By Cynthia Wandler
With events like STARFest and LitFest quickly approaching, there's no better time to get involved in Edmonton’s literary scene. As the writer Thomas Merton said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Come lose yourself in local literary arts, beginning with two major festivals scheduled in Edmonton this fall. [Photo credit: iStock]
St. Albert’s STARFest began in 2011 with six authors, a number that has more than doubled since. Taking place at intimate venues, tickets start at $5, kept (awesomely) affordable through sponsorships. STARFest Director Heather Dolman says, “We try our very best to provide a great experience for our authors, interviewers and program attendees and I think word is getting around that we run an organized and welcoming festival.” Come join some of your favorite authors for insights, anecdotes and laughs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 6.
LitFest is Edmonton’s annual non-fiction festival, running Oct. 12 to 22. “As the only festival of its kind in the country, LitFest puts Edmonton on the map as a literary destination for not only those interested in nonfiction, but also for some of the most fascinating authors from around the world," Executive Director Fawnda Mithrush explains. "We celebrate and interrogate big ideas, and the festival events always strike up amazing conversations between writers and readers. Be it science, politics, social justice, food culture, memoir, or even comedy – if you've never heard of anyone in the LitFest line-up before, it's the best way to grow your reading list.”
The annual Tales: Storytelling Festival has been taking place for more than two decades and features professional storytellers weaving tales for young and old, shared at a variety of Edmonton venues. Mark it on your calendar for next May.
If you're a fan of melody and rhythm, check out the Edmonton Poetry Festival, where local and international artists perform in coffee houses, gardens, libraries and stages across the city. You may also be able to take in performances by Edmonton’s Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate while you're there. The event is held annually each April.
If you're an aspiring writer yourself, Edmonton has plenty of resources for you to hone up on your skills or connect with like-minded artists. Writer in Residence (WiR) programs can connect you with professional authors who can educate you on everything in the publishing industry and give you helpful writing and editing tips. Both the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University have WiR programs, which run from September to April.
The Edmonton Public Library offers a WiR program that runs throughout the calendar year. People in the capital region can also access the Metro Writer in Residence program, which sees a writer split their time between the Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan and St. Albert public libraries.
Third Verb and Flat Worms Writing Studio are two Edmonton-based companies offering writing workshops and mentorship opportunities in specific genres. Award-winning journalist Omar Mouallem, creative non-fiction author Jessica Kluthe and fiction writer Angie Abdou are among the writers who have shared their expertise at Third Verb workshops, where registration comes with quality swag bags and the opportunity to connect with fellow local writers.
Flat Worms Writing Studio focusses on non-fiction and provides attendees with the opportunity to develop a piece of non-fiction with guidance from award-winning writers such as Michael Hingston and Jana Pruden. Emerging Voices scholarships are also offered.
_________________________________________________________________
More fun things to do in Edmonton:
_________________________________________________________________
Stop by Audreys Books, the oldest independently-owned bookstore in Edmonton, where the owners are great supporters of local writers. Book launches, readings, Dive into the joys of Edmonton's literary scene events and unique books from around the world can be enjoyed at this community hub throughout the year.
Other opportunities for Edmonton-area writers and audiences include Edmonton Story Slam, the Rouge Poetry Slam, Writers’ Guild of Alberta events, YouthWrite and JustWrite.
Whether you want to check out local literary festivals or pick up the pen yourself, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in Edmonton's literary scene. Hope to see you at some of these events!
