Federation of British Columbia Writers

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Federation of British Columbia Writers

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Craft. Connection. Career. Supporting writers across BC and Yukon since 1976.

The Federation of BC Writers is a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and community to writers in British Columbia. Writers at every stage are welcome; our members range from emerging writers and poets to seasoned professionals. Perks of becoming a member of the FBCW include:
- workshops and events, including our yearly, week-long Writers' Summit
- monthly online Writers' Socials
- annual writing contests with opportunities for publication
- a subscription to WordWorks, the magazine for BC writers
- community-building opportunities such as online Writing Circles and sprints
- and more! General enquiries:
[email protected]
www.bcwriters.ca

Become a member:
https://www.bcwriters.ca/join-us

11/01/2026

A little holiday magic, a whole lot of chemistry, and a happily ever after worth rooting for. What does it take to bring them together in a novella?

Join Jody Holford, who also writes as Sophie Sullivan, for a four week course as we explore how to keep things short and sweet.

Through guided activities and writing exercises, you’ll develop a story idea and work toward a draft of your own holiday romance novella, learning how to make room for an emotionally satisfying love story within a shorter word count.

Sessions take place at 11am on November 7, 14, 21, 2and 28.

Register and find out more here: https://www.bcwriters.ca/event-6872580

[Image Description: Includes event details and a photo of author Jody Holford, along with the cover of her book, You Make It Feel Like Christmas. End]

11/01/2026

I Read Canadian Day (Nov 4th) is primarily about celebrating Canadian books for young people. With a 3 year old who devours stories, FBCW staff member Emma Turner is in a good position to suggest books for our youngest members!

Emma has chosen A Potato on a Bike by Elsie Gravel.

Emma says, “A Potato on a Bike is a fantastic early book; it’s simple, silly, and encourages the listener to join in. It was one of the first books I bought for my son. Three years later, we still enjoy reading it together.”

🍁🍁🍁

📖 Find out more about A Potato on a Bike here: https://www.orcabook.com/A-Potato-on-a-Bike-P4346

🔎 Find out more about I Read Canadian Day here: https://ireadcanadian.com/

💬 Do you have any cozy childhood memories of reading Canadian books?

[Image Description: Image shows the cover of A Postato on a Bike by Elsie Gravel, a photo of the FBCW’s Social Media and Admin Coordinator Emma Turner, and a Canadian flag. End.]

11/01/2026

Read our latest blog for a selection of upcoming writing events and opportunities around BC and beyond. Find out about the CBC short story prize, free library events, an online pay-what-you-can Path to Publishing Conference, and lots more!

Check it out here: https://bcwriters.ca/articles?p=november-and-beyond-1

10/31/2026

I Read Canadian Day is on November 4th. To help celebrate the breadth and diversity of Canadian books, the FBCW staff are recommending some of their favourite books by Canadian authors.

Alli Boyd has chosen Wish Upon a Rosie by Jenn Sommersby writing as Eliza Gordon.

Alli says, “Being part of the staff at the FBCW has put me in community with so many amazing writers! However, my TBR list has grown exponentially as I want to read everyone’s books. I read Wish Upon a Rosie a few months ago, and as I work with Jenn, I would have told her it was good no matter what, but it is actually great! It was a super fun read, and how cool that I work with the author!”

🍁🍁🍁

📖 Find out more about Wish Upon a Rosie here: https://jennifersommersby.com/books/wish-upon-a-rosie

🔎 Find out more about I Read Canadian Day here: https://ireadcanadian.com/

💬 Which Canadian books are on your TBR?

[Image Description: Image shows the cover of Wish Upon a Rosie by Jenn Sommersby, a photo of the FBCW’s Membership and Community Navigator Alli Boyd, and a Canadian flag. End.]

10/30/2026

Welcome back to Frequently Asked Fridays, a new series where FBCW members ask and answer questions that intrigue, inspire, and amuse the writing community.

This week’s question is ‘Are you creatively chaotic or composed? Do you write with creative bursts and rely on momentum, or do you portion your time in a steady routine?’

Today’s answers come from Višnja Milidragović, who you can find at byvishmili.substack.com.

If you would like to get involved, either by submitting or answering a question, email [email protected].

—

[Image Description: Multiple images containing Frequently Asked Fridays content; an explanation, an intro to this week’s member, Višnja Milidragović, Višnja's answers to this week’s questions, plus info on how to get involved. Long descriptions below.

Image 1: A brief description of Frequently Asked Fridays next to a photo of a person holding up a sign in front of their face. The sign has a bold question mark printed in the center. At the bottom of the image are the logos for the BC Arts Council and the Province of British Columbia.

Image 2: Today’s question: Are you creatively chaotic or composed? Do you write with creative bursts and rely on momentum, or do you portion your time in a steady routine?

Image 3: Includes the text, ‘Višnja Milidragović says’ and, ‘I've learned that with a full-time job and now, as a mom of a toddler, I don't have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike. That's why scheduled sprints are a must for me—and I've learned my sweet spot: 90 minutes. After that, my brain is mush and I'm just circling.’

Image 4: Includes Višnja's headshot and bio: ‘Višnja is a proud third-culture kid
hailing from the former Yugoslavia. Her work explores her search for home and belonging. She started writing her first memoir while in The Writer's Studio, supported by two Canada Council grants. In 2024, she was awarded a Long-Form Mentorship. Soon to complete her MS, she now lives in Vancouver with her daughter, husband, and two kitties who like to cuddle.’ End]

10/30/2026

I Read Canadian Day is a national celebration of Canadian books with the goal of elevating the genre and celebrating its breadth and diversity.

FBCW staff members will be recommending some of their favourite Canadian books in the run-up to I Read Canadian Day on November 4th.

To kick start the week, Jenn Sommersby has picked The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor. It was longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize, shortlisted for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for Writing that Provokes, and won Canada Reads 2026.

🍁🍁🍁

📖 Find out more about The Cure for Drowning here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/717627/the-cure-for-drowning-by-loghan-paylor/9781039006454

🔎 Find out more about I Read Canadian Day here: https://ireadcanadian.com/

💬 Join in the conversation—what are you going to be reading on I Read Canadian Day?

[Image Description: Image shows the cover of The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor, a photo of the FBCW’s Programming Architect Jenn Sommersby, and a Canadian flag. End.]

10/29/2026

Join us on Sunday 29th November at 2 PM for Newsreels, Nylons, and Nightclubs: Turning Historical Research into Historical Fiction, with Loghan Paylor.

Whether the thought of it fills you with delight or dread, research is an unavoidable part of writing historical fiction. From archival records to YouTube channels and Reddit threads to radio plays, this workshop will explore the weird and wonderful world of historical research.

We’ll discuss when (or when not!) to do it, where to start, what to look for, and how to stay organized. We’ll also discuss incorporating research into fiction, including how to assess historical versus narrative value, nailing those details, and when to let it go.

Register and more info here: https://www.bcwriters.ca/event-6877982

[Image Description: To the right of the event details is a photo of Loghan Paylor. At the bottom are the logos for the BC Arts Council and the Province of British Columbia. End.]

10/29/2026

Head to our website to read the latest WordWorks Online article taken from the archives!

'Filtering' is written by Sarah Selecky. It was originally published in the 2020 Volume II issue of WordWorks.

Find it here: https://bcwriters.ca/articles?p=filtering

[Image Description: Photo of author Sarah Selecky. End.]

10/29/2026

🚨Starts Tomorrow! 🚨
50 DAYS FOR FALL WRITING—a chance to work toward a personal writing goal with dedicated writing sessions, friendly accountability, and company along the way.

Your project, your goal, your pace! Online from Oct 30 - Dec 18th.

Register and find out more: https://www.bcwriters.ca/event-6868556

[Image Description: Includes text 'Join us for a kickoff open mic, regular writing and editing sprints, weekly check-ins, email pep talks, a halfway motivational webinar, a second open mic, and a 12-hour write-in to wrap up! End.]

10/28/2026

Join us on Sunday, November 22 at 2:00 PM for Bringing Your Vision to Life: An Overview of Fantasy World Building, with Evan Parrott.

Fantasy enthusiasts and aspiring writers alike are invited to join Evan Parrott as he unravels the secrets of crafting compelling fantasy worlds. He will delve into every aspect of world-building, starting from the spark of an idea to constructing the intricate frameworks of history, government, and currency. Attendees will also explore character creation, familial connections, and the development of unique magical systems that breathe life into fantastical narratives.

Whether you're a budding author or a fan of the genre, this event promises to inspire and ignite your creative passions. The session will of course end with a Q&A, so be ready to fire up those imaginations.

Register and find out more: https://www.bcwriters.ca/event-6872584

[Image Description: To the right of the event details is a photo of Evan Parrott. At the bottom are the logos for the BC Arts Council and the Province of British Columbia. End.]

Address

Courtenay, BC
V9N6Z8

Website

https://bcwriters.ca/

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