Jon Ackroyd and Diana Shallard discuss a piece at a writers’ workshop put on last fall at Campbell River Arts Council.

Jon Ackroyd and Diana Shallard discuss a piece at a writers’ workshop put on last fall at Campbell River Arts Council.

Winter is the ‘write’ time to begin that book

Taylor and Yourk will cover a wide range of topics, from organizing strategies to cures for writers’ block

Winter weather makes this a perfect time to jump into an absorbing project.

On Jan. 11, at the Quadra Island Community Centre, Jeanette Taylor and Annette Yourk will give a writing workshop packed with hot tips to get you started on a family history, biography, memoir or fiction.

This is an introductory sampler that will suit anyone with a yen to write and a need for an overview for ways to approach their subject.

Taylor and Yourk will cover a wide range of topics, from organizing strategies to cures for writers’ block.

The workshop, at $30, includes handouts to help you delve deeper into a variety of related subjects.

Pre-registration is required. Call Annette Yourk at 250-285-2673 or Jeanette Taylor at 250-285-3651, or see the website: scribes.ca for more details.

This morning session will be followed that afternoon by a workshop for writers, community historians and genealogists, to help them access research materials.

There’s a $5 drop in fee. Your hosts will be history sleuth extraordinaire Jon Ackroyd and local historian Jeanette Taylor, who will introduce the basics of where and how to find the material you need, including a sampler of internet sites. Bring your laptop or device to try some guided searches.

“Historical Research 101” will be held at the Quadra Island Community Centre from 1:45 to 3:45 p.m, which links with ferry schedules.

Both sessions on Jan. 11 dovetail with writers’ workshops Taylor and Yourk will lead, starting at the end of January. One of these workshops will be on Quadra Island and the other at the Museum at Campbell River.

The content for both will be similar, geared to help writers advance with a current project. Participants will delve into narrative structure, voice and story making, and there will be opportunities at each session to get feedback from supportive peers.

Pre-registration is required and the fee for both is $130.

Taylor’s workshop, on five bi-monthly Saturdays, starts Jan. 24 at the Museum at Campbell River. Call the Museum for more details at 250-287-3103.

Yourk’s bi-monthly sessions will be held on Sundays, starting Jan. 25, at the Quadra Island Community Centre. Call her at 250-285-2673 for details.

Campbell River Mirror