On Creative Writing announces the winners of its 2025 poetry contest. We are grateful to sponsors Wolsak and Wynn and River Street Writing, and judges Kim Mannix and Rob Winger, and all the poets who entered the contest. Read more for the winners names and the judges comments!

In this interview, author Sean Minogue discusses his move from northern Ontario’s punk scene to navigating the academic world. He explores writing and the subconcious, how writing for diverse mediums like theatre and fiction has reshaped his approach to revision, and transforming face-plant moments into creative growth. Sean touches on his subconscious process, his current interest in Irish literature, and his methodical daily editing routine.

In this author Q&A, M.S. Berry discusses the "what if?" of thriller writing, explaining how real-life events evolve into unsettling fiction. She reflects on her stylistic growth since 1997, moving from spontaneous imagination to a more critical, tighter craft. Michelle explores recurring themes of dysfunctional families and shifting houses while sharing her love for literary thrillers and offering essential advice: read widely and just write.

Author Mallory Tater discusses her shift from childhood maximalism to a precise, rhythmic drafting style. She explores "Writing the Body" through the lens of identity and survival, investigating how patriarchal structures and purity culture shape our physical and communal lives. From her early start in community contests to her advice on writing work you actually want to read, Mallory offers a restorative look at the creative process.

Holly B. Gutwillinger, a "planster" author, discusses how she reclaimed her authentic voice by returning to heart-centred writing. From childhood crafts to professional storytelling, Holly explore how themes of love and the bond between humans and dogs define their heart-centred writing. After a period of struggling to conform to reader expectations, Holly shares the importance of returning to one's roots and the value of finding a generous community within local writing grou

Holly B. Gutwillinger won the Writers’ Spark Coaching Contest with a project born from a poem about her dogs. After fifty years of searching for her passion, she overcame a loud "inner critic" to embrace creative writing. Her upcoming literary novel, set in Northern Ontario, follows two friends seeking love and rescue dogs whose lives change at a local dog park. Now an MFA student, Holly will receive mentorship from Fiona Fenwick and editing from Sheelagh Caygill to finish he

Author Julie M. Green discusses her memoir Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance. She explores how motherhood, autism, and radical acceptance shape the narrative, and how parenting an autistic child fueled a "seismic shift" in her work. She shares her love for lyrical prose, and her commitment to longhand drafting for emotional honesty. Julie also recounts her journey to publication, offering advice on overcoming the primal fear of f

In this interview, Canadian author Michael Mirolla is exploring the human condition in writing by examining the intersection of self-identity and society. He reflects on his formative years in Canada’s first MFA program and his "Holy Trinity" of influences: Kafka, Joyce, and Beckett. Mirolla emphasizes stripping away external labels to find what is essential, while expressing skepticism toward AI’s creative potential. Michael's latest book is How About This …?

For Canadian author Carter Vance, the key question animating his writing is: what shall we do and how shall we live? Exploring generational ennui, Vance draws inspiration from authors like Sally Rooney and Adelle Waldman. His process has evolved from a small poetry chapbook to a deliberate novel project, guided by the philosophy that a work is never truly "done." Instead, he views his published pieces as "released," transitioning from his own mind to the engagement of the wid

Poet, fiction, and nonfiction author rob mclennan shares how four decades of daily practice have strengthened his writing; he views it as a muscle that has become denser and more complex. He emphasizes reading widely, studying Canadian writing history, and engaging community. rob avoids plotting, sees failure as essential, and generative AI as theft. His process involves continuous editing, moving between digital and multiple printed drafts until he feels a piece of writing i

Author Lisa de Nikolits discusses how being an immigrant shapes her writing, highlighting the cultural friction between South African expressiveness ("overshare") and Canadian reserve ("colleagues"). She views this duality as a lens for exploring "the fundamental quirks of human nature." Her process is fueled by a mantra: "Write something BETTER today than you ever have before," embracing constant self-editing and facing the "incredible courage" required to complete a book.

Carole Giangrande, author and poet, explores her evolution from poetry to broadcast journalism and fiction. She explains reflects how her characters are subtly shaped by real-world politics and social upheaval. Carole admires writers like Virginia Woolf and Michael Ondaatje, and says her writing process involves balancing plotting with spontaneity. With candor, she urges writers to persist, embrace community, and stay open to life’s everyday pleasures.