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The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia (WFNS) offers creative writing workshops, focused on the craft side of writing, for writers of all experience levels. Specialized workshop formats include foundations workshops (which introduce fiction, nonfiction, or poetry to new and emerging writers), intensives (which blend creative and professional development instruction while emphasizing peer feedback), and masterclasses (which are reserved for early-career, established, and professional authors). We also offer professional development (PD) workshops focusing on the logistical and business aspects of creative writing.

WFNS’s other events include several public event series as well as standalone author talks (combining readings with lecture-style creative and professional instruction), author panels (featuring interviews and discussions with two or more notable authors), info sessions (led by staff members of WFNS and other literary organizations), and meet-ups (providing opportunities for writers and readers, members and non-members to socialize, network, and build creative community).

Click on a specific workshop or event below for more details and to register online. You may also register by phone (902 423 8116). We encourage you to register early: most events have a limited number of seats, and registration is subject to availability.

Recommended Experience Levels
Workshop Registration & Refund Policies
Workshop Participant Agreement
Guide to Virtual Events

ONGOING / UPCOMING
WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

Winter 2026 workshops will open for registration starting on Dec 1.

EVENT SERIES

CELEBRATION OF EMERGING WRITERS

Annual Public Reading

OFF THE PAGE

Monthly Public Reading

JAMPOLIS OPEN HOUSE

Annual Gathering

NOVA READS

Occasional Public Reading

SHELF INDULGENCE

Quarterly Book Club

WRITING RUMBLE

Annual Fundraiser

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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

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