When Words Collide 2026: Full Schedule

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

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9:00am MDT

Canada Council for the Arts Funding for Alberta Artists

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Meet Francine Cunningham, Artist Liaison Consultant for the Canada Council for the Arts’ Alberta Focus Initiative, and learn about grants, awards and opportunities available to Alberta-based artists. The session includes a brief presentation followed by a Q&A, and is open to artists of all disciplines and experience levels.

What the Alberta Focus Initiative is: The Alberta Focus Initiative is a two-year commitment that aims to strengthen engagement and collaboration with Alberta’s vibrant arts community, as well as to deepen the Council’s understanding of the community’s unique realities. Two Alberta-based arts liaison consultants will establish an on-the-ground presence for the Canada Council in Alberta. The consultants will engage with communities across the province to increase awareness of and access to funding opportunities and provide the Canada Council with field intelligence. They will ensure that meaningful support is accessible to a diverse range of artists and arts organizations, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved.

www.CanadaCouncil.ca/Alberta

Presenters

Francine Cunningham

Canada Council for the Arts

Francine Cunningham is an award-winning writer, artist and educator and is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, in Alberta, but grew up in Calgary, Edmonton, and 100 Mile House, British Columbia. Francine is also Métis and has settler family roots stretching from as far away... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman

Lecture/Seminar, Business

9:00am MDT

Selling Your Book Without Platform

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7

How does a widowed single mom with no major platform become an instant national bestseller with a Big-5 publisher? In this candid, insight-driven session, Jessica Waite shares the choices and strategies that helped her manuscript sell in just seven business days—and the lessons any writer can adapt to position their book for commercial success.
We’ll highlight the importance of shaping a compelling, high-stakes narrative that resonates with both editors and readers and stands out in a crowded marketplace. Jessica will demystify what “commercial potential” really means, how to identify and leverage the right comp titles, and why those choices matter long before a book hits submission. Finally, she’ll talk about how to prepare to promote your book, and offer some out-of-the box examples to let readers know your work is coming. (You’ll want to start this part sooner than you think!)
This session is for fiction and nonfiction writers, and for anyone seeking a practical, inspiring example of how to capture publisher attention without a giant platform.

Presenters

Jessica Waite

Jessica Waite is a best-selling author and award-winning essayist whose work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Alberta Views,The Catalyst and many other outlets. She was a recipient of Châtelaine magazine’s 2025 Doris Anderson Award for overcoming several obstacles in order... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

9:00am MDT

What's Under the Bed - Creating monsters who'll haunt readers long after they've closed the book

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

Monsters have given fear a face since humans could tell stories around campfires. As a prey species, we've had millions of years of terror baked into our bones. We've been stalked, hunted and devoured by terrifying meat-eaters. And we've always lived in a world that we have a deep drive to understand.

Fictional monsters pull on our primal fears of predation. We also fear the unknown, and monsters are something we can mold out of the ether of our anxiety. They turn the unknown into something with form. Something explainable.

Come explore what makes monsters scary and how writers craft creatures that stick with us long after we've stopped reading.

Presenters

Shelly Campbell

author

Shelly Campbill is an author who writes primarily fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Self-taught, she has used the experience of other writers, editors, and books on craft to bring her expertise to a professional level. She has published six fiction novels, and one non-fiction... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

10:30am MDT

15 Ways to Make Money in the Writing World

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7

If you're not independently wealthy, and aren't excited by the "starving artist" lifestyle - you're not alone. But there are many ways to earn a healthy living in the writing world, by doing activities you love, that you may be doing already. In this session, discussing money isn't taboo. But to earn it, you may need to get creative. Suzy will share current facts on what's possible in today's writing industry, and discuss ways that you can turn your love of writing into a viable side hustle, or promising career.

Presenters

Suzy Vadori

Author. Editor. Book Coach.

Suzy Vadori
Author. Editor. Book Coach.Suzy is Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency.Suzy is the founder of th
... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

10:30am MDT

How To Pitch in Real Life

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman

Session description TBA!

Presenters

Carly Watters

Literary Agent, P.S. Literary

Carly Watters began her publishing career in 2009 in London at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency. She has a BA in English Literature from Queen’s University, a MA in Publishing Studies from City St. George’s at the University of London, and is a graduate of Harvard... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman

Lecture/Seminar

10:30am MDT

Level Up or Die Trying: Writing and Succeeding in Progression Fantasy & LitRPG

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B

LitRPG and Progression Fantasy is a genre that has been around for some time, their popularity growing in the past years. Yet how different are they from your usual Fantasy? What are the demands of the target audience, the right platforms to publish your stories, the way to make profit, how to plan ahead and increase your number of readers and followers?

From an author who is now working with a publisher to adapt her Progression Fantasy novel into a webcomic, in this Presentation, you will learn:

Intro: How Progression Fantasy and LitRPG became more relevant and popular in recent years, successful cases (Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Wandering Inn, The Primal Hunter…), and why this could matter to aspiring and experienced SFF writers.
Terminology: What is Progression Fantasy and LitRPG, how they differ from other SFF genres, common tropes and story structures, most popular platforms, usual audience…
How to Make it Good: The essentials and fundamentals in writing a good Progression Fantasy/LitRPG story, mistakes and traps to avoid, how to find the perfect audience for the story you want to tell.
Getting Down to Business: How platforms like Royal Road work, how to plan a story launch, how to get more views and followers faster, how to advertise your story, ways to earn money before publishing to Amazon/Kobo/etc…
Closing statements: Where to find more resources (guides, tools), where to find communities (connections, mentorship programs), questions.

Presenters

Blake Ravenhart

Webnovel and Self-Published Author

Blake, also known as Winter, is a fantasy author and professional beta reader with a strong focus on action-driven storytelling, immersive fantasy, and visually rich narratives. With experience in both self-published series and webnovels, she specializes in crafting worlds defined... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

10:30am MDT

The Modern Hero - Virtues of Uncommon People

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

When we think of the modern hero-the uncommon person-what stands out? Do those who perform optimally do so because they possess something unique that sets them apart? Can the secrets of their ability to perform in a crisis be learned?

Retired Detective Dave Sweet attempts to answer these questions and more through inspiring stories of extraordinary acts of strength and courage, introducing participants to some of the most impressive individuals Dave has met throughout his 25-year career in law enforcement.

For writers, this presentation will focus on the character types and makeup of investigators, police officers and those they serve so they can write it right.

Presenters

Dave Sweet

Owner, The Unconventional Classroom

Detective Dave Sweet's career spans 25 impactful years in Canadian policing, encompassing various roles within high-stakes investigations. Starting as a patrol officer, Dave later ventured into undercover work and took charge of task forces targeting gangs and organized crime in Calgary... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

12:00pm MDT

A CRASH COURSE IN COPYRIGHT

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7

Writers live by Copyright, it is a fundamental principal of our existence. But it is often only vaguely understood.

What is it? Where did it come from and how did it develop? What rights do I have and how far do they extend? How and when should I negotiate these rights? What are similar rights? What is fair use? What is public domain? How do I know when I am infringing? Or when I am infringed upon? There are books and libraries of books written on the subject, and there are decades of court decisions. We can't make you an expert. But this Crash Course can teach you enough of the basics to navigate your way through the business of writing, and give you the tools to make decisions.

Presenters

D.G. Valdron

Publisher, Fossil Cove Press

Renegade Canadian speculative fiction writer, aboriginal rights lawyer, and all round subversive iconoclast. When not railing against authority and injustice, wherever it may be found, Valdron is a pathological writer with over twenty-five books in print, numerous short stories, essays... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar, Business

Level All Levels, New Writers, Emerging Writers, Experienced Writers
Room Capacity 90

12:00pm MDT

An Author's Guide to Longevity and Adapting to the Changing Publishing Landscape

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5

Publishing has never changed at such a breakneck pace. But some authors not only survive, they thrive for decades, throughout those changes.

Veteran writers and industry experts Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Robert J. Sawyer draw on their many decades of experience in traditional, indie, and hybrid publishing to show how to build a career that lasts.

From big-box bookstores and ebooks to audiobooks, AI, and creator platforms, they’ll unpack the major shifts reshaping the industry and the strategic choices that keep an author’s work visible, viable, and earning over time. Attendees will learn practical approaches to managing their rights and IP, building and refreshing a backlist, embracing new formats and technologies, and cultivating a loyal readership that follows you from one era of publishing to the next.

Ideal for writers at any stage who want a long, sustainable, and adaptable career.

Moderators

Mark Leslie Lefebvre

Writer / Industry Representative, Stark Publishing / Draft2Digital

Mark Leslie Lefebvre (who often writes under the name Mark Leslie) has been deeply involved in the book world since his first short story was published in 1992. A horror and speculative fiction writer at heart, he is the author of the Canadian Werewolf urban fantasy series, inclu... Read More →

Presenters

Robert J. Sawyer

SFWriter.com Inc.

Robert J. Sawyer — called “the dean of Canadian Science Fiction” by both the Ottawa Citizen and the CBC — has won the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards for Best Novel of the Year; a record-setting 17 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Awards (“Auroras... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

12:00pm MDT

Bored of Your Book? How to Fall in Love With Your Story Again

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

Let's talk about every writer's nemesis...BOREDOM. Many writers get to a point in their process where they lose interest in their book or notice that it’s a lot harder to motivate themselves to write. You might be distracted by a shiny new idea for a different story, or realize that you don’t have a very good understanding of your plot and characters. Maybe your confidence is wavering and you’re not sure if what you’re writing is any good. Guess what: it’s all related to dopamine, the brain’s feel-good hormone. When you first start working on a new book your brain is flooded with dopamine, which makes you eager to keep writing, but when boredom or doubt settles in, that steady supply of dopamine drops and you start to find more and more reasons to put your writing off for another day. But it doesn’t have to be this way! The key is to find new ways for your book to give you that surge of dopamine again, and this session will show you how to rekindle that love affair with your story so you’ll be excited to get back to writing.

Presenters

Nicole Bross

Author, Editor, Book Coach, Manuscript Alchemy

Nicole Bross is a certified book coach, editor, and co-author of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers, a writing guide for neurodiverse authors whose ADHD is getting in the way of finishing their books. She's also the author of Past Presence, an... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

12:00pm MDT

Make a Killer Movie: Writing Genre Films For Yourself (and the Market)

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B

This would be a way to approach genre storytelling when writing your screenplay. You want to both use tropes and conventions and also when not to. Finding ways to tell these stories that let you stand apart from the crowded field of unproduced genre scripts and also tell stories that are personal and have depth. Sharing real world experience for stories that are done to death and making sure it has the elements that attract producers, actors and financing. This can include adapting stories for screen and finding stories that talk about the world, your POV and tread new ground in familiar ways.

Presenters

Michael Peterson

Director/Producer/Writer, Peterson Polaris Corp

Michael Peterson (DGC, p.g.a.) is an award-winning producer, writer, director based in Calgary, Alberta and best known for his work in horror and comedy. His directing work includes commercials, documentaries, web series, half-hour tv and the feature films, 'sports' comedy, LLOYD... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

1:30pm MDT

Butterflies and Plot Twists: Chaos Theory for Writers

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B

Introduction to chaos theory, exploring key concepts like the butterfly effect, sensitive dependence on initial conditions, strange attractors, and fractal patterns. Discover how small changes can trigger massive, unpredictable outcomes—perfect for crafting gripping plot twists, organic character arcs, and layered symbolism. This session equips writers with practical tools to harness chaos for more dynamic, believable, and surprising stories across genres, from literary fiction to hard science fiction.

Presenters

Ron S. Friedman

Writer, Shaw Communications

Ron S. Friedman is an award-winning science fiction author and AI & energy futurist based in Alberta, Canada. His Amazon.ca #1 bestselling novel Typhoon Time, short story collection Escape Velocity, and Aurora Award-finalist story "Game Not Over" highlight his achievements, with works... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

1:30pm MDT

Confessions of a Pants-aholic — How to Plot a Novel When You’d Rather Do Anything Else

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

Does plotting a novel make you want to scream? Have you ever tried to plan a chapter or scene, and ended up head-desking instead?

If these scenarios are familiar, welcome. This is the session of your people.

Join Claire, prolific pantser and avid hater of plotting, as she shares her tips and tricks for getting your novel planned and written — even if you hate plotting with the fire of a thousand suns.

This is a light-hearted, fun, and engaging presentation meant to help reframe how you feel about your writing process. Creatives of all fiction genres are welcome!

Presenters

Claire Bonneau

Contemporary Romance Author

Claire is an operating room nurse turned freelance content writer turned steamy romance novel author. She writes bright, voicey stories that center strong female characters. Currently, she works as a freelance writer for medical start-ups, brands, and individual creators while also... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

3:00pm MDT

Beyond the Bottom Line: Running an Anticapitalist Author Business

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7

What would it look like to run your author business in a way that resists hustle culture, extraction, and manipulation, and instead centres care, equity, community, and sustainability? This session explores what it means to build an anticapitalist authorial practice—one rooted in community, ethics, and balance rather than productivity and profit. We’ll unpack how capitalism shapes our work as authors, and explore practical ways to do business differently. Participants will learn concrete strategies for creating an authorial business that honours people, the planet, and personal well-being.

Presenters

Brenna Bailey-Davies

Editor and author, Bookmarten Editorial

Brenna Bailey-Davies (she/her) is an editor and writer based in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Alberta. She specializes in editing SFF and romance for indie authors and trad pub companies, focusing on stories with queer representation. She writes sapphic contemporary romance novels under... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

3:00pm MDT

Offstage Characters: What Are They Up To?

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

Especially in plotty books like mysteries and thrillers (and what SF, fantasy or romance doesn't have a bit of mystery?) secondary characters can weave in and out of the main action. But what are they up to when they're not on the page? Why DID that guy with the knife show up at her house at midnight, just as the book approached its climax? Even secondary characters must have a reason for their return to the plot.

Presenters

Susan Forest

Editor, Laksa Media Groups

Susan Forest is the author of dual Aurora Award-winners Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold as well as over 25 internationally-published short stories (Analog, Asimov's, Beneath Ceaseless Skies). She edits an award-winning anthology series for Laksa Media Groups, and was Edito... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

4:30pm MDT

Breaking Barriers: Writing, Developing, and Creating Despite Disabilities

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7

Having a learning disability or mental health challenge doesn’t mean you can’t pursue your passion for writing; it just means the journey looks different. In this empowering session, award-winning author, journalist, and podcast host Steffanie Costigan shares her personal story of overcoming severe dyslexia to succeed as a writer, reporter, and content creator.

This session is designed for aspiring writers facing challenges such as dyslexia, anxiety, depression, autism, or other obstacles that make writing feel difficult or intimidating. Attendees will gain practical strategies, tools, and techniques to navigate their unique challenges, overcome creative blocks, and develop confidence in their writing and storytelling abilities.

Through real-world examples and actionable tips, participants will discover that their disability does not define their potential. With persistence, the right strategies, and a supportive mindset, anyone can achieve their dream of writing, publishing, or reporting, no matter the challenges they face.

Presenters

Steffanie Costigan

Reporter/Journalist, Reading Dream Press

Steffanie Costigan is an investigative reporter and journalist specializing in crime, homelessness, and the hidden stories that define our communities. Known for her fearless reporting and ability to humanize complex issues, she brings clarity, honesty, and empathy to every piece... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

4:30pm MDT

Resurrecting Religious Legends for a Modern Audience

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9

Many cultures rely on canonical texts and doctrines as frameworks for devotees to follow. Modern writers are presented with a plethora of contradictory sources that claim to be the true “teachings” of any given religious sect. This workshop will examine how to discern historically accurate facts from religious biases and the probable actions of people who have become legendary or even divine. No matter the religion or belief system, from early Zoroastrianism to Wicca, facts and events are usually based on real people, either human or divine in origin. With due respect given to each belief system, this workshop will explore how to make the lives and times of these remarkable beings relatable to a modern audience. What participants will learn: 1. How to find and research non-canonical source material. 2. How to parse research to arrive at agreed-upon historical events. 3. When fact meets faith, and how to meld both perspectives. 4. Building the physical and political world around religious beliefs, and making those worlds real to a modern audience. 5. How to respectfully address deeply held beliefs with historical events.

Presenters

Donna D. Conrad

Writer

Donna Conrad is a bestselling author whose genres include historical fiction, memoir, flash fiction, and personal essay. Her debut historical novel, The Last Magdalene, published by Cold Creek Press, has won seven national awards and is designated a “must-read” by Publishers Weekly and The St. Louis Review.Donna’s writing explores the times and lives of marginalized women, making their stories accessible to a modern audience. Her novels blend de... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

Lecture/Seminar

4:30pm MDT

The Most Powerful Characterization Detail You're Overlooking: A Character's Job

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT

Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8

One of the big mistakes writers make is treating a character’s job as an afterthought—choosing something off the cuff to anchor them in the story. In reality, the work they do is the mother lode of 'showing' information that readers need to know about the character's personality, values, preferences, skills, and more! You'll never think about a job as a background detail again.

Presenters

Angela Ackerman

Owner, Writers Helping Writers Canada Inc

Angela Ackerman is a story coach, international speaker, and co-author of the bestselling book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression, and its many sequels. Available in ten languages, her guides are sourced by universities, recommended by agents and edi... Read More →

Saturday August 15, 2026 4:30pm - 5:45pm MDT
Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

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