, bless your heart, thank you so much for battling forward and doing what you do to make this horrendous pandemic disappear. We all appreciate YOU.
Stay safe and healthy everyone… and enjoy life as best as you can. If possible, try to write a little something for me to read.
Thanks Lori. That list of writing workshops and events is very useful. Since the Courts are closed for another two months, I’m going to take an online creative writing class.
Good morning Helen, Happy Mother’s Day! Love hearing from you… we miss you. Sorry to hear about the Courts being closed, but what a wonderful opportunity to take a few writing classes online. I’ve been enjoying quite a few classes, as well. Learning from the Masters is wonderful. So educational! Enjoy. Happy writing!
Waking up to the hum drum of life in isolation is getting to be a pain. Thank you, my friend, for giving me renewed hope. Going to get my ass off the couch and back in front of my computer to take advantage of the many great writing opportunities you’ve opened.
Good morning Jeanette! I’m sure Belize is a whole lot warmer to wake up to, compared to another freezing day in Canada? Ha! I’m jealous. One of these days, when the world gets back to some normalcy and we are allowed to travel again, Colleen and I are going to plan a trip to visit you (maybe Rose-Ann will be able to get away, as well?). In the meantime, yes, you must enjoy some of these amazing opportunities for writers, that can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world (provided you have internet). Most of these events are FREE! Enjoy! Hugs!