Pen to Page (Mississauga Creative Writing)

Pen to Page is a creative writing studio in Mississauga that offers online and in-person workshops designed to help writers explore voice, storytelling, and creative expression in a supportive and collaborative environment. Through generative writing prompts and guided exercises, the studio creates space for writers to experiment with ideas, develop their craft, and share their work within a welcoming creative community. Pen to Page also offers workshops focused on writing for film and theatre, as well as thematic writing spaces that center lived experience.

My approach to facilitating writing workshops has been influenced by Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method, founded by Pat Schneider, which emphasizes the power of generative writing and supportive creative communities. I mention this because I want to make sure you are aware of AWA guidelines that we will follow to create a safe container for our writing and sharing. Please see below for these guidelines.

Please stay tuned for both upcoming in-person and online workshops. In-person sessions will take place in Mississauga.

Meanwhile, please acquaint yourself to the AWA principles and guidelines below.

AWA Guidelines

1) All writing shared here is treated as art, literature, narrative, or story. Why?
We censor ourselves less when we aren’t afraid to reveal private experiences.
-It allows group members to express thoughts, emotions, and memories that may be too powerful, painful, embarrassing, or surprising to express otherwise.
-We can experiment with memory and imagination, borrowing from each.
Whatever the genre we actually use, we are free to write the “truest” thing.

2) In our feedback we address the storyteller as the speaker, narrator, or character(s).
We might say “the voice in the piece,” rather than “you” or “the writer/author.” We don’t assume the point of view is the writer’s own. It protects the writer: the focus is on the writing, not the author’s life. It supports more inventive writing to emerge when we’re not concerned with getting it “right” or worrying about how our personal experience may be judged.

3) We respond in a way that strengthens rather than diminishes the writer.
First draft, just-written work is treated with care, like a brand-new baby. Consider: What is strong? What stayed with you? What left an impression? What is successful?
We do not offer any criticism, interpretation, analysis of the writing. We do not offer suggestions, directives, or questions about the work.

4) Everyone’s writing, including the leader’s, is treated with equal respect and value.

5) Confidentiality: Any writing done in this workshop remains here. We don’t talk about the writing with others or the writer unless we first ask permission to do so.
I know some of this may be a bit novel for some but, in my experience, these guidelines and principles lead to strong, empowering, and authentic work which is what we all aim for.