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Workshops & retreats

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Bus Stop Theatre Writers' Circle

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The Bus Stop Theatre Writer’s Circle is an open invite writer’s collective that meets monthly to share writing and feedback. It is designed as an affirming, nurturing space to support the vulnerable practice of sharing new writing. Attend once or come every month – just make sure you sign up in advance because capacity is […]

Writing from Superstition

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Tricia Snell’s Fall 2026 Writing SESSIONS 5 Mondays via Zoom Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026 Five 90-minute online sessions to: —stimulate your writing practice —observe, describe, characterize, with superstition as our lens —write within a friendly, collegial, supportive community Suitable for prose or poetry writers, emerging or experienced. We’ll look at how […]

Writing with Tarot: Symbols, Archetypes, and the Creative Journey (virtual) with Tiffany Morris

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1-night virtual workshop.

A Study in Horror: Techniques for Writing the Horror Genre

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Why do humans love the thrill of getting a scare? Why are we drawn to the macabre? How do we achieve those moments on the page that make a reader’s heart lurch? What are the elements of a good horror story? What types of horror are there? These are all questions we’ll be exploring in […]

Crafting Scary Stories

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Room of venue: J Harris Read Room Workshop Host: Marjorie Simmins, author and journalist Fee: $99 (register by emailing Marjorie at mls@marjoriesimmins.ca) Costume wear is welcomed! Every writer needs to know how to grab a reader’s imagination and not let go. Using games and prompts we’ll see what a difference pacing, setting, and evocative language […]

Develop those Character Muscles (virtual) with N.L. Blandford

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3-week virtual workshop begins.

Art Larks! Creative Writing Workshop for Seniors

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Author and creative writing teacher Melissa Kuipers will be offering two FREE online creative writing workshops for seniors living in Nova Scotia in November! These workshops, hosted by Arts Health Antigonish!, will be fun and experimental. We’ll explore what it means to craft engaging scenes and short stories through writing prompts, opportunities to share (but […]

Diving into Flash Nonfiction (virtual) with Sandra Phinney

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4-week virtual workshop begins.

In & Out of Form: Exploring Formal Poetry (virtual) with Annick MacAskill

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4-week virtual workshop begins.
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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