StoryScaping workshops for youth and/or seniors can be delivered in a one-day format in person or via Zoom. Virtual workshops will be delivered over 3 sessions of 2 hours or 4 sessions of 90 minutes.
Once you have read through the workshop descriptions, fill out the Workshop Request Form at the bottom of this page. You may indicate a first and second choice. You will be contacted by the Project Manager within 7 days of your request.
Each workshop leader has a particular specialty, ranging from poetry to storytelling, comic book writing to spoken word; however, most workshops are flexible and can be adapted to your group’s needs. All workshops will involve some element of creative writing.
Learn to Write Speculative Fiction: Science, Science Fiction and Superheroes
with Cecil Castellucci
Are you a fan of Sci Fi? Interested in writing your own Science Fiction story? Every day, scientists work to dream up breakthroughs that spark the imagination and help us understand and unlock the world around us. Scientists often say that they went into the field of science because of the Science Fiction books, TV, and movies they enjoyed. Many Sci Fi writers talk about how real science captured their imaginations and inspired them to create stories. Using excerpts and examples from pop culture as well as stories I’ve created myself, we’ll take a look at how real science finds its place in fiction. Together we’ll explore the questions: How does real science influence and inspire fiction? Why is it important to tell stories that use science? How can we imagine better futures in our Science Fiction? We’ll then use current science headlines as the spark to create a great Science Fiction short story.
Cecil Castellucci is the award-winning and New York Times Bestselling author of books and graphic novels for young adults including Shade, The Changing Girl, Boy Proof, The Plain Janes, Tin Star, Shifting Earth, and Odd Duck. They have written beloved characters like Princess Leia, Batgirl and Yasha Nydoorin. She has been published in Strange Horizons, Tor.com, and other anthologies. They are a Fulbright awardee and a two-time MacDowell Fellow. They volunteer with NASA through the Ambassador program.
Poetry Portal: Writing Through the Senses
with Kathleen Charles
What is poetry, really? What makes it enjoyable, and how do you begin writing something you could call a poem? How can you use your sensory experiences to create poetry? This workshop will explore different accessible ways to begin writing a poem by immersing participants into all of their senses. Our main tools will be our senses—our portals to self-expression and connection with others—which we will hone with short writing exercises. Participants will leave the workshop with new writing they can share with their loved ones and new tools to nurture a creative writing practice. This workshop will be adaptable to the needs and abilities of all participants. Materials to awaken the senses will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own writing or art-making supplies as well. Expect a workshop filled with new experiences, playfulness, joy and the power of creativity.
Kathleen Charles is a queer, Haitian songstress and writer based in Tio’tia:ke (Montreal). Their practice is heavily informed by black feminist thought, dystopian literature, decolonisation, and the liberatory nature of traditional Haitian music, dance, and spirituality. Charles has delivered performances for organizations such as Pride Montreal (2018), and Black Theatre Workshop (2021). They were also a part of three iterations of Afro Drag Montreal, which made its world premiere at the UK pride film festival last year (2024).
Tiny Writings: Exploring Micro and Flash Fiction
with Stephanie King
Don’t have time to write a novel? Good news! Flash fiction is an increasingly popular sub-genre of short stories which seeks to pack the biggest punch in the smallest space. The shorter form allows writers to use compression, language, and form in different ways that wouldn’t be possible in a longer work.
In this workshop, we will take a look at microfiction and flash fiction from 100 to 1000 words and try our hands at different types. We’ll examine successful examples to see what makes them tick. Even if you’ve never written a short story before, there will be lots of generative exercises to help you come up with ideas. Because the stories are so short, this workshop will give writers lots of opportunities to try different styles and come away with a bunch of drafts.
Stephanie King is a former Philadelphian now living in Montreal. Her stories have won the Quarterly West Novella Prize and the Lilith Short Fiction Prize, and appeared in Anomaly, CutBank, Entropy, and elsewhere. She received her MFA from Bennington and serves on the board of the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. You can find her around a variety of social media as @stephstephking.
Unlock the Power of Your Story: A Live Storytelling Workshop
with Afreina Noor
Everyone has a story to tell. This interactive Live Storytelling Workshop is your chance to craft, refine, and confidently share yours!
Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or just starting off, this hands-on experience will help you shape your narrative into a compelling performance.
Over six engaging hours, you’ll learn how to:
- Structure and edit your story for impact
- Capture your audience’s attention from the very first word
- “Show” rather than “tell” through vivid details and emotion
- Give and receive feedback in a supportive, creative space
- Perform with confidence and presence
By the end, you’ll have a polished 7–9-minute story ready to share—plus the skills to bring any future tale to life.
Ready to take the stage? Join us and let your voice be heard!
Afreina Noor is a Montreal-based storyteller, poet, improviser, and spoken word artist. A passionate storyteller, Afreina has performed at Confabulation and The Basement, where she explores themes of identity, resilience, and belonging. Afreina is committed to creating inclusive spaces where individuals can shape and share their stories with confidence. She currently leads engagement and outreach at Unsinkable, a mental health storytelling non-profit, and is the 2025 QWF Mairuth Sarsfield mentee for Spoken Word.
Finding the Story You Need to Tell
with Monique Polak
We’ve all got stories to tell! But which story do we choose? And how do we start? Monique believes we are all writers who, in various ways, create the stories of our lives. The goal of her workshop is to help participants identify the story they most need to tell—and to help them get started on it. For many of us, stories are rooted in our pasts. That’s why, in addition to sharing many practical writing tips, Monique will offer exercises designed to help participants recall a series of childhood memories. With tending and hard work, these memories can become the seeds for a story—whether fiction or nonfiction. Participants will learn how to collect and use sensory detail, write effective dialogue, and evoke emotions. By the end of the workshop, participants should feel inspired and ready to continue working on their stories.
Monique Polak is the author of 34 books for young people and a three-time winner of the QWF Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and YA Literature (formerly called the QWF Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature). Monique taught at Marianopolis College for 35 years. She has led hundreds of writing workshops across the province for people of all ages. Monique has three new books for young people scheduled for publication in 2025 and 2026.
My Story, My Way: How to Write the Story You Always Wanted to Tell
with Julian Sher
We tell stories all the time—about our lives, our families, an exciting adventure or a difficult moment in our lives. But how do you transform those spoken words into written words that you can share in a journal for your family, a personal book, or an article in your local newspaper? This easy-going workshop takes you through the steps of finding a character’s path and their journey, how to build that into a narrative arc, and how to write for all five senses. This is not a course for professional writers, this is about showing everyone how they can write a story as exciting and rewarding as any good book or movie. We will learn by putting our memories on paper, sharing what works and what doesn’t, and uncovering the secrets of good storytelling.
Julian Sher is an award-winning storyteller, the author of nine books, and a documentary director who has trained writers in more than 25 countries around the world. His film Ghosts of Afghanistan won the top Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary and Best Writing. He was also the Senior Producer of CBC’s The Fifth Estate, Canada’s premier investigative TV program, for five years.
His stories have appeared in the Montreal Gazette, the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The New York Times and Reader’s Digest. Julian also works to tell the stories of people fighting for human rights; he is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University. More information and samples of his books, articles and films are at www.juliansher.com.
Request a Workshop Today
Fill out the workshop request form below to get started. Once you’ve submitted it, we’ll contact you within seven days.
