Quebec Writers' Federation

QWF Annual Picnic
2025-07-20 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Teesri Duniya Theatre, 251 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H2W1R5, Canada
Sunday, July 20, 2025, 2:00-4:00 pmLa Grande Galerie, Teesri Duniya Theatre251 avenue des Pins Ouest, MontrealOpen to all, RSVPs encouraged

Join us for the QWF Annual Picnic!

Come enjoy some afternoon nibbles and drinks in the company of your fellow writers on the terrace of la Grande Galerie at Teesri Duniya Theatre, in the complex la Cité-des-Hospitalières (same venue as last year’s picnic).

Light refreshments will be served, but feel free to bring your own food or drink. You’re also welcome to contribute a dish to the picnic (finger food only, please). There are picnic tables on the terrace, but you can also bring blankets or lawn chairs. There are gardens behind the terrace, which are walkable and open to the public.

The picnic is free for both QWF members and non-members, so feel free to bring your friends and family. Catch up with old friends, and make new ones!

The venue is covered, so the picnic will proceed rain or shine.

A big thanks to Teesri Duniya Theatre for letting us use their space for this event.

Please RSVP below to let us know you’re coming and so we can plan for how many refreshments to bring.

Book Exchange

Looking for some new reading material? Take part in our book exchange! Bring a book—be it a personal favourite or one you wrote—and drop it off at the book-exchange table. We’ll invite participants to browse the table and grab a book midway through the picnic at 3:00 pm.

Buddy System

New to QWF? Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone—we have a Buddy System where new or prospective members can be paired with experienced members. Email Riley at riley@qwf.org at least a week before the event to request a buddy.

Accessibility Information

From the main entrance, there is a flight of stairs up to the first floor of the Complexe La Cité-des-Hospitalière, followed by three steps leading to the Grande Galerie, where we will be. If coming from outside, there are six steps leading up to the Grande Galerie. If you have mobility concerns, please contact Riley (riley@qwf.org) and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Directions to the Venue

From the southwestern entrance of La Cité-des-Hospitalières (251 avenue des Pins Ouest), walk north through the parking lot. There will be an entrance to the building on your right, down a slight slope to the main door. Continue inside, where staff will show you to the Grande Galerie terrace.

Map with directions to the venue.

Embodied Writing - Outdoor Summer Edition
2025-07-19 14:00 - 17:00 | Teesri Duniya Theatre, 251 avenue des Pins Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, H2W1R5, Canada
~Writing, breathwork, meditation & optional sharing circle~

Saturday, July 19, 2-5pmTeesri Duniya Theatre, 251 Des Pins WestOutdoor summer edition (sheltered outdoor location with backup indoor location on-site).

***

Writing happens in the body. The more you engage your senses, the stronger your language. Whatever emotions you spill onto the page are deeply rooted—at the cellular level.

We contort ourselves into painfully disembodied shapes in order to summon words, and yet the body remains our deepest source of truth. What if we gave in to our bodies instead? What words might surface? What untapped potential might emerge?

Get out of your head and into your body so you can write with vital presence. Our bodies hold so many stories that long to be told. Breathing life into those stories has the potential to be a deeply empowering and healing act.

If you’ve never done breathwork or meditated before, it really doesn’t matter. If you’re not a writer, that’s ok too. This workshop is for writers wanting to enhance or expand their practice, non-writers interested in exploring their potential, and anyone who feels called to investigate the relationship between body and language.

Our practice will interweave:

-Kundalini breathwork-Stretches & movement-Creative writing prompts & exercises-Meditation-An optional sharing & discussion circle-Iced tea & a sweet treat

What to bring:

Your journal, a pen, comfy clothes & an open mind. Yoga mat optional.

What to know:

Pens & paper will be available, as will some floor mats/blocks/cushions if needed. Seating options will include: benches, chairs, floor mats, floor, grass, etc. There will be space to move around and shift positions as needed.

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 has worked as a freelance copywriter and editor for close to a decade. She has a shiny little MA in Creative Writing to list among her credentials, and is an emerging novelist to boot. 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 offering regular Montreal classes in NDG and the Plateau. 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 simply breathe.

Cost: $85All are welcome! Limited spots.Book here: linktr.ee/heartfire.kundalini

If you want to attend but are struggling financially, please email maya.khamala@gmail.com to discuss options.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2025-07-19 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, July 19, 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.

CBC "The Bridge"
2025-07-19 04:00 - 17:00
Fred Anderson will join host Nantali Indongo “The Bridge” CBC on 19 July for a discussion of His memoir “Eyes Have Seen: From Mississippi to Montreal (Baraka Books).

Working as a Writer: From Side-Passion to Professional Practice
2025-07-12 12:00 - 15:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Join award-winning author, publisher, and creative entrepreneur Alexis Marie Chute for a deep dive into essential strategies every writer needs to thrive in today’s literary landscape. Whether you’re crafting short-form articles or building toward your first (or fifth) book, this session will give you the tools and insights to build a sustainable, income-generating writing career—on your terms.
Schedule:
10–11:30am (1. 5 hours)
Short-form writing, articles, and pitching for publicationLong-form writing—from book concepts to publication and beyondPublishing paths, including traditional, self, and hybrid modelsBuilding and leveraging your writing portfolio to open new opportunitiesCreative collaborations across genres, disciplines, and media11:30am-12noon – Break for Lunch (30 min)
12noon – 1:30pm (1. 5 hours)
Building your writer platform (website, social media, newsletters)Managing your writing life with systems, automation & time managementLong-game career strategies—becoming your own creative bossFinancial planning and making money as a writer
This is your chance to invest in your creative future with practical, professional-level guidance tailored to writers who are serious about success. Join us—and walk away empowered, organized, and ready to grow your writing into a thriving career.
Workshop Fee: $215Date & Time: Saturday, July 12, 10:00am—1:30pm MTLocation: Online (Google Meet link sent upon registration)

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2025-07-11 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, July 11, 2025, 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.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2025-07-05 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, July 5, 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.

Book Launch: Annapurna's Bounty by Veena Gokhale
2025-07-03 18:30 - 20:30 | La Livrerie, 1376, rue Ontario Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 1S1, Canada
*Event Postponed to: Thursday, July 3, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm*

You are invited to the launch of Annapurna’s Bounty, Indian Food Legends Retold by Veena Gokhale on Thursday, July 3, 6.30-8.30 pm, at La Livrerie, a lovely, library-cafe located at 1376, Rue Ontario Est, Montréal. A 10-minute walk from Metro Beaudry on the greenline. Bike and car parking available.I truly look forward to reading from my book of short stories. Discussion, celebration, hanging out — what’s right with this picture?! Samosas and munchies provided. Plus the place serves a variety of drinks.

Annapurna’s Bounty recasts Indian food legends for the 21st century palate and contains a generous dollop of magic realism. Here, food manifests as ploy, bargain, symbolic communication, a bone of contention, a lesson, as it weaves through the lives of kings and commoners, witches and goddesses, gurus and bandits, refugees and travellers. And who is Annapurna? She’s the Indian goddess of nourishment.

Each story is followed by a vegetarian recipe offered up by a character. This is pluralistic, multi-dimensional, foodie fiction — a banquet for the mind and the body.

It’d be great if you show your interest by RSVPing on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/657942617017389

Or at Veena’s website event page, so that the organizers have an idea of the numbers: https://www.veenago.com/events/

Craft Meets Magic: The Alchemy of Short Fiction
2025-07-02 17:45 - 19:45, 2025-06-25 17:45 - 19:45, 2025-06-18 17:45 - 19:45, 2025-06-11 17:45 - 19:45, 2025-06-04 17:45 - 19:45 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Is there an art form more maddening than the short story? Demanding the complexity of a novel, the lyricism of a poem, and the economy of a joke, the work is tedious and the rewards (for most of us) are slim. Still, for us cursed few, the short story is an addictive nut to crack. After all, there’s little more thrilling than the prose of a writer who can do more with a handful of pages than most can do with 300. The complexity of a novel! The lyricism of a poem! The economy of a joke!

Join us, if you dare, for an 8-week workshop where participants will share and critique each other’s work with an eye towards craft. Specifically, we will ask ourselves questions like, “What are characters made of?” “How is a plot built?” “Do I really need to describe everything?”

Equally important to studying these questions will be putting them aside, as we celebrate and cultivate the magic that makes art artin the first place–that intangible whatever that defines our passion for fiction. After all, what else do we have to keep us warm as we trudge through draft to draft?

As time allows, we’ll also read stories by published authors like ZZ Packer, Donald Barthelme, Jhumpa Lahiri, Joy Williams, and George Saunders. Participants will be asked to read and prepare responses to a short story (distributed from me by email) prior to our first meeting.

Frankie Barnet is the author of Mood Swings (McClelland & Stewart), which was a finalist for the Grand prix du livre de Montréal; Kim: A Novel Idea (Metatron); and An Indoor Kind of Girl (Metatron). Her work has appeared in places such as PRISM International, EVENT, Joyland, The Erotic Review, and Biblioasis’ Best Canadian Short Stories Anthology. She has an MFA from Syracuse University and lives in Montreal.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2025-06-27 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, June 27, 2025, 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.

Book Launch: Red Bolero by Karen Ocana
2025-06-26 19:00 | Argo Bookshop, 1841A Ste-Catherine St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Join Karen Ocana for the launch of her new chapbook, Red Bolero, at Argo Bookshop. I’ll be in conversation with Victoria Leblanc, Gloria Macher, and Brian Campbell.

This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP on TicketSource. Masks are not required, but will be provided for free at the door.

About the Poets

Karen Ocaña is a poet, literary translator, and avid book critic. She was on the jury for the Grand Prix du livre de Montreal from 2018-2020. She translates from Spanish as well as from French. Her translations have been published recently in Arc Poetry, ellipse magazine, the Malahat Review and the Capilano Review. Karen’s translation of Louise Dupre’s poetry collection Rooms was a finalist for the 2017 QWF Cole Translation Prize. Her translation into English of Gloria Macher’s novel The Theft of Don Fernando’s Arteries is forthcoming. Karen’s poetry has been published in Kola Magazine as well as JONAH magazine, and she has read widely from her work in Montreal’s literary circles. Red Bolero is her first published book of poetry.

Victoria LeBlanc is an artist, writer and curator. A former Director of the Visual Arts Centre/McClure Gallery, she has contributed to over 50 publications on contemporary Canadian artists. As a visual artist, Victoria has participated in solo and group exhibitions across Canada. Her creative practice is inflected by an ekphrastic impulse, a dialogue between drawing/painting and writing. Victoria’s recent poetry collections include Hold (2019) and River | Riven (2024), the latter accompanied by the exhibition A path walks quietly on its own. www.victorialeblancart.com

Gloria Macher is a poet and novelist. She is the author of seven books, one of which was recently translated and published in French. An award-winning author, she received the International Latino Book Award for The Theft of Don Fernando’s Arteries (USA, 2014), and was a finalist for both the Verbum Ibero-American Novel Award (2017) and the IV International Narrative Award (2018) from the Faculty of Letters at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain. Gloria’s work has appeared in Canadian literary magazines such as Kola Magazine, Montreal Serai, The Nashwaak Review, ellipse magazine, In/Words Magazine and Press, and Helios Poetry. Her novels have been featured at international venues including Madrid, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Lima, Bogotá, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. Gloria’s poetry has been presented at several poetry festivals, most recently in Madrid (2024).

Brian Campbell is the author of several poetry collections including Shimmer Report (Ekstasis Editions, 2015) and Passenger Flight (Signature Editions, 2009). As a poet, photographer and singer-songwriter, Brian has produced a number of publications and recordings that combine these talents. His latest full-length album of original songs is Let’s Talk (2025), and his latest book of poetry and photography is Remnants of Autumn. He is the editor/publisher of Sky of Ink Press, which publishes chapbooks of emerging poets, and co-hosts the lawn chair soirée, a reading series in Montreal. For more on Brian’s work, visit briancampbell.ca.

Sapphic Writes! Poetry and Prose Workshop
2025-06-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Welcome to Sapphic Writes! We’re an online group of writers who self-identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ women, and we meet every two weeks to discuss our creative works in progress. Join us for an evening of creativity, inspiration, and community. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this workshop is the perfect space to explore your poetry and prose. Connect with literary peers, share your work, and receive constructive feedback. Let’s celebrate sapphic voices together!
This virtual workshop is free, and uses DropBox file-sharing. All works are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without the express written consent of the author(s).
Each session, we’ll look at the following:
Feature text: up to 3000 words (or two texts totalling this amount).
Secondary text: up to 1000 words.
Open floor: one page (up to 500 words double-spaced) per submission.
The workshop is led by freelance writer and editor Brooke Lee (MA Education and Gender & Women’s Studies, McGill University). For any questions, you can reach her by email at: brookeanne.lee@gmail.com.

10 Years of Metonymy Press: A Cabaret
2025-06-22 19:30 - 23:59 | Casa del Popolo, 4873 boul. St-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1R6, Canada
Join Metonymy Press for our neverending 10-year anniversary celebrations!
17 books, zillions of events, and a veritable queer, trans, and feminist community of authors later, we’re still here. Double-digits of queer book publishing in Tiohtià:ke deserves a cabaret showcase. Authors who sing! Spoken-word artists who dance! Artists who DJ! And more. Come party with us: books, drinks, and some of your all-time favourite writers putting on a very good show.
About Metonymy Press: For 10 years, Metonymy Press has been publishing queer, trans, and feminist literature by emerging writers. We try to reduce barriers to publishing for authors who interrogate the status quo to produce stunning, multi-genre books that reframe power and affirm life.
The decade of Metonymy Press will be celebrated in the company of H Félix Chau Bradley, Shanice Nicole, Kama La Mackerel, Trish Salah, Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch, Kai Cheng Thom, and jiaqing wilson-yang, and their evocative, significant, insightful, transformative, and lyrical contributions.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2025-06-21 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, June 21, 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.

PRIDE Montréal Book Launch: PALM MERIDIAN by debut author Grace Flahive
2025-06-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore, 2220 McGill College Ave, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3P9, Canada
Join novelist Grace Flahive in conversation with Dr. Alex Ketchum for the Montréal release party for her stunning debut novel Palm Meridian, which offers a rare combination of timely themes, Montréal ties, and incredible storytelling.
Thursday, June 19. Doors open at 5 pm. Speeches to start by 6 pm.
LOCATION: Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore (Sherbrooke St. W and McGill College Ave)
ADDRESS: 2220 McGill College Ave, Montréal, Quebec H3A 3P9
Don’t miss this unforgettable book launch during Pride Month—a celebration of LGBTQ+ stories, voices, and community.
Set in 2067 in Florida, the novel imagines a retirement resort for queer women. The story unfolds between Florida and Montréal, spanning a single day and also seventy-seven years, as resident Hannah Cardin celebrates the final night of her life with an epic party. With themes of queer joy and love in later life, Palm Meridian will resonate with readers looking for inclusive, uplifting stories. Grace Flahive was inspired to write the novel as a way to explore the beauty of queer relationships in old age — a perspective rarely seen in literature.

Book Launch of The Last Dance of Mary Kelly
2025-06-17 19:00 - 20:30
The official book launch of The Last Dance of Mary Kelly will take place at the Gelber JPL venue on June 17th at 7:00 PM located at 5151 Chem. de la Côte Sainte-Catherine Ouest (Registration required). Joe Ron will be the moderator.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2025-06-13 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, June 13, 2025, 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.

Lancement : Le vol des artères de don Fernando de Gloria Macher
2025-06-12 18:00 | Librairie Le Port de tête, 262 avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1P6, Canada
Au programme : Ouverture par Christophe Condello, poète et directeur littéraire, suivi d’une présentation de l’autrice Gloria Macher, romancière et poétesse, et de Jean-Pierre Pelletier, poète et traducteur.

À propos du roman :Le vol des artères de don Fernando explore les dérives d’une ambition dévorante et aliénante, tout en interrogeant la quête de sens et de bonheur dans une société hiérarchisée et consumériste. À travers ses personnages et leur évolution, le récit met en lumière les contradictions et les tensions intérieures qui surgissent lorsque les individus poursuivent des rêves de réussite dans un monde dominé par des valeurs superficielles et marchandisées.Éphraïm, le protagoniste, incarne une figure complexe, fusionnant l’ambition tragique d’Hamlet et l’obsession esthétique de Dorian Gray. Son esprit tourmenté et sa quête de perfection se heurtent à la réalité d’une société qui valorise l’opportunisme et la conformité. Plutôt que de remettre en question les normes établies, Éphraïm choisit de les manipuler habilement pour favoriser sa propre ascension.

Tout savoir sur le roman : https://www.pierreturcotte.com/product-page/macher-le-vol-des-art%C3%A8res-de-don-fernando

Jim Olwell Speaks at the NYCDOE Emerald Society, Spring Book Club Meeting
2025-06-11 19:00 | Online via Zoom
The New York City Department of Education Emerald Society is delighted to present Jim Olwell to speak about his book The Art of Being Irish in Hell’s Kitchen: A Memoir on the Organizing of the Irish Arts Center, New York City, 1972-1978, illuminating an important piece of New York’s cultural history.

Free, open to all, and online via Zoom.

For more information and to get the Zoom link, visit the Emerald Society’s website.

Lunch & Learn with the Morrin Centre
2025-06-10 12:00 - 13:00
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:00–1:00 pm ETFree, Online via Zoom—Registration Required

Register now

One of the several reasons to visit the magical city of Quebec is to check out the Morrin Centre. A nationally recognized heritage site built over 200 years ago and the leading English-language cultural centre in the heart of Old Quebec City, the Morrin Centre houses one of the world’s most beautiful Victorian libraries and offers diverse events including the Imagination Festival.

For QWF’s next iteration of the Lunch & Learn series, we will be joined by the Morrin Centre’s Jeanne Lebossé-Gautron, Director of Programming and Communications, who will discuss the cultural work done at the Morrin Centre.

Join us as learn about this historic institution, the programs they offer to the literary community, and why you should give them a visit!

Free and open to all. Register to get the Zoom link.

For inquiries, please reach out to QWF at riley@qwf.org.

Register for ZOOM LINK

The Neighbourhood: An Immersive Journey Through Beaconsfield
2025-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Windermere Park, Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada
Event Moved to: June 8, 20251:00-4:00 pm ETMeet at Windermere Park, BeaconsfieldFree, Open to All

You’re invited to put on your headphones and experience The Neighbourhood.

Inspired by real community voices from Beaconsfield and Montreal West, The Neighbourhood is an immersive audio journey blending fiction and memory. On June 7, join creator Stephanie Merulla as we listen to and experience The Neighbourhood together, available in English and French.

The walk will begin in Windermere Park and continue to Beaurepaire Village. Experience Beaconsfield like never before with these exciting immersive stories created by Stephanie Merulla, inspired by the voices of local residents.

In case of rain: The tour will be moved to Sunday, June 8

Produced in partnership with Bibliothèque publique de Beaconsfield, Montreal West Public Library, and the Quebec Writers’ Federation as part of the “One Planet, Countless Wor(l)ds” project series. Made possible with the support of the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the English-Language Arts Network, and the Government of Canada.

*Due to weather conditions on June 7, this event has been moved to Sunday, June 8, 1 pm.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2025-06-07 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, June 7, 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.

Aborted at Montreal Fringe 2025
2025-06-05 22:30 - 2025-06-14 22:00 | O Patro Vys, 356 Mont-Royal Av E, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 1P9, Canada
Aborted is a metaphorical, poetic play exploring a young woman’s/daughter’s life as she revisits a particular day in her life and the years that led to it. Through nonlinear storytelling, she steps beyond self-protection to uncover buried memories, revealing her own pain and suffering in the process.
Auteur.trice.s / Playwright.s: Espérance Love
Metteur.euse.s en scène / Director.s: Anne-Marie St-Louis, Espérance Love
Interprètes / Performer.s: Rose Doresca, Amanda Benn

Headlight Anthology Issue 26: Edge Launch
2025-06-01 19:00 - 23:00 | la courtepointe, 220 Rue Villeray, Montreal, H2R2B5
Come celebrate the launch of Issue 26 of Concordia’s graduate literary journal, Headlight Anthology. The evening will feature readings from this issue’s contributors, as well as an open mic portion at the end of the night.
Featuring readings by:
Rebecca Hister
Bryan Lee
Rebecca Lawrence Lynch
Inuya D’Vorah Schultz
Xander Simmons
Kyra Sutton
Nicky Taylor
Doors open at 6:30. An entry fee of $5 is suggested, but no one will be turned away for a lack of funds. Copies of Issue 26 will also be sold!

2025 QWF Mentorship Reading
2025-06-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Centre Sanaaq, 1200 Rue du Sussex, Montreal, Quebec, H3H 0E3, Canada
June 1, 2025, 2:00–4:00 pm ETCentre Sanaaq (1200 Rue du Sussex, Montreal)Free, RSVP Required (SOLD OUT)

RSVP

Join us for the 2025 QWF Mentorship Reading!

For four months, eight emerging writers and one emerging translator have worked to hone their craft through the QWF Mentorship Program. Each has received one-on-one guidance from a professional mentor to help them transition to the next stage of their careers. Now, their journey culminates in a public reading where each mentee will present an excerpt from their work in progress.

This year will feature our first-ever Youth Mentorship pair, a pilot project organized through our Writers in the Community program. With nine readers, it will be our largest mentorship reading yet. Don’t miss it!

Featuring:

Cameryn Cappellazzo, mentored by D. W. Wilson in Fiction

Kat Mulligan, mentored by April Ford in Fiction

Tamsyn Farr, mentored by D. M. Bradford in Poetry

Jade Palmer, mentored by stephanie roberts in Poetry

Shelly Bahng, mentored by Gerald Wexler in Screenwriting

Ray Resvick, mentored by Jacob Potashnik in Screenwriting

Christopher Beaunoyer, mentored by Luba Markovskaia in Literary Translation (Jean Antonin Billard LTAC/QWF Mentorship)

Afreina Noor, mentored by Kama La Mackerel in Spoken Word (Mairuth Sarsfield Mentorship)

Thaia:iake Lazare, mentored by L.E. Sterling (Inaugural QWF Youth Mentorship)

RSVPs are required due to limited space.Everyone who RSVPs will be put on the event guest list. If there are extra seats available the day of the event, people who have not RSVPed will be admitted at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessibility: The Centre Sanaaq is a universally accessible public building. Room 3 is on the second floor, accessible by stairs or elevator. People using adapted transport can ask to be dropped off at the paratransit drop-off zone in front of the main entrance, near the outdoor access ramp.

About the QWF Mentorship Program

The QWF Mentorships are designed to help promising emerging writers make the transition to the next stage of their careers. Over a period of four months, each mentee received one-on-one guidance and support from a professional writing mentor. Now, their journey culminates in a public reading where the mentees present an excerpt of their works-in-progress. Learn more about the QWF Mentorship Program.

RSVP
