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Serendipity: A Life in Words

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In an abundantly-illustrated presentation, author A. J. B. Johnston reflects on his growing-up years in Nova Scotia during the 1950s and 1960s. Looking back, he sees that experiences back then set the stage for him to become a writer. Time spent in Pictou played a definite role, as did his years as an historian at […]

Self-Publishing Roadmap (Sydney) with Sherry D. Ramsey

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2-week Sydney workshop begins.

Curating Nonfiction: From Clippings to Collage (virtual) with Rebecca Rose

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3-week virtual workshop begins.
Thu
15

Emerging Writers Prizes

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Extended submission deadline for WFNS’s annual prizes recognizing barriers to literary creation.
Thu
15

Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program

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Extended application deadline for WFNS’s annual literary mentorship program.

Nancy Drew Cozy Mystery Tea

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On Thursday, October 15th, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, we will be hosting a Nancy Drew Cozy Mystery Tea with Special Guests: Jane Doucet, Blood Typed; Tom Ryan, Treasure Hunter’s/ We had a Hunch; and Barbara Emodi, Gasper’s Cove Series. We will be serving The Secret of the Old Clock Tea by NovelTea in […]

Lindsey Harrington launches Nobody's Mother

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Nobody’s Mother is Lindsey Harrington’s authorial debut, a bare and honest memoir exploring her choice to be childfree in a society and culture that expected otherwise. Come celebrate with her in your best purple and orange party clothes! Like most book launches, there will be: -a reading -a facilitated conversation and q&a (hosted by Katie […]

Launch of Cynthia French's Barachois

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A debut book of poems by the late Cynthia French will be launched on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7pm in the offices of the WFNS. Many poets find it difficult to get their work published in a lifetime of trying, and it is next to impossible for a poet to be published posthumously, especially if […]

Kate Inglis launches The Good Salt Girl

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Join authors Kate Inglis and Ryan Shaw in conversation about the novel, writing, running away, and full-bodied ocean living. All welcome! Meet the author, hear the first reading of Kate’s sixth book and first novel, purchase your copy, and get it signed.
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Experience Levels

The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) uses the following terms to describe writers’ experience levels:

  • New writers: those with less than two years’ creative writing experience and/or no short-form publications (e.g., short stories, personal essays, or poems in literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or chapbooks).
  • Emerging writers: those with more than two years’ creative writing experience and/or numerous short-form publications.
  • Early-career authors: those with 1 or 2 book-length publications or the equivalent in book-length and short-form publications.
  • Established authors: those with 3 or 4 book-length publications.
  • Professional authors: those with 5 or more book-length publications.

Please keep in mind that each form of creative writing (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, writing for young adults, and others) provides you with a unique set of experiences and skills, so you might consider yourself an ‘established author’ in one form but a ‘new writer’ in another.

Occasionally, WFNS uses the phrase “emerging and established writers/authors” to mean ‘writers and authors of all experience levels.’

The “Recommended experience level” section of each workshop description refers to the above definitions. A workshop’s participants should usually have similar levels of creative writing and / or publication experience. This ensures that each participant gets value from the workshop⁠ and is presented with info, strategies, and skills that suit their experience. 

For “intensive” and “masterclass” workshops, which provide more opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback, the recommended experience level should be followed closely.

For all other workshops, the recommended experience level is just that—a recommendation—and we encourage potential participants to follow their own judgment when registering.

If uncertain about your experience level with respect to any particular workshop, please feel free to contact us at communications@writers.ns.ca