The time has come to spread the word about the writing talent in Collingwood and area, which is why a group of local authors have planned their own writer’s and book lover’s conference at the library.
CollingWORD is a joint venture between the South Georgian Bay Writers’ Connection and the Collingwood Public Library, to celebrate books, the people who write them, the people who read them, and the libraries that loan them.
The event will feature guest speakers and panellist discussions on various topics related to writing, including character development, plot planning, script writing, self-publishing, and more.
Arlene Marks and Sephora Xuereb Bennett, two of the event organizers, hope the day will help writers connect with each other and will introduce book lovers to some local talent.
“Come and meet your new favourite author,” urges Bennett, a member of the Collingwood Writers Collective who writes for personal pleasure.
Marks, a published author of 19 books from romance to supernatural and science fiction, is a frequenter of literary events and conferences, which inspired her to “pay it forward.”
“I have been a professional in the business for many years and I could not have succeeded without the advice and support of people more experienced than myself,” said Marks. “I want to help emerging writers, and I want to let people know there’s help for them.”
The whole event will be free and will take place at the Collingwood Public Library, which is an accessible space.
“It’s really accessible to all ages and all types of walks of life,” said Bennett, noting there’s author representation from multiple genres, including children’s books.
In addition to the presentations by authors, there will be local writers selling their books, offering signings and engaging with people who attend the event.
Lori Crossan, the coordinator for the adult and senior programs for Collingwood Public Library, said she was happy to support the event when Marks presented the idea on behalf of the writer’s collective, and thought it fit in nicely with Ontario Public Libraries Week.
“We’re doing so much at libraries now, so many different programs, and we’re trying to be, and are, very diverse … but we always like to circle back to bookish things and literature,” said Crossan. “I was keen to collaborate.
CollingWORD takes place Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. and Ontario Public Library Week runs Oct. 20-26.
The event is free and anyone is welcome to attend all or part of it, but attendees should register in advance online at the Collingwood Library website.
The event will break for lunch, and E3 Community Services will be operating the Happy Day Café with hot beverages and snacks by donation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The author talks for the Oct. 19 CollingWORD event include:
- Arlene Marks, a retired teacher and author of 19 published books, will be giving a talk entitled The Dimensions of Life, focused on writing robust, realistic and relatable characters.
- Marilyn Kleiber, who writes fantasy as J.M. Tibbott, will tackle the topic of creating a fantasy world that will inspire and persuade readers.
- Tasneem Dairywalla, a children’s book author who takes inspiration from her five-year-old, will be sharing her insights on writing charming children’s books that include life lessons for young readers.
- Jesse T. Cook, an award-winning filmmaker, will be giving his advice on scriptwriting and making written stories that are filmable.
- Patricia Copeland will share her experience “starting again” from her career as a journalist to writing her first book.
- Walter Weckers, a non-fiction writer, and Patricia Sands, a former educator and author of a women’s fiction series, will be speaking about self-publishing using Amazon.
Panel discussions during the day will include:
- Plotters vs. Pantsers - methods for planning the plot of a story, with Deborah Buehler, Carlo Galina, Suzanne Raby, and Sephora Xuereb, facilitated by Krista White.
- Short vs. long fiction - choosing the right length for a story, with Irene McGhee, Bianca Lakoseljac, Krista White and Sephora Xuereb.
- Revising/editing your own work - preparing a manuscript for submission or self-publication with Connie Cook, Bianca Lakoseljac, and Benjamin Rempel.
- The writing life - overcoming obstacles and enjoying the craft, with Carlo Galiana, Marilyn Kleiber, and Paul Yanuziello, facilitated by Susan Kilkarni.
