Whether you are interested in writing fiction or nonfiction, your own experience is almost certainly your richest source of story. In this six-week course, suitable for adults of all writing levels, you will begin to turn life experiences into scenes (stories’ building blocks) and to connect those scenes into larger stories. As well, if you wish, you will have the opportunity to work toward an established writing practice and a plan for a larger project.

Please Bring the Following:

• Favourite pens and a notebook.
• A laptop, not required but recommended.

Please Note:

Your instructor will be in touch with you in advance of the first class to share instructions for gathering memories in preparation, and she will ask for a short note about your writing and what you hope to get out of the course.

About Your Instructor:

Maggie de Vries is the author of Missing Sarah: A Memoir of Loss, teen novels Rabbit Ears and Hunger Journeys, two juvenile novels and six picture books. Several of these books have been awarded BC Book Prizes, and two have been nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award. Maggie was Orca Book Publisher’s children’s book editor for seven years, and the inaugural writer in residence for the Vancouver Public Library (2005) and the University of Northern British Columbia (2012). She recently retired from teaching at UBC’s School of Creative Writing after many years there, and has now transitioned into a private practice as a writing coach and mentor. Maggie teaches classes locally and online, leads writing retreats and workshops, and works one-on-one with writers in developing their craft and finding their way forward with their projects.

In addition to reading, writing, watching the birds in the backyard and hanging out with her cats (indoors), Maggie enjoys learning the ins and outs of gardening, exploring the local waterways with her husband in their old boat, and hiking the local trails. She also makes a point of dancing for at least a few minutes almost every single day.