The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick upcoming events

The Writer's Mic - WFNB Open Mic event in Shediac (7 May 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

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. This is a free event, but donations are always cheerfully accepted. And there will be a cash bar, opening one half hour before the readings.

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

2026 WordSpring Festival (29 May 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

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

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

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

WordSpring 2026 - Marjorie Simmons

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)

Lesley Choyce - The craft of fiction

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.

2026 WordSpring Festival: Meet and Greet, Readings and Book Launch (29 May 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

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

2026 WordSpring Pitch the Publisher (31 May 2026)

Sun, 31 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

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?

The Writer's Mic - WFNB Open Mic event in Saint John (13 Jun 2026)

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

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

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!