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Writing tips plus advice from creative writing teacher Chris Hutchinson
Chris Hutchinson offers tips plus writing advice in Writers Reveal. Chirs is the author of five poetry collections, as well as the cult-classic auto-fictive verse-novel Jonas in Frames. He has lived all over North America, from Dawson City, Yukon, to Brooklyn, New York, working as a line cook and, more recently, teaching creative writing to undergraduates. Chris is presently a permanent faculty member of the English Department at MacEwan University, located on Treaty 6 Territ

Sheelagh Caygill
5 days ago6 min read
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Christy Climenhage: Reading habits, writing process, the appeal of Canadian speculative fiction
Christy Climenhage is the author of The Midnight Project (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025). A full member of the SFWA and CSFFA, she holds a collection of graduate degrees (PhD and two Masters) in International Political Economy, European Administration and Social Sciences from an alternate life as a social scientist, academic, and diplomat.Â

Sheelagh Caygill
May 163 min read
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Alycia Two Bears' evolving poetry journey: From hyperbole to concise verse
Alycia Two Bears, mixed-blood iskwew, explores her evolving poetry journey. Initially writing long, hyperbolic pieces, she shifted after discovering Instagram poetry's concise form. Reading Nicole Lyons and Jeff Warren Welch validated her authentic voice. Processing life became central. Early publication with New Tribe magazine built confidence. Self-published 'Two Spirit' in 2023. 'The Feast' with Wild Skies Press in 2025. Themes: sex, relationships, motherhood, grief, ident

Sheelagh Caygill
May 93 min read
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Canadian poetry journey: From early love of poetry to published collection
Callista Markotich has enjoyed a life-long career as a teacher, principal and Superintendent of Education in Eastern Ontario. Her first collection, Wrap in a Big White Towel (2024) was published by Frontenac House. Callista's poems appear in numerous Canadian reviews and quarterlies from The Antigonish Review through Vallum and in several American and British magazines and journals. Callista's poetry received awards and a placement in the League of Canadian Poets Poem in Your

Sheelagh Caygill
May 36 min read
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Lindsay Mayhew: Writing womanhood, breaking barriers, and embracing the creative journey
Lindsay Mayhew (she/her) shares her writing journey in this interview, and reminds writers to always value their work. Lindsay is a spoken word poet and author from Sudbury, Ontario. She is the editor of A Thousand Tiny Awakenings with Connor Lafortune.
Lindsay is Hamilton’s representative for CIPS 2025, the multi-year champion of Wordstock Sudbury’s poetry slam, and a runner up in the 2024 Womxn of the World poetry slam. She has featured with the YWCA, JAYU Canada, and N

Sheelagh Caygill
May 13 min read
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Author Pratap Reddy: Early life and dream fueled a writer's journey in Canada
Pratap Reddy immigrated to Canada from India in 2002 with the dream of becoming a writer. The challenges which newly arrived immigrants in Canada face gave him the stimulus to weave tales of fiction on the subject of immigrant experience. His latest collection of short stories is Remaindered People and Other Stories. His collection Weather Permitting and Other Stories was selected by Diaspora Dialogues for their mentoring program and later in 2016 Guernica Editions published

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 305 min read
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Novelist Tim Welsh: The 'f**k it' moment that led to writing Ley Lines
Tim Welsh was born in Ithaca, New York and raised in Ottawa, Canada, where he completed an MA in English Language and Literature at Carleton University. He now lives in Toronto. Ley Lines is his first novel. Tim shares how he fully committed to being a creative writer and began saying he was writing book. These things were significant in a psychological shift that made it possible to write Ley Lines.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 243 min read
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Bruce Hunter: Education and experience shape writer's themes
Bruce Hunter is an active writer, editor, speaker and mentor. His award-winning novel, In the Bear’s House, is re-released by Frontenac House. Last year, the book was released in Italy as Nella casa dell’orso, (In the House of the Bear), published by iQdB edizioni. His advice to writers is to stay fit and have fun. Most of us have day jobs, kids or grandkids and other responsibilities. Writing can be draining work. Keeping fit is key to a healthy heart and creative brain.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 184 min read
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Poet Natalie Lim: How ordinary moments become extraordinary poems
Natalie Lim (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian poet living on the unceded, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples (Vancouver, BC). She is the author of a chapbook, arrhythmia (Rahila’s Ghost Press, 2022), and Elegy for Opportunity, her debut book of poetry, is forthcoming from Wolsak and Wynn in 2025. Her writing is political and she want to open questions about how grief and love intertwine to shape our time on earth.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 163 min read
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Author Alison Chambers: writer of historical romance and crime avoids dead-ends by plotting
Alison Chambers is the pen name of author Sandra Koehler, who first started writing when she was a teenager. Sandra was sparked by an interest in Nancy Drew books and a desire to tell a good story. Her latest novel is The Magician's Daughter, a thrilling novel of conspiracy, espionage, and intrigue which takes place on a US Army Air Force Base outside London in 1942 and published by Holand Press.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 154 min read
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Author Paul Dettmann: Crime Guy says gen AI isn't a threat to writers
Paul Dettmann, AKA Crime Guy, details his path to publishing through social media, and how social media has helped him understand his audience and better connect with them. His advice to writers is to never edit when you a writing, because writing and editing require different brain processes.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 126 min read
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Connor Lafortune: The artist crafting resilience and hope through creative expression
Connor Lafortune is an Indiginous writer, musician, and artist who is the co-editor of A Thousand Tiny Awakenings with Lindsay Mayhew. The anthology is ollection of genuine and heartfelt expressions from young and marginalized creators. Connor is from Dokis First Nation on Robinson Huron Treaty territory of 1850 in Northeastern Ontario. Connor works primarily in Life Promotion, harm-reduction, mental health, and Indigenous education.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 103 min read
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Emma Woodhouse: On how good editing is essential, and a love of Victoriana
Emma Woodhouse of On Creative Writing fell in love with Victoriana as a child. She writes historic novels and nonfiction set in that age.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 84 min read
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Thomas Leduc: For beginners writing's like exercise. It should hurt a bit and be difficult
Thomas Leduc explores how feedback has helped him evolve as a writer, and why he was fortunate to connect with publisher Latitude 46.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 54 min read
55 views
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James Cairns: Exploring the evolution of his writing in turbulent times
Canadian author and professor James Cairns shares his personal struggles, his love of essays, and the evolution of his writing.

Sheelagh Caygill
Apr 34 min read
64 views
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Alexis von Konigslow: finding time to write with a newborn, and the themes shaping her work
Alexis von Konigslow describes the challenges of fitting in writing when her baby arrived, and the influences and themes in her work.

Sheelagh Caygill
Mar 313 min read
87 views
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Ben Ladouceur: Writing shaped by coming out, and the damaged caused by generative AI
I Remember Lights Author Ben Ladouceur explores how coming out has shaped his writing, and getting words on the page,and then editing later.

Sheelagh Caygill
Mar 284 min read
25 views
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Allister Thompson: Inspired by Le Guin, grounded in Canadian landscapes
Allister Thompson reveals his wrestling with the human condition and climate change and how this inspires his Sci-Fi and fantasy writing.

Sheelagh Caygill
Mar 273 min read
52 views
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Anthony Bidulka: Award-winning novelist tells writers looking for publishers: Keep up faith and effort
Canadian author Anthony Bidulka gives solid, practical advice to writers, emphasizes importance of social media and always having hope.

Sheelagh Caygill
Mar 236 min read
204 views
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Lindsay Zier-Vogel: Crafting stories through community and creativity
Writer Lindsay Zier-Vogel discusses how motherhood has inspired her writing, and the importance of a writing group in shaping her work

Sheelagh Caygill
Mar 233 min read
37 views
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