For Hal-Con 2025, we published a free zine featuring flash fiction pieces and excerpts by 13 Nova Scotian writers of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. For a limited time—from now until December 15—you can download and enjoy the PDF version of the zine! writers.ns.ca/announcement...

UPCOMING VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Death by Info Dump with donalee Moulton (Nov 18 & 25) This workshop tackles the common trap of the info dump and discusses how to reveal character histories, settings, and key facts in ways that feel natural, compelling, and necessary. writers.ns.ca/workshops-ev...

Introducing the WFNS 2025/2026 Board of Directors! Thank you to those directors who are returning for another year, and welcome new directors Sonja Boon and Renée Hartleib! See the full list of board members here: writers.ns.ca/about/staff-...

WFNS AGM tonight! 7:00pm to 8:30pm Atlantic, on Zoom Register: us02web.zoom.us/.../WN_ylvlB.... Important docs: writers.ns.ca/workshops-ev... Join us to hear from WFNS’s staff and outgoing Board of Directors, review the annual financial statements, and get up-to-date on our newest programming.

Well my poem is on a power box in Graves-Oakley Memorial Park! Thanks HRM for the fun opportunity!

Gratitude to @writersfedofns.bsky.social for a week of recharging and renewal at Jampolis Cottage #fundy #minasbasin #highesttidesintheworld #newmoon #neaptide #amwriting #poets #neilandjanejampolis

Just a reminder that tonight I will be in conversation with the wonderful Yputh Poet Laureate Asha Abdosh!

SAVE THE DATE! It’s the talent portion of our 10th anniversary bash at Block Shop Books in Lunenburg Nova Scotia! #janedoucet @deanjobb.bsky.social @amimckay.bsky.social @tomryanauthor.bsky.social

Congratulations to the the three finalists for the 2025 Ellemeno Visual Literature Prize: Sonja Boon, Doretta Groenendyk, and Jamie Samson! The Ellemeno Prize annually celebrates creative cross-pollination between the literary arts and the visual arts. Stay tuned for an announcement of the winner!

Virtual panel, WED April 23, 7PM Atlantic Join trans and gender non-conforming writers Zoë Comeau, K.R. Byggdin, Luke Hathaway, Trynne Delaney, and moderator Sal Sawler for an evening panel on reading, writing, storytelling, and celebrating trans narratives. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

today’s plan

This was one of the best weeks of my professional life. Do it.

Our Self-Directed Retreat program at Jampolis Cottage is available to Nova Scotian, Canadian, AND international writers! Now booking for weeks between May 25 and December 6. Apply by APR 17: writers.ns.ca/jampolis/sel...

WFNS is delighted to announce the four winners of the 2025 Nova Writes Competition! Budge Wilson Short Story Prize "two girls at the end of the world" by Sophia Linfield Silver Donald Cameron Essay Prize "Helicopter Down in the Barrens" by Larry Hicks 1/2

So I've started the process of collecting mental health and illness and mental health care related poems from people who live and working HRM, with the aim of creating a new work of art or collection them as my legacy project during my 2024-27 term. Come out April 29 to the Central Library for more!

You asked, and we’re answering: WFNS is finally offering a creative writing day camp for adults! 😎 June 23-27 at our office on the Halifax waterfront writers.ns.ca/workshops-ev...

Upcoming panel on Trans Joy and Authorship on April 23!

Finalists announced for the 2025 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children's Literature Read more: bookcentre.ca/blogs/industry-news/finalists-2025-ann-connor-brimer-award

Poetry reading at the Trident Thursday evening! But also this at the tail end of national poetry month. halifax.bibliocommons.com/events/67ed8...

2025 Atlantic Book Awards noms announced! writers.ns.ca/award-news/b... incl titles by @gaspereaupress.bsky.social, @bookhugpress.bsky.social, @gooselane.bsky.social, @nimbuspub.bsky.social, @cormorantbooks.bsky.social, @pottersfieldpress.bsky.social, @arsenalpulp.bsky.social. #DSPBposts #BookSky

Join us next Thursday evening for a National Poetry Month event here in Halifax, featuring Clare Goulet, Nanci Lee, @nolannatasha.bsky.social, @annaquon.bsky.social, and yours truly. Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Halifax, 7 pm, April 10.

We're thrilled to announce the nominees for our 2025 Nova Scotian and Atlantic Book Awards! First up, the nominees for the 2025 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children's Literature (YA) are: Chad Lucas, Rebecca Phillips, Valerie Sherrard, Hannah State, and Gloria Ann Wesley! 🎉 1/6

Congratulations to Claire Morley, the winner of this year's Message on a Bottle contest! Claire's poem, "Starfall Scrumping," will be published on Island Folk Cider House's new elderflower cider. Both the poem and the eponymous cider will be revealed at a Halifax launch in May. Details to come!

ArtsVote: Cast a ballot for culture Morning File by @philmoscovitch.bsky.social

Happy International Trans Day of Visibility! Check out this fantastic upcoming virtual panel with @writersfedofns.bsky.social featuring our very own @krbyggdin.bsky.social, Zoë Comeau, @lukehathaway.bsky.social Trynne Delaney and Sal Sawler, April 23at 7:00 pm AST. writers.ns.ca/workshops-ev...

Congratulations to the four finalists in this year's Message on a Bottle contest! Jamie Feldman (Cape Breton | @jamiefeldman.bsky.social) Melissa Kuipers (Antigonish) Claire Morley (Halifax) Jamie Samson (Halifax) Winner announced April 3. Full details: writers.ns.ca/award-news/m...

OK SO, 25% book tariffs are set to go live April 2. this is tricky for a number of reasons but the simplest is that most books are published & warehoused in the US, even those by Canadian authors, so this makes it infinitely more complicated than "Buy Canadian Authors" or slapping on a sticker

thanks to Global News for talking to us about the recent counter tariff response on books, and thanks to everyone who shared my original post to call attention to the issue! ❤️

We're emerging from our slumber & open for submissions! Our eternal theme remains—art about art—but Vol 2 will publish only writers/artists living in canada. Creative nonfiction is now welcome. Submit by Apr 30: longconmag.com/submit/ (🎨 John Macallan Swan's Studies of a Recumbent Polar Bear, 1903)

Less than a week until Perpetual Astonishment! Big news: there shall be SNACKS.

Apply now !!! Application link docs.google.com/forms/d/1ECW... Email [email protected]

March 20th!

Wordsmiths! You are hereby challenged to test your meddle in the inaugural WFNS Scrabble Tournament! When: Sunday, Mar 2nd (1-5pm) Where: WFNS offices (1113 Marginal Rd) Why: Because scrabble+snacks+new friends+ruthless competition = your version of heaven :) Register here: bit.ly/4ks4cGr

Upcoming virtual workshop with Julian Mortimer Smith: Intro to Sci-Fi & Fantasy Mondays, Mar 3-24 (7-9pm Atlantic) on Zoom Register here: writers.ns.ca/workshops/in...

Happening next Tuesday at Central! Come hang out with some amazing authors!

Canadian authors: registration for the Public Lending Right #PLR program is open now until May 1, 2025. This awesome program pays royalties to Canadian authors for books in Canadian public libraries. For those already enrolled, payments should be arriving soon. publiclendingright.ca

Access Copyright Foundation's yearly call for Marian Hebb Research Grant applications comes to an end on February 15. Please be sure to complete your application before the deadline. www.acfoundation.ca/2024/12/09/a...

Join us on Feb 24 at 7PM for a virtual info session with the fine folks from the NS Talent Trust! You'll learn about the NSTT scholarship application process, the online application system, and you'll pick up some tips on how to submit a strong application. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

"It was the bay water that buoyed me, the landscapes that beguiled me, and the old house that held me in its history." A beautiful reflection from our 2024 Robert Pope Foundation poet-in-residence, Janelle Levesque. writers.ns.ca/jampolis-cot... (Photo of Penny Beach, Janelle Levesque)

Apply to the Oliver-Craig Black Writers' Retreat by Feb 20! This two-week retreat (Aug 3-16) offers two successful applicants free residence, a $500 honorarium, and the instruction and mentorship of this year's mentor, Wanda Taylor. For details and to apply, visit: writers.ns.ca/jampolis/oli...

🔎 Unravelling Time: Writing Historical Mysteries with donalee Moulton Take a step back in time to unravel the secrets of the past and craft a compelling story today. Tuesdays, Feb 25 - Mar 18, 7-9pm Atlantic On Zoom writers.ns.ca/workshops/un...

Such good vibes at the Halifax Brewery Market and the Wolfville Farmers' Market last week! Thanks to all of our poets and to everyone who bought a poem! 💕

Messy weather tomorrow means we unfortunately have to cancel our "Just My Type" appearance at the Lunenburg Farmers' Market. BUT this fundraiser has been a great success so far, and it's clear that the people want poetry 🥰 So, keep your eyes out for more similar events throughout the year!

hope to see you on the 25th!

Today’s work: Poetry for the people! Getting a couple of these beauties ready to take to the Wolfville Farmer’s Market for tomorrow’s (Sat. Feb 8) “Just my Type” @writersfedofns.bsky.social fundraising event. Ready to write poems of love and other stirring sentiments.

Atlantic Legacy Award 2025 nominations now open! Submissions and Guidelines: atlanticbookawards.ca/the-atlantic... Image feating out 2024 Winner: Gloria Ann Wesley

🍎Your favourite micro-writing contest is back! We're partnering with Island Folk Cider to determine the name/label text for their new ELDERFLOWER cider💕 Nova Scotian writers (19+) can submit entries of very short prose or poetry. Deadline March 6. Details here: writers.ns.ca/programs/mes...

Hey lovelies, what's better than flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day? 💕Custom poems typed by local poets💕 Find us at farmers' markets in Wolfville, Halifax, & Lunenburg in the next few weeks, and order up a custom poem for your sweetie (or your pal, or your mum, or yourself!) 🧵1/5

Writers of nonfiction, have we got a workshop for you! Jon Tattrie will teach you how to bring the past to life through different source materials. Learn how to make the past burst off the page and enter the reader’s present! Tuesdays, Feb 4-25 (7-9PM AST) on Zoom writers.ns.ca/workshops/no...