Writing Rumble
Variously incarnated over the years, the annual WFNS fundraising event is now the Writing Rumble, featuring two competing teams of Nova Scotia authors. Each team “chain-writes” a short story during an open-to-the-public writing marathon, with one team member writing up to 350 words in their allotted 45 minutes before passing on the keyboard to their next team member.
In the weeks leading up to the Writing Rumble, participating authors (“Rumblers”) seek sponsorships. On the day of the Writing Rumble, our Rumblers compose their stories in a public setting. All are welcome to drop in, mingle with fellow writers, watch the writing process via projector, and cheer or jeer the Rumblers.
Past events in this series
On October 23, two teams of Nova Scotia authors competed to “chain-write” two short stories, each author writing up to 350 words before passing on the keyboard.
Quilluminati vs Word Slingers
Jessica Marsh vs Tim Covell (2:15pm)
Sue MacLeod vs Danica Roache (3pm)
Shelley Thompson vs Charlotte Ashley (3:45pm)
Gillian Turnbull vs Renée Belliveau (4:30pm)
Jen Britton vs Stephen Kimber (5:15pm)
Chris Benjamin vs Sue Murtagh (6pm)
Hosted at Open Book Coffee (3660 Strawberry Hill St, Halifax), the event included both the public writing rumble (2pm to 6:45pm) and a public reading of the competing stories (7pm). The event was free to attend, with both pre-event sponsorships and on-site donations accepted.
On October 24, two teams of Pictou County authors competed to “chain-write” two short stories, each author writing for 45 minutes before passing on the keyboard.
Shore Things vs Strongly Lettered Words
Sarah Butland vs Paula Romanow (3pm)
Denise Flint vs Lauren Forbes (3:45pm)
Emily MacNeil vs Angela Ford (4:30pm)
Megan Coffin vs Thekla Altmann (5:15pm)
TP Wood vs Colleen Hawley (6pm)
Hosted at The Shoebox Cantina (84 Provost St, New Glasgow), the event included both the public rumble (3:00pm to 6:45pm) and a public reading of the final stories (7pm). The event was free to attend, with onsite donations accepted.
On March 21, two teams of Nova Scotia authors competed to “chain-write” two short stories, each author writing up to 350 words before passing on the keyboard.
Plot Thickeners vs Agents of Chaos
Donna Alward vs Brittni Brinn (2pm)
Lindsey Harrington vs Sonja Boon (2:45pm)
Sal Sawler vs David Huebert (3:30pm)
Philip Moscovitch vs Carol Bruneau (4:15pm)
Philip + Danielle vs Stephanie Domet (5pm)
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail vs Becca Babcock (5:45pm)
Hosted at Propeller Brewing Co. (2015 Gottingen St., Halifax), the event included both the public writing rumble (2:00pm to 6:30pm) and a public reading of the competing stories (6:45pm). The event was free to attend, with both pre-event sponsorships and on-site donations accepted.
On February 28, two teams of Nova Scotia authors competed to “chain-write” two short stories, each author writing up to 300 words before passing on the keyboard:
Coming of Rage vs The Draft Dodgers
Richard Levangie vs Stephens Gerard Malone (2:30pm)
Nicola Davison vs K. R. Byggdin (3:15pm)
Melanie Mosher vs Michelle Wamboldt (4pm)
Andre Fenton vs Amy Spurway (4:45pm)
Natalie Corbett vs Ronan O’Driscoll (5:30pm)
Chad Lucas vs Jane Doucet (6:15pm)
Held at Propeller Brewing Co. (2015 Gottingen St., Halifax), the event included both the public writing rumble (2:30pm to 7pm) and the reading of the competing stories (7:30pm).
Photos by Nicola Davison of Snickerdoodle Photography
Because pandemic gathering restrictions made staging a 2022 Writing Rumble inadvisable, WFNS ran a donor campaign called “Gift Giv’er.”
From February to June, everyone who donated $20 or more to WFNS was entered to win one of eleven amazing prizes totaling $2,000 in value, including local visual and textile art, limited edition books, book bundles, professional services, and a top-of-the-line office chair. A new prize was revealed each week from February 10 to April 21.
On February 25, two teams of 6 Nova Scotia authors competed to “chain-write” two short stories, each author writing up to 400 words before passing on the keyboard:
Exclamation Pints! vs Dirty Punchuators
Lorri Neilsen Glenn vs David Huebert (12pm – 1pm)
Rebecca Babcock vs Stephanie Domet (1pm – 2pm)
Jenni Blackmore vs Anna Quon (2pm – 3pm)
Lexi Harrington vs Bill Turpin (3pm – 4pm)
Joanne Gallant vs Sal Sawler (4pm – 5pm)
Whitney Moran vs Ian Colford (5pm – 6pm)
Held at Propeller Brewing Co. (2015 Gottingen St., Halifax), the event included both the public writing rumble (12pm to 6pm) and the reading of the competing stories (7pm).
On February 19, twelve authors wrote in 1-hour shifts from 8am to 8pm, with each author producing about 200 words before passing the keyboard:
- Chris Benjamin (8am – 9am)
- Sean Bedell (9am – 10am)
- Stephen Kimber (10am – 11am)
- Lesley Crewe (11am – 12pm)
- Sarah Mian (12pm – 1pm)
- Carol Bruneau (1pm – 2pm)
- Kate Inglis (2pm – 3pm)
- Alison DeLory (3pm – 4pm)
- James Leck (4pm – 5pm)
- Janet Barkhouse (5pm – 6pm)
- Cooper Lee Bombardier (6pm – 7pm)
- Jon Tattrie (7pm – 8pm)
At the end of the writing marathon, author Pauline Dakin hosted an unveiling of the shared story, during which each author read the section they had written. Held in The Wardroom at the University of King’s College, both the public writing marathon and the story reading were free to attend.
Partner
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is grateful to Open Book Coffee for hosting our 2025 Writing Rumble; to The Shoebox Cantina for hosting our 2024 Writing Rumble on the Road; and to Propeller Brewing Co. for hosting our 2024, 2023, and 2020 Writing Rumbles.
