WHISTLER WRITER'S FESTIVAL 101

Image via Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane

Fall is the season for cozying up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a good book. It’s the time of year where writers flock to their favourite café, pulling out their laptops and notebooks to make some serious progress on their word count. This October sees the return of the Whistler Writer’s Festival, where the written word takes centre stage. A little different from previous years, the festival has taken on a hybrid format, and now offers both in-person and online workshops, speaker series, reading events, and more. Join writers, readers, authors, and publishers as they come together and celebrate all things literature. This year’s theme is sharing stories together, and that’s just what you’ll do at the Whistler Writer’s Festival.

The festival is taking place October 13-16 in various locations across the village, including the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the Fairmont Chateau, the Whistler Public Library, and the Maury Young Arts Centre. Let’s dive in and take a look at all the incredible workshops and reading events on the schedule this year:

DAY ONE – Thursday, October 13

All events hosted at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Workshop 1: Preparing your Manuscript with Kilmeny Denny

Workshop 2: Preparing to Publish with Lynn Duncan

Workshop 3: Preparing to Promote with Kilmeny Denny & Lynn Duncan

Reading Event 1: Opening Night Showcase: Canada’s Best Independent Authors of 2022
Reading Event 2: Sharing Traditions: An Evening of Oral Storytelling

DAY TWO – Friday, October 14

Hosted online only

Workshop 4: Insights from Insiders: Trade Publishing in Canada Today

Workshop 5: Pitch your Book or Story Idea to a Trade Publishing Pro

Hosted at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Reading Event 3: The Booklovers’ Literary Salon

Hosted at the Maury Young Arts Centre

Reading Event 4: The Literary Cabaret: We’re Back, Live Baby!

DAY THREE – Saturday, October 15

All events hosted at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Workshop 6: Using Journalism Skills in Memoir Writing

Reading Event 5: Writers of Non-Fiction Panel

Workshop 7: Poetry: Sharing our Gift

Reading Event 6: Poetry: Deeper Conversations: Loss, grief, and finding our way home

Reading Event 7: Thrills and Chills: Mystery and Crime Writers Panel

Workshop 8: Mastering the Art and Craft of Creative Writing through Narrative Poetry

Workshop 9: Baring the Bones: How to Make Story a part of the Story

Reading Event 8: Writers of Fiction

Reading Event 9: Sharing Stories Together

Reading Event 10: Saturday Night Gala

DAY FOUR – Sunday, October 16

Hosted at Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Reading Event 11: A Walk to Lost Lake and Back

Workshop 10: Writing Thrilling Fiction: The Perfect Crime Needs the Perfect Plan

Reading Event 12: Sunday Book Talk: Coffee and Conversation

Hosted at the Whistler Public Library

Workshop 11: Wri(gh)ting the World – A Creative Writing Workshop for Eco-engaged Middle Schoolers

Reading Event 13: Finding Light through the Darkness: Nurturing Hope in Children’s and YA Literature

Workshop 12: Page to Stage: Using Improvisation to Generate Character

For all event times and details, click here.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance at a discount, or at the Welcome and Information Desk located inside the Fairmont Chateau lobby. If you miss your event, video replays will be sent to ticket holders two weeks after the original event.

DURING THE WHISTLER WRITER’S FESTIVAL

As we all know, buying an author’s book is the best way to support them. If something catches your fancy and you want to delve deeper into the pages, the Armchair Books and the Whistler Independent Book Awards pop-up stores will be carrying all of the books written by the guest authors highlighted throughout the weekend. You can also catch live music and discussions at the events, find like-minded people in other readers, writers, and authors.

Looking to get some work done during the festival? Participate in the Coffee, Writing, & Networking Suite taking place at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler on October 15 from 9AM to 5PM, and on October 16 from 9AM to 1PM.  Meet other writers and take advantage of the creative inspiration of the festival. Coffee, tea, and treats will be on hand to guide you through several writing sprints during the suite. The first sprint will take place between 11:30AM to 12:30PM, accompanied by pianist Andrew Simms, and a quiet writing sprint will take place from 4PM to 5PM. On Sunday, the room will be available from 9AM to noon for quiet writing and connecting.

Whether you are a reader or a writer, a seasoned author with several books or are aspiring to write your first, the Whistler Writer’s Festival has something for you. Don’t miss a wonderful weekend of fiction and truth, poetry, shared stories, and educational presentations. Fetch a pen or grab your laptop – it’s time to start writing!