Virtual Writer-in-Residence

Programs & Services

Advice on Your Writing From an Experienced Author

The Virtual Writer-in-Residence (VWiR) program provides opportunities for Saskatchewan writers at all levels of development and genres to receive guidance and advice on a specific writing project from an established Saskatchewan writer.

The program gives SWG members who live in Saskatchewan outside of Regina and Saskatoon access to the services of a VWiR. The VWiR will meet one-on-one with SWG members through a one-hour video call to talk about the individual’s submitted writing project and questions they have about writing.

Members may submit proposals, manuscripts or writing samples up to 15 pages in any genre for consultation. The VWiR will read your submission and be prepared to discuss your work and answer your questions during your consultation.

Members can access this free service a maximum of one session per month, up to three sessions per residency period.

Our Fall 2023 Virtual Writer-in-Residence is Lauren Carter. Lauren is available to work with eligible writers between Sept 1-Nov 30 - please see below for more information on how to register and work with Lauren.

Lauren Carter (she/her) is the author of five books including two poetry collections, two novels, and her latest, the short story collection Places Like These which was a Globe and Mail recommended read. Her last novel, This Has Nothing To Do With You, won the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction at the Manitoba Book Awards, when she also earned the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writing. She lives on 1.4 acres within the homeland of the Metis Nation, on Treaty One territory, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she writes and offers teaching, editing, and mentorship services.

Hello! I’m so pleased to act as this fall’s Virtual Writer-in-Residence. Once you hit send, I will make myself a cup of tea and settle in to read. When we meet, I’ll tell you what’s working to give you a (very important) sense of your strengths, and suggest where I think you might want to dig deeper, create more naturalistic dialogue, sharpen images, cut unnecessary phrasing, or attend in other ways to your work. Rest assured that I’ll be gentle; my job here isn’t as a copyeditor but as a mentor and guide to help you deepen your relationship with your writing. I look forward to working with you!

Who Can Access This Service

You are eligible for this program if you are:

a current SWG member; and
living in Saskatchewan outside of Regina or Saskatoon.

This service is open to all Saskatchewan-based members of the SWG in good standing who do not have access to any other Writer-in-Residence programs. Writers of any genre and level of ability are welcome to access the VWiR.

Members who live in Regina or Saskatoon should refer to the Writer-in-Residence programs at their regional library for similar services. Regina writers can work with the Regina Public Library Writer-in-Residence and Saskatoon writers can work with the Saskatoon Public Library Writer-in-Residence.

The VWiR will work with a maximum of 12 writers per month, on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for this VWiR service, please email programs@skwriter.com.

Participant Registration

If you are interested in working with Lauren, please register below. Please note that registration is required once per term. If you have any problems with this registration form or have questions, please contact programs@skwriter.com or call 306-791-7740.

General information

First Name *

Last Name *

Address *

City/Town *

Province *

Postal Code *

Email Address *

Phone Number (000-000-0000) *

I am a current member *
No Yes

Have you registered for the Virtual Writer-in-Residence program before? *
No Yes

Please describe your writing experience in 1-2 sentences. This can include publications, mentorships, courses/workshops taken, retreats, membership in a writing group, anything that you think is relevant to how you have been learning the craft of writing and if/how you have received feedback on your writing up to this point. If you’re just beginning, that’s okay too! You can let us know that. *

Information about your writing

Please share more information about the writing you’d like to discuss with the VWIR.

Title of the work *

Type of work/genre (ex: science fiction, young adult, lyric poetry collection, short story, literary fiction, romance, etc.) *

Is the work you are submitting a part of a larger project or manuscript (i.e. an excerpt of a novel or longer work)? If so, please give a 1-2 sentence description of the larger project, including word count or state of completion (ex: 50,000 words of an anticipated 80,000 words, completed, on 3rd round of revisions). *

What is the goal for this writing? Who is the intended audience for this writing? *

Please give a 1-2 sentence summary of the 15 pages of writing you are submitting. *

Any content notes/trigger warnings for the writing (ex: racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, graphic violence, suicide, abuse, rape, etc.): *

Do you have specific questions for the VWIR beyond the craft of writing? (i.e. editing, publishing, the business of writing, questions about the literary community). *

** Please submit the 15-page Word file to discuss with the VWIR at your first meeting. Please ensure it follows SWG submission guidelines above.

File *

No bigger than 5MB

Submit Now

How to access this service?

Fill out our registration form to confirm your eligibility. Participants are required to register once per term. New for Fall 2023: your 15 page writing submission is required for your registration form. If registered successfully, subsequent meetings and submission of writing for those meetings may be arranged directly with the VWIR.
The SWG will connect you with the Virtual Writer-in-Residence to arrange your virtual consultation.
The VWiR will respond to your email and arrange a one-hour meeting on a mutually convenient date and time.
You will receive an emailed invitation link from the VWiR for your Zoom meeting. Click on the link to join the call.

For more information, please contact:

Program Director
T: 306.791.7743 | E: programs@skwriter.com

SWG Thanks Our Funders

Courier, Drop-Off & In-Person Address

Saskatchewan Writers' Guild
Suite 100, 1150 8th Ave.
Regina, SK S4R 1C9
306-791-7740 | info@skwriter.com

Mailing Address

Saskatchewan Writers' Guild
PO Box 3986, Regina, SK, S4P 3R9

The SWG serves a membership spanning the entire province of Saskatchewan, in Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10, which encompasses the unceded territories of the Nêhiyawak, Anishinaabeg, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Dené Nations and the Homeland of the Métis Nation.

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