What we’re about
Join us on Monday nights for our main Reading and Critiquing Session. Share your text – fiction, creative non-fiction, comedy, scripts, poetry, non-fiction – and work with other writers and readers to refine it. Support each other on the writing journey. Some of us practice performance skills. We have a youtube channel you can read for if you choose.
We sometimes do series or one-offs on topics of interest to writers. We have been known to have social nights at a bar in Vancouver, and occasionally writing competitions.
Check out some of our work at Youtube Channel, Do the Wrong Thing: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLMEZKTMlqi-jF17RU0doWr0WPamYoQ2 and http://vancouver-writers.podomatic.com.
Fees are by donation.
We used to do a weekly Co-op radio show, Writing Life Radio. Those shows can be found here.
Featured event
Book Launch: Malcolm van Delst's Trouble Girl!
Please join me (finally!) for the launch of book 2 in the Do the Wrong Thing series, Trouble Girl!
📅 When: Wed., Oct. 22, 7:00 pm til whenever
📍 Where: 1965 Main St., Vancouver (Red Gate Arts Society; previously VIVO and Video Inn)
This book has been a long time coming, and many of you have contributed to its creation. I can’t wait to celebrate it with you.
***
In book 1 of the Do the Wrong Thing serial, Ava Mueller begins with a confession: her suicide attempt felt “mundane, like brushing my teeth.” From there, she unspools her story—battles with her mother, a desperate search for friendship, and the terrifying discovery that she might be a writer.
In Trouble Girl, fourteen year old Ava works furiously toward independence while sabotaging herself at every turn. Raw, funny, and heartbreaking, Trouble Girl is a chronicle of what it means to come of age when you don’t fit anywhere.
Additional readings by Josh Hines, Citizens of Ragnarock, and Jim Ewens, Resilience, and an open mic! Many of you have contributed to Josh's and Jim's works, too.
***
Expect a bar and snacks. As before, I invite you to come dressed as a character—from something you’ve written, or from a favourite story, poem, book, song or movie. (Only one person joined in last time, but I’ll still be in the gorgeous Do the Wrong Thing dress my sister made for me!)
More info: https://www.malcolmvandelst.com/
Copies of Trouble Girl and other books will be available for purchase. It is also available on Amazon, or by request from your favourite bookstore or library. You are welcome to add your books to the merch table.
Upcoming events
14
•OnlineReading and Critiquing Session
OnlineExcept for the last Monday in the month, we meet weekly, online via Zoom. Pls RSVP to get the Zoom link. On the last Mondays of the month, we meet in the Vancouver Community College cafeteria at 250 W. Pender St., Vancouver.
If you want to share your piece so people can edit as you read, put it into a google doc (https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Google-Doc),
Set the SHARE link to "anyone with link" "can comment." You can share your doc in meeting via Zoom chat and/or add it to the amalgamation doc which is added both here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eWO2Gi_uBKqMOgGKqE-v9px6rOJbLp1mEtCCSFgt7h4/edit?usp=sharing and below, in the comments, a few days before each meeting. Using the amalgamation doc allows regular attendees to follow your work's progress & read & comment even if they're in a different breakout room or miss a meeting.
WHO:
Writers & lovers of the craft, looking to get & give critiques & feedback on original work. Writers who want to hone their presentation skills.
WHEN: every Monday, 7 pm to 9-9:30 pm. TIME ZONE CONVERTER: https://www.thetimezoneconverter.com.
We are in Vancouver, Canada, using Pacific Standard Time.
WHAT:
Writers & lovers of the craft are invited to read & hear original work, give & get feedback.
Presenters have 15-20 minutes to introduce their work, read & receive feedback. In word count, this is 1300-1500 words. If there's time, we can go beyond that, but please prepare with this limit in mind.
Record for our Youtube channel if you like: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLMEZKTMlqi-jF17RU0doWr0WPamYoQ2
Pre-April 2020, we podcasted at http://vancouver-writers.podomatic.com
/ itunes: Vancouver Writers' Podcast.
WHY:
- Duh! Getting feedback makes your writing better. You don't have to listen to the feedback, but if 3 or 4 people say the same thing, it might be worth paying attention to.
- Develop courage. It's not easy to read your work to an audience. Here, you can practice.
- Elocution & projection. As a writer, you will have to read your work to audiences. Start rehearsing now!
- Even planning to present your work will make you read it with new eyes and improve.
- Even without feedback, reading your work to an audience will highlight rough spots.
- Meet other writers, make friends and perhaps meet your own tighter critique group: the ones you'll bounce ideas off without finessing them; the ones who'll read your novel, story or play as you write it, chapter by chapter or scene by scene, giving you guidance, structure & support to make your work your very best.
- Productivity & accountability: plan to come regularly so you have to write in order to have something to present.
PRESENTERS, you can ask for open-ended feedback, bring up specific concerns you have at the end, or lead & focus feedback with questions before you read. Whatever you choose.
When you're getting feedback, JUST LISTEN! You'll get more out of it if you let comments sit with you, whether you agree or not. DO NOT ARGUE, JUSTIFY OR EXPLAIN.
CRITICS, keep it focused & constructive. What can you tell the writer that will improve their work? This is not about personal opinion or anecdote.
For in person meets, you do not have to bring PRINT OUTS, though many people do. If you're going to bring them, 9 to 10 is a good number.
FEES: We operate via donations. We suggest etransferring $5 CA/mo to malcolm (at) malcolmvandelst.com to cover meetup (~$20/mo) & Zoom ($20/mo) fees. Overages go to society set up & an upcoming anthology. You will be informed as to how much money is collected in a weekly email.
Thank you for being beyond open & generous with your talent & selves. Much love! Respect!
6 attendeesBook Launch: Malcolm van Delst's Trouble Girl!
1965 Main Street , 1965 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, CAPlease join me (finally!) for the launch of book 2 in the Do the Wrong Thing series, Trouble Girl!
📅 When: Wed., Oct. 22, 7:00 pm til whenever
📍 Where: 1965 Main St., Vancouver (Red Gate Arts Society; previously VIVO and Video Inn)This book has been a long time coming, and many of you have contributed to its creation. I can’t wait to celebrate it with you.
***
In book 1 of the Do the Wrong Thing serial, Ava Mueller begins with a confession: her suicide attempt felt “mundane, like brushing my teeth.” From there, she unspools her story—battles with her mother, a desperate search for friendship, and the terrifying discovery that she might be a writer.
In Trouble Girl, fourteen year old Ava works furiously toward independence while sabotaging herself at every turn. Raw, funny, and heartbreaking, Trouble Girl is a chronicle of what it means to come of age when you don’t fit anywhere.
Additional readings by Josh Hines, Citizens of Ragnarock, and Jim Ewens, Resilience, and an open mic! Many of you have contributed to Josh's and Jim's works, too.
***
Expect a bar and snacks. As before, I invite you to come dressed as a character—from something you’ve written, or from a favourite story, poem, book, song or movie. (Only one person joined in last time, but I’ll still be in the gorgeous Do the Wrong Thing dress my sister made for me!)
More info: https://www.malcolmvandelst.com/
Copies of Trouble Girl and other books will be available for purchase. It is also available on Amazon, or by request from your favourite bookstore or library. You are welcome to add your books to the merch table.
11 attendees
In-Person Reading and Critiquing Session
VCC - Downtown Campus, 250 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC, CAOn the last Monday of each month, we meet IN-PERSON, in the cafeteria of Vancouver Community College, downtown campus, at 250 West Pender St.
WE RECOMMEND BRINGING 5 TO 6 PRINT COPIES for those who don't bring laptops. We can share work on Google Docs using the college's 2 hr visitor internet access as well.
Optionally, add your online piece to the amalgamation document at: TBA. You do not have to bring or share copies to read.
WHO:
Writers & lovers of the craft, looking to get & give critiques & feedback on original work. Writers who want to hone their presentation skills.
WHEN: every Monday, 7 pm to 9-9:30 pm, online or at VCC.
WHAT:
Writers & lovers of the craft are invited to read & hear original work, give & get feedback.
Presenters have 15-20 minutes to introduce their work, read & receive feedback. In word count, this is 1300-1500 words. If there's time, we can go beyond that, but please prepare with this limit in mind.
Record for our Youtube channel if you like: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLMEZKTMlqi-jF17RU0doWr0WPamYoQ2
Pre-April 2020, we podcasted at http://vancouver-writers.podomatic.com
/ itunes: Vancouver Writers' Podcast.
WHY:
- Duh! Getting feedback makes your writing better. You don't have to listen to the feedback, but if 3 or 4 people say the same thing, it might be worth paying attention to.
- Develop courage. It's not easy to read your work to an audience. Here, you can practice.
- Elocution & projection. As a writer, you will have to read your work to audiences. Start rehearsing now!
- Even planning to present your work will make you read it with new eyes and improve.
- Even without feedback, reading your work to an audience will highlight rough spots.
- Meet other writers, make friends and perhaps meet your own tighter critique group: the ones you'll bounce ideas off without finessing them; the ones who'll read your novel, story or play as you write it, chapter by chapter or scene by scene, giving you guidance, structure & support to make your work your very best.
- Productivity & accountability: plan to come regularly so you have to write in order to have something to present.
PRESENTERS, you can ask for open-ended feedback, bring up specific concerns you have at the end, or lead & focus feedback with questions before you read. Whatever you choose.
When you're getting feedback, JUST LISTEN! You'll get more out of it if you let comments sit with you, whether you agree or not. DO NOT ARGUE, JUSTIFY OR EXPLAIN.
CRITICS, keep it focused & constructive. What can you tell the writer that will improve their work? This is not about personal opinion or anecdote.
FEES: We operate via donations. We suggest etransferring $5 CA/mo to malcolm (at) malcolmvandelst.com to cover meetup (~$20/mo) & Zoom ($20/mo) fees. Overages go to society set up & an upcoming anthology. You will be informed as to how much money is collected in a weekly email.
Thank you for being beyond open & generous with your talent & selves. Much love! Respect!
5 attendees
Past events
598
