You've heard of Flash Fiction. Now think Flash Non Fiction (NF). This course will cover elements of writing riveting true stories between 100 - 1000 words. You'll read one great flash NF story each week; learn how to analyze it; then use similar techniques to write your own stories. There will be lots of experimentation! Each class will include market information where to submit your short NF stories. For a limit of eight participants.

Online workshop dates and times:

Four Saturdays in February, 2026, from 9 - 11 am

February 7, 14, 21, and 28

About Sandra

(photo credit: Sue Hutchins)

Sandra Phinney’s stories and photographs have been published in over 70 publications including Nature Canada, Canadian Geographic, and the Toronto Star. 

Currently, Sandra is focused on writing essays and books. Her fourth non-fiction book was a travel memoir for Pottersfield Press titled Waking Up In My Own Backyard. Currently, she’s completing a book of essays titled Coming Home. When asked what the book is about, she laughs, saying: “It’s about coming of age at age eighty.” (Potterfield Press, Spring 2026.)

Sandra delivers writing workshops across Canada related to memoir and creative nonfiction. She’s had three stints as Writer-In-Residence in her home province, and has mentored many writers at various stages of their writing lives. For the past 10 years, the author has hosted a Writers Retreat at Birchdale Lake in NS.

Sandra lives off-grid with her husband on the Tusket River outside of Yarmouth, NS. In her spare time, you’ll find her paddling a canoe.

We gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship of:

Come on...Step up and read for five minutes. We want to hear it!

Reading aloud in front of other people offers a special sort of magic: you learn to present your writing to other people, which brings encouragement and feedback, and when you read in the presence of others, it helps bring your words alive. 

Plus - it's lots of fun! 

Share five minutes from your current published work or work in progress, whether French or English, whether it's prose, poetry, or script.

You must register if you'd like to read. The afternoon is free, but freewill donations are cheerfully accepted.

If you don't want to read but would like to listen, you are welcome. Come, enjoy a cocktail and prepare to be part of a receptive audience. Parking and seating is limited - first come, first served!

There is no cover charge at Soeur Claudette.

Bios, Book Blurbs & Back Cover Copy

The sad truth is, readers really do judge a book by its cover. And although most authors spend a lot of time and resources on their front cover, ensuring they have the perfect title and professional-looking images and design, they often overlook the back cover. This is despite it being just as important, if not more, than the front in selling and positioning their book in the marketplace.

In this two-hour, jam-packed workshop, Bios, Book Blurbs & Back Cover Copy, we’ll focus primarily on back cover copy—the art of writing a concise, targeted book synopsis. If written correctly, your book description (essentially a free ad) can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal in persuading readers to buy your book. A synopsis can also be tweaked and used to pitch editors, agents, booksellers, event coordinators or the media; create social media posts, web content, press releases or metadata for book discoverability; or promote your writing in as few words as possible to be ready for your proverbial “elevator pitch” moment when someone asks, “What’s your book about?”

We’ll also look at other elements of an effective back cover: author bios and book blurbs. Come prepared with a story in mind to apply exercises on these above topics. If you wish, you may also bring a 25-word-or-less story synopsis, one-line story pitch or one-paragraph bio (150-words max) to share and discuss, time permitting.

About Wendy

At 42, Wendy Kitts went from a nine-to-five cubicle-grey existence in accounting, to living in Technicolor as a professional freelance writer—without ever having written anything before. Twenty-five years later, Wendy—who lives in Shédiac—has written over 300 articles for publications such as Readers’ Digest, the LA Times, and the Globe & Mail and has published ten nonfiction children’s books. In 2011, her trade book—Sable Island: The Wandering Sandbar—was nominated for several readers’-choice awards and chosen as Top Five New Brunswick Books by CBC-Radio and Top 100 Gift Books by the Globe & Mail.

And up until her recent retirement, Wendy had achieved something most think impossible: for nearly two decades she supported herself solely with her writing (and writing-adjacent activities such as editing, author presentations and workshops), creating a laptop-lifestyle and fulfilling her dream of living at the beach year-round—including 12 sunny years in California.

We gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship of:

Come on...Step up and read for five minutes. We want to hear it!

Reading aloud in front of other people offers a special sort of magic: you learn to present your writing to other people, which brings encouragement and feedback, and when you read in the presence of others, it helps bring your words alive. 

Plus - it's lots of fun! 

Share five minutes from your current published work or work in progress, whether French or English, whether it's prose, poetry, or script.

You must register if you'd like to read. The afternoon is free, but freewill donations are cheerfully accepted.

If you don't want to read but would like to listen, you are welcome. Parking and seating is limited - first come, first served!

WordSpring is in Saint John, May 29 - May 31, 2026!

If you can't attend for the whole weekend, we have a range of options for you.

Whether you are a student, a member, or a non-member, you can find something to enjoy during this 3 day festival. Remember that the Friday night Literary Soiree celebrating the winners of 2026 NB Writing Competition, as well as the New Brunswick Book Awards on Saturday night are open to the public, and free to attend.

1. Stay for the weekend

This includes all activities from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Twenty rooms are on reserve at The Crowne Plaza in Saint John. There are 15 double - Queen bedrooms and five King bedrooms at a rate of $149 plus tax and service charges. All reservations made under the link below include complimentary breakfast. The reservation deadline is April 30, 2026. See Link Below:

Reservation link 

2. Buy a Saturday pass

This includes Robert J. Sawyer's Saturday morning address, lunch, and an afternoon workshop. And please attend the NB Book Awards on Saturday evening at Lily Lake Pavilion!

3. Or, attend a single workshop

You can choose from four writing craft workshops on Saturday, or one of two on Sunday morning.

If you have trouble registering, contact us at 506-974-1476, and we'll assist you.

This year, all events for WordSpring  take place in Saint John, hosted by the wonderful staff at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The eleventh annual NB Book Awards--which is a free event, and open to the public-- will be held on Saturday evening at Lily Lake Pavilion. Our guest speaker is comedian and author, James Mullinger.

We have a great lineup of workshops for you to enjoy, including the accomplished Robert J. Sawyer, internationally-acclaimed science fiction writer, who will present both a keynote address on Saturday morning, and a Masterclass. His keynote is entitled, Facing the Future: New Horizons in Publishing, What it Means to be a Writer, and the Promise and Peril of AI.  Robert's Masterclass will follow his keynote address, entitled, Combing the Intimately Human with the Grandly Cosmic: The Keys to Writing Science Fiction that Appeals to Both the Heart and the Mind.

Register soon! WordSpring 2026 is only a few  months away. 

We will set up a merchandise table on Friday afternoon and evening at the Crowne Plaza. If you'd like us to sell a book for you at WordSpring on consignment, please advise us at info@wfnb.ca as soon as you sign up for the book launch readings, if you would like us to sell your books on consignment on Friday. Please note that every author is responsible to carry their books to and from the merchandise table.

WordSpring Schedule

Friday May 29, 2026

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Welcome! Get settled, meet and greet your fellow writers, and participate in the Open Mic and book launch readings Welcome! Open Mic and book launch readings in the Bay Room. Merch table, Coffee/tea/refreshment

····DINNER ON YOUR OWN····

6:00 pm -6:45 pm

NB Writing Competition Literary Soiree Reception (cash bar),

Open to the Public

Top of the Town, Crowne Plaza

Music By: Brent Mason

6:45 pm

Welcome by the board

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Award Readings and Reception

Saturday May 30, 2026

8:00 am

Breakfast (complimentary for Crowne Plaza guests)

9:00 - 9:45 am

Keynote Address 

Robert J. Sawyer - Facing the Future: New Horizons in Publishing, What it Means to be a Writer, and the Promise and Peril of AI

10:00 am — 12 pm:

Workshops

Robert J. Sawyer, Sci-fi Masterclass - Combing the Intimately Human with the Grandly Cosmic: The Keys to Writing Science Fiction that Appeals to Both the Heart and the Mind

OR

Rebecca Carrigan (pen name, Becca Blue) - MARKETING VS PUBLICITY—Real-World Promotion Strategies for Indie Authors

--LUNCH BUFFET, NOON TO 1:30 PM--

2:00 pm — 4:00 pm

Workshops

Joe Mahoney -  Record your own Audiobooks 

OR

Akilah Walcott -  Page-to-Stage Poetry and Performance  

--DINNER ON YOUR OWN--

Join us to celebrate the eleventh annual 

NB Book Awards!

6:00 pm - 9:00pm

Lily Lake Pavilion, 

Saint John

May 30, 2026

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The NB Book Awards Reception

Music by Joseph Albert

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Live ceremony Host: TBA

Keynote: James Mullinger

Book Table : The Write Cup Bookstore Café

Trophies provided by: Glass Roots Inc. 

Sunday May 31, 2026

8:00 am 

Breakfast (complimentary for Crowne Plaza guests)

9:30 am -11:30am

Workshops

Anastasios (Tommy) Mihalopoulos - Retelling Myth and Fairy Tales (sponsored by)

OR

Marjorie Simmons - Spring into Memoir: Finding the Life Story You Need to Write 

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Pitch the Publisher

Organized and hosted by WFNB member Andrea Kikuchi.

Checklist for Members

Make sure you didn't forget to register for anything with limited space!

Did you sign up for the Meet and Greet, Open mic and Book Launch?

Did you register for Pitch the Publisher on Sunday afternoon, if you'd like to participate? This event will be coordinated by WFNB member Andrea Kikuchi, and there will be a strict time limit on presentations.

You must pay your registration for the 2026 WordSpring Festival before reserving your spot as a reader.

We will begin at 3 pm with a meet and greet time to chat and break the ice, to allow people time to arrive from where they're driving and get settled.

When the readings begin, choose an excerpt from your work that is about five minutes.

There's limited registration: First come-first served

This year's Pitch the Publisher event is organized and hosted by WFNB member Andrea Kikuchi. This event is free and open to the public, but you must pre-register and submit your pitch prior to the event. 

There will be a very strict time limit. We will hear 15 pitches, at 7 minutes maximum. Your seven minutes will be broken down as follows:

- 2 minute elevator pitch

- 1 minute reading from your piece

- 4 minutes for responses by the panel - 1 minute each

Please submit your pitch to info@wfnb.ca on a word document or pdf and include the following:

- Author name:

- Title of Manuscript:

- Genre:

- Word Count:

- Comparable Titles:

- Why are you the person to tell this story?