Events & Workshops

Have you ever read true stories that simmer with tension and sweep you wholly into new worlds? How do great nonfiction storytellers do it? We’ll start by exploring samples from some of the best, like Zadie Smith, Joan Didion, Susan Orlean, Joshua Whitehead, and James Baldwin. Then, through discussion and interactive exercises, we’ll dive into how intentional storycrafting can lift your projects to that level, by considering:

• Voice and Veracity: What the story has to say, and your role as guide/narrator.
• Hearing and Learning: Techniques for gathering the story ingredients with empathy, commitment and an open mind.
• Finding the Frame: Gleaning internal ingredients of conflict, resolution, protagonists, antagonists, dramatic objectives, and what’s at stake.
• Writing With Your Eyes: Scene-by-scene storytelling.
• Writing for Place and Character: Techniques to draw readers into the worlds of others.
• Giving the Journey: When to stand back and let your reader put pieces together and follow their own thought-paths for a maximum immersive experience.

Whether an article, a memoir, an essay, or a nonfiction book is sitting inside you—whether it’s still an idea or you’re deep into a first draft—bring what you have to the workshop. Through discussion and classroom exercises, we’ll work together to inspire and shape your intentions into great stories. Participants will leave with a clear sense of what to do next and a supportive network of writers on the same path. Afterwards, participants are invited to submit the opening scene of their piece (max. 600 words) by the end of the following week for personalized feedback from workshop leader Patricia Elliott.

Deadlines for your project’s opening scene for feedback from Patricia W. Elliott:

• Workshop session: Tuesday, May 5, 6:30-8:30 pm
• Deadline for submission of opening scene: Thursday, May 14
• When you can expect feedback by: ~30 days after May 14

Important registration notes:

Members pay less for workshops! Are you trying to register and you’re being charged the full workshop fee when you’re a current SWG member? To access the reduced member rate for this workshop, please make sure you are logged into this website with your member profile to access the member rate for the session. (The member login link is on the top right of this page (computer) or at the top centre (mobile/tablet).)

If this workshop is sold out, please email swgevents@skwriter.com to be placed on the waitlist.

Please note that all times listed are Saskatchewan time. Find your time zone here: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter

This event will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Accessibility Measures in this workshop

• Live auto-captions through Zoom
• Presenter self-descriptions
• Limited Zoom technical support is provided by SWG staff to assist participants while they’re in the Zoom meeting.

To help you prepare, here are the expectations for participants in this workshop:

• Participants are expected to have a nonfiction writing project in process, at any stage of development
• Participants are asked to complete a pre-session questionnaire about their writing experience, writing project, and goals for the workshop to help our facilitator prepare for this session and to gather their feedback.
• Camera is optional but greatly appreciated. (Participants may have cameras on or off.)
• Participant discussion is preferred from everyone throughout the workshop when prompted.
• Participants are expected to share writing created during the workshop with the group.
• Participants are expected to participate in activities/prompts/exercises throughout the workshop. (In session and optional homework that will receive feedback from our facilitator.)
• During the workshop, participants may be split into smaller groups using Breakout Rooms

Workshop registration refund policy:

Please be certain you will be able to attend before you register. Registered participants must promptly email the SWG staff person responsible for the event (Cat Abenstein, Program Manager, swgevents@skwriter.com) to cancel their registration. Otherwise, no refunds will be issued.

• A full refund is available if you cancel your registration one week prior to the start of the workshop (by 11:59 p.m. on April 27, 2026)
• A 50% refund is available if you cancel your registration less than one week and more than 48 hours before the workshop. (For cancellations between April 28 and May 2 at 11:59 p.m. SK time)
• There is no refund for registrations cancelled within 48 hours of the workshop or for no-shows. (Beginning at 12:00 a.m. on May 3)
• If you would like to donate your registration fee to the SWG’s accessibility fund so others can attend events like this in the future, please let us know in your email.

Workshop Facilitator

Patricia (Trish) W. Elliott has been guiding aspiring nonfiction writers for 20 years through her Magazine and Literary Journalism course at the University of Regina and courses taught in the Indigenous Journalism and Communication Arts program at First Nations University of Canada. From 2007 to 2018, she edited The Crow, showcasing student-authored creative nonfiction. Stories produced in her classroom have earned numerous national and international awards. Her teaching is founded in decades of experience as a freelance magazine writer, investigative journalist, editor and author, whose work has been published in Saturday Night, Canadian Living, Canadian Forum, and numerous other publications.

Funding provided by:

In proud partnership with: