Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 10:00 am–12:30 pm ETOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

Note: We are aware of a glitch rendering our RSVP forms unresponsive for some users. If you encounter difficulties registering for this session, email John Wickham at john@qwf.org, who will register you manually.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-01-09 12:30 - 13:00

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-01-09 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, January 9, 2026, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

If you registered and can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org to notify us.

Note: We are aware of a glitch rendering our RSVP forms unresponsive for some users. If you encounter difficulties registering for this session, email john@qwf.org, who will register you manually.

Embodied Writing - The Frost Line (winter edition)
2026-01-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Studio 414, 10 Avenue des Pins West #414, Montreal
Winter asks the body to listen differently. Beneath the hush, beneath the cold, beneath the thickening dark, something essential begins to gather. The frost line is the boundary where frozen stillness meets the body’s hidden warmth, where subtle currents awaken, and truths emerge in crystalline patterns.

Writing begins here—invisibly, beneath the surface. Before language finds the page, it roots itself in sensation: tightness along the ribs, or warmth cupped behind the sternum—that quiet ember we protect from cold’s embrace. Our bodies know how to winter. They know how to pull inward, how to hold heat, and how to wait.

But waiting isn’t silence, and it isn’t death. Under the ice, rivers still move. Under the numb, stories stir. When we breathe deeper, stretch gently, soften the jaw and the belly, something time-locked begins to crack open and gleam.

This season, we gather at the frost line: that inner threshold where the deep freeze teaches lucidity, where contraction reveals clarity, where the smallest spark becomes a beacon. To write from here is to court the slow burn beneath it all, to trust the body as it reveals what is ready—no more, no less.

Whether you arrive as a longtime writer, a curious beginner, or someone simply craving a space to thaw and listen, this workshop invites you into the quiet power of wintering the body, wintering the word.

Our practice will interweave:

-Kundalini breathwork-Stretches & light movement-Creative writing prompts & exercises-Meditation-An optional sharing & discussion circle-Homemade chai & a sweet treat

What to bring:

Your journal, a pen, comfy clothes, and an open heart.

What to know:

Pens & paper will be available, as will floor mats, blocks, and cushions. Seating options include chairs, mats, and back jacks. There will be space to move, shift, and settle as needed. The space is on the 4th floor and there is an elevator in the lobby, however the lobby itself is up a few stairs.

About the facilitator:

Maya Khamala is a lifelong writer of many stripes. From poetry to grassroots journalism to creative nonfiction, word is her bond. She has collaborated with visual artists at a loss for words and spent the last decade working as a freelance copywriter and editor. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and is an emerging novelist. Maya has deep roots in feminist, anti-racist, climate justice, and Indigenous solidarity movements—work that shapes the way she wields language. She is also a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher and Embodied Writing facilitator offering regular classes and workshops in Montreal. Maya came to Kundalini as a way of healing from childhood trauma and its many manifestations in her body, and as a reminder to step away from the keyboard…and breathe.

Cost: $80All are welcome. Limited spots.Register: linktr.ee/heartfire.kundalini

Lunch & Learn with QWF
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 12:00–1:00 pm ETOpen to all—register for Zoom link

Looking to learn more about QWF, what we do, and how we can help you as a writer?

Join us for a Lunch & Learn with QWF!

In this quarterly online orientation session, we provide a deep dive into our many programs and services and how we can help you in your writing journey. Whether you’re new to QWF, want to learn about a particular program, or simply want to meet the team, we welcome you to join us.

Riley Palanca (Membership Services Coordinator) will discuss QWF programs and services for emerging and aspiring writers, including our mentorship program, Shut Up & Write writing sessions, and writing workshops.

Lori Schubert (Executive Director) will explain QWF programs and services for more established writers, including the Writers in the Community program, the Hire a Writer Directory, and the QWF Awards.

John Wickham (Communications Officer) will provide a brief tour of the website, highlighting sections and resources that are particularly useful to QWF members.

Free and open to all. We hope to see you there!

To get the Zoom link: Fill out the registration form. You’ll receive the Zoom link by email shortly thereafter.

If you have trouble registering or joining the meeting, contact John at john@qwf.org.

Lunch & Learn with QWF is our quarterly orientation series to welcome new members and provide an overview of QWF’s activities. The next one after July 22 will be in October. Learn more about our Lunch & Learn series.

REGISTER NOW

The Words and Music Show Presents: Pigs&Wolves
2026-01-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Casa del Popolo, 4873 boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1R6, Canada
Thursday, January 15, 2026Doors: 6:30 pm, Show: 7:00 pm ET

Montreal-based poetry-rock group Pigs&Wolves plays Casa del Popolo (4873 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). Featuring special guest Tara McGowan-Ross.

Tickets available at the door (cash or card).

Part of the Quebec Writers’ Federation’s Words and Music series.

Listen to Pigs&Wolves EP The Unfortunate Waggle.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00 am–12:30 pm ETOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

Note: We are aware of a glitch rendering our RSVP forms unresponsive for some users. If you encounter difficulties registering for this session, email John Wickham at john@qwf.org, who will register you manually.

Accent Open Mic Vol. 129, Cactus Press 20th Anniversary Bash
2026-01-18 20:00 - 22:00 | Bar Le Record, 7622 Rue St-Hubert, Montréal, Quebec, H2R 2N6, Canada
Cactus Press turns 20! Come celebrate with a bevvy of Cactus Press alumni on January 18th at Bar Le Record.

Cross-Border Conversations: Environmental Writers' Retreat
2026-01-19 16:00 - 2026-01-25 12:00
January 19-25, 2026, Hotel Gault, Old Port, Montreal. Please join us for a relaxing, luxurious retreat with environmental writers from the US and Canada. https://www.nature-culture.net/montreal-retreat-2026 This small gathering at a boutique hotel with gourmet meals is a time away from the fray to start the new year with focus on your own writing and to recenter among like-minded writers. There is an option for day attendance for Quebec residents. The event culminates in a reading (with vending opportunity through Librarie Bertrand); and includes an embodiment mapping project (optional). Confirmed conversation leaders include Lise Weil, Thomas Ian Shaw, and Anne Bergeron.

Launch of Quist Issue 3
2026-01-22 19:00 | Librairie Pulp Books & Cafe, 3952 Wellington Street, Montreal, Quebec, H4G1V3, Canada
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 7:00 pm ET

QWF’s literary magazine for youth, Quist, is throwing a launch party!Join us on January 22nd at 7pm at Pulp Books to celebrate Quist‘s third issue. There will be readings by issue contributors, followed by light refreshments.This is a free event and all ages are welcome. We can’t wait to see you there!

Read Issue 3 NOw

Launch of Ahoy Issue 4
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00
The launch of our fourth(!) issue is on Thursday, January 22nd. Join us for readings, live music, and a showing of artwork by our talented contributors. Come for a schmooze and a catch-up, leave with some new friends. The venue is homey and can only be disclosed upon purchase of a ticket 😉 BYOB. Starts at 7pm. Don’t be late that’s not cool anymore. $8 presale, $10 at the door.

Anniversary Launch: Soliloquies 30!
2026-01-22 19:00 - 22:00 | Bar Le Record, 7622 Rue St-Hubert, Montréal, Quebec, H2R 2N6, Canada
Mark your calendars! Please join us on Thursday, January 22nd at 7PM at Bar Le Récord (near Jean-Talon) to help commemorate the 30th iteration of Soliloquies Anthology!
Soliloquies is one of the longest-running anglo literary journals in Quebec, and prides itself on being a Montreal institution where many emerging writers publish their works for the first time. Soliloquies is produced by a student-led team of editors and creatives at Concordia University. Contributors (authors) are Canadian or those living in Canada.
We are excited to launch issue 30.1 and to celebrate the hard work of our 2025/2026 team.Come out for a night of readings and mingling with the literary community here in Montreal.
More details and other surprises to come, as well as news about our next open submission window.
Follow us at @soliloquies.concordia on Instagram for live updatessoliloquies.org

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-01-23 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, January 23, 2026, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

If you registered for the session but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

Environmental Writers' Reading to Benefit RAVEN Trust
2026-01-24 16:00 - 20:00 | Hotel Gault, 449 Rue Ste Helene, Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2K9, Canada
Saturday, January 24, 5:00–8:00 pm ET

Join us for a public reading on January 24th at the Hôtel Gault in Old Montreal. Organized by NatureCulture, with QWF as a promotional partner, the event will feature readings by QWF members Lise Weil, Sarah Wolfson, Ian Thomas Shaw, Suzanne Keeptwo, Tina Wayland, Tamara Nazywalskyj, Nadine Neema, Su J Sokol, and Carolyne van der Meer,

Books by featured readers will be available for purchase, and five open mic slots will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. All proceeds go to Indigenous environmental rights organization RAVEN Trust.

The reading is part of NatureCulture’s Montreal Environmental Writers’ Conference, January 19–26. The retreat, which includes meals, literary conversations, a workshop, and more, is open to both out-of-town participants and local participants who wish to participate in the daytime activities. Learn more about the daytime retreat.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2026-01-31 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:00 am–12:30 pm ETOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

If you are registered but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

Lunch & Learn with: Confabulation
2026-02-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Zoom
Tuesday, February 3, 202612:00–1:00 pm ETFree, online—register for Zoom link

Confabulation is a monthly storytelling event based in Montreal, Victoria, and Calgary. Storytellers share honest stories from their lives without notes, props, or gimmicks.

This Lunch & Learn will give you more information about Confabulation and storytelling. Prospective storytellers can learn how to pitch their story and participate in one of their shows. You can also learn how their storytelling workshops and coaching can enhance your daily communication skills. Whether you are a published author looking to branch into literary performance, an emerging writer longing to share your story, or a literary lover in want of engaging, entertaining events, you are invited to learn from Confabulation’s founding artistic director, Matt Goldberg, and general manager, Deb Vanslet, in this free information session.

This session will be recorded and published on QWF’s YouTube channel.

Register to get the Zoom link.

Register for Zoom link

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-02-06 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, February 6, 2026, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

This session is now full.

If you registered for the session but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

A Poetry Evening at the Thomas More Institute
2026-02-11 18:30 | Thomas More Institute, 3405 Atwater Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3H 1Y2, Canada
Immerse yourself in the poetic worlds of four Montreal authors in this poetry evening at the Thomas More Institute. We are excited to welcome Willow Loveday Little, Jerome Ramcharitar, Matthew Rettino and Carolyne Van Der Meer, who will each bring their unique styles and stories to the evening as they read some of their latest work. Whether you are curious about poetry or a lifetime enthusiast, this evening invites you to discover poignant and heartfelt works on a variety of themes, from the palpable and mundane to the abstract and existential. Wine and cheese will be served.
Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: 3405 Atwater
Entry ticket: Suggested donation of 10$ (Cash or card at the door)
Book Purchases: Fancy a new poetry book to bring home? Some of the authors will have copies of their works available on-site for purchase. (Accepted payment methods will vary.)

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 10:00 am–12:30 pm ETOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

If you are registered but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

BOOK LAUNCH: Oyster by Marianne Ackerman
2026-02-15 16:00 - 18:00 | BAR LE SPARROW, 5322 Saint-Laurent, 5322 Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC, Canada
Celebrate the launch of local author Marianne Ackerman’s latest release, OYSTER! Join us on Sunday, February 15th from 4-6 pm EST at Bar le Sparrow! Books will be available for sale and for signing.
In this satirical family drama, a bestselling author struggles with writer’s block until she reconnects with her ambitious niece at a funeral — perfect for fans of Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
One-time bestselling novelist Amelia Cameron has writer’s block. After her octogenarian father falls off a roof during a windstorm, his funeral brings the four Cameron siblings together on the family farm, following years of separation. With the patriarch gone, familiar relationships begin to crumble.
While the siblings spar, Amelia’s niece, Ginny Gupta, begs her famous aunt for writing advice on her first novel. After a wine-soaked weekend and an innocent bit of typing, the resulting novel, The World Is Your Oyster, brings both women to the brink of scandal with the potential to shake the powerful literary world.

Reading by Ricardo Wilson
2026-02-17 17:30 | Arts Building 160, 853 Sherbrooke W.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 5:30 pm ET

Please join us next Tuesday, Feb 17th at 5:30 pm for a Reading with Professor Ricardo Wilson, McGill English Department’s Richler Writer-in-Residence for 2025/2026. (Location: Arts Building 160, 853 Sherbrooke W.)

Ricardo Wilson, a creative writer and scholar, is an associate professor of English at Williams College and the founder and executive director of The Outpost Foundation, a residency and arts advocacy organization for writers of color from the United States and Latin America. He has, most recently, extracted from the archive and edited Troubled Lands, a forthcoming and previously unpublished collection of short fiction from Mexico and Cuba translated by Langston Hughes in 1935 (Princeton University Press) and is the author of An Apparent Horizon and Other Stories (PANK Books) and The Nigrescent Beyond: Mexico, the United States, and the Psychic Vanishing of Blackness (Northwestern University Press). He is at work on his forthcoming novel Even Worse than the Nightmare.

At next week’s reading (Feb 17), Ricardo will share work from An Apparent Horizon (2021), as well as from Even Worse than the Nightmare (his forthcoming novel), and El Negrero (a forthcoming work of translation). There will be wine and other refreshments! I hope you to see you there and I encourage you to share this event widely.

Read a recent interview with Ricardo Wilson here.

More on the Mordecai Richler Writer-in-Residence Program:

Situated in both the Department of English and the Département des littératures de langue française, de traduction et de création (DLTC) within the Faculty of Arts at McGill, the Mordecai Richler Writer-in-Residence Program brings a creative writer to the Department of English for one semester each year. By providing valuable insight into the creative process through events, student meetings, and workshops, the Richler WiR nurtures emerging student talent. Students take in practical and theoretical approaches to writing for such media as television, film, radio, stage, interactive media and print publications.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-02-20 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, February 20, 2026, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

This session is now full. To be put on the waitlist, please email john@qwf.org.

If you registered for the session but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2026-02-28 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 10:00 am–12:30 pm ETOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

If you are registered but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

Lunch & Learn with: The Public Lending Right (PLR)
2026-03-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Zoom
Tuesday, March 3, 202612:00–1:00 pm ETFree, Online via Zoom—Register for Link

Did you know that authors can receive payment when their books are in libraries? This is called the Public Lending Right (PLR). In Canada, the PLR Program sends yearly payments to writers and other creators whose works are in public libraries.

The Quebec Writers’ Federation is excited to host PLR Program Manager Peter Schneider and PLR Program Analyst Lori Knoll for our next Lunch and Learn. They will give an overview of the program, including who is eligible, how payments work, and what has recently changed in the registration process.

Whether you already have a book in a public library or are working towards one, this Lunch and Learn will acquaint you with a program that helps writers get paid for their work.

This session is free and open to all.

This session will be recorded and available to view until May 1, 2026.

Register to get the Zoom link.

Register for Zoom Link

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2026-03-06 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, March 6, 2026, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

This session is now full. To be put on the waitlist, email john@qwf.org. You will be notified if a spot becomes available.

If you registered for the session but can no longer attend, please email john@qwf.org.

Hustle Life Balance: How to Thrive as a Freelancer
2026-03-07 10:30 - 16:30 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
In this 6-hour intensive workshop, participants will learn how to avoid common freelance pitfalls and overcome major pain points. Through a mix of guided lessons and group exercises, we will cover the three pillars of a successful practice: finding work, managing operations, and organizing finances.

Together, we will build a roadmap to help you avoid the “feast and famine” roller coaster and navigate complex business requirements, such as when to incorporate or register for GST/QST.

Agenda

Hours 1-2: Finding Work. I will share my own strategies and tips for finding work. We will then review each participant’s current practices and collaboratively brainstorm solutions.

Hours 3-4: Managing Your Business. We will cover tips and strategies as well as specific automation tools that allow you to streamline administrative tasks and focus on the creative work you love. As a group, we will troubleshoot current stressors and establish boundaries to protect your energy.

Hours 5-6: Financial Health. We will examine different billing structures and financial management techniques to stabilize your income. I will also guide you through the financial administrative tasks, including the process of registering for GST/QST and knowing when it is time to incorporate your business.

Please bring to the workshop: 3-5 questions and/or pain points pertaining to your personal freelance practice.

Embodied Writing - The Dregs ("Almost Spring" Edition)
2026-03-07 14:00 - 17:00 | Espace Be Bien-Être, 2240 Beaconsfield, Montreal, QC, Montréal, Canada
Winter doesn’t wrap up all at once. It lingers in the body as residue—stiff joints, shallow breath, a heaviness that refuses to be rushed. The dregs are what remain when we’re done pretending something is over.
Writing begins here, in what persists: the slow shoulders, the tight ribs, the warmth that hasn’t yet settled. This is not the clarity of spring, but the insistence of what still needs attention.
We move gently, breathe deliberately, and let the body speak from its afterweight. Words rise from fatigue, from pressure, from the slow pulse of becoming that hasn’t yet found release.
This workshop invites you to write from the dregs—not to clear them away, but to listen closely to what refuses to end, and let language emerge from what is alive there.
Our practice will interweave:
-Kundalini breathwork
-Stretches & light movement
-Creative writing prompts & exercises
-Meditation
-An optional sharing & discussion circle
-Homemade chai & a sweet treat
What to bring:
Your journal, a pen, comfy clothes, and a willing heart.
What to know:
Pens & paper will be available, as will yoga mats, blocks, and bolsters. Seating options will include chairs, mats, and back jacks. There will be space to move, shift, and settle as needed. The space is on the 2nd floor, up a flight of stairs.
About the facilitator:
Maya Khamala is a lifelong writer of many stripes. From poetry to grassroots journalism to creative nonfiction, word is her bond. She has collaborated with visual artists, and has worked as a freelance copywriter and editor for the last decade. She has a shiny little MA in Creative Writing to list among her credentials, and is an emerging novelist. Maya has an extensive background in feminist, anti-racist, climate justice and Indigenous solidarity movements—work that has deeply informed the way she wields words. Aside from being a writer, she is also a Kundalini Yoga teacher and Embodied Writing facilitator offering regular classes and workshops in Montreal. She got into Kundalini as a way of healing from childhood trauma and its many lifelong manifestations in her body, as well as to counteract being a writer who sometimes forgets to step away from the keyboard…and just breathe.
Cost: $85
All are welcome. Limited spots.
Register: linktr.ee/heartfire.kundalini

Soliloquies x Pixie OPEN MIC + Music & Raffle
2026-03-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Bedroc Collective, Near Rosemont Station, Montreal, QC, H2S 1Z3, Canada
Marginalia: Scribbles, Scraps and Notes Apps
RSVP HERE: https://soliloquies.org/events-2/
For the first time, Pixie Literary Magazine and Soliloquies Anthology are collaborating on an Open Mic!
It’s your last chance to read with us this year!
This time around, we don’t want to hear your best, we want to hear your messiest. We’re looking for readings which resist perfection and conventional literary standards. Read us that short story from your first workshop that you abandoned. Or the breakup poem in your notes app that you’d never dream of publishing. Or your elaborate Hunger Games fan-fiction that did numbers in 2013 but you cringe to think about now. We want messy, weird, vulnerable, uncomfortable.
If you’ve got something in your repertoire that fits (and we Know that you do), sign up below! If you’re just looking to enjoy the evening as an audience member, RSVP at https://soliloquies.org/events-2/ to receive an email with our Open Mic address.
When: Friday, March 13th 2026 at 7pm
Where: Bedroc Collective @bedrocmtl (Near Rosemont metro, RSVP for address!)
Cost of Entry: PWYC Donation, suggested $5
Featuring Raffle Prizes from Concordia’s Queer Print Club and more, along with musical performances from Bedroc’s band!
Events

Follow us on Instagram @soliloquies.concordia

International Women's Day Reading Event § Journée internationale des femmes Lecture
2026-03-08 16:00 - 18:30 | Phoenix Books, 5928 Sherbrooke Street West, 5928 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, QC, H4A 1X7, Canada
EN: An afternoon of poetry, fiction and literature readings for and by women, for International women’s day!
Sign up to read, fiction, poetry or creative non-fiction from 3 pm – 4 pm. Readings will begin at 4 pm. Tea and treats for contributors and attendees. All are welcome. Reading in any language is invited. Event by donation, no tickets or registration fees.
FR: Un après-midi de lectures de poésie, de fiction et de littérature pour et par les femmes !
Inscrivez-vous pour lire des œuvres de fiction, de poésie ou de non-fiction créatives de 15 h à 16 h. Les lectures commenceront à 16 h. La lecture en n’importe quelle langue est la bienvenue. Thé et collations offerts aux participants. Bienvenue à tous. Entrée libre (dons bienvenus), sans billets ni frais d’inscription.

Poetic Transformations: Revising as Re-Seeing
2026-03-09 17:45 - 19:45 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Most poets move through a process of honing our work. We draft, workshop, revise, and polish our poems. But what possibilities await if we reframe revision as transformation?

This workshop will build a new toolkit for revising poetry—one that valorizes artistic possibility over the idea of a single finished draft. Together, we will embrace each poem’s power to contain and reveal multiple versions of itself—versions that can stand alone or in conversation.

Through generative exercises, craft wisdom, and workshop-style feedback, we will inhabit poet and composition scholar Wendy Bishop’s idea of radical revision. Each week, we will enact experiments on our work to shake us out of the poems we thought we knew and into new stylistic territory. By embracing revision as an act of re-seeing, we will confound our own expectations, deepen into the inherent promise of our work, and slough off stale writerly habits. A delightful, productive defamiliarization may result.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, not known how to revise, or felt too attached to a draft to change it, this workshop is for you. If you’ve ever wanted to create an inventive sequence of poems stemming from a single impulse, this workshop is for you. If you’ve ever wanted to turn your linguistic sandcastle into a lexical dragon or syllabic shore bird, this workshop is for you.

The strategies you will learn are designed to serve you both within and beyond the workshop. You can expect to leave the workshop with a newly articulated, personalized philosophy of revision. You might leave with 8 radically different versions of a single poem. You might leave with a whole new sequence of poems that could scaffold a collection. Regardless, you will leave with some substantially revised poetry along with the concrete tools and feedback to make future revision a process of expansive growth.

The workshop is open to practicing poets of all levels — with the following caveats:

1) you must already be writing and revising poems;

2) you must be willing to abandon the idea of single finished version of any given poem; and

3) you must bring 3 to 5 of your own poems that you are willing to revise beyond recognition.
