Deadline to Apply: August 12, 2024
Do you think you could design and run a series of ten weekly literary workshops for youth?
The Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) is seeking writers, literary artists, spoken word artists and storytellers to join our Writers in the Community (WIC) team. Established in 2003, WIC is designed to engage youth and young adults who find themselves in situations that make them vulnerable to poor academic or economic outcomes. We are looking for workshop facilitators who can design and oversee English-language literary activities that tap these young writers’ creativity and broaden their confidence, literacy, and communication skills.
The ideal candidate has…
- A history of professional literary publication or spoken word performance
- Relevant experience working with youth or young adults
- Professionalism (reliability, punctuality, timely communication)
- Ability to design and facilitate multiple activities that engage youth while improving their
- English-language literary arts skills
- Creativity and flexibility and a willingness to share successes with colleagues
- High levels of energy and an upbeat personality
Successful applicants will…
- Observe an experienced WIC facilitator in one or more workshops before being given their own group
- Be asked to attend an orientation session with Batshaw Youth and Family Services and to undergo a police background check
- Design and run a series of ten weekly sessions for a particular group of young people, leading to a literary product such as a zine, podcast, video, or performance
- Attend one planning meeting with the host organization and WIC coordinator before each workshop series begins, and one annual roundtable meeting with the steering committee and the other writer-facilitators to share information
- Become familiar with the expected results of the WIC program and provide feedback relating to these to determine the extent to which the results have been achieved. This will guide decisions about how subsequent projects are run.
- Provide the WIC coordinator with short weekly email updates and a final summary report when the workshop series ends
This program demands a high level of energy and enthusiasm and the ability to adapt to challenging situations, sometimes under pressure. The participants may have behavioural issues, low literacy, or learning disabilities. Attendance and group dynamics can fluctuate from week to week.
Some of our workshop venues are hard to reach by public transport, so candidates with the use of a car are welcome. For distant locations, we reimburse car use or public transport costs.
The honorarium per project ranges between $2,000 and $3,500, depending on the location.
All work is on a contract basis and cannot be guaranteed for any particular period.
Here are some comments from writers who have led WIC workshops:
All of the youth groups I have been paired with have led to incredible experiences, helping me grow as a person, as well as guiding the students to become more confident versions of themselves. My most rewarding experience came from teaching a group of young Inuit women. By playing writing games, they were encouraged to open up and express themselves freely, without the fear of judgment or shame. The liaison facilitator told me that the work I did with the students was more than creative writing–it was therapy, and they opened up more with me and Writers in the Community than they did with their own mandated therapists. This experience proved to me the good we can have with young people when given the opportunity to work with them.
Kate Lavut
As facilitators, we strive for a common outcome: a literary zine, website, or podcast that compels participants to feel proud. But no two projects are alike, even in sequential sessions in the same unit. Every project presents us with new opportunities to deepen our own creative and teaching skills as we help participants discover their own abilities. Every hour we spend with participants is enriching for everyone; participants see that they are capable, and we see the positive impact this has.
April Ford
Application Procedure and Deadline
By August 12, 2024, please send the following to writersinthecommunity@qwf.org:
- A c.v. with related experience and literary credentials
- A one-page cover letter indicating the approach you would take to working with a potentially ever-shifting group of youth or young adults on a literary project
- An indication of your availability between January and June 2025.
Interviews will be held via Zoom in August. Successful candidates will be expected to observe two WIC workshops in October or November.
QWF actively seeks to maximize diversity in its staff, part-time employees, membership, and board of directors. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, and encourage Indigenous persons, persons of colour, LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming persons, persons with disabilities, women, and members of any other marginalized group to self‐identify if they are comfortable doing so.