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Bute Inlet
Let’s Change the Name Mount Waddington to Mount Klatsassin Bute Inlet has some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the BC coast. Dr. Rod Nugent, on board a recent Mothership Adventures cruise,...
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Fiction Writer’s Book Has Applications for Nonfiction
A Stellar Book about Writing Fiction (& Nonfiction) Write Away, One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life, Elizabeth George This slim volume by Elizabeth George, creator of the...
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A glimpse into The Sage Hill Writing Experience.
Superb Summer Writing Retreat At night I go to bed exhausted and full. Mornings I wake up smiling and reach for pen and paper or laptop at an ungodly hour. Between intensive sessions of writing,...
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Writing about childhood memories
Childhood Reflection Can Deliver Deep Insights A Nonfiction Writer’s Exploration of Self Joy Inglis (nee Carter). Photo by Bruce Finlayson. 5 Aug 2015. Guest Blog Post by Joy Inglis (nee Carter) If you...
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Lily Joy Ward’s grave at Bold Point, BC
A Century Old Grave at Bold Point, BC Lily ‘Joy’ Dale (Grow) Wilson Ward, Writer, Painter & Mother, 1865-1911. Photo courtesy Jan Currie. Lily Joy Ward‘s writing still sparkles with vitality and...
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Write About Dynamic People to Engage Readers
A Primary Story Ingredient: Interesting People! No subject in itself, however fruitful, appears to be able to keep a narrative alive. Only the characters in it can.–Edith Wharton. You can collect (or...
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Find an enduring audience for your life story
Is There an Audience for Your Life Story? Have you ever been trapped in a front row seat for a relative’s unedited slideshow? The one where he pauses at every image, whether blurry or nice, skipping...
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Writing Blocks
Things That Keep Us From Writing Annette and I pose questions in every series of writing classes about what blocks people. Here’s some common gremlins and solutions: • You’re too busy. Solutions:...
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Pioneer school on Quadra Island, BC
A Lesson in Inequity Remembering one of Quadra Island, BC’s First Schools Katie Walker’s childhood home, at the Methodist Mission in the We-Wai-Kai people’s village, was too far away for her to attend...
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A Premise is the Recipe for Your Story
Plan Fiction & Nonfiction Writing in a Premise Statement What is a Premise? It’s an overall summary, expressed in five or six concise sentences to capture the essence of your story. It’s an...
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A Theme Statement Provides a Focus for Writing
A Theme Delivers Story Punch This image illustrates the theme for a short piece I wrote with a theme that illustrates the inspiring force of resilience. (The tree also happens to be on the site where...
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Family History Written as Fiction
Using Fiction to get at the Essence of Truth in Family History Presenting a family story as fiction gives the writer license to stray from the constraints of layered facts, illustrated by quotes, to...
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Where to Start Writing Family History or Memoir
Where to Start with Writing Memoir or Family History You’ve got a story that snaps with vigor in your imagination—but you can’t seem to get started writing. Sound familiar? This is the issue—above all...
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Editing a Draft Memoir or Family History
Editing an Early Draft of a Memoir, Biography or Family History The following questions will help you review an early draft of a scene, or any nonfiction writing. They’re intended to focus your...
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Write About Intriguing People
Nonfiction Writing Needs Memorable Characters Use fiction writers’ techniques to explore and present the intriguing qualities of the people you’re writing about: 1. Create a timeline of the important...
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Memoirs require focus, perspective and clarity
Totem Poles and Tea, by Hughina Harold A Stellar Example of a Memoir with a Focused Theme Every writer hopes their book will be in print a decade after its release—but that’s not often the...
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Writing about a Story’s Setting
The Setting can be a Dynamic Force Setting is more than just the place where the action unfolds. It can be a compelling force that keeps the story in a readers’ mind years later. It can shape or mirror...
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Get a free manuscript review!
A New Draw for a Free Manuscript Review has been Launched! Jane Wilson’s plans for retirement from a high stress social services job included writing. It’s in her blood. Her older sister Jocelyn Reekie...
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a writing tool to release creativity and organize ideas
Mind Mapping: A Thinking Tool for Writers Try mind mapping (or ‘clustering’) to assess an illusive subject, or sort and organize a plethora of details. It’s a simple brain storming-style exercise. A...
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Writing tool to release creativity and organize ideas
Mind Mapping: A Thinking Tool for Writers Try mind mapping (or ‘clustering’) to assess an illusive subject, or sort and organize a log jam of information. It’s a simple brain storming-style exercise. A...
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