Fan Fiction

Join us for our in-person Saturday critique session! We'll be meeting in the basement of **The Blake House**, which is located near Wellesley and Jarvis, about a 10-minute walk from Wellesley Station or Sherbourne Station. **In respect to the Blake House for hosting us, we humbly request that attendees purchase a meal, dessert, or drink if you are able to do so.** Feel free to bring in a piece of writing up to **2000 words** for reading and critique. Please bring paper copies so that listeners can easily follow and make notes. Dedicated listeners are equally welcome. In larger groups, please be mindful of giving everyone a fair chance to speak. Our group values and meeting structure can be found here: [https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines](https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines) We ask that writers provide content warnings when necessary. To limit the spread of diseases, we kindly ask that you stay home if you're feeling sick. We will be here every week! **\*\*We support the hard work and effort that goes into writing fiction, and do not condone the use of AI to replace the creative process.\*\*** And, that's everything! See you there!

**It's ALIVE!** This interactive workshop invites writers to **step away from the page** and into a **hands-on creative process** using playdough to design original monsters, aliens, or creatures. Participants will **sculpt their own creations**, then collaborate with others by responding to and building on each other’s designs. The workshop also includes **writing a brief history or micro-short story for each creation** to flesh out its personality, culture, and purpose. By creating characters in a **visual and tactile medium**, writers can unlock new ideas, deepen believability, and discover details they might not find through writing alone. **Suggested donation of $5 to cover the cost of workshop supplies**

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Note: You may be removed from the attendance list if you've participated in the previous week's event. This allows for more people to experience this Meetup. Avengers put your costumes on and let’s go and save the world!
Well we can’t save the world (yet), but we aim to try to play a small part in the lives of those experiencing homelessness by making their day a bit better!
Description: Before the event the organizer will post a list in the comment section of the attendees and what they are responsible to bring (food/drink, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies). We normally ask each attending member to bring approximately $15-20 worth of ingredients/supplies to our event. We will use the items to prepare and serve food/drink at The Meeting Place.
Timeline: We will meet on location at 11:00 am, with lunch served between 12:30-1:00 pm.
Membership Dues: Membership dues are $2.00 for the calendar year. Membership dues go towards paying for food/supplies incurred by no-shows. Membership dues are due at the first meetup of the year that you attend.
No Shows/Late Un-RSVP: We’re relying on members who RSVP to bring key ingredients for recipes! Please try your best to show-up or alternatively change your RSVP early so another member may fill the empty spot.
\*\*\* If you are on the waitlist, keep checking as you may be moved into attendance to replace someone. We will try to message you to confirm your attendance in advance.
Donations will be assigned before the event.

Join us for a winter walk through some great book stores in Toronto. We will meet in near the [Dufferin Subway Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8qfK6SXowHoRRfRc6) (north east end of the Bloor St. W and Dufferin St intersection). Then we will visit the following book stores by walking to them through the (thawing) winter streets 1. [The Monkey's Paw](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xuPmjbCQrsQi4wS28) 2. [Doug Miller Books](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gcwYFUixHrEceehS7) 3. [BMV Books](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ETHNifRbmGcgRyrZ7) 4. [Balfour Books](https://maps.app.goo.gl/etWMdx8LwEGtv8Lr8) 5. [Re: Reading Used Books](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qCaXFuFU7L4NHWcJ7) The entire route can be found [here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/vjVUAfjCJjhep2ad7) You can get coffee in one of these shops or somewhere along the route (Click the links above for google maps location) Approx distance is 10 km **Assumption of Preparedness:** You agree to come prepared for the event with clothing, gloves, cap, and shoes as appropriate for the weather and conditions as prevalent on the day of the event. It is also assumed that if you need to leave the event midway through the event, then you will inform the organizer before doing so.

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other’s work. **Other Important Details:** WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) . Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

Have a completed manuscript and ready to take the next step? Need to polish up your submission materials? Curious about the submission process for trad publishing? Then you'll want to join our query letter and synopsis workshop. The meeting will run the same way as our usualy Saturday in-person meetups, but we'll be reviewing query letters and synopses instead of actual stories. Feel free to bring in a query letter, a synopsis, or both. Not sure what any of this means? In trad publishing, with few exceptions, publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts (which means you can't submit to them without an agent). But before an agent will even read your full manuscript, they usually ask that you send a query letter, possibly along with a synopsis and sample pages. A query letter is basically a one-page pitch for your book, providing all the relevant stats (genre, age category, word count), a brief summary of the premise meant to entice them into reading more, and a bio. See here for a more detailed breakdown: https://janefriedman.com/query-letters/ A synopsis outlines all the major beats/plot points of your novel, including the ending. They can range anywhere from one page to a few pages (usually on the shorter side), depending on the agent. See here for more details: https://janefriedman.com/how-to-write-a-novel-synopsis/ We'll start the session with some time for questions and then launch straight into the critique, so come prepared! Listeners are also welcome. We'll be meeting at the MaRS Building in the usual writing sprint spot (up the stairs near Teabot). Note: This process only applies to traditional publishing, but all are welcome to attend. If there's enough demand, more of these will be scheduled in the future.

**BACKGROUND** Whether you are an author, game master, or artist, sometimes, we can get stuck on ideas and rough concepts before fully forming our creations. This is the opportunity to brainstorm these with others. **DETAILS** You can bring in your ideas - including world-building, character details, plot arcs, magic systems, technology, etc. - and brainstorm places where you are stuck. Each participant will be given time to workshop their ideas in a free-form manner, as they see fit. It is not mandatory to bring something to discuss; you can also help others brainstorm and meet like-minded people. Please make sure your RSVPs are honored on the day. **LOCATION** Balzac's Image Arts 122 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1X8 (Walking distance from Yonge-Dundas)

This month we’ll look at cantos 25 - 29, with emphasis on Ulysses and Muhammed. These cantos are pretty meaty; major characters include Ulysses, Muhammad, Bertran de Born, and, indirectly, Boniface VIII. What is the sin of the evil counsellors? How do the sinners of canto 27 differ from those of canto 26? What is the significance of the appearance of Guido da Montefeltro? How does Dante step up his attack on the Church? What is the impact of Bertran de Born?

**#Note: As of Aug 17, 2025,** **we will be moving to Yonge Sheppard Centre** due to the closing of our prior venue Whole Foods. Please read the new location details. **Coworking for writers in your area!** Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com) **Travel / Parking info:** Public Transit: 1. Take the TTC subway to Sheppard-Yonge Station. 2. Use the Yonge St. Sheppard Ave exit **Driving & Parking:** Parking Entrance to Yonge Sheppard Centre is located on Greenfield Avenue and Doris Avenue. Accessible parking is available on P1, P3 and Concourse. Be sure to check for parking limits or fees. **Location:** We gather around the tables in the food court near Jimmy the Greek. If you spot a group of people with laptops out, that’s probably us! **RSVP:** Please do RSVP. But be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. **SCHEDULE:** 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in -- come in early if you want to get lunch. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about red-nosed reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

❄️🚶‍♀️ **EXPLORATION WALK: YORKVILLE & U OF T** – **6 KM** 🎓🏙️ **Because winter is temporary… but missing this walk is forever.** “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” So layer up, zip up, and let’s romanticize January like true Torontonians 😌❄️ This walk explores **two parts of the city that started out the same — and then went in completely different directions.** One got glitzier. One stayed timeless. Both are *very* walkable, dramatic, and worth showing up for. *** ### THE WALK 🗺️✨ We’ll start and end at **Rosedale Subway Station**, making a glorious winter loop. • **Rosedale Park** 🌳 – quiet, elegant, and shockingly peaceful. • **Yorkville** 💎 – once wealthy, then a hippie coffee-shop haven, and now one of the *richest* neighbourhoods in the city. Full-circle glow-up. • **University of Toronto** 🏛️ – once reserved for Toronto’s elite, now open to everyone. Unlike Yorkville, it’s beautifully **frozen in time**, with historic buildings that haven’t changed much — except for the degrees inside them. • **Bamboo Forest at U of T** 🎋 – we’ll try to sneak a peek if it’s open (because mystery is part of the fun). ☕ **WARM-UP BREAK:** We’ll make a **30-minute stop at Tim Hortons** to thaw our fingers, grab food and drinks, and question why winter feels personal. *** ⚠️ **IMPORTANT NOTES** • Do **NOT** sign up if you’re not ready to walk in winter ❄️ • This walk happens in **snow, cold, wind, or vibes** • Event will only be cancelled if it hits **-20°C** (because we are sensible, not soft) *** ### MEETUP DETAILS 🧤🧣 📍 **Meetup Location:** Outside **Rosedale Subway Station** 👀 **How you’ll spot me:** I’ll be wearing my **MOOSE HAT** (a winter icon) ⏰ **Meetup Time:** 11:00 AM ⏱️ I wait **5 minutes only** — *Early is on time, on time is late* 💰 **Meetup Fee:** $5 (cash 💵 or e-transfer 📲 to \*\*[mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**](http://mathewmaclean@hotmail.com%2A%2A/)) You can send it before or on the day of the walk.**m** 🏁 **End Point:** **Rosedale Subway Station** *** 👀 **NOT SURE YOU CAN MAKE IT?** Just show up. Literally. Winter plans are fluid. *** ### WHAT TO BRING 🎒 • Water • **Good boots** (non-negotiable) • Gloves & hat • Something warm to drink ☕ • A snack *** ⏳ **HOW LONG?** About **3 hours**, including our warm-up break. 🚪 **Can you leave early?** Anytime you like — no judgment, only vibes. 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) Get updates, chat with other walkers, and stay in the loop for future events! *** Mathew is the organizer for this meetup. If you need to contact him, post on the wall or email: 📧 **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com** ✨ Cold weather builds character. ✨ Good walks build community. ✨ Missing this? That’s on you. ❄️🔥

We’re meeting up to finally stop talking about it and just power through our designs together. Whether you’re sketching out your first ideas or deep in the "crunch" of building your gear, come hang out and get it done. We'll be trading tips and making progress, one cup of coffee and one hot glue burn at a time. We will be meeting in the quiet area of the Scarborough Civic Centre Library.

We’ll be reading Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldtree this month! We recommend readingading “Bookshops and Bonedust” and “Legends and Lattes” before reading Brigands and Breadknives.

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

**Our January novel is: Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan** **This month's featured novel is a 20th-century biographical fiction, coming-of-age, historical romance, women’s fiction, world literature, student biography, heartfelt, magic, and feel-good novel. The book is 311 pages in print and 7 hours and 8 minutes on audiobook.** 1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it's just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: "Where did Narnia come from?" Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers. Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he shares the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life. After holding so tightly to logic and reason, her brother's request leads Megs to absorb a more profound truth: "The way stories change us can't be explained. It can only be felt. Like love."

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Happy New Year Colleagues, The next Columbus Futurists public forum will be **Thursday January 15 at 12:00 pm noon** (eastern) [https://osu.zoom.us/j/93451873651?pwd=RXIyZ2t5RjRqRG02UGQ1aEFVQ1NFZz09](https://osu.zoom.us/j/93451873651?pwd=RXIyZ2t5RjRqRG02UGQ1aEFVQ1NFZz09) Please come prepared to offer your **"What if?" questions for 2026**. (I will offer seven to begin our conversation.) I also would like to announce the publication of my latest book: *[Anticipatory Biographies: Personal Histories of the Future](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-08912-0)*, the tenth volume in the “Anticipation Science” series. Grounded in design fiction, futures research, anticipation science, and scenario writing, *Anticipatory Biographies* envisions how the world will be reshaped by artificial intelligence, technological automation, climate change, political disintegration, and the decline of higher education. This work of creative non-fiction bridges literary and scholarly forms, blending biography and design fiction with research-based insights to offer a narrative-based method for exploring futures. Ed Finn, Director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University says: “In this book **David Staley has invented a delightful new genre: the future biography.** He invites us to step into gritty, thrilling, and inspiring futures elbow-to-elbow with the characters living those stories. *Anticipatory Biographies* beautifully synthesizes Staley’s training as a historian, his expertise as a futurist, and his desire to ignite the imagination of his readers.” Hope you'll be able to read it, and hope to see you all on the 15th. D. David J. Staley, Ph.D. President, Columbus Futurists 614.316.1348 [columbus.futurists@gmail.com](mailto:columbus.futurists@gmail.com) [http://columbusfuturists.org](http://columbusfuturists.org/) [https://davidjstaley.substack.com/](https://davidjstaley.substack.com/)