Writing for beginners Writing for beginners

in a workshop to overcome barriers & explore your voice in a supportive online space.

Firefly Creative Writing: Begin Here workshop

Wanted to try creative writing, but don’t know where to start? Join writing coach Britt Smith on Tuesday mornings from November 7 to December 5, 2023 for Begin Here, a virtual five-week long beginner writing workshop hosted by Firefly Creative Writing. For adults 18+, with a maximum of 8 participants.

About Begin Here

Designed for those who’ve never done any creative writing – or have, but it’s been a while – this workshop will help participants get past personal barriers to writing and give them the opportunity to write a lot and explore their voice. All in a friendly online class setting where participants can connect with others working toward the same goals. No pressure, no judgement and no homework.

Writing isn’t complicated. Thinking about writing, avoiding writing, fearing writing, resisting writing – that’s where things get tangled up. In this workshop we’ll bust past our self-imposed barriers and just… write. This is a joyful, non-intimidating workshop for anyone who has the urge to write but just keeps putting it off.

About Firefly Creative Writing

Founded by writing coach Chris Fraser, Firefly Creative Writing is a small, Toronto-based team of writing coaches and support staff, offering services locally and globally to help writers get unblocked, understand their individual process and bring their imagination to the page. They host small and large in-person and virtual workshops for all levels, from beginner to seasoned writers; workshops for teens; workshops for workplaces; free in-person and virtual pop-up summer writing sessions; and other events. They also offer one-on-one writing coaching, in-person and virtual writing retreats, BIPOC programming, and writing resources.

We believe writing has the power to change minds, open hearts, and connect us deeply to ourselves, our world and each other. We believe that this is more critical now than ever. We are always holding this big picture while we take care of the little details that fill our days.

– Firefly Creative Writing

About Britt Smith

Britt Smith is a writing coach and Firefly’s Assistant Director. She has a degree in film production, studied creative writing at the Humber School for Writers in Toronto and has participated in writing workshops all over the world. She’s also worked as a bereavement support group facilitator and hospice volunteer; and became a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant – someone who specializes in writing and delivering customized funeral and memorial services. A favourite Firefly class for her to lead is The Further Shore, a course she developed that uses creative writing to explore the themes of death and dying. Her writing has been published in several magazines and journals, including the Humber Literary Review, Broken Pencil, Pithead Chapel and Echolocation. She’s currently working on a novel.

She’s got a knack for getting to the heart of what a piece of writing needs, and knows firsthand the challenges and the rewards of working through resistance and blocks. She believes in the importance of each story making its way into the world and doggedly champions her client’s work. One of Britt’s beloved clients once thanked her for her “relentless cheerleading,” which Britt took as high praise.

A woman with short blonde hair, wearing a white t-shirt smiles at us, with cacti and desert in the background.

(Photo credits: Britt Smith, Firefly Creative Writing)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Firefly Creative Writing

Type of event: beginner writing workshop

Writing coach: Britt Smith

Dates: Tuesdays, November 7 – December 5, 2023

Start time: 10:00 AM ET

Duration: 2 hours (total of 10 hours)

Number of sessions: 5

Cost: C$445.00 + local provincial tax for Canadians ($245 non-refundable deposit when you sign up; $200 balance due 1 week later – or in 2 monthly payments of $100 each). Bursaries are available. No credit card? Contact Firefly and they can work something out.

Location: Online via Zoom

Booking link: Book your spot here

Contact Details: Firefly Creative Writing Inc., PO Box 72062, RPO Coxwell Shoppers, Toronto, ON, M4C 0A1; fireflycreativewriting.com/get-in-touch

 

Accessibility: See their accessibility info here, including financial aid.

Financial policies: See their financial policies here.