a free 2-part workshop for young writers aged 12-18 years old
Led by Krista Foss
WEDNESDAY June 4 & THURSDAY June 12, 2025
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. each week
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED sign up below
Registration is now open for Telling It Like It Is: a 2-part non-fiction writing workshop specifically for youth, led by Krista Foss.
Overview:
You’re young, energetic, angry, sad, confused, hopeful, jaded, optimistic – in other words, you have something to say about your life so far. This set of two 2-hour workshops is aimed at youth like you who want to tell their own stories in creative ways. It’s open to writers, would-be writers, those who have a story to tell and those unsure if they have one yet (you do!). The workshop will use prompts, exercises, and writing techniques from every kind of storytelling—from sci-fi to thrillers to romantasy – to unlock new ways of looking at your own lived experiences and help you find a voice that’s truly your own.
This workshop is for youth aged 12-18 years old interested in writing creative non-fiction stories. Whether just starting out or hoping to continue to improve their skills, this workshop will support young writers to build confidence and learn about professional writing techniques. Whether you have a story you want to tell, or are unsure where to start, this workshop can support you. Presented as part of the LANARK LIT Writing Competition (deadline September 30, 2025), these sessions are designed to help you develop or refine your non-fiction skills. All youth are welcome to join whether they submit a story to the competition or not.
There is no cost to participate. This 2-part workshop will take place over two evenings at the Perth & District Public Library, located at 30 Herriott Street in Perth, and is presented with support from YAK Youth Services and in partnership with the Perth & District Public Library. *Optional - pizza will also be provided at no charge.
What is this workshop about?
The day you lost your phone, had your bike stolen, failed a calculus quiz, fell in love and forgot all your passwords. What happens to us in life are all stories, big and small, and are all important. But how do we write about them? In this two-part workshop, we’ll ask what makes an experience a story and discover ways to bring our own to life through words. In part one, we play around with voice and character (yes you have main character energy) as well as ways to structure our pieces. In part two, we workshop and revise our pieces in a helpful, supportive environment. By the end of both parts, our goal is to have a working draft of a piece of creative non-fiction that tells it like it is.
What will we do in this course?
Write! Using prompts and exercises that make us laugh and make us curious about the potential of our own material. We’ll listen to the other writers in the room and get inspired. We’ll think hard about what makes the small things and the big things that have happened to us meaningful. We will read other writers’ work, and give them helpful feedback. We may even get up the nerve to read some of our work out loud (but that’s not required.)
During these two sessions, young writers will engage in writing activities, speak to the challenges they face in writing, grow their writing skills, and continue building their writing community. There is an opportunity to submit one piece of writing to the instructor for feedback.
Who is this course for?
If you are in high-school or are high-school adjacent you are welcome! If you like writing or are curious about writing, or even afraid of writing, but are open to viewing your own experiences through a creative writing lens, this is for you. Any young person between the ages of 12 and 18 who is curious about writing and lives anywhere in the Lanark County area and beyond is welcome to attend.
Unsure if you (or a young person / your child) are eligible to participate? Please email info@almontereadersandwriters.org to inquire.
About the instructor:
Krista Foss is a novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Her short fiction has appeared in several literary journals including Granta and has twice been a finalist for the Journey Prize. Her essay writing has been featured in Best Canadian Essays, nominated for a National Magazine Award, and received a Prism International Creative Non-Fiction prize. She has published two novels, Smoke River (2014) and Half Life(2021), both with McClelland & Stewart. She’s at work on a third novel, essays and journalism in Westport, Ontario.
More on Krista can be found at www.kristafoss.com
How can I register myself or a young person / my child in this workshop?
To register, please complete the following form:
This workshop is presented with funding from the Elizabeth Kelly Foundation, partial funding from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, and with the support of YAK Youth Services and in partnership with the Perth & District Public Library.
