The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick upcoming events

Drawing for Writers, with Jon Claytor - A WordTravels Fall Event (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Sketch courtesy of https://www.jonclaytor.com/

Drawing for Writers

with Jon Claytor

Offered in partnership with www.fundyfootstepsflavours.ca/

(psst...Sign the "For the Love of Fundy" pledge!)

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Location: The St. Martins Country Inn, St. Martins, NB

This event is for a maximum of 20 participants. Reserve your space soon!

Time: 10 am to 4 pm

Two 2 -1/2-hour sessions, one beginning at 10 am and one beginning at 1:30 pm. Lunch is included (Sandwich, soup and light dessert, coffee and tea), provided by the St. Martins Country Inn. Indicate on the registration if you require a vegetarian or gluten-free option.

We are looking for opportunities to have a social time following this event- location and details TBA.

Workshop Description:

DRAWING FOR WRITERS: Join Jon Claytor as he teaches drawing (no skills necessary) to generate new ideas and perspectives for your writing!

Jon will offer 4 fun exercises designed to use drawing to open new creative doors in your writing.

Mapping a memory - Imagine a place that was special to you as a child - your bedroom, the walk to school, a tree house etc. Can you picture it - as it comes to you, draw the elements - don’t worry how it looks - Draw absolutely everything you can remember - Take a good look at the drawing - What did you draw larger than you expected, what is smaller, what did you almost forget etc. Now, take ten minutes to write about the process of drawing the picture. What did you start with, what memories came to you, how did it make you feel?
What does the monster say? On a scrap of paper answer 5 questions. Next we will create a monster or / character starting with a simple scribble. For 5 minutes add as much detail to the creature as possible. Now have a look at this monster. Using your earlier 5 questions, choose what it would say and add it using a speech bubble. The results are often surprisingly poignant.
Instant Metaphor Generator On a scrap of paper write down 5 things you don’t usually share when introducing yourself. You might not use these thoughts in this project but it’s a good resource for later. You might surprise yourself with what you write down - Now draw your favourite thing. Let it speak as if it’s you with speech bubbles. Instant métaphore! Use that scrap of paper for ideas about what you might be ready to share. Remember no one needs to read this until you’re ready to share it.
Thumbnail Memoir Divide your life into 5 phases. Perhaps childhood, teen years, adulthood, career, retirement. What was your favourite object or possession during each phase? It could be a blanket, a bike, a tea cup? Now let's draw them. And look at them in chronological order. Don’t use any words. What kind of story do they tell?
Final writing exercise - describe the experiences drawing. When do you do it? Why? Have you stopped drawing? Why? When? What was it like to draw memories of your life? etc.

Photo: Carolina Andrade

About Jon Claytor

Jon is a graphic novelist, painter, and writer based in Sackville, New Brunswick.

After establishing himself as an oil painter, Jon fell in love with graphic storytelling. His new graphic novel, Nowhere (Goose Lane, 2026), is a fictional graphic novel about growing up among monsters in a small maritime town. Take The Long Way Home, his memoir, was published by Conundrum Press in 2022. In addition to writing graphic novels, Jon has written many illustrated interviews for the CBC and for the new online resource hub, www.ruralharmreduction.com. Jon enjoys teaching creative workshops for a variety of audiences focusing on storytelling and comic memoirs.

Jon was born in San Francisco and has lived and worked in Moncton, Sackville, Halifax, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. He co-founded SappyFest independent music and arts festival in 2006 and opened Thunder & Lightning in 2013. Jon holds an MFA from York University (2012), attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (1991), and holds a BFA Mount Allison University (1998). He was nominated for a Juno Award for the cover of Gord Downie's “Battle Of The Nudes” in 2004.

Jon will also have copies of his first graphic novel, Nowhere, available for sale.

Finalist, Amazon Canada First Novel Award

“What if the most terrifying thing has already happened?”

Drawn by a mysterious force, 12-year-old Joel and his terrible parents have just arrived in yet another nondescript small town. There’s a diner, a movie theatre, a motel, and a bar. But this time, things seem different, especially when suddenly, out of nowhere, a giant cube appears on the edge of town.

And . . . just as Joel starts to make friends and navigate a new school, which is hard enough, Beauséjour is beset by nightly appearances of zombies, demon landlords, therapy-seeking vampires, and depressed clowns. One by one, the citizens of Beauséjour begin to disappear. When his parents vanish, Joel and his friend Charlie seek to shelter themselves from the strangeness all around them.

A hilarious and sinister reflection on growing up in a world where monsters are real, Nowhere is a dreamlike meditation on adolescence and the absurdity of small-town life. Illustrated with Claytor’s expressive, richly textured visuals, wildly echoing the offbeat world of Beauséjour, Nowhere signals the arrival of a profound and vital voice.

https://gooselane.com/products/nowhere?srsltid=AfmBOoqzSztTxPM1fRPbntD6EEnl9NSFMEH3EsvK1ONRf8pOGdRqL8 _o

If you'd like to stay overnight in St. Martins and enjoy the autumn sights, sounds, and flavours, the following venues will still be open:

Fundy Trail Provincial Park is open until October 25^th but with reduced hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 PM)
Some accommodations open in October after Thanksgiving include:

The theme of this year’s Rising Tide Festival is "Stories of Place.” You can show YOUR love of place by signing the For the Love of Fundy Pledge , showing your commitment to move mindfully, and act intentionally to honour the land, respect the waters, and walk with care - protecting the Fundy region for generations to come.

Find out more at https://www.fundyfootstepsflavours.ca/

Crime and Noir: From Genre Tropes to Literary Fiction, with Francis-Adrien Morneault - A WordTravels Fall Event (31 Oct 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Crime and Noir: From Genre Tropes to Literary Fiction,

with Francis-Adrien Morneault

- a WordTravels Fall event

What makes a crime or noir story work? And what transforms a familiar genre story into something more literary?

In this interactive workshop, writer and novelist Francis-Adrien Morneault will explore the essential elements of crime and noir fiction, from characters (detectives, criminals, etc.), violence, mystery, suspense, and moral ambiguity to the darker atmospheres and distinctive voices associated with the genre.

The first half of the workshop will focus on identifying and discussing the conventions and tropes of crime and noir fiction. Participants will consider how these elements create compelling stories - and how writers can move beyond the familiar conventions of the genre to explore deeper questions about character, memory, morality, identity, place, and the human condition.

Using examples and discussion, Morneault will examine the difference between using genre conventions effectively and transforming those conventions into literary fiction. A story does not have to become literary to be successful: popular crime fiction can be engaging, entertaining, and worthwhile. The goal is not to reject genre conventions, but to understand what they can do and how writers can use them creatively.

The second half will be devoted to a creative writing exercise in which participants will develop their own crime or noir-inspired short piece, experimenting with the techniques discussed during the workshop. Participants may share their writing with the group, but sharing is entirely optional.

No previous experience with crime or noir fiction is required. Come ready to discuss, experiment, and write.

Bio

Francis-Adrien Morneault is a New Brunswick writer, novelist, and poet. He holds a master’s degree in literature from the Université du Québec à Rimouski and has taught literature, French, and English for nearly two decades, including at Rothesay Netherwood School, where he teaches IB French.

His debut novel, The Light of Faded Stars, is a philosophical noir set in Saint John, New Brunswick. Published in 2024, the novel has received numerous honours, including the 2026 CANREADS Adult Fiction Award, double-finalist recognition in the 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (First Novel and Regional Fiction), longlist recognition for the 2026 Whistler Indie Book Awards, and finalist status in the 2025 American Book Awards (Mystery) and more. His work has also appeared in literary and cultural publications and has been featured through readings, interviews, and literary events throughout New Brunswick.

Morneault’s writing draws on the landscapes, history, and people of Atlantic Canada, while exploring themes of memory, mortality, identity, isolation, and the search for meaning. His second book, What the Hills Remember, is a collection of linked short stories and poetry rooted in the people and landscapes of New Brunswick.

He is a member of the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick and lives and writes in the province.

The Venue

The Write Cup Cafe and Bookstore is located in Market Square, in uptown Saint John. It is a comfortable place to enjoy a coffee, buy books, participate in open mics, workshops and various other events.

The Place of Atmosphere in Novels, with Luke Francis Beirne - a WordTravels Fall event (31 Oct 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The Place of Atmosphere in Novels,

with Luke Francis Beirne

- a WordTravels Fall event

Novels are built with many elements: character, setting, plot, style and tone. One is more elusive and mysterious; enigmatic, even: Atmosphere.

In writing, atmosphere refers to the general feeling or mood a work carries. It evokes certain emotional reactions from the reader. Atmosphere is built through a layering and mixing of all other elements.

Luke Francis Beirne’s most recent book, Saints Rest, is a neo-noir novella set in a gritty, caricaturized version of uptown Saint John. He often says that uptown Saint John is the true main character of Saints Rest, not Frank Cain. That’s because the uptown core has a very particular atmosphere to it, which he tried to reflect, capture and caricaturize in his book.

Participants will be encouraged to discuss, ask questions and provide feedback.

About Luke

Luke Francis Beirne was born in Ireland and lives on Wolastoqey land in Saint John, New Brunswick.

His first novel, Foxhunt, was a finalist for the 2022 Foreword INDIES award in General Fiction and was selected as one of The Miramichi Reader’s best novels of 2022.

His second novel, Blacklion, was selected by CBC as one of the novels to read in 2023 and shortlisted by the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick for the 2023 Mrs. Dunsters Fiction Award.

His third novel, Saints Rest, released in 2025. It was featured in Maritime [EDIT] as an ‘Editor’s Choice.’

His writing has been stylistically compared to Hammett, Greene, Forsyth, Hemingway and le Carre.”

The Venue

The Writer's Mic - WFNB Open Mic event in St. Andrews (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:00:00 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. It's useful to try out bits of your current project in front of an audience.

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!

About the venue: Drewhaven Town & Country Café and Restaurant is a beloved local destination for events, dining, home goods, and world-class Pâtisserie. Situated in the historic St. Andrews By-The-Sea, New Brunswick, they warmly welcome visitors year-round. A cash bar will be available.

Building up our sensory writing muscles, a 4-session mini-course with Sandra Phinney! (9 Jan 2027)

Sat, 09 Jan 2027 13:00:00 GMT

An online mini-course in four two-hour sessions:

Building up our Sensory Writing Muscles, with Sandra Phinney!

Location

Online via Zoom.

We've all heard how important it is to include the senses in our writing. We also know it's important for our readers to see what we see. But how often are we actually in the moment? How much time do we give to absorbing details? Famed poet and essayist, Marjory Oliver once wrote that she learned from her partner, Molly Malone Cook, how "Attention without feeling [...] is only a report." An openness and empathy were required for experiences to resonate. Oliver added, "Then M. instilled in me this deeper level of looking and working, of seeing through the heavenly visibles to the heavenly invisibles."

This is what this course is about. Tuning into those heavenly invisibles--in our surroundings, other people, and our community. Each week we'll do some simple writing exercises to "pay attention with feeling." In the process, not only will we discover fodder for stories, but also our stories will become enriched.

For a limit of ten participants.

Online workshop dates and times: Four Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 9 - 11 am,.

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:

WFNB Winter 2027 Writers' Retreat (19 Feb 2027)

Fri, 19 Feb 2027 19:00:00 GMT

(Ice huts on the Kennebecasis River, February 2026)

Welcome to the WFNB's 2027 winter writers' retreat at Villa Madonna Retreat Centre in Rothesay.

Wouldn't you like to have a weekend of uninterrupted writing time? The WFNB is offering another writers' retreat at Villa Madonna, 115 Villa Madonna Road in Rothesay, on February 19-21, 2027. Arrive Friday afternoon, and write until Sunday at lunchtime. No distractions, no responsibilities...and no excuses!

We must have a minimum of 15 registrants, and a maximum of 25. Villa Madonna offers a very reasonable price for two nights accommodations and all meals.*

FRIDAY February 19, 2027 :

Arrival: 3 pm.

Dinner 5 pm.

SATURDAY February 20, 2027:

Breakfast 8 am,

Snack 10 am,

Lunch 12 pm,

Snack 2 pm,

Dinner 5 pm.

SUNDAY February 21, 2027:

Breakfast 8 am

Snack 10 am

Wrap-up/Open Mic 11 am

Lunch 12 pm

CANCELLATION: No later than Friday, February 12.

Arrive on Friday after three pm, settle in, and write until Sunday after lunch. All meals are provided on site. There will be an informal gathering to read your work and receive feedback (totally voluntary), nature trails to wander, and common rooms to gather with other writers. Book your reservation to join us and enjoy this time of writing together, alone.**

You may cancel your reservation up to one week prior to the event, which is Friday, February 12.

This year, as an added bonus, Kathy Mac will join us as writer-in-residence. There will be several slots available of 25 minutes each throughout the weekend. The sign-up sheet will be posted on arrival, and it is first come, first served.

Bio: Kathy Mac

Kathy Mac has authored three books of poetry (Roseway Publishing), two books on the craft of writing (Wording Around Press), and, as Kathleen McConnell, a book of essays (Wolsak and Wynn Publishers). She lives near Halifax (Kjipuktuk) in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq, Malliseet and Passamaquoddy peoples.

Villa Madonna Retreat House engages Childs Catering from Saint John as their caterer. They can accommodate gluten-free dietary needs at no extra charge, but there might be an extra charge for more singular dietary considerations. Contact us for more details. There's a spot to indicate your food restrictions on the registration. Additionally, feel free to bring your own private stash of snacks like chocolate, potato chips, a sip of wine, or whatever else makes you the most productive!

** A WORD ABOUT THE RETREAT CENTRE: Not all the rooms have an ensuite bathroom--groups of rooms share a washroom and shower facility in each section of the building. This is not a problem for most people, but if you require your own washroom for health reasons, let us know and we'll try to slot you in an available ensuite room. First come, first served!

Villa Madonna provides clean, quiet, basic accommodations, and basic meals. It is not a luxury venue, but that is reflected in the price.

ALSO: Villa Madonna was built in the 1930s, so wifi is spotty most places, except for the main floor, close to the offices. If you need wifi to do your work, we recommend using the sitting room on the main floor (which is very comfortable.)