Screenwriting
Meet with local professional and aspiring screenwriters to discuss story ideas, plot lines, character development, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out screenwriting events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the screenwriting events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find screenwriting events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Screenwriting Events Today
Join in-person Screenwriting events happening right now
Sunday Shut Up & Write!® in Sheppard-Yonge
We are now at **Yonge Sheppard Centre** in the **food court** near **Dazzle Mi**. We start a bit past 1pm, so if you're late, please find a seat and start writing -- we'd love to hear about your story or your day -- afterwards. :)
**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 **Dazzel Mi**. 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.
In-Person Writing Sprints
Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together?
Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.
Creative Code Toronto work session
Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! Instead of our usual show-and-tell, this will be a **work session!** If you're looking for some motivation to tinker on a creative project, now's your chance!
**What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more!
**Location:** Impact Kitchen on Queens Quay (88 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 0B6)
**Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)
(Cloverdale Mall) Improv Acting Drop-In
This will be located in Cloverdale Commons located in Cloverdale Mall. Please use the Mall entrance closest to Fairgrounds. Inside the mall we are directly after Fairgrounds and Service Ontario, look for Cloverdale Commons.
This is an informal improv workshop where we get together to play games and scenes similar to those in Whose Line is it Anyways: https://youtu.be/KF3D2TMUhN8. If you want to boost your acting chops or are just looking for some silly fun, this is the place to be!
The price is $10 per person (cash or interac, at the door) to help cover the costs of running the event. There are usually 10-20 people. The session starts with introductions, followed by group games then finishes with audience/performance sessions. Max capacity is 30 and spots are held based on how soon you sign up. See you there!
P.S. - Doors close at 15 minutes after start so make sure to arrive on time!
🚊✨Ride: The Eglinton Crosstown Adventure + Brunch! 🥂🥞
# 🚊✨ FIRST RIDE: The Eglinton Crosstown Adventure + Brunch! 🥂🥞
We’ve waited YEARS for this moment… and now it’s finally here.
So let’s do something a little different. A little unique. A little “only our group would do this.” 😄
We’re riding the **first stretch of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT** from **Kennedy Station to Eglinton Station** — about a 40-minute ride (fingers crossed 🤞). And we’re not rushing. We’re not commuting. We’re not stressed about missing our stop.
We’re just… riding. 🚊💛
Sitting back. Taking it all in. Watching the city glide by. Chatting. Laughing. People-watching. Experiencing a brand-new piece of Toronto history together.
Because honestly? There’s something kind of magical about riding transit with no agenda — just connection and curiosity.
And when we arrive?
We reward ourselves with **brunch at The Pickle Barrel**. 🍳🥓☕
👉 **Pickle Barrel** **Menu:** [Click Here!](https://www.picklebarrel.ca/en/menu.html?s=3558)
New train. Great company. Brunch.
Tell me that’s not a perfect weekend plan.
👉 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t)
***
## ⚠️ Important Notes
### 🍽️ Restaurant Reservations
Reservations will be made in advance. Members who change their RSVP on the day of or do not show up will be removed from the group — no exceptions.
We want to stay in good standing with the restaurant and respect their time. Thank you for understanding! 💛
***
### ❄️ Weather Policy
Please don’t sign up unless you’re comfortable coming out in all types of weather.
This event will happen **unless the LRT can’t run.** 🚊
***
## 📍 Meetup Details
📌 **Meetup Location:**
Inside **Kennedy Subway Station** at the **BUS PLATFORM AREA by the Gateway on the GO**....We will only wait 10mins
We will ALL walk over to the LRT together.
It’s easy to find — just look for **Mathew in his famous Moose Hat!** 🫎🎩
💰 **Meetup Fee:**
$5 cash in person or e-transfer to
**mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**
📍 **End Spot:** Yonge & Eglinton
***
## 🚪 Can I Leave Early?
Absolutely! Stay for the ride, stay for brunch, or stay for both.
If you’re not joining for lunch, just let us know — no pressure. 💛
👉 You’re also welcome to just show up on the day if you’re not 100% sure you can make it.
⚠️ Occasionally things happen and events may need to be cancelled — please keep an eye out for updates.
***
👤 **Organizer:** Mathew
Questions? Post on the event wall or email
**torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**
***
🚊✨ Come be part of Toronto history.
Let’s ride the Crosstown together — and brunch like champions after. 🥂🍳
TFS Presents an Italian Double Feature!
On Sunday, February 22nd, at the Paradise Theatre in Toronto, the Toronto Film Society is showing a double feature of Italian films: two films for one low price!
First up is Il Sorpasso (The Easy Life) (1962). A defining masterpiece of Italian *commedia all’italiana*, Dino Risi’s *Il Sorpasso* follows the unlikely pairing of shy law student Roberto and charismatic drifter Bruno as they tear through the sun-drenched roads of Ferragosto in Bruno’s roaring Lancia Aurelia. What begins as a spontaneous joyride becomes a sharp, unsettling look at a country racing toward modernity, at once funny, free-spirited, and deeply poignant. Dino Risi blends social satire with emotional depth, powered by memorable performances from Vittorio Gassman and Jean-Louis Trintignant.
Shown in the original Italian with English subtitles.
Next on screen is Federico Fellini's Orchestra Rehearsal (Prova d’orchestra) (1978). Part mockumentary and part political allegory, Orchestra Rehearsal transforms a single rehearsal room into a chaotic microcosm of Italian society. A documentary crew observes an orchestra whose players bicker, complain, organize, rebel, and eventually confront forces beyond their control. The comedy gradually sharpens into something darker and more surreal, echoing the turbulence of 1970s Italy. With Nino Rota’s music driving the rhythm of the film, this compact work becomes a provocative meditation on authority, art, and the fragile balance required to create harmony.
Shown in the original Italian with English subtitles.
Please note that this is a paid event. You can purchase tickets online or at the door.
Tickets: https://paradiseonbloor.com/purchase/381893/
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
For February, we'll read The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
304 pages
First published in 1907
About the book:
Mr Verloc, the secret agent, keeps a shop in London's Soho where he lives with his wife Winnie, her infirm mother, and her idiot brother, Stevie. When Verloc is reluctantly involved in an anarchist plot to blow up the Greenwich Observatory things go disastrously wrong, and what appears to be "a simple tale" proves to involve politicians, policemen, foreign diplomats, and London's fashionable society in the darkest and most surprising interrelations.
Screenwriting Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Citadel LIVE presents: Tea with Mara (Contemporary Dance with Taiko)
We'll reconnect with our friends at **Citadel + Compagnie**--for a Sunday afternoon dance performance--with Japanese *Taiko drumming!*
On Parliament Street. **Ticket link** is below ($25-$35)
**Tea with Mara**, meaning to invite Mara (your ‘demons’) for tea, is set in this ‘spirited’ space, embodying Japanese Canadian and Buddhist mythology, practices and philosophy. This interdisciplinary collaboration between dance/theatre and music, animates themes of suffering, pleasure, transformation, and the interconnection between the past, present, and future.
Toronto Premiere
Approximate Run Time: 60 minutes
**Ticket link**: General Admission (about 100 seats)
https://www.citadelcie.com/event/tea-with-mara/?mc_cid=493953cd7c&mc_eid=73b1c29a29
**About the Dance company:**
https://www.citadelcie.com/citadel-compagnie/
🚊✨The Eglinton Crosstown Adventure + Brunch! 🥂🥞
# 🚊✨ FIRST RIDE: The Eglinton Crosstown Adventure + Brunch! 🥂🥞
We’ve waited YEARS for this moment… and now it’s finally here.
So let’s do something a little different. A little unique. A little “only our group would do this.” 😄
We’re riding the **first stretch of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT** from **Kennedy Station to Eglinton Station** — about a 40-minute ride (fingers crossed 🤞). And we’re not rushing. We’re not commuting. We’re not stressed about missing our stop.
We’re just… riding. 🚊💛
Sitting back. Taking it all in. Watching the city glide by. Chatting. Laughing. People-watching. Experiencing a brand-new piece of Toronto history together.
Because honestly? There’s something kind of magical about riding transit with no agenda — just connection and curiosity.
And when we arrive?
We reward ourselves with **brunch at The Pickle Barrel**. 🍳🥓☕
👉 **Pickle Barrel** **Menu:** [Click Here!](https://www.picklebarrel.ca/en/menu.html?s=3558)
New train. Great company. Brunch.
Tell me that’s not a perfect weekend plan.
👉 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t)
***
## ⚠️ Important Notes
### 🍽️ Restaurant Reservations
Reservations will be made in advance. Members who change their RSVP on the day of or do not show up will be removed from the group — no exceptions.
We want to stay in good standing with the restaurant and respect their time. Thank you for understanding! 💛
***
### ❄️ Weather Policy
Please don’t sign up unless you’re comfortable coming out in all types of weather.
This event will happen **unless the LRT can’t run.** 🚊
***
## 📍 Meetup Details
📌 **Meetup Location:**
Inside **Kennedy Subway Station** at the **BUS PLATFORM AREA by the Gateway on the GO**....We will only wait 10mins
We will ALL walk over to the LRT together.
It’s easy to find — just look for **Mathew in his famous Moose Hat!** 🫎🎩
💰 **Meetup Fee:**
$5 cash in person or e-transfer to
**mathewmaclean@hotmail.com**
📍 **End Spot:** Yonge & Eglinton
***
## 🚪 Can I Leave Early?
Absolutely! Stay for the ride, stay for brunch, or stay for both.
If you’re not joining for lunch, just let us know — no pressure. 💛
👉 You’re also welcome to just show up on the day if you’re not 100% sure you can make it.
⚠️ Occasionally things happen and events may need to be cancelled — please keep an eye out for updates.
***
👤 **Organizer:** Mathew
Questions? Post on the event wall or email
**torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**
***
🚊✨ Come be part of Toronto history.
Let’s ride the Crosstown together — and brunch like champions after. 🥂🍳
The Sensory Reset: An Intimate Candle-Making & Mindfulness Experience
**Welcome to our first gathering.**
**Glo Candle Bar Co.** creates temporary sanctuaries across Toronto designed for stillness, intuition, and connection. Our **"[Sensory Reset](https://www.glocandlebar.co/pages/glo-pour-workshops)"** is a curated afternoon that invites you to slow down and engage your senses through the mindful craft of candle making.
**The Experience:**
* **The Threshold:** Upon arrival, we begin with a **Guided Blind Scent Selection**. By removing labels and names, we invite you to choose your fragrance based entirely on your intuition and how the scent resonates with you in the moment.
*
* **The Craft:** You will hand-pour a premium **9oz coconut-soy candle** featuring a crackling **wood wick** and clean-burning oils. This is a slow, meditative process focused on intentionality.
* **The Ritual:** While your candle sets, we transition into a **Artisanal Tea Service** accompanied by a **Warm Eucalyptus Towel Ritual**. This is a dedicated window for quiet reflection or meaningful conversation with fellow guests.
* **The Venue:** Our inaugural session takes place within the **Parkway Forest Community Centre**. While we pop up in various locations throughout the city, we have curated this space to serve as a peaceful environment for our session.
**Intentional Intimacy:** To maintain a calm and focused atmosphere, we intentionally limit our gatherings to **12 guests**. This small group size ensures a shared, personal experience for everyone in the room.
**Introductory Rates & Booking:** To celebrate our first session and the founder's birthday, we are offering special **Founding Member** pricing for this event only.
* **Option 1: The Single Reset – $55** (Regularly $80) Secure your individual seat for our first-ever session. Includes your custom 9oz wood-wick candle, tea service, and full sensory experience.
* **Option 2: The Duo Reset – $95 for Two** (Regularly $160) Everything is better with a friend. Secure two seats for the experience and save—perfect for anyone looking to unwind and recharge their Sunday together.
**How to Secure Your Spot:** We utilize a simple checkout process via our website. For the **Duo Reset**, the discount will be applied automatically (or use code **DUORESET-INTRO**) when you add two seats to your cart.
[**[RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE](https://www.glocandlebar.co/products/sensory-reset-introductory-promo)**]
*(Please note: An RSVP on Meetup lets us know you are interested, but your seat is officially confirmed once the registration is completed via the link above.)*
**What to bring:** No preparation is needed. All premium materials for your sensory kit, tea, and refreshments are provided.
We look forward to glowing with you.
The Mystery of Alfreda Mae Hillier: Interactive Game and Tour (NEW FOR 2026)
\*\***The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email**
**torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**
**for more information or for signing up!\*\***
\*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:**
**torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**
First it was **Ambrose Small** and my team of brilliant detectives who tried to figure it all out. The walkers on this tour just about cracked the case. Well done my detectives. But your smarts are needed again however. The Harley Karulis Detective Agency needs your help! And this one needs all our brain power to figure out. This one might be the toughest assignment yet.
Here is your case file. The details you will need to get started on this walking tour.
A case that shocked Torontonians when it occurred in late October of 1933, and still reverberates to this day. A cold case solved, not by a long shot. No one really knows the entire story or the truth. It unfolds like an Agatha Christie novel as you will see.
The details of this case culminates in one of the most perplexing, head scratching crimes in the history of this city and very few have heard of the sad life and end of little Alfreda Dolores Mae Hillier.
Little Bunty as they called her was born in 1932, and was the apple of her parent's eyes. Her father Alfred Hillier was a World War 1 hero, and had fallen on bad times during the depression years. He just started a new job recently. Her mother Florence was a stay at home mom and loved to play and watch her little girl out the window of their small home on Boothroyd Avenue in Leslieville.
On a cool, sunny October afternoon at the height of the depression, Alfreda, an 18 month old girl disappeared after heading out for a walk alone. Sounds on the level I must say. Warning bells!
Within a few hours questions as to what happened to this little girl started to swirl around the neighbourhood. All details of this case are taken directly from the archives of the Toronto Star and the city which paint a rather confused story culminating in the arrest of two young boys, one age 4 and the other 7 who admitted their guilt. Or was coerced into that same confession?
Let's toss in a few more details to cloud the story however:
1) a convicted criminal in the area, information told to the Calgary Hearld the day after she was found dead.
2) another man who seemed to be present when she was found and then wandered off and disappeared from the police investigation file.
3) the testimony of two underaged children that had no relevance to some of the details.
4) the coroner's report which contradicted just about everything the police came up with and witnesses testimony as well.
This walking tour/game takes participants back in time to 1933 and explores the many sites associated with the tragic death of Alfreda Hillier, and the personalities involved. You will be introduced to 10 historic characters and each has their own dark secrets, it will be up to you to render a **verdict**! Are you up for it detectives?
Our walk begins at the **Jones Branch of the Toronto Public Library** at the southwest corner of Jones Avenue and Dundas Street East in Leslieville just a few blocks north of Queen Street East.
This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person. Please get your tickets early if you would like to attend.
\*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:**
**torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**
Local Social Host Sign-Up: Lunches, Drinks & Curated Experiences
**Want to help bring your city’s community together?**
We’re looking for local hosts to organize small group lunches, evening drinks, mixers, movie get-togethers and curated experiences.
**No experience necessary,** just a friendly attitude, some local knowledge, and a willingness to meet a few new people. After each event, we’ll send a short feedback form so we can improve and support you. The host will also be able to provide feedback so we can learn what worked and what didn't.
**[Click here](https://form.questionscout.com/6926c9ab87a828a5c11a79fc)** to apply and get started: if you’re selected, we’ll reach out for a quick screening call.
👨👩👧 February Mixer for Divorcees & Single Parents
**Kickstart 2026** and mingle with likeminded **divorcees & single parents** looking for a fresh start in an intimate space downtown Toronto.🎉
📅 **Date:** Sunday, February 22 2026
🕒 **Time:** 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
📍 **Location:** Pizza Rustica ( 37 Blue Jays Way )
Tickets and full details on Eventbrite - **(must buy ticket from website here - RSVP from Meetup doesn't count)**
[https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-dating-hub-february-mixer-for-divorcees-single-parents-tickets-1981661147838?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-dating-hub-february-mixer-for-divorcees-single-parents-tickets-1981661147838?aff=meetup)
🔗 Follow [Toronto Dating Hub](https://www.instagram.com/torontodatinghub/) for updates on future events! 🌟
The Decline of the British Empire
Join us for a focused and engaging discussion on the decline of the British Empire, tracing its gradual unraveling from the aftermath of the First World War to the wave of decolonization that reshaped the global order in the mid-twentieth century. Once described as “the empire on which the sun never sets,” Britain presided over a vast network of territories spanning every continent. Yet within a few decades, economic exhaustion, nationalist movements, global war, and shifting geopolitical power eroded imperial authority. This session explores how and why a global superpower relinquished its empire—and what replaced it.
**Topics for Discussion**
* The Atlantic Charter and Self-Determination
* The Independence of India and Pakistan
* The Malayan Emergency
* The Suez Crisis
* The Windrush Generation
* The Mau Mau Uprising
* Decolonization in Africa (1950s–1960s)
* The Transformation into the Commonwealth
* The Falklands War
* The Transfer of Hong Kong
Screenwriting Events Near You
Connect with your local Screenwriting community
Shut Up & Write!® East Side Columbus
Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 25 at Streetlight Guild.
Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done.
**SCHEDULE:**
6:45ish - Quick introductions
7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour
8:00 - The End
**OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing.
**BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer.
Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild!
**WHAT SHOULD I BRING?**
Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you!
**OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:**
* **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space!
* **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels.
* **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay!
* **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.
Shut Up & Write!® Easton Town Center
We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator.
Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking!
• What we'll do
Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays.
Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done.
SCHEDULE:
12:00 - quick intros.
12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour.
1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing.
OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing.
BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer.
Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you!
• What to bring
Whatever you need to be able to write!
Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible.
See you at The Café on Sunday!
Shut Up & Write!™ Easton Town Center
We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator.
Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking!
• What we'll do
Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings.
Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done.
SCHEDULE:
10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros.
10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour.
11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing.
OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing.
BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer.
Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you!
• What to bring
Whatever you need to be able to write!
Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible.
See you at The Café on Saturday!
Shut Up & Write! Kingsdale Shopping Center
Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington.
The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo.
Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine.
We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you.
The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly.
Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome.
The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit.
Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times.
Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have.
Happy writing!
Oscar International Nominee: SIRAT at the Gateway Film Center
Join us as we get together to see SIRAT, an Oscar-nominated Best International Film from Spain that follows a father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event:
DESCRIPTION: A father, accompanied by his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco while searching for his daughter who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. As their search continues, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. The film is directed by Oliver Laxe and stars Sergi Lopez, Bruno Nunez Arjona and Richard Bellamy.
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70
BUZZ & ACCLAIM: SIRAT has already won numerous awards, including 4 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, along with the Chicago, Montclair and Toronto International Film Festivals! It also earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is earning a stellar 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes which calls it “an unforgettable exercise in tension” and “a brutal reminder that the journey can be more important than the destination.”
PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will confirm/announce details as the date gets closer. Once showtime is confirmed, advance purchase (via GFC website preferred) is advised! Once you have your ticket, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event.
PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night!
Look forward to seeing you there, Dan
Thursday Night Preview: THE BRIDE at the Gateway Film Center!
Join us as we get together to see the period drama / classic monster movie, THE BRIDE! The film is written/directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale in a new take on the classic tale, The Bride of Frankenstein. We'll be seeing this one on Thurs, 3/5 one day ahead of the film's opening on Friday. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event:
DESCRIPTION: In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein's creature asks Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him. They give life to a murdered woman as "the Bride," sparking romance, police interest and radical social change. It is written, directed and co-produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz.
TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-qJkAXLfYM
PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night!
PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below! Pre-show bite at Cazuela’s next door at 5:30pm. Please arrive by 5:30pm and ask for the Movie Group!
Look forward to seeing you there, Dan
Il Sorpasso (The Easy Life)
A classic Italian road comedy that was so good the film ministry recognized it as "culturally significant." Starring Vittorio Gassman and Jean-Louis Trintignant, the film shows that for young men in love the rules of the road are only suggestions. And the rules for love? Hey, this is an Italian picture! Oh to be young and filled with joie de vivre or la dolce vita.
A french/italian fun filled movie with a surprising twist at the end.
Do you have a fun memory from your youth?
Location TBD, but it will be in person for sure!






























