Events

Normally, we offer an option to attend presentations at Terry Fox Library or via ZOOM.

To participate in our meeting, please send an email to:

tri.city.wordsmiths@gmail.com with a request

to attend, stating either ONLINE or In-Library.

Upcoming Events

Our next event is a workshop with Ace Baker
October 3, 2026
1:30 - 4:00 pm

October 3, 2026

“You Got an Issue With That?” with Ace Baker

In this workshop, join Ace Baker in exploring what possible help you can find for your writing by doing a deep dive into looking at a single issue of a single literary magazine. Together, we will practice techniques that will help you and your writing (commercial, literary, or upmarket) in the areas of Ideas, Organization, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Voice and Word Choice. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from one thin little magazine. The goal is to walk away with new ideas and new techniques for the writing that YOU do!

Ace Baker is a writer, poet, developmental editor, and creative writing coach from Coquitlam, B.C. He has published two collections of short stories, Bathing in Fire (2025) and How to Make a Killing Jar (2023) as well as a chapbook of poetry, Mosaic: Bright Lives, Broken (2026). He is currently working hard at writing two crime novels at the same time. Reach him at writeracebaker@gmail.com

Past Events

Note: Many of the presenters share their material on the Members Only page
(for the most complete listing, please use a computer, not a cell phone)

August 8, 2026

Write and Share with Zhang Hui

This is a brainstorming event focusing on reading for the purpose of writing.

Come and join this structured writers’ sharing and writing event. Fellow writers will shed some light on the myth of reading aspects of a writer and their helpful practice for making reading a tool for writers. You will have the opportunity to participate in a writing drill to reflect on the ideas shared and write a piece based on the reflection. On a volunteer basis, you can share your writing pieces, comment on fellow writers’ work, and receive feedback from fellow writers.

Come and encourage one another to write, write well.

Part I – 10-minute presentations on reading as a writer (up to 5 presenters)

Break: 10 minutes

Part II – Writing drill (15 minutes for writing, 10 minutes for writing results sharing, and 15 minutes for round table discussion)

Members of the audience reflect their own reading habits and skills, and adopt the presented ideas to write a reflective piece about their own reading experience as a writer.

June 6, 2026

XII Writing Tips From Aristotle’s Poetics with Claire Mulligan

In his work The Poetics, Aristotle set out timeless advice for crafting an effective and powerful story, and his insights are as relevant today as when gods strode the earth.

Now, in this workshop, we will travel back to ancient Greece to learn his top twelve tips for creating a powerful story; how to build a tragedy, how to show moral ambiguity; and how to create characters who will make your readers cry their eyes out.

Claire’s first novel of historical fiction, The Reckoning of Boston Jim was on Giller long list and a BC Book Prize finalist. Her second novel, The Dark, was a Canadian Author's Award finalist, 2013. She is also an award-winning writer of short fiction, short screenplays, and the occasional poem. She teaches creative writing online as well as for Uvic Continuing Ed, and she offers a free author interview series Storycraft Conversations in partnership with writer and editor April Bosshard. Claire is thrilled to be the Haig-Brown Writer in Residence at Campbell River for 2026. Feel free to sign up for her newsletter for updates on upcoming courses, contests, editing services, and free online author interviews.

April 11, 2026

Western Sky Books 1 Carmy Sept 2023_edited.webp

The Power of Sound for Storytelling, Poetry & Art with Carmy Stubbs

A Healing through Writing, Storytelling & Art Workshop

In this interactive workshop, we’ll revisit how writing, storytelling, and art can be used to heal, transform, and inspire our lives, to then delve into the power of sound as a unique healing and transformative tool. We’ll see examples through some of my own experiences of how sound can be used to enhance or inspire a story, poem, or drawing, followed by various sound-based activities and exercises where you’ll be able to try out for yourself. And most importantly, no specific talent in writing or the arts is required!

*Worksheet and art supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own notebook and coloured pencils.

Carmy Stubbs is a lover of the Word and its power for transformation and healing. Through her poetry, short stories, writings, and illustrations, she explores the creative force of the Heart and the finding one'se’s True Voice. Carmy is the author of the novel The Six Knowings of ASAIRA, a metaphysical fantasy, where all her loves ~ the poems, the magic, the storytelling, and the search for the Divine~ weave themselves alchemically through text and illustration. Carmy also holds monthly meetings on creativity through meditation, and workshops on healing through the arts. She is a member of the Tri-City Wordsmiths and ArtsConnect, and lives in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, with her husband, Antonio, and their dog, Milo.

February 7, 2026

Resilient Writers: Dealing with Rejection, Negativity, and (Inner) Critics with Christina Myers

Even the most successful writers face rejection, bad reviews, and harsh critics - including the loudest critic of all: our own internal voice. This workshop first helps participants to identify the various ways that negativity can prove challenging in our writing efforts and then looks at a variety of tools to help manage and balance that. Through examples, discussion and a few practical workshops, the session is aimed at helping writers to feel confident and to remember that the "hard stuff" is a universal experience.

Christina Myers is a writer, editor and former journalist. She is the author of two books (Halfway Home: Thoughts from Midlife and The List of Last Chances) and the editor of two non-fiction anthologies. She has been longlisted for the Leacock Medal, twice shortlisted for the Fred Kerner book prize, won the 2023 Canadian Book Club Award in the fiction category, and is currently a finalist in two categories for the 2025 Canadian Book Club Awards. She is a member of Da’naxda’xw First Nation, grew up all over Canada, and lives in Surrey, BC, with her family. She is represented by Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists; find her online at https://linktr.ee/christinamyers.

December 6, 2025

The Path to Traditional Publication with Kathy Wagner

Lessons learned from my publishing journey

In this interactive presentation, Kathy Wagner will help you prepare for traditional publication by sharing her experiences. Topics include demonstrating credibility, preparing your manuscript and proposal package, identifying agents or publishers, and creating a compelling query letter. There will be time for you to explore your unique opportunities in preparing your submission package and to ask questions. Kathy will leave you with helpful resources to support you in finding the perfect publisher to bring your book to the world.

Kathy Wagner is the author of Here With You: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Addiction published by Douglas & McIntyre in September 2023. She has published essays in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, and The Sun Magazine, and was awarded a literary retreat at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She currently lives in Port Coquitlam with her golden doodle, Phoebe, and British Shorthair cats, Nala and Izzy.

October 4, 2025

Let's Talk About AI, Panel Discussion & Forum

This is an interactive event about the impact of AI on writing. It consists of two parts: A discussion led by panelists and an AI writing sharing forum.

During the discussion session, three of our panelists, Kathy Feller, Cam Anderson, and Tamara Gorin, will share their experiences and insights on using AI in writing. Members of the audience can share their perspectives on AI and ask questions about AI.

For the forum, participants who use AI can share a piece of 50 words in their chosen genre.

Come, join in, and enjoy the discussion and sharing.

Jun. 7, 2025

Now that you’ve finished writing your book, you’re probably excited to share it with the world. Indie publishing, or self-publishing, is a fantastic way to make that happen. Learn what’s involved in indie publishing your book, including setting yourself up for success, producing ebooks and print books, and managing your indie author business. We’ll dive into book formatting, design, and working with illustrators. Join this session with indie author Carmen Wright to better understand your options and whether indie publishing is the right path for you.

Apr. 5, 2025

Tired of using the usual tools to write, analyze, or teach short stories? Did you notice that Freytag’s Pyramid (that “ski slope”) your English teacher taught you doesn’t work for many, many stories? Join Ace Baker, author of How to Make a Killing Jar, a collection of 12+1 short stories, for fresh ideas on what is possible when writing or teaching short fiction. Handouts provided.

In this interactive workshop CARMY STUBBS took us into how writing, storytelling, and art can be used to heal and transform our lives, via her own healing process with grief where I used poetry, short stories, and video (digital storytelling), and also how drawing became an unexpected tool for transformation as I wrote The Six Knowings of ASAIRA. In the second part of the workshop.

Carmy is the author of the novel The Six Knowings of ASAIRA, a metaphysical fantasy, where all her loves ~ the poems, the magic, the storytelling, and the search for the Divine~ weave themselves alchemically through text and illustration.

Feb. 1, 2025

Dec. 7, 2024

Effectively creating and representing diverse characters, with Colleen van Niekirk: characters of colour, of other genders or differing sexual orientations is necessary work that 'permits intimacy with the Other.' By focusing on the writer, the reader and the characters themselves, Colleen shed some light on how to tread down this road when creating Black characters specifically, by offering both insights and actions that writers keen to do this well, may consider.

October 5, 2024

How to Sustain Characters in a Series and Keep the Spark Alive with Debra Purdy Kong Whether you’re thinking about writing several novels featuring the same character(s) or have already written several books in a series, sustaining your characters—and the series itself—can be overwhelming. This workshop offered strategies to plan, plot, and organize your work without losing your momentum, or your mind.

August 24, 2024
Online only

Facilitator, Cristy Watson, presented a fun and interactive session of creating poetry! This workshop designed for everyone, included those who are new to poetry and those who are experienced poets. Attendees were given an opportunity to ‘play with poetry’ using a variety of engaging activities and prompts to boost their writing.

June 1, 2024

How to Tackle The Soggy Middle,

Writers sometimes get stuck in the middle of writing a book or short story. If not handled well, the middle of your story can become stuffed, unfocused, and lacking in tension. Coquitlam author, Gisela Woldenga discussed how to avoid getting stuck and prepare for it in advance.

Marketing your books, with Marie Mackay

This talk will be of interest

whether you are (or aim to be) self-published or traditionally published

April 6, 2024

Funny You Should Say: Humour Techniques for Children’s Writers presented by

Mark David Smith. He led us through a series of writing techniques, using examples from various well-known children's books.

February 3, 2024

December 2, 2023

Writing down the bones, A poetry workshop

with Jude Neale

This poetry workshop, led by nationally acclaimed author, Jude Neale, is for novices as well as experienced writers. It will ignite your imagination and free your creativity through writing prompts, games, and exercises.

October 14, 2023

Writing a Memoir: Do You Dare? with Heather Conn. Writing a memoir can be daunting, especially if you’re revealing family secrets. How and where do you start and find the resilience to face many related challenges, from vicious feedback and writer’s block to multiple rejections and rude agents?

Heather will share her own memoir-writing experiences while covering the basics of craft, the writing process, publishing, and handling relatives and others who criticize your stance. Includes brief readings and books for sale.

August 12, 2023

Write What You Know: Tips for Getting Your Children’s Writing Published, with Eileen Holland. Learn the ins and outs of how a 33-year veteran schoolteacher used writerly advice and genetic stubbornness to get her two children’s books published.

June 03, 2023

Wherever you are in your writing career, let award-winning author, Bill Arnott, help you create and implement foolproof strategies to maximize your success.

Gain the tools to brand, promote, and market your book and enjoy doing it

May 06, 2023

Tri-City Wordsmiths presents a writers' festival celebrating its 10th anniversary as a writing club in the Tri-Cities.

Port Coquitlam May Days (PCMD) Readers and Writers Festival features a full day of panels, workshops, market hall, blue-pencil sessions, and more.

Generously supported by the City of Port Coquitlam, the Port Coquitlam Arts Council, and the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation's Community Capital Projects Matching Grant Program

Apr 01, 2023

If you seek to create creativity in your life, there are five areas/activities in your life that Amber Cowie can help you identify and cultivate to find space for your work. Nurturing these spaces and moments could turn a glimmer of an idea into the work you’ve been waiting to create. It’s not about making space in your home or your life. It’s about making space in your mind