writer in residence
Dec 22, 2009
I will be workshopping manuscripts as writer in residence
Starting in February, I will be available to talk about your work. Take advantage of the opportunity!
Just a reminder that, if you're anywhere close to Toronto this winter, you can take advantage of my tenure as writer in residence at the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculation--Toronto's public library devoted to SF&F. I'll be reviewing and thinking about manuscripts provided by members of the public, and hope to discuss people's work with them in the safe and supportive environment of a public library dedicated to the art and fun of SF&F.
In order to sign up for the programme, you'll need to contact the library rather than me. For more information, contact the library directly at 416-393-7748.
May 15, 2009
...And now it can be told
I'll be writer in residence at the Merril Collection next spring
The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculation is one of the most prestigious science fiction research collections in the world. As part of the Toronto Public Library system, it's open to the public and is housed in a modern building in downtown Toronto (in between the University of Toronto campus and Chinatown). I'm delighted to be able to say that I'll be Writer in Residence at the Merril between January and March of 2010.
This is a position of service to the public. I'll be given time to work on my own material every day, but I'll also be making myself available to library visitors to discuss writing, review manuscripts, facilitate networking between prospective writers, and so on.
I'm very excited and honoured to be doing this, because twenty-three years ago, I arrived in Toronto by myself; didn't know anybody; and by chance heard about a local TPL branch called (then) the Spaced Out Library. I showed up to discover that Judith Merril was currently writer in residence, and through her I was introduced to some of the best friends I've made in this lifetime. The writer's workshop that Judy started at that time--I was there at the inaugural meeting--has been meeting once a week since 1987. It's with great pride that I find myself coming full circle to become writer in residence at the very library that made my writing career possible.