Posts Tagged ‘Creative Nonfiction Collective’
Monday, April 11th, 2011
For the past several years, the Creative Nonfiction Collective has kicked off its annual conference with a lively and thought-provoking cabaret of readings. Now, those of us east of Banff can join in the fun. Join host Maggie Siggins, along with Don GIllmor, Wayne Grady, Marni Jackson, Ken McGoogan, Merilyn Simonds, Rosemary Sullivan, and Andrew Westoll for an exciting evening of readings and conversation about this capacious genre.
When: Wednesday, May 25, 8:30 pm
Where: Harbord House Gastro Pub, 150 Harbord (at Brunswick)
Toronto, ON
This event is conveniently timed just before the Writers’ Union of Canada AGM. So if you’re coming from away, come a day early to enjoy it!
Tags: Conferences, Creative Nonfiction Collective, Readings
Posted in Conferences and Symposia, Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Collective | No Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
There’s still time to register for the Creative Nonfiction Collective’s annual conference. This is one I’m very disappointed to miss. Among the treats in store for those who can make it to Banff at the end of April:
A keynote address by the thoughtful and passionate Karen Connelly, who has written poetry, novels, essays, memoir, and more. Her talk is called, “A New Instrument, Another Music: The Challenges of Extracting Nonfiction and Fiction from the Same Experience,” and I’m sure it will be enlightening.
Workshops and discussions on the controversial category of “momoir,” on writing sex in nonfiction, on building an author platform, and on understanding the fine print of contracts.
And a reading by the witty and talented Sarah Leavitt, whose graphic memoir Tangles has been gathering praise and awards nominations ever since it hit the stands. (Disclaimer: Sarah just happens to be a friend of mine. But I liked her writing first!) Stay tuned for an interview with Sarah soon.
Tags: Conferences, Creative Nonfiction Collective
Posted in Conferences and Symposia, Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Collective | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
I’m writing from Banff, where I’ve just attended the Creative Nonfiction Collective’s annual conference—two days of readings, panels, workshops and conversations devoted to this exciting, capacious genre. Some of my personal highlights included: Betsy Warland’s hypnotic essay about the writing life (you can find it on her website); Erna Paris’s warm, sparkling, and beautifully modulated keynote speech, which exemplified literary nonfiction’s multiple and overlapping pleasures; meal-time conversations with old friends and new acquaintances; and, of course, the annual Readers’ Choice Awards—and not only because this year, I was the fortunate winner!
What I loved about this event was its generosity. Members of the group are invited to nominate a piece of literary nonfiction published within the last two years. They send a short excerpt of the writing to the President, David Leach, and at the conference they read the excerpt aloud to the assembled participants. (The President reads if the nominator is unable to attend). Conference-goers then cast secret ballots to choose the winner.
The nominated work does not have to come from a book, which means that it’s possible to bring attention to newer or less well-known writers through the nominations process. And for me, Lynne Bowen’s reading of Kaitlin Fontana, and Myrna Kostash’s reading of Eufemia Fantetti were among the most vivid and powerful of the evening. What a gift to hear these voices in such a setting! And a gift to those nominated, too. I know I felt honoured to be included in such wonderful company. Also, the readings inevitably illustrate the full range of the genre, which includes everything from narrative or fact-based reportage to memoir to the fragmented, mosaic-style lyric essay.
A nominator’s passion for his or her nominee is infectious. I won’t soon forget Jerry Haigh’s rendition of a rousing and hilarious selection from Paul Nicklen’s Polar Obsession, or Fiona Tinwei Lam’s moving introduction to the work of Sharron Proulx-Turner.
My nomination this year went to Shawna Lemay’s Calm Things. I have reviewed the book on this blog, and I’ve also interviewed Shawna. It felt so good to introduce a book that I’ve admired to readers who would appreciate it when they found it. True to my expectations, when I mentioned the book’s title, publisher, and author, many grabbed pen and paper to write them down. They care. They’re interested. They want to find new work and learn from it. It’s this spirit of generous curiosity that for me, characterized the conference as a whole.
Thanks to the organizers for inviting me, and thanks to all participants for making it such a great experience!
Tags: Conferences and Symposia, Creative Nonfiction Collective
Posted in Awards, Conferences and Symposia, Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Collective | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
From the press release:
Susan Olding’s Pathologies wins second annual CNFC Readers’ Choice Award
April 26, 2010
Banff, Alberta
The Creative Nonfiction Collective (CNFC) announced the winner of its second Readers’ Choice Award at a ceremony at The Banff Centre on Saturday, April 24, 2010. After readings from the works of seven Canadian nonfiction authors, the members of the CNFC, a national writers’ organization, voted to name Susan Olding as winner at the annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
Tags: Awards, Creative Nonfiction Collective, Pathologies: A Life in Essays
Posted in Awards, Creative Nonfiction Collective | No Comments »
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
…and it’s crisp, attractive, informative and easy to use. Included is a wonderful list of resources for writers. Check it out here.
Tags: Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Collective
Posted in Creative Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction Collective | No Comments »
