CNFC MONTHLY WEBINARS
All sessions are free for members. If your membership is expired or you wish to become part of our community, you can renew or join us by following the links on this page: https://creativenonfictioncollective.ca/join-the-cnfc/.
The Creative Nonfiction Collective Society (CNFC) is a national organization for Canadian literary nonfiction writers that educates, supports, develops and promotes the CNF genre.
Upcoming Webinars
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 1:30pm EST – “In Conversation with Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman: Craft, Collaboration, and Reconciliation”
Join the authors of Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, A White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation for a conversation about how they collaborated on this highly-acclaimed bestseller.
Douglas Sanderson (Amy Binashii) is Beaver Clan, from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Professor Sanderson has served as senior Advisor to the government of Ontario, in the offices of the Attorney General and Aboriginal Affairs.
Andrew Stobo Sniderman is a writer, lawyer and Rhodes Scholar from Montreal. He has written for the New York Times, the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s. He has also argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, served as the human rights policy advisor to the Canadian minister of foreign affairs, and worked for a judge of South Africa’s Constitutional Court.
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Past Webinars
Saturday April 22, 2023 at 1:30 pm EST – “The Joys (and) Challenges of Children’s Nonfiction“
Wanda Taylor and Nimbus Books editor and author, Whitney Moran, discuss the joys (and) challenges of writing and publishing children’s nonfiction books.
Saturday February 25, 2023 at 1:30 pm EST – “The Art of Deeply Researched Nonfiction Science Writing“
Gregor Craigie, Krista Lamb, and Dan Werb in a discussion on the art of deeply researched nonfiction science writing.
January 21, 2023 at 1:30 pm EST – “Ukrainian Canadian Writers in a Time of War”
Myrna Kostash in conversation with Ruby Swanson and Lianna Makuch.
Saturday December 10, 2022, 1:30 pm EST – Member Readings
Join writer and CNFC vice-president Chris Moore for our annual Member Reading event, featuring CNFC members Tim Christian, Rowan McCandless, Myrna Kostash, Bruno Cocorocchio, Kimberly Fraser, Sunita Devi Alves, Pat Butler, and Miriam Edelson reading excerpts from their newly-released books.
Saturday, November 12, 2022, 1:30pm EST – “Survival Stories”
From pandemic narratives to stories of overcoming family trauma, creative nonfiction offers writers a nuanced way to tell detailed accounts of survival. Jenna Butler looks at narratives of surviving and thriving in connection with the land through her Governor General’s shortlisted book, Revery: A Year of Bees.
Saturday, October 1, 2022, 1:30 pm EST – “What’s Wrong with History and Biography?”
Charlotte Gray asks Ken Whyte (publisher, Sutherland House) and Dan Wells (publisher, Biblioasis) about the state of “researched nonfiction” in Canada.
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 1:30 pm EST – How to become a CNFC Nonfiction Contest Winner with Becky Blake and Margaret Nowaczyk
Contests are a terrific way to share your words and promote your writing. Join us for a lively discussion with past CNFC nonfiction contest winners who will share their craft tips and contest submission approaches.
Saturday March 12, 2022, 1:30 pm EST – Earth’s Intelligence: Three Nature Writers on Writing, Wonder and Wilderness with Camille Dungy, Harry Thurston, and John Vaillant (moderated by Rachel Rose)
We gratefully acknowledge support of this webinar from the University of King’s College Halifax.
Wednesday January 12, 2022: How to Write Winning Applications for Writer Residencies and Grants – Elizabeth Philips and Andrew Steinmetz
Everyone struggles with those intimidating application forms for grants and programs that can make all the difference in our writing projects. This session will demystify the process of applying for writer residencies and supporting your writing with Canada Arts Council grants.
December 11, 2021: Members’ Reading Event with Moderator Lesley Buxton
Join us for the annual Members’ Book Launch Webinar, featuring CNFC members reading a short excerpt from their newly-released books. Listen to readings from fellow CNF writers with the chance to win a copy of their book!
November 13, 2021: Writing Partnerships: Find Your Perfect Match – Cooper Lee Bombardier, Moira Dann, and Fiona Tinwei Lam
Join us for a fascinating discussion of how writers work together, from one-on-one writing partnerships to writing groups to formal mentoring. Whether you’re looking to consult, collaborate or critique, find the model that works best for you by understanding the accountability, boundaries, and trust involved in these types of partnerships.
October 2, 2021: From Hermit Crabs to Talking Skeletons: Playing with Form in CNF – Darryl Whetter
Where formal innovation in contemporary English-language fiction is rare, CNF offers a vibrant subset of formal innovations in which, for example, your creative prose can engage in a dialogue with found or curated text, from family letters to legislation to medical documentation to how-to writing and more. Novelist, poet, journalist and memoirist Professor Darryl Whetter will present a workshop which introduces numerous examples and opportunities for you to splice other texts into your own while discovering new modes of creativity and new opportunities for making nonfiction creative.
March 20, 2021: The Art of the Interview: Great interviews make great stories – Denise Ryan
Award winning essayist, feature writer and news reporter Denise Ryan will share her experiences, trade secrets and tips. Formatted as a dynamic interview and networking session where you ask the questions, this is an opportunity to ask what you’ve always wanted to know about how to get the interview, get informed consent, establish rapport, overcome hostility, work with a trauma-informed ethic, get past scripted answers and craft story-based lines of inquiry.
February 20, 2021: Body & Soul: Writing About Spirituality – Susan Scott
Are there ways to write authentically and convincingly about a topic that makes some readers flinch? Spiritual memoirs can be off-putting; but if done well, they can unify the personal and cultural, the ineffable and embodied. Spiritual memoirs can help writers frame complex topics, from intergenerational trauma and explosive family secrets to experiments in shunning, skirting or switching faiths. Using lively discussion and writing prompts, we will examine how to craft an honest spiritual memoir that challenges convenient stereotypes and the confines of convention.
January 23, 2021: Writing About Mental Health – Eufemia Fantetti and Lenore Rowntree
This craft-focused workshop will act as a model for writing about difficult topics, using mental health as an example. This webinar includes generative writing prompts, so come prepared to do some writing. The session will also be interactive with private breakout discussion groups. Participants can expect to receive a list of recommended readings at the end of the workshop.
December 5, 2020: CNFC Member Book Launch with host Betsy Warland
Esteemed Vancouver writer and one of CNFC’s founders Betsy Warland hosted the Member Book Launch Zoom Event, featuring CNFC members Joan Boxall, Kate Braid, Beth Kaplan, and Janet Love Morrison reading a short excerpt from their newly-released books.
November 19, 2020: Finding the Story – Ian Brown
This workshop will guide you to finding the story worth telling, then digging deeper, finding the actual best story within that story, and hewing to it, despite being terrified of same.