Writers' Groups
Reading Events range from open mic locations, and slam groups to book launches. We have included two sites with links to many locations where you can hear writers read from their works, or where you can arrange to have others hear you read. There are also many local support groups for writers.
Reading Venues - Writing Groups - Adding Your Group
Reading Events, Open Mic Locations, etc.
- Please see the Vancouver Literary Event Listings on Pandora's Collective for open mic events, readings, poetry and story slams, etc. happening in Greater Vancouver. Please contact individual groups to be put on their mailing list.
- Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture represents and serves the local arts community. Online calendar of events and more.
- Please see the Vancouver CAA Members page for readings and events for individual members.
- World Poetry Reading Series features readings by writers and poets at the Vancouver Public Library downtown branch throughout the year. This is a free multi-cultural event hosted by Alejandro Mujica-Olea and Ariadne Sawyer. To subscribe to their newsletter, please . For date & time, see the VPL Website.
Writing Groups
These Writing Clubs and Groups in the Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland cater to writers, ranging from beginners to experts, and include groups for every genre. Some are local chapters of groups that specialize in a particular genre. For national associations for writers, please see Writing Links - Associations.
- Bard's Ink group of Surrey, BC writers.
- BC Association of Travel Writers (BCATW) - travel writers, photographers, broadcasters and authors who live in BC.
- Burnaby Writing Society - Emerging and established writers meet for workshopping on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby. Annual writing competition, separate monthly open mic. Contact or .
- Canadian Poetry Association - BC Branch
Vancouver co-chairs are and of Pandora's Collective. - Letterhead: a Group for Writers. Vancouver-based group for professional writers.
- Metrotown Writers' Group focusing on prose, short stories and novels. Meet twice monthly on Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Peer support and critiquing. Contact Ken Strang, 604-876-5751.
- North Shore Writers Group meets monthly at 7:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Silk Purse in West Vancouver for discussion, workshops and speakers. Writers from all genres and all levels of experience. For more information, contact Moira Thompson at 604-986-2009.
- Pandora's Collective includes listings of Vancouver literary events, contests, etc. Poets are invited to submit their names and bios for the list of Vancouver area poets.
- Richmond Writing Group meet twice a month at the Richmond Cultural Centre in Richmond, BC. For information, contact Bill at 604-277-6775.
- Romance Writers of America - Greater Vancouver Chapter offer support and encouragement to writers at all stages of their writing careers. They hold monthly meetings, writing events, sponsor writing contests, and issue a newsletter.
- Society for Technical Communication - Canada West Coast Chapter. Box 2441, Station Terminal, Vancouver, BC V6B 3W7 or .
- Talespinners Writer's Group meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month from September to June. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. at the Kinsmen Recreation Centre, 5430 10th Avenue, Tsawwassen. Any prose writers are welcome to join. (Sorry, no poets.) Contact Darlene Foster at 604-948-0639 for more information.
- Vancouver Society of Storytelling works to develop and encourage storytelling as an art form.
- West End Writers Club - workshop group for beginning, emerging and published writers of every genre. Meets 3 times a month. For more information, please contact or visit their Website. Please, no phone calls.
West Vancouver Authors Group - workshop group for beginning, emerging and published writers of every genre. Meets last Wednesday morning of the month at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are held at the Silk Purse in West Vancouver. For information, phone Ted (604-926-16520) or Frank (604-922-6983).- White Rock & Surrey Writers' Club. Contact or write c/o Community Arts Council for White Rock & District, 15323 Russell Avenue, White Rock BC V4A 2P6, or phone 604-536-8333. Cecilia Lamont Literary Contest held in October, for poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
- Writers Discovery Group, New Westminster. This writing group meets monthly (except July and August) on the 2nd Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. They produce an annual Heritage Magazine funded by the City of New Westminster. For more information, contact Dora Sanders or phone 604-522-9147.
- Writers Ink (formerly Writers on the Drive) - a Vancouver critiquing group for emerging writers who meet every other Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Open to fiction writers. Peer support and strong critiquing. Contact Jocelyne or phone 604-253-8304.
Adding Your Group
To have your group included here, please with "CAA Writer's Groups request" in the subject line. Please, do NOT include attachments.
www.canauthorsvancouver.org/groups.html
Updated: April 25, 2008