Class Catalogue
Because now is the time to write that novel, script, memoir, cookbook, food blog, topical satire, book proposal, personal essay, disaster poetry, advice column, TV comedy pilot, true crime mystery, investigative feature, experiential journalism, six-part historical podcast , all while supporting writers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS
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
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IRL Creative Nonfiction Retreat with Pandemic University Faculty
May 10-13, 2024: PanU invites you to our inaugural writing retreat in Edmonton!
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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 ...
Read MorePast Classes (Some Available in the Replay Store)
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
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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 ...
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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
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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
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Proven Formulas for Writing Articles that Sell with Jonathan Small
Feb. 18: A deep dive into writing commercially successful magazine stories
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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 ...
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Surviving the Freelance Grind: A Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
Jan. 24: From generating ideas and managing finances to self-marketing and everything in between
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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
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The 2023 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Nov. 13 & 27: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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
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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
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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 ...
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Getting Good at Rejection: Masterclass with Elissa Bassist
Aug 20: Memoirist and humour writer Elissa Bassist returns to help us reframe rejection as a ...
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Making Truth Better Than Fiction: Masterclass with Omar Mouallem
July 16: Apply literary techniques to craft riveting nonfiction according with help from genre master
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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
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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
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How to Write a Tragicomic Memoir with Elissa Bassist
March 4: Transform your tragedies into comedies with an acclaimed author and humourist
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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The 2022 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Jun. 1 & 16: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
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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, ...
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Introduction to Parody Writing with James Folta
May 19-June 2 & 3: Humourist James Folta takes your parody piece from concept to first ...
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Fight for Your Rights to Freelance Write (free event)
Apr. 21: A panel of freelancers and advocates dissect complicated parts of their profession
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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
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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
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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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The Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest
Oct. 22 & 29: Like speed dating for writers and editors!
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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
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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
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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
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Putting Your Skills to Work
May 25/21: Authort Kevin Van Tighem on improving our ecological literacy and connections to place
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Making Science and Nature Stories Your Business
May 20/21: Freelance journalist Sarah Gilman teaches how to shepherd your ideas into published stories
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The Art of Evidence: Reaching General Audiences
May 18/21: Sharon Riley teaches the delicate art of simplifying hard science and finding the narrative ...
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Using Your Platform and Influence for Good
May 14/21: Author/speaker Chris Turner on navigating the line between reporter and advocate
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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 ...
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Kemosa Scholarship Fundraiser: Planning the Novel
Apr. 30: Tickets by donation, in support of First Nations, Métis and Inuit mothers who write
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Inclusive Sports Writing
April 27/21: Shireen Ahmed tackles equity and inclusion in sports media
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Stories of Injustice: How to Write About Oppression
April 26/21: Cicely Belle Blain on turning difficult experiences into powerful content
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Secrets of the Page-Turning Book
April 20/21: Waubgeshig Rice on building tension and suspense in fiction
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International Reporting in Today’s Media Environment
April 19/21: Sulome Anderson on composing conflict stories in a compelling, accessible way
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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
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Photography for Writers
April 12/21: Acclaimed photojournalist Amber Bracken adds a priceless skill to your toolkit
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Ethics of Citizen Journalism
April 7/21: Travel writer Bert Archer shares best practices with social media journalists and influencers
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Short Humour for Beginners
Apr 6/21: James Folta’s crash course on comedic writing concepts
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Remember Me?: Writing Unforgettable Characters
Mar 30/21: Novelist Becky Blake teaches the art of creating 3-D characters
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Getting the Most Out of Social Media
Mar 29/21: Fatima Syed shows writers and journalists how Twitter is done
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Packing a Punch: Big Stories in Small Spaces
Mar 23/21: Award-winning author Katie Bickell teaches the art of flash fiction
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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
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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
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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
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Introduction to Parody Writing with James Folta
Dec 8–22: Humourist James Folta takes your parody piece from concept to first draft
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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
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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
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The 5 Principles of Writing Clear Prose
Oct. 26: Hayley Milliman breaks down the craft of writing clear and concise sentences
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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
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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
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Managing Your Finances as a Freelancer
Sep. 29: This free seminar promises to help freelance writers run their business better
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Intrusion and Investigation: Getting Around Difficult Subjects
Aug. 27: Investigative reporter Ethan Lou on spinning a good yarn with limited access
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The Poem’s Door: Finding the Portal to Inspiration
Aug. 24: Safia Elhillo shows us how to host inspiration and replicate the conditions that create ...
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Asking Questions with Answers You Don’t Want to Hear
Aug. 20: Writer and organizer Haley Mlotek helps you get the most out of every conversation
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The Art of Airtight Opinions
Aug. 17: Max Fawcett shows what it takes to get heard—without getting hurt (too badly)
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Reading Like a Writer
Aug. 13: Literary critic Michael Lista on how studying the artist makes a better artist
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The Art and Ethics of Advice Columns
Aug. 10: GQ's Sophia Benoit helps you bring fun, authority, and authenticity to touchy subjects
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Writing Topical Satire…Fast!
Aug. 6: Satirist Caitlin Kunkel helps you synthesize facts and research—then make it funny
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Immersion Reporting: Putting Yourself In—Way In!—the Story
Aug. 3: Freelance "immerser" Eva Holland on when and how to deploy experiential journalism
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History Worth Repeating
Jul. 30: Scholar and podcast journalist Russell Cobb on making history mainstream
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Ten Tips For Writing Great Memoir (By Donation)
Jul. 26: Ayelet Tsabari shares her craft, in support of the Writers Trust Emergency Relief Fund
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Demystifying the Publication Process
Jul. 22: Acclaimed author Hala Alyan exposes her streamlined system for publishing in literary journals
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How to How-to: A Guide to Service Journalism
Jul. 16: Tame the elements of service journalism with editor Jennifer Hamilton
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Making a Living With Freelance Writing
Jul. 13: GQ columnist Sophia Benoit helps you turn freelancing into serious business
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Dialogues Across Disciplines
Jul. 10: Playwright José Teodoro on finding inspiration in varied storytelling forms
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Extra Cred: Tips for Multi-platform Success
July 7: Tickets by donation, in support of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists
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The Secrets of Long-Form Features
EVENT OVER: Omar Mouallem teaches long-form narrative journalism in the style of The New Yorker.
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Starting Your TV Comedy Pilot
EVENT OVER: Kaitlin Fontana will get you started on your TV pilot outline, logline, and script.
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An Appetite for Story: Food Writing Fundamentals
EVENT OVER: A food writing crash course in support of the Canadian Writers' Emergency Relief Fund.
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The Modern Writers’ Tech Toolbox
EVENT OVER: Learn about the latest creative writing tools in support of the Canadian Writers' Trust.
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Beyond 3124: The Power of Structure in True Stories
EVENT OVER: Jana Pruden proves there are almost endless methods of telling a true story.
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Quarantine is the Best Time to Write that Book Proposal
EVENT OVER: Demystifying nonfiction book proposals to help land an agent and publishing contract.
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Writing from Afar (Once That’s OK Again)
EVENT OVER: A renowned travel writer walks you through the artform and why it matters.
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Edge of Your Seat: Mastering Conflict and Tension
EVENT OVER: Ayelet Tsabari master on how story tension works and how it can work better.
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(Write It!) Like Disaster
EVENT OVER: Acclaimed poet Michael Lista on turn a global pandemic into meaningful art.
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Cookbook Confidential: Recipe of a Misunderstood Artform
EVENT OVER: A Gourmand World Cookbook winner shares in support of a good cause.
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Here Be Monsters: Empathy and Crime Writing
EVENT OVER: Katherine Laidlaw will help true crime writers raise the ethical bar of a controversial ...
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When Journalism Gets Personal
EVENT OVER: Essayist Hadiya Roderique exposes the craft of long-form and short-form personal essays.
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Pitch Perfect: Selling Your Magazine Piece
SALE OVER: A prolific freelance journalist teaches the art and science of story pitches with business ...
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Writing About Trauma (Including Your Own)
EVENT OVER: Guardian journalist Christina Frangou will help journalists cross the minefields around difficult events.
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