Instructor: Heather Ramsay
Saturday, June 23 - Sunday, June 24
Early Bird Fee: $230 + GST (Until June 1)
Regular Fee: $255 + GST
Deposit: $65 + GST (non refundable)
Scholarships and Bursaries are available for all Island Mountain Arts Programs, Link here for details.
Link here for information about accommodations for students
To register call 1-800-442-2787 or online below.
You can also mail a cheque to
Island Mountain Arts, Box 65,
Wells, BC, V0K 2R0
Workshop Description
Breathe life and story into special places in this two-day workshop with creative writer and journalist Heather Ramsay.
By delving into minute sensory details, the gritty yellow of the pollen left on grandpa’s car, the sweet scent of ripe blackberries — and crossing those with the big picture; the sweeping trail of cottonwoods along the river, or the rusted train track through the guts of the city — we can create a sense of familiarity and a narrative.
Come and explore the beauty of Wells while learning about the writing craft and practicing different techniques. Participants are also asked to bring thoughts/photos/objects about one of your favourite places to the group. By day two you’ll create a piece that shows off these places, all without ever taking anyone there.
Goal: Our goal is to create writing with a strong sense of place. Sometimes called a descriptive essay, these stories can reveal meaning through sensory description of a place. Our aim is to create something similar to the essay’s posted on Douglas Glover’s Numero Cinq Magazine website, in the “What it’s like Living Here” series section.
Day one
Introductions and explorations. Through a variety of creative exercises, both indoor and outside, we will explore the craft of narrative in general and techniques to get us to delve more deeply into writing about place.
Day two
Guided writing about place, explorations with the experts (don’t hesitate to bring examples of your favourite descriptions), revisions, re-imaginings and readings.
Instructor Bio
Heather Ramsay is deeply influenced by place. She has lived in Smithers, Haida Gwaii and is now based in the Fraser Valley. She has a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and her work has appeared in Numero Cinq, Maisonneuve, The Tyee, Canadian Geographic, Vancouver Review, Canada’s History Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Northword Magazine and more. She has written two books published by the Haida Gwaii Museum: Gina ‘Waadluxan Tluu: The Everything Canoe (2010) and Gyaagang.ngaay: The Monumental Poles of Skidegate (2012).
Events Included:
Friday, June 22, 7pm: Student Welcome Reception, IMA Gallery (2323 Pooley Street) – Meet your instructor and pick up your student information packages.
Date and Time TBA: Reading with Heather Ramsay and students
IMA students also receive free admission to Barkerville Historic Town and many discounts to local businesses.