The 2025 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Dec. 9 & Jan. 17: Pitch your stories directly to Canada's top magazines!
Deconstructing the Pitch: How to Sell Any Story, Anywhere
Dec. 9: A how-to on pitching articles to editors
Making Truth Better Than Fiction: Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
Dec. 8: Apply literary techniques to craft riveting nonfiction according with help from genre master
Hello, Writer: 6-Week Creative Studio & Personal Coaching for Self-Doubters
Nov. 13–Dec. 21: Overcome your imposter syndrome and press publish with help from writing coach Julia ...
How to Write Unlikable Female Characters (and Get Away With It)
Nov. 7: Creating deeply complex, unfiltered, and boldly authentic female characters with screenwriter Heidi Lux
Podcast Development & Pitching Workshop with Mia Lobel (in support of Audio Flux)
Nov. 1: Turn your podcast ideas into compelling pitches with expert guidance from a seasoned audio ...
Answering Your FAQs about Podcast PitchFest
Get ready to pitch with our essential FAQ—tips, expectations, and key deadlines inside
PanU & Canadland’s Podcast PitchFest
Nov. 1 & 14: Pitch your best audio journalism ideas to podcast industry leaders
Meet Your New Writing Partner: Generative AI
Oct. 20: Journalist Jonathan Small on using ethically AI in your writing process
How to Land Big Bylines: Masterclass with Courtney Kocak
Sept. 21: How freelance writers can get their big break with column sections
Creative Feature & Opinion Writing Bootcamp with Richard Warnica
Sept. 14–15: Tools and techniques tackling narrative- and voice-driven articles
The Business of Freelance Writing: 6-Week Intensive with Independent Journalist Omar Mouallem
July 17–August 21: Learn the career and creative skills necessary to live as a journalist-for-hire
How to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought
June 2: Learn how to maintain your writing platform from an industry expert
How to Think Less and Write More with Zahra Noorbakhsh (free to attend)
April 5/24: A myth-busting masterclass designed to arm you with proven facts about successful creative habits
IRL Creative Nonfiction Retreat with Pandemic University Faculty
May 10-13, 2024: PanU invites you to our inaugural writing retreat in Edmonton!
Building a Writer’s Habit: 4-Week Course with Zahra Noorbakhsh
April 11-May 2: Build solid writing habits with guidance from an award-winning comedian, playwright, and viral ...
Science and Medical Writing for the Public: 4-Week Literary Lab with Christina Frangou
April 3–24, 2024: Transform your academic writing into unforgettable prose with a seasoned science and medical ...
Newsletter Launch Pad: Start & Grow Your Newsletter in Just 4 Weeks with Courtney Kocak
March 19–April 9, 2024: Develop and launch your newsletter with expertise
Writing Fearless Profiles: A Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
Feb. 21: An award winning profile-writer and best-selling ghostwriter teaches the art of literary portraits
Proven Formulas for Writing Articles that Sell with Jonathan Small
Feb. 18: A deep dive into writing commercially successful magazine stories
Fictionalizing Your Life: 6-week Short Fiction Intensive with Ayelet Tsabari
Jan. 20-Feb. 24, 2024: Mine the stories in your life and craft a short story from ...
Surviving the Freelance Grind: A Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
Jan. 24: From generating ideas and managing finances to self-marketing and everything in between
Deconstructing the Pitch: How to Sell Any Story, Anywhere
Jun. 1: A career freelancer breaks down a variety of successful pitches, from features to how-tos
The 2023 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Nov. 13 & 27: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
Elsewhere: A Travel Writing Masterclass with Marcello Di Cintio
Dec. 6: Learn the craft of narrative travel journalism from a decorated author of travel books ...
Get it Started: Go from Zero to Outline on Your TV Series Idea with Kaitlin Fontana (Masterclass)
Dec. 2: Learn the craft of outlining your TV pilot with an acclaimed screenwriter and filmmaker
Cook, Write, Publish: The Ultimate Cookbook Writer’s Masterclass with Jennifer Cockrall
Nov. 25: Learn how to bring your brilliant cookbook project from idea to reality with an ...
Wish You Were Here: Evoking Place in Your Prose (Masterclass with Ayelet Tsabari)
Oct. 15: Learn new techniques to approach writing about place from an award-winning author of fiction ...
Vancouver Nonfiction Manuscript Reviews by Richard Warnica
Sep. 17-20: Get in-person feedback on your nonfiction work from the Toronto Star's feature writer
Grow Your Show & Make Money Podcasting Masterclass with Courtney Kocak of Podcast Bestie
Sep. 9: Focus on the business side of podcasting to take your podcast to the next ...
The Business of Freelance Writing: 6-Week Intensive with Independent Journalist Omar Mouallem
Aug. 8-Sep. 12: Learn the career and creative skills necessary to live as a journalist-for-hire
Beyond Feature Writing: Unveiling the Art Behind Great Nonfiction with Richard Warnica
Aug. 26, 2023: Hone your feature and essay writing craft by decoding distinctive nonfiction writing
Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Audience, Network & Business with Courtney Kocak of Podcast Bestie
Aug. 27: Learn to create newsletter that can be a foundation for your media or business ...
Getting Good at Rejection: Masterclass with Elissa Bassist
Aug 20: Memoirist and humour writer Elissa Bassist returns to help us reframe rejection as a ...
Making Truth Better Than Fiction: Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
July 16: Apply literary techniques to craft riveting nonfiction according with help from genre master
The Modern Writer’s Tech Toolbox (2.0): Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
June 18: Get up to date on the latest writing gadgets and technological time-savers
How To Be David Sedaris – But You: Funny Personal Essays with Elissa Bassist
May 27: Learn the craft of writing comical first-person stories with an acclaimed author and humourist
Grow Your Show & Make Money Podcasting One-Day Intensive with Courtney Kocak of Podcast Bestie
May 13: Learn how to grow your audience and monetize your podcast with award-winning audio producer ...
The Art of the Nonfiction Book Proposal: 4-Week Lab with Michael Hingston
Apr. 26–May 17: Demystify the nonfiction book-proposal process by writing your own
Less is More: A Five-week Short Fiction Lab with Katie Bickell
April 25-May 23: Write a short story from start to finish with award-winning author Katie Bickell
How to Write a Tragicomic Memoir with Elissa Bassist
March 4: Transform your tragedies into comedies with an acclaimed author and humourist
Advanced Interviewing: Better Conversations for Deeper Storytelling 6-Week Lab with Sadiya Ansari
March 19-May 7: Deepen your interview skills to tackle features, memoir, and essays with an award-winning ...
The Art of the Interview (free to attend)
Feb. 13: Award-winning journalist Sadiya Ansari offers tips on how to level-up your interviewing skills in ...
The Art of Querying Literary Agents and Publishers: 6-Week Course with Akin Akinwumi
[POSTPONED] Feb. 24-March 31: See the querying process through the eyes of a literary agent and ...
Demystifying Book Queries with Akin Akinwumi (free to attend)
Feb. 3/23: What you need to know about pitching literary agents—according to an agent
Building a Writer’s Habit: 6-Week Workshop with Zahra Noorbakhsh
Feb. 22-March 29: Build solid writing habits with guidance from an award-winning comedian, playwright, and viral ...
How to Think Less and Write More with Zahra Noorbakhsh (free to attend)
Jan. 27/23: A myth-busting masterclass designed to arm you with proven facts about successful creative habits
PODCAST BESTIE x PANDEMIC UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP FOR BIPOC CREATORS
An opportunity for a BIPOC podcaster to develop a concept with industry pro Courtney Kocak
Start, Sustain, and Monetize Your Podcast with Courtney Kocak
Jan. 26–Mar. 9: A seven-week intensive course with an award-winning audio producer and podcasting pro
Edmonton Weekend Workshop: Mastering the Art and Craft of Feature Writing with Richard Warnica
Jan 14 & 15 (Edmonton, AB): A two-day in-person workshop with acclaimed feature news writer Richard ...
Calgary Workshop: Mastering the Art and Craft of Feature Writing with Richard Warnica
Jan 12 & 13 (Calgary, AB): A two-day in-person workshop with acclaimed feature news writer Richard ...
Stay True: Crafting Your Nonfiction Story with Jana G. Pruden
Dec. 13-Feb. 21: Learn the foundations of narrative nonfiction storytelling in this five-week course
Building a Writer’s Habit: 6-Week Workshop with Zahra Noorbakhsh
Nov. 9-Dec. 14: Build solid writing habits with guidance from an award-winning comedian, playwright, and viral ...
How to Think Less and Write More with Zahra Noorbakhsh (free to attend)
Oct. 28/22: A myth-busting free class designed to arm you with proven facts about successful creative ...
Toronto Weekend Workshop: Mastering the Art and Craft of Feature Writing
Oct. 1 & 2: A weekend workshop in Toronto with acclaimed feature news writer Richard Warnica
The Business of Freelance Writing: 6-Week Intensive with Independent Journalist Omar Mouallem
Sep. 29–Nov. 3: Learn the career and creative skills necessary to live as a journalist-for-hire
The Art of Health & Science Writing: An 8-week Workshop with Christina Frangou
Sept. 12–Nov. 7: Master the art of writing engaging science stories with a national award-winning journalist
Advanced Interviewing for Deeper Storytelling: 6-Week Lab with Sadiya Ansari
Jun. 18–Jul. 30: Deepen your interview skills to tackle features, memoir, and essays
Surviving the Freelance Grind with Writer Omar Mouallem
Aug. 25/22: An award-winning journalist shares pro-skills and life-skills from nearly 20 years of freelancing
Honing Your Health and Science Writing with Christina Frangou (free to attend)
Aug. 16/22: An award-winning journalist shares pro-tips to help make you a better health and science ...
Writing the Personal Essay: 7-week Workshop with Memoirist Ayelet Tsabari
Jul. 10–Aug. 28: Dig deep and hone the craft of unforgettable personal essays with a bestselling ...
Let’s Get Personal: Memoir Tips with Author Ayelet Tsabari (free to attend)
Jun.24: Learn how to write personal essays with award-winning memoirist Ayelet Tsabari in this free 45-minute ...
Developing Your Comedic Voice: 5-Week Workshop with Zahra Noorbakhsh
Jun. 9-Jul. 14: Write funny, unforgettable prose with guidance from an acclaimed comedian, playwright, and essayist
The Art of the Interview (free to attend)
Rescheduled for Jun.8: Award-winning journalist Sadiya Ansari offers tips on how to level-up your interviewing skills ...
Punching Up: Comedy Writing for Fiction and Nonfiction (free)
Jun. 1: Comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh offers tips on writing humorous essays with your authentic voice in ...
Deconstructing the Pitch: How to Sell Any Story, Anywhere
Jun. 1: A career freelancer breaks down a variety of successful pitches, from features and op-eds ...
5 Lessons for Seriously Good Parody
From MAD magazine to SNL, comedian and humourist James Folta breaks down a most misunderstood art ...
The 2022 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Jun. 1 & 16: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
Replay: After These Revolutions
Authors Neda Toloui-Semnani and Sean Cole talk about storytelling, grief, love, and resilience
A Not-So-Modest Book Proposal
Author and publisher Michael Hingston offers tips on making your book proposal stand out
After These Revolutions: Neda Toloui-Semnani and Sean Cole in Conversation (free event)
April 25: The authors of two new books (and dear friends) talk about storytelling, grief, love, ...
Introduction to Parody Writing with James Folta
May 19-June 2 & 3: Humourist James Folta takes your parody piece from concept to first ...
Fight for Your Rights to Freelance Write (free event)
Apr. 21: A panel of freelancers and advocates dissect complicated parts of their profession
The Art of the Nonfiction Book Proposal: 6-Week Lab with Michael Hingston
Apr. 20–May 25: Demystify the nonfiction book-proposal process by writing your own
6 Lessons from a Short Fiction Master
Award-winning author Katie Bickell walks us through six tips for better short fiction writing
Less is More: A Six-week Short Fiction Lab with Katie Bickell
Apr. 5–May 17: Write a short story from start to finish with award-winning author Katie Bickell
5 Lessons from My Freelance Writing Career
Award-winning writer and freelance journalism instructor Omar Mouallem dishes out advice from his 16-year career
A Special Offer for Pandemic U Alumni: 14 Freelance Journalism Classes for One Low Price
Are you a freelance journalist? The 2022 Center for Independent Journalists conference was designed for writers ...
Making Freelance Journalism Your Career: 7-week course with Omar Mouallem
Feb. 15–Mar. 29: Learn the career and creative skills necessary to live as a journalist-for-hire
Finding Your Voice as a Feature Writer: 7-Week Lab with Richard Warnica
Feb. 2–Apr. 27: Learn the craftsmanship of reported features by writing or revising a story of ...
Best Practices & Ethics for Freelance Writers (Tickets by Donation)
Oct. 22: A panel of magazine pros tackle delicate topics for independent journalists and take their ...
The Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Oct. 22 & 29: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
How to Make Money Podcasting: Weekend Bootcamp with Courtney Kocak
Sept. 11 & 12: A two-day intensive focused on the business side of podcast production
What’s the Recipe? A Food Writing Course with Jennifer Cockrall
Jul.20–Aug.18: An intensive course designed to help you launch your next culinary writing project
Flash Fiction: “It Was Better to Be Prepared” by Carmyn Effa
Our flash fiction contest winner juxtaposes Y2K-era girlhood with archaic, religious language
Flash Fiction: “The Eternal Lunchroom” by Jason Schreurs
Our flash fiction contest runner-up weaves a story about an office worker haunted by a mediocre ...
2021 Hon. Birdie Jamison Scholarship for TV Comedy
Are you a BIPOC woman or LGBTQ+ person with a TV comedy pitch?
Fostering Ecological Literacy
Author and conservationist Kevin Van Tighem on building connection memorable prose
How Nature Lover Sarah Gilman Turned Her Passion Into a Writing Career
"The market is wide, as it turns out, and there is still space for stories about ...
Write Your TV Comedy Pilot: 6-Week Course with Kaitlin Fontana
Jun. 1–Jul. 13: An industry pro takes your script from idea to outline to first draft
Putting a Human Touch on Data and Evidence
How writers can get the science across to general readers without getting the science wrong
Chris Turner on Balancing Journalism and Advocacy
How a leading voice on the climate crises learned to get loud
Twin Pursuits: How Annalise and Cailynn Klingbeil Discovered a Love for Nature Writing
The Go Outside publishers on finding the news hook in your outdoor passions
The Podcasting Field is Bigger Than You Think
Scriptwriter and producer Courtney Kocak on the many paths of audio storytelling
Writing is Your Nature: Finding Your Voice in Environmental Stories
A free virtual writing camp in partnership with Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Putting Your Skills to Work
May 25/21: Authort Kevin Van Tighem on improving our ecological literacy and connections to place
Making Science and Nature Stories Your Business
May 20/21: Freelance journalist Sarah Gilman teaches how to shepherd your ideas into published stories
The Art of Evidence: Reaching General Audiences
May 18/21: Sharon Riley teaches the delicate art of simplifying hard science and finding the narrative ...
Using Your Platform and Influence for Good
May 14/21: Author/speaker Chris Turner on navigating the line between reporter and advocate
Writing on Nature with Authority, Authenticity and Personality
May 11/21: Go Outside's Annalise and Cailynn Klingbeil help you find the news hook in your ...
Waubgeshig Rice on the Art of Keeping Readers in Suspense
The bestselling author breaks down how to write (and plan) a gripping page-turner
Kemosa Scholarship Fundraiser: Planning the Novel
Apr. 30: Tickets by donation, in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit mothers who write
Statement from Sulome Anderson About Cancelling Her Masterclass on International Reporting
An important message about her class on international reporting—and the state of international reporting itself
What It’s like to Be a Foreign Correspondent in 2021
Sulome Anderson on the complexities of reporting at large and abroad
How One Novelist Turned Conflict Journalism Into Dystopian Fiction
American War author Omar El Akkad on using fiction to speak truth to power
Top 5 Jana G. Pruden Longreads
Jana’s feature reporting is always vivid, character-driven, and masterfully structured
Being Funny and Writing Funnier
James Folta explains the number one mistake that new humour writers so often make
Writer, Reporter, Tweeter: Fatima Syed on Using Social Media For Good
"I always think about what my purpose is before posting something."
A Master of Short Fiction Explains the Beauty in Brevity
“Writing short is the best way to learn to write long."
Spring ’21 Semester: Full Enrollment
All 12 classes and replays with acclaimed creative writers
Spring ’21 Semester: Half Enrollment
Choose 6 any classes and replays from the Spring '21 Semester
Edmonton Community Foundation Scholarship for Awesome Writers
Scholarships available to writers in three broad categories
Inclusive Sports Writing
April 27/21: Shireen Ahmed tackles equity and inclusion in sports media
Stories of Injustice: How to Write About Oppression
April 26/21: Cicely Belle Blain on turning difficult experiences into powerful content
Secrets of the Page-Turning Book
April 20/21: Waubgeshig Rice on building tension and suspense in fiction
International Reporting in Today’s Media Environment
April 19/21: Sulome Anderson on composing conflict stories in a compelling, accessible way
Style and Form in Resistance-Themed and Political Fiction
April 13/21: Omar El Akkad on rebellion and style across a wide variety of texts
Photography for Writers
April 12/21: Acclaimed photojournalist Amber Bracken adds a priceless skill to your toolkit
Ethics of Citizen Journalism
April 7/21: Travel writer Bert Archer shares best practices with social media journalists and influencers
Short Humour for Beginners
Apr 6/21: James Folta’s crash course on comedic writing concepts
Remember Me?: Writing Unforgettable Characters
Mar 30/21: Novelist Becky Blake teaches the art of creating 3-D characters
Getting the Most Out of Social Media
Mar 29/21: Fatima Syed shows writers and journalists how Twitter is done
Packing a Punch: Big Stories in Small Spaces
Mar 23/21: Award-winning author Katie Bickell teaches the art of flash fiction
Business Writing Basics
Mar 22/21: Max Fawcett helps you get over your math allergy
Write Your True Story with Jana G. Pruden
Apr. 12–May 31: Take your narrative feature from concept to final draft with Jana G. Pruden
Avoiding the Most Common Grant-writing Mistakes
Eva Holland on finding the cash to fund your dream projects (and maybe even buy groceries)
Funding Your Nonfiction Project: A Mini-course with Eva Holland
Feb. 8–Feb. 22: Navigate the world of journalism and nonfiction grants with Eva Holland
A Very Jolly & Somewhat Belated Richard Kelly Kemick Christmas
Dec. 28: The ever hilarious author reads holiday memoirs and shares his process with Jana Pruden
Free Replay: How to Shift Resistance and Writer’s Block Using Your Body
Make your body your most trusted creative ally with memoir teacher Janelle Hardy (recorded Dec. 1 ...
Free Replay: The 5 Principles of Writing Clear Prose
Hayley Milliman breaks down the craft of writing clear and concise sentences (recorded Oct. 20 )
Introduction to Parody Writing with James Folta
Dec 8–22: Humourist James Folta takes your parody piece from concept to first draft
Write Your True Story in 8 Weeks with Jana G. Pruden
Dec. 7–Jan. 25: Take your narrative feature from concept to final draft with Jana G. Pruden
‘I Use Technology at Every Step of My Process’
How a former school teacher mastered professional writing in the digital age
How to Shift Resistance and Writer’s Block Using Your Body
FREE event Dec. 1: Devote your energy to your writing instead of stuck, resistant blockages
The 5 Principles of Writing Clear Prose
Oct. 26: Hayley Milliman breaks down the craft of writing clear and concise sentences
Every Freelancer Needs a “Pitch Bank.” You Can Steal Mine.
Whatever your system is, just make sure you have one.
How to Get Heard in the Zoom Era: A Panel on Panels
Oct. 20: Broadcasters teach us the art of conversation, in support of Media Girlfriends Scholarship
Replays for Fashionably Late Students
Travel back in time to take classes you woefully missed
Write Your TV Comedy Pilot in 6 Weeks
Oct. 5–Nov. 16: An industry pro takes your script from idea to outline to first draft
Free Replay: Managing Your Finances as a Freelancer with Mohammed Asaduallah
Sep. 29: Benji CEO Mohammed Asaduallah helps freelance writers run their business better
Managing Your Finances as a Freelancer
Sep. 29: This free seminar promises to help freelance writers run their business better
What’s Next for PanU?
What we accomplished since spring and what's next for the Pop-up School of Writing
How Journalist Ethan Lou Mastered the “Write-around”
He'll get the story—even if it means reverse engineering a sushi receipt
Overcoming the Tyranny of Productivity
Safia Elhillo finds inspiration in unlikely places. Even an Ol' Dirty Bastard lyric.
On Collective Bargaining, Editors to Cherish, and Sweatpants
If writer, editor, and labor organizer Haley Mlotek has a beat, it's the art of conversation
How to Take a Stance and Stay Standing
Max Fawcett knows some things about getting heard without getting hurt (too badly)
The “Soft Eye” of a Multidimensional Writer
How Michael Lista mines the world for its inherent artistry
Exposing the Magic Behind the Good Kind of Fake News
If Caitlin Kunkel can morph our depressing reality into something funny, she can do anything
A Master of Taking Leaps
Whether for her story, career, or well-being, Eva Holland is always game to try
Historians Don’t “Discover” the Past. They Reconnect It.
The author of a prescient new book on racial injustice explains the true contribution of historians
Overcoming the Paralysis of Writing Memoir
Ayelet Tsabari tackles T.M.I., self-doubt, and how to get over it already
A Publishing Streak That Only a Global Pandemic Could Disrupt
Dr. Hala Alyan was on her sixth book in eight years, all while practicing clinical psychology
How To Live Your Best Life After Losing Your Dream Job
Jennifer Hamilton might've had the best job in Calgary. Then the pandemic struck.
Savvy, Surprisingly Shy, and Ridiculously Type-A
GQ columnist and PanU instructor Sophia Benoit really does contain multitudes
Managing Story Ideas like “Unannounced Houseguests”
How else would multi-disciplined writer José Teodoro decide on the right creative channel?
Peter Mansbridge’s Commencement Address
Canada's most cherished newsman made a surprise appearance at PanU's spring grad
Inspiration from Our Valedictorian
A writer living with a rare cancer, Julie Rohr gave the graduation speech of the pandemic.