Programs & Events
Almonte Readers & Writers selects programming with the following goals in mind:
Presentation of accessible events and opportunities for all ages
Payment of presentation and workshop facilitator fees to literary artists
Promotion of educational opportunities in the literary arts in Lanark County
3rd Annual Lanark Lit Writing Competition - Call for Submissions
The 3rd Annual Lanark Lit Writing Competition is now open for submissions!
Deadline for entry is September 30, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
The genres for 2026 are works of short fiction, and poetry.
Submissions are in 3 categories:
Fiction - 2 categories - ages 17 and under, and adults 18+
Poetry - 1 category - all ages
The competition is open to anyone who lives in Lanark County and the surrounding area.
Call for Submissions - April 30 until September 30, 2026
PRIZES
$300 per category, per genre. $900 total in prize money available.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry in each age category (WHERE APPLICABLE), as determined by a guest jury selected by Almonte Readers & Writers.
The winning entries will also be offered the opportunity of public distribution. Details forthcoming.
This program is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers, with funding generously awarded by the Elizabeth Kelly Foundation.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry, and enjoy some delicious food and drinks!
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
Come out for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Barley Mow in Almonte! Enjoy local stories, performances, poetry, and some delicious food and drinks!
How the story of Janusz Korczak became a graphic novel
How the story of Janusz Korczak became a graphic novel
A presentation by Amanda West Lewis
Wednesday, June 3, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., Perth & District Union Public Library
Ever wondered how a graphic novel is created? In this presentation, author Amanda Lewis will show you how her book “Looking at the Sky” went from idea, to manuscript, to printed book.
“Looking at the Sky” will be released June 2. It tells the story of Dr. Janusz Korczak, world-renowned Polish paediatrician, children’s author, and children’s rights advocate. It is Amanda’s 11th book, her first graphic novel.
Amanda West Lewis is a writer, theatre artist, and calligrapher. She is the author of ten books, most recently including the poetry collection A Planet is a Poem, and the semi-autobiographical novels Focus Click Wind, and These Are Not the Words. Her books have been recognized with a wide range of awards and nominations including: EUREKA! 2024 Excellence in Children’s Non-Fiction Award; California Reading Association Honor Book; NCTE Notable Poetry Book; Cybils Award nominee 2024; 2024 School Library Journal Best Poetry Books; 2024 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young Adults; 2022 American League of Poets recommended novel in verse; Silver Birch Award; Red Cedar Award; and Violet Downey IODE Award
Amanda has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has acted, directed, produced, and written for theatre, as well as founded the Ottawa Children’s Theatre. She teaches writing, drama, and calligraphy to young people and adults, often combining these disciplines together. www.amandawestlewis.com
Presented in association with Lanark Lit / Almonte Readers & Writers with funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts through The Writers’ Union of Canada.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. — at a NEW VENUE! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry, and enjoy some delicious food and drinks at the BARLEY MOW — 79 Little Bridge Street, in Almonte.
Writing Craft BOOK CLUB Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
We are once again partnering with the Almonte Writers Guild to present our Writing Craft Book Club!
Join us on May 4th to discuss Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg.
This meeting will be held online via Google Meet - Monday, May 4th, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Widely considered the all-time best-selling writer's handbook, first published in 1986 Writing Down the Bones brings together writing and Zen mediation.
With insight, humour, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer's craft: on writing from "first thoughts" (keep your hand moving, don't cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don't listen to it)—even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short, easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author's witty approach ("Writing Is Not a McDonald's Hamburger," "Man Eats Car," "Be an Animal"), will inspire anyone who writes—or who longs to.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry, and enjoy some delicious food and drinks!
LANARK LIT Writing Competition - Awards Gala & Reading
You’re invited to the Awards Gala for the Lanark Lit Writing Competition!
The event will include readings by the winning writers, and more!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Mississippi Mills Public Library.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
Writing Craft BOOK CLUB: The Happy Writer
We are once again partnering with the Almonte Writers Guild to present our Writing Craft Book Club!
Join us on November 3rd at Almonte’s Hillside Church to discuss The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author and the creator and host of the popular podcast, The Happy Writer, comes the ultimate guide to writing with less stress and more JOY.
If you aren’t suffering, you aren’t creating. Right?
Wrong!
Writing can and should be joyful, fulfilling... even fun! Applicable to writers in all genres and disciplines—from screenwriters to novelists, journalists to picture book authors, aspiring to many-times published—The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey.
Come and chat with us about the joy of writing.
The Writing Craft Book Club focuses on the craft of writing through books written by and for those in the industry. All books will be relevant to our vocation, but please seek out appropriate trigger and content warnings should they apply to you. While reading the book is not necessary for attendance, it will greatly increase your enjoyment of this discussion.
The ARW/AWG Writing Craft Book Club focuses on the craft of writing through books written by and for those in the industry. While reading the book is not necessary for attendance*, it will greatly increase your enjoyment of this discussion.
The Happy Writer can be purchased from Mill Street Books.
If you are unable to get a copy of the book for financial reasons, please reach out. The organizers will do everything in our power to get you a copy so that you may participate.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at another new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Write-in for October (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
2nd Annual AWG Writing Retreat
Come write with the Almonte Writers Guide at the second annual AWG Writing Retreat, presented with the support of Almonte Readers & Writers and The LAM.
Taking place at Union Hall (1984 Wolf Grove Road) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 4th.
Activities will include:
- Optional prompts ALL DAY
- Story Creation Workshop presented by The LAM
- Open Mic presented by Almonte Readers & Writers
- Catered Lunch
- Raffle for all attendees!
Tickets are available by donation at all AWG events. All donations go toward funding the event and additional events throughout 2026. Recommended donation of $2-$5.
There will be limited tickets, so be sure to get them while they're available. Cash only, please.
See you there, writers!
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Lanark Lit Writing Competition DEADLINE
The Lanark Lit Writing Competition is now open for submissions!
The genre for 2025 is works of short creative non-fiction. Send us your best non-fiction: literary journalism, memoir, personal essay, lyric essay, humour writing, travel writing, and flash non-fiction - all are welcome! Submissions are in two (2) categories, organized by age of author— ages 17 and under, adults 18+. The competition is open to anyone who lives in Lanark County and the surrounding area.
Deadline for entry is September 30, 2025, by 11:59 p.m.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
6-week Creative Writing Workshop - For the Love of Lists with Jessie Carson
September 18, 25, October, 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2025
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
at Almonte Town Hall - 14 Bridge Street, Almonte
Cost: $240
To learn more visit www.jessiecarson.com/workshops
To register, email jesscarson@gmail.com.
Perth Writers Festival
Perth Writers Festival hosted by The Perth Farmers Market!
Saturday, September 6
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
All are welcome!
Come down to the Perth Farmers Market and meet local authors and hear about their writing journey. Books available to purchase. 12 local authors will be on site inside and outside the Crystal Palace on the Tay Basin.
Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Outdoor Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Write-in for August (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at another new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Bridge Masters Brewing Company in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in the comfortable community room, and enjoy the patio and some delicious food and drinks!
Write-in for July (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Outdoor Write-in for July (AWG)
Presented by the AWG, come write for 20- or 30-minutes followed by 5-10 minutes of break for the duration of the event. This is a drop-in event, so you are welcome to join and leave at whatever time suits you.
Local Lit - writers & poets OPEN MIC
We’re super excited to welcome everyone back again for another OPEN MIC — from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at a new summer location! This time we’ll gather at Jazzy’s Brewhaus in Perth! Come on out for a night of local stories, performances, and poetry in Jazzy’s unique outdoor courtyard!
