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Writing Circles

Improve Your Writing

Writers who attend our circles find that their writing becomes richer, smoother, and more engaging. The circles help them through the dry and stagnant stages that happen to all writers. Group discussion leads to new ideas and profound revelations.

Compassionate, constructive critiques validate the work of writers—and it’s a lot of fun.

Participation is FREE, to members. Members may join more than one writing circle.

Current Writing Circles

  • Monday Morning Circle: We meet at 11:00 on Monday mornings, currently via Zoom.
  • Monday Afternoon Circle (Full): Gathers at 1:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month.
  • Tuesday Afternoon Circle: Every two or three weeks at 1:00 p.m.
  • Poetry Circle: Every three or four weeks on Mondays at 4:00 p.m.

If you are interested in joining a writing circle, or leading a new one at a time convenient for you, contact NCRadmin@canadianauthors.org.

About Writing Circles

The concept of writing circles (by many names) has been around since people began to write. These circles have grown from a simple gathering of a few people sitting along the lakeshore to more elaborate gatherings in church basements—and, yes, even bars and taverns. Many of these precursors were not as positive and supportive as our circles of today.

The Purpose

Writing circles are gatherings of writers who help each other to build better stories–to tame the errant paragraphs, fix the runaway punctuation and soften the unbecoming personality traits in a literary character.

The Process

Since writing is usually done in isolation, writers often lack the networking contacts that offer support and advice on their efforts. Grandma and Uncle George may think the work is the best thing since the motorcar started exceeding 30 miles an hour, but is it?

Writing circles allow writers to give and receive constructive feedback and to encourage each other in the challenge of writing that next bestseller, major script, book of poetry or memoir. Participants learn as much giving constructive feedback to others as they do receiving it.

Works-in-progress are circulated among circle participants prior to the meeting. Feedback is shared in a comfortable, safe, supportive environment based on an established format, and guidelines that have proven to work.

Depending on the agenda, there may also be writing exercises which challenge members to stretch beyond their comfort zones. Exercises often reveal hidden talents or encourage members to expand their writing repertoires into new genres.

Don’t worry about a bruised ego. Writing circles are guided by experienced leaders who ensure that critiquing is delivered in a positive manner that is constructive to the writer.


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Join the Canadian Authors Association

Find a Poem, with JC Sulzenko

Tuesday April 11, 2023
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
via Zoom
Free to members of Canadian Authors. Non-members $10.00

Register by email

Facing the Page Together

Drop-in sessions | Members only

We meet via Zoom to discuss an aspect of writing to focus on for that session. Perhaps it's adding specific detail, or improving dialogue, or working with voice or point of view. We then write "together" (with our without cameras on). We can respond to a prompt or apply the concept to our works in progress. It could be fiction, non-fiction or poetry. We then gather again as a group to discuss the experience.

Mondays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

October 17: Adding specific, concrete details
November 21: Working with dialogue
January 30: Serving the story
February 27: Filtering, adverbs and goal setting
March 27: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing
May 1: Voice
May 29: A microfiction challenge

Find out more

Our Anthologies


Merging Waters is an anthology of works by the members of the Poetry Circle of the Canadian Authors Association - National Capital Region. Enjoy poetry by Blaine Marchand, Tsippi Guttmann-Nahir, Kati Lyon-Villiger, Christine Beelen, Adrienne Stevenson and Arlene Somerton Smith.

Cover featuring the Rideau Falls, Ottawa. Title Merging Waters
Buy Merging Waters

Building Community features the top stories and poems from the 2021 National Capital Writing Contest.

Building Community Anthology
Buy Building Community

20/20 Vision features the top stories and poems from the 2020 National Capital Writing Contest.

Front cover of the 20/20 Vision antholoty
Buy 20/20 Vision

The National Capital Writing Contest's 30th Anniversary Anthology features the top stories and poems from the 2017 NCWC.

Front cover of the 30th NCWC anthology
Buy the 30th Anniversary Anthology
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