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Mon
06

ArtsNS & Canada Council Outreach Tour

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Arts Nova Scotia (ArtsNS) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) are coming to communities across central and southwestern Nova Scotia from July 6 to 16, 2026. Join program officers from both organizations to learn more about funding opportunities, ask questions about grants, and connect with fellow artists. Click the link above to RSVP […]

Patrick d'Entremont launches Acadian Shores

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Join the Yarmouth County book launch of Acadian Shorelines (OC Publishing) by Patrick d’Entremont
Thu
16

50th Anniversary Composition Project

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Poetry submission deadline for WFNS’s 50th Anniversary Composition Project, presented in partnership with the Nova Scotia Choral Federation.

Stephen Franks launches Rise Again series

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The Atlantic provinces have been asking one question for four generations: whether to stay or go. The Rise Again series is one family’s attempt to answer it. The series examines grief, leaving and coming home. Stephen Franks will introduce the series, with a brief talk about each book, and a reading from The Conversation. Books […]

Poetry for Pride

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Room 301 (3rd floor) Join Halifax/Kjipuktuk-based poets Luke Hathaway (accompanied by instrumentalist Sarah Frank), Annick MacAskill, Tiffany Morris, Nolan Natasha, and Arielle Twist for a free poetry reading. This event is open to all. Local indie bookstore Venus Envy will be on hand to sell copies of the readers’ books.

Sarah L Hawthorn launches A Fate Worse than Drowning

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Join us for a book signing from 4 – 6pm in store, and special release party at The Wooden Monkey (1707 Grafton St., Halifax) to celebrate local author, Sarah Hawthorn’s stunning fantasy debut, A Fate Worse Than Drowning. Pre-orders available! Exclusive goodie bags availble at author signing event from 4 – 6pm on first come […]

Sarah L Hawthorn reads/signs A Fate Worse than Drowning

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Join us Wednesday, July 22nd to celebrate the launch of Sarah Hawthorn’s debut novel, A Fate Worse Than Drowning! Hawthorn will read from the book, answer questions, and sign copies (available to buy!).

Sarah L Hawthorn & Mere Joyce in Conversation

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Room 301 (Floor 3) Please join us for the launch of Sarah L. Hawthorn’s debut novel, A Fate Worse Than Drowning! A Fate Worse Than Drowning (Poisoned Pen Press) is a historical fantasy debut featuring sisters on the run from a cruel fiancé, deals with the Devil, heart-wrenching romances, and a novel-length love letter to […]

Latte Lit Open Mic

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Join us at Open Book Coffee (3660 Strawberry Hill St.) on the first Friday of every month for a writers’ open mic – a chance to share works in progress with fellow authors in a welcoming setting. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and readings start at 7 p.m.
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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