Creative Writing Classes & Workshops for Adults
In Toronto and Online
Inspiration, Technique and Community
for anyone who loves to write… and anyone who wants to try it.
Creative writing is enriching, cathartic, inspiring… and just plain fun. All of us have stories inside us, waiting for a chance to emerge. Whether you are a seasoned writer or curious beginner, join us in our Toronto studio or virtually and discover the joy of words.
The Joy of Words: An Adult Writing Salon
Saturdays 9.30am-11.00am, ages 18+ only,
Hybrid: In our Bloor West Studio or Virtual
5 weeks, starting Saturday 1 February
Leave the cares of the world behind and reconnect with your creative self! There’s something in this writing workshop for everyone – seasoned writers hoping to rediscover the joy of writing, curious beginners and anyone who feels they have a story to tell. We’ll gather over morning coffee to write, laugh and share. Each week we will meander through 2-3 creative writing prompts, mining our lives for story and exploring everything from poetry to memoir, fantasy to flash fiction, open letters to journalling. We’ll discuss techniques – but our main focus will be the pleasure of writing.
ALL of us can be creative, finding joy in the words we write and the stories we tell. Whether […]
The Business of Writing. March 29 2025
Hybrid – join us on Zoom or in our Bloor West Studio
Saturday 29 March 2025. 2pm to 4.30pm EST
Open to adult writers, and teen writers 16+
Join us for an intensive workshop on the business of getting published. Learn how to prepare a manuscript for publication, and explore the options open to you once your book is ready. We will look at sample query letters and learn how to make your letter to an agent or independent publisher stand out from the rest. We’ll compare print and digital publishing houses, self-publishing with traditional routes, indie with international, and examine the process you must go through if you want to see your book published by one of the ‘big five’.
If you love to be creative but find the business aspect of writing a little daunting, join us for this lively no-pressure workshop, and learn the skills you […]
Planning a Novel or Memoir. April 12 2025
Hybrid – join us on Zoom or in our Bloor West Studio
Saturday 12 April 2025. 2pm to 4.30pm EST
Open to adult writers, and teen writers 16+
Join us for a lively workshop on the process of plotting and planning a novel or memoir. We’ll cover Five Act Structure, the Three Peaks Method, Inciting Incidents and Character Transformation. We’ll also look at what makes a satisfying protagonist, how to choose your point of view and ways to keep your writing ‘in-scene’. Bring along your questions, ideas or works-in-progress, and prepare yourself for a fast-paced overview of plotting and planning
All ages 16+ are welcome!
Special Discounted Rate: $29+HST
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CLICK HERE to find out more about Julie Hartley, the instructor for this workshop.
Instructor: Julie Hartley is the co-director of Centauri Arts and has taught creative writing in her Toronto studio, virtually and at her retreats in Costa Rica for the past 8 years. Her publications include the historical fiction novel Her Secret Soldier, a novel entitled The Finding Place, a collection of poetry called Deboning a Dragon, and a book for teachers on how to bring Shakespeare alive for students. Julie has an MFA in Creative Writing and is a freelance editor, specialising in novels, memoirs and children’s fiction.
Creative Writing Retreats in Costa Rica, UK and Mexico
Gift yourself the time and space to write.
Inspiration. Rejuvenation. Companionship. Joy. Discover all this and more when you leave behind the pressures and routines of daily life and reconnect with your creative self. Choose from a gorgeous eco-lodge in the heart of Costa Rican rainforest, or a tranquil boutique hotel in the vibrant, cultural city of Merida, Mexico. Enjoy daily writing workshops designed to hone your technique and provide an endless supply of ideas
