Join us for TD Culture Lab: Breakthrough to Writers’ Success, a professional development day for new, emerging, and established writers to hone their craft and learn to navigate the writing industry.
A day of workshops and networking for new, emerging, and established writers of all genres. Learn about the writing industry from professionals in the field, network with fellow writers, and explore the next steps to achieving your writing career goals.
Workshop sessions include: Keynote (Eric Walters), a Publisher’s Panel (led by Mary Ellen Koroscil) comprised of leading publishers (Penguin Random House, Assembly Press, Book*Hug Press, Tamarind Tree Books, and Gordon Hill Press/The Porcupines Quill), Adapting the Page to the Screen (Mika Collins), Self-Publishing and Self-Promotion (Belynda W. Thomas, Wali Shah, Kern Carter, and Cheryl Rankin) and networking with peers and industry leaders.
Event MC/Host: Wali Shah
Meet writers from Mississauga and surrounding areas and learn to take your craft to the next level. Learn about the writing industry from professionals and check out resources available from industry booths and learn from peers during the networking lunch.
TD Culture Lab: Breakthrough to Writers’ Success is sponsored by TD Bank Group and produced by the Mississauga Arts Council with Courtney Park Writers Group and Mississauga Writers Group. Special thanks to Sheridan’s Creative Writing & Publishing program.
About TD Culture Lab: Breakthrough to Writers’ Success
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 Sunday, September 17, 2023
Time: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Venue: Clarke Memorial Hall
Address: 161 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga, ON, L5H 1G3
Tickets: $15/ticket, available through Eventbrite
Lunch and coffee/refreshments will be provided. While we will do our best to accommodate food allergies and dietary preferences, we do not guarantee alternative meals will be available. Please contact MAC for more information.
About the Workshops:
Keynote Address
(Eric Walters)
Mississauga writer, Eric Walters has written over 120 books that have been translated into 15 languages and won over 100 awards. He is the co-founder of I Read Canadian, has co-founded a children’s program in Kenya, and is the recipient of the Order of Canada. He has presented to more than 1.5 million students around the world through both virtual and live appearances.
Publisher’s Panel
(Mary Ellen Koroscil, Lavanya Narasimhan, Debby de Groot, Jay Millar, Bala Menon, Jeremy Luke Hill)
Mary Ellen Koroscil, Co-Founder and Chair of the Courtney Park Writers’ Group, leads a panel discussion with leading local literary authors and publishers on the current state of publishing, how you can get your works published, and more!
Featuring Publishers from Penguin Random House, Assembly Press, Book*Hug Press, Tamarind Tree Books, and Gordon Hill Press and The Porcupines Quill.
From the Page to the Screen: Adaptations for the Screen
(Mika Collins)
Screenwriter Mika Collins (Heartland, Sullivan’s Crossing, Travelers), has a decade of experience adapting short stories, plays, and novels for the screen. Whether you have a poem, a short story, a novel, or just an idea, Mika reveals the process of adapting a screenplay from source material and gives you the tools to begin your own adaption. Mika shares insights into the art of dramatic writing and how to find the essence of your story and characters and bring them to life on the big screen.
Doing it Yourself: A Guide to Self-Publishing, Promotion, and Staying Motivated
(Belynda Wilson Thomas, Wali Shah, Kern Carter, Cheryl Rankin)
Sharing your story without the support of a big publishing house? Self-published authors are more prevalent than ever and you can do it too! Tips, advice, and stories from experienced self-published and self-promoting authors: Belynda W. Thomas (self-published author and navigator of the Amazon portal), Wali Shah (poet, motivational speaker, and self-promotion guide), and more!
Networking Lunch & Industry Tables
Lunch provided for all registrants. Take time to meet other authors, talk to the presenters and panelists, and reflect on the morning’s sessions.
Ask questions and learn from colleagues at our “Industry Tables” set up throughout the space for networking and knowledge sharing.
TD Culture Lab: Breakthrough to Writers’ Success is sponsored by TD Bank Group and produced by the Mississauga Arts Council with Courtney Park Writers Group and Mississauga Writers Group. Special thanks to Sheridan’s Creative Writing & Publishing program.