A very special opportunity to work with one of Cape Breton’s finest writers.
The workshop will be held at the Arts Centre from 1-4pm.
Admission is $45, $25 for members, and $15 for students.
The art of writing is inextricably linked to the art of reading; in reading the works of authors we admire, we discover the heights of possibility in literature and learn the craft of shaping life into stories. For writers, reading is an inspiration, an education, and something more: it is by becoming good readers of our own work (bringing to it critical questions like “What story do I want to tell, and how does each word I’ve chosen help me tell it?”) that we learn to shape a strong first draft into a work of art.
For this workshop, participants are invited—but not required—to bring an example of a literary work you admire (you might bring a complete poem, story or novel or just a particular sentence, paragraph or scene). These examples will form the basis of discussion as we look more closely at (1) what you love best about a particular text, (2) what choices the author has made to accomplish that, (3) how you can bring the same strategies and techniques to your own writing, and (4) how to bring the same critical eye to your own work as you tackle editing. Reading well is about reading closely and thoughtfully, but most of all it’s about reading with love—finding even deeper understanding and joy in the words on the page—and that’s the approach we’ll take in our conversation.
Rebecca Silver Slayter is a freelance writer and editor. She co-edits Brick literary journal and formerly worked as a reporter at the Inverness Oran. Her first novel, In the Land of Birdfishes, was published by HarperColllins in 2013 and shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. She was also named one of CBC’s Ten Writers to Watch. Rebecca grew up in New Glasgow, and now lives in St-Joseph-du-Moine.
ICCA recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage to develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Scotians.