
The Upside of November
I’m leaning on my Irish and Scottish lineage to celebrate the Celtic New Year, which began at sunset on October 31st. A time to give thanks for the harvest and welcome the season ahead. It’s a nice theme for this newsletter. There’s been a plentiful harvest of literary festivals this fall. Community celebrations of readers, writers, artists, brought together by book-loving visionaries and volunteers. I travelled south to Word on the Street in Lethbridge and north to Words in the Park in Sherwood Park for Alberta Culture Days.
Whistler Book Awards I was over-the (harvest)-moon excited when Separation Anxiety was shortlisted for an inaugural Whistler Independent Book Award in the non-fiction category. Winners would be announced at the Whistler Writers Festival on October 13-16, the same dates (darn it!) that I would be 9000 kilometers away in China.

In that spirit, I’m pleased to introduce Writeshops — writing workshops that are more play than work — that invite you to explore the possibilities in your own writing. Through a variety of writing “nudges,” you are encouraged to simply be in the present moment: to write where you are. The silence of these writing sessions is balanced with helpful hints, lively discussions and an exchange of wonderful stories. Writeshop spaces are always inspiring, often surprising. Cafés, bookstores, libraries, living rooms. Any place there is a table to gather around and room to roam on a page. I will travel to right where you are! Upcoming dates: “Gift of Story” Writeshop Saturday November 19, 1:o0 – 3:30 pm Pandora’s Boox & Tea, Olds. Monday December 5, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Second Cup Café, Southpointe Common, Red Deer Visit the Write Where You Are website for Writeshop descriptions, dates for 2017, and registration details. Follow us on Facebook for Writeshop news, too.

About Miji Campbell
I'm the author of the book Separation Anxiety - A Coming of Middle Age Story and founder of Write Where You Are. I design and deliver "Writeshops" my own light-hearted brand of writing workshop. Read my story here.
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