Six VWF events for the writer in all of us

Every year, more than 100 acclaimed authors attend the Vancouver Writers Fest—an electric, week-long whirlwind of today’s most pressing issues and exciting new books. Not only is it an opportunity celebrate talented wordsmiths, the festival holds space for people to learn and be inspired by writers—both emerging and established. For the writer in all of us, here are six events to check out from October 21-27. 

Prose Under Pressure
Thursday, October 24 at 6:00pm: Waterfront Theatre
What happens when you constrain your characters? This thought-provoking event interrogates how constrictive external circumstances lead to startling revelations and rich internal lives. Giller Prize finalist Steven Price submerges readers in the mind of a dying Sicilian prince, struggling to complete his magnum opus Lampedusa. Laisha Rosnau’s Little Fortress dramatizes the mysterious true story of the Caetani family—who flee fascism in Italy, only to isolate themselves completely in rural B.C. Finalist for the Giller, Governor General and Writers Trust fiction prizes, Michael Crummey’s The Innocents is a stunning story of survival on Newfoundland’s remote northern coastline. Together, these three masters of fiction delve into the rewards of pushing your characters to the limit.

A Tribute to Stephen King
Thursday, October 24 at 8:00pm: Performance Works
Some literary legends loom larger than others. This blockbuster event features fourteen celebrated authors—ranging from acclaimed journalist Tanya Talaga, to cult-classic Perks of Being a Wallflower author Stephen Chbosky, to political pundit David Moscrop. In this collective tribute to Stephen King, they’ll explore how a single author can enthral and inspire others, and celebrate the unexpected influences behind our favourite stories.

Reinventing The Novel
Friday, October 25 at 10:15am: The Revue Stage
Rules were made to be broken—and these three authors do exactly that. Anakana Schofield channels pent-up rage into a unique novel told through a series of warnings. Bindu Suresh plays with vignettes and flash fiction to tell a sweeping love story. Sarah Peters plays with poetic and prose conventions to tell a haunting story of how gendered violence shapes a community. This is a must-see for anyone looking for writing that not only challenges assumptions, but also creates an entirely new set of expectations.

The Art of Building Suspense
Friday, October 25 at 6:00pm: Waterfront Theatre
Whether you’re writing horror, thrillers or mysteries, suspense is key. But how do you keep a reader hooked? Iona Wishaw, Stephen Chbosky and Rosetta Allan often a masterclass in creating page-turning excitement, sharing both their own secrets and discussing the differences each genre demands.

Poetry Bash
Friday, October 25 at 8:00pm: Performance Works
Billy Rae Belcourt and Eve Joseph join forces once more for this year’s Poetry Bash, one of the most anticipated events of the Fest. Accompanied by Kaie Kellough, Deborah Landau, Souvankham Thammavongsa and Kayla Czaga, these poetic powerhouses manipulate sound, wrestle with political violence and scrutinize the construction of “meaning” itself.

Poets Talking
Sunday, October 27 at 2:00pm: Waterfront Theatre
Join not one, but two Griffin Poetry Prize winning poets in this absorbing dialogue on craft. Billy-Ray Belcourt and Eve Joseph come together to discuss their process, inspiration and collaborations with award-winning poet and novelist Ian Williams. Whether finding rare music in the illogical, or empowering Indigenous possibilities and constructing utopias, this a rare conversation on poetry’s power and necessity.

The Vancouver Writers Fest takes place from October 21-27 at events on and around Granville Island. Visit their website to view the full program guide and purchase tickets.