VWC Newsletter – February 2024

Here's the February 2024 Vocamus Writers Community Newsletter. It's so full, you may need to take notes.

We also have some news that we want to highlight –

First, our Free February Workshops are running again this year every Sunday afternoon in February in collaboration with the Guelph Public Library. Keep your eyes open for more details.

Second, our Spring Retreat at Creiff Hills Retreat Centre will be running from June 21 to June 23 this year, and registrations are open! Check the poster below or get more information here – https://vocamus.net/community/events/2024/06/vwc-spring-writing-retreat-2024. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot now.

As always, you can find more information about all our upcoming events on our Calendar – https://vocamus.net/community/calendar.

Events

• The VWC Creative Non-Fiction Group invites you to a weekly online drop in session, Thursday nights at 7:00 PM. Email martina.freitag@gmail.com for the link.

• Local author Kira Vermond is running her 23-Minute Writers’ Club online on Fridays at 4:00 PM for 45 minutes. It's free! email kira@vermond.ca for the link.

• The Guelph Guild of Storytellers is at the Guelph Civic Museum on Thursday February 8 at 7:00 PM. Local tellers and invited guests will tell stories, followed by a short open mic.

• Nawal Halawa is holding a launch for her new book, A Girl's Paradise Lost, on Saturday February 10, 1:30-3:30 PM at Silence (46 Essex Street).

• The VWC Second Saturday writers' hang-out is on February 10, 7:00 PM at Atmosphere Cafe on Carden Street. It's a casual and unstructured chance to meet with other writers, have a drink, and chat about what you're reading and writing. All are welcome.

• Guelph author Barbara Kyle will be leading an online Free February Workshop on "The Thrill of Genre Fiction"  on Sunday, February 11, 2:00 PM to 3:00. The even is free. Register here – https://guelphpl.libnet.info/events?v=list&_mid_=33076.

• The U of G Writer's Association is holding a Business of Creativity Workshop in Peter Clark Hall (001B in the University Center) on Monday February 12, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, hosted by Dr. Chris Bravo Monge. Register here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPdMugUvqE6Z3eE66zi8Am-2EMNXplX1L1cNJr6dasjNYq_w/viewform.

• Eramosa Eden is holding a writers' retreat from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on February 18 at 178 Indian Trail, Township Of Guelph/Eramosa. The fee is $25.

• Jeffrey Wilkinson and Raja Khouri will be leading an online Free February Workshop on "Shaping Narratives"  on Sunday, February 18, 2:00 PM to 3:00. The event is free. Register here – https://guelphpl.libnet.info/events?v=list&_mid_=33076.

• Join the Eden Mills Writers' Festival for its online Winter Book Club series on Wednesday February 21 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, featuring bestselling author Kevin Chong in conversation with host Steven W. Beattie.Register here – https://edenmillswritersfestival.ca/the-double-life-of-benson-yu/.

• PS Guelph presents a free workshop by Louisa Krátká on “Stitch a Book” on Saturday February 24, Time TBA,  at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• PS Guelph presents a free workshop by Danny Fury on “Lino Cut” on Saturday February 24, Time TBA,  at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• PS Guelph presents a free workshop by local author Jesse Ruddock on “How do poems resist, refuse, and set into bloom more inhabitable worlds?” on Saturday February 24, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• PS Guelph presents a free workshop by Sunny Singh on “Comics writing and creation” on Saturday February 24, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• The VWC Poetry Group meets online on Saturday February 24, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, an informal group for poets at various points in their careers. Email vocamuswriterscommunity@gmail.com for the link.

• Musagetes and PS Guelph present the Rock / Paper / Scissors - Book and Print Fair on Sunday February 25, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 at the Art Gallery of Guelph.

• PS Guelph launches a new collection of stories by Mozhgan Mahjoob, Under the Sky Beneath the Moon, on Sunday February 25, Noon to 1:00 PM, at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• PS Guelph presents a free workshop by Sonali Menezes on “Zine Making” on Sunday February 25, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Musagetes offices and PS Guelph Studio (6 Dublin Street South).

• Our Last Sunday Writers' Hang-Out is CANCELLED for February because of the Free February Workshop at the library and the Rock Paper Scissors Print Fair at the art museum. See you in March.

• Guelph publisher Jeremy Luke Hill will be leading an in-person Free February Workshop on "Writing for Contests"  in the program room at the Main Public Library on Sunday, February 25, 2:00 PM to 3:00. The event is free. Register here – https://guelphpl.libnet.info/events?v=list&_mid_=33076.

News

• We're pleased to welcome Kate Howells as a new member of VWC. You can check her profile here – https://vocamus.net/community/authors/kate-howells.

• Conestoga College is hiring four part-time curriculum writers to turn existing courses into online content. If this sounds interesting, you can find out more here – https://employment.conestogac.on.ca/ViewCompetition.aspx?id=6663.

• Remember that our members have organizational benefits at 10C, including half price on space rentals. They also have insurance for VWC supported events. Details here – https://vocamus.net/community/blog/our-members-now-have-10c-benefits.

• Also remember to send us details about any launches, releases, events, or other bookish news. We love to help promote local book culture!

Let us know if we’ve missed anything, and we’ll post it through our media and in our calendar. If you’re planning something for next month, let us know that too, and we’ll include it in the next newsletter.

As always, you can support the work of Vocamus Writers Community through our FundRazr site.