BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
X-WR-CALNAME:whenwordscollide2026
X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//Sched.com When Words Collide 2026//EN
X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T163000Z
DTEND:20260814T174500Z
SUMMARY:Games Room is Open!
DESCRIPTION:Need to start the day a little low-key? Drop in to the Games Room for Table Top Role Playing Game sign up AND Open Board Games.\n\nJoin us in the Games Room this weekend!\nFrom Board Games\, Tabletop Roleplaying Games\, Quiplash\, and more. The games room gives you the opportunity to make a new friend\, or eight\, and learn some fantastic games. You can even sign out a board game to play elsewhere!&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:3f8cc9b6ae28bd39c6605799c0bfbf5c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/3f8cc9b6ae28bd39c6605799c0bfbf5c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T163000Z
DTEND:20260814T174500Z
SUMMARY:Opening Ceremony & Keynote
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:KEYNOTE
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e7e1a369f8c3cd89766d7d841e377312
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e7e1a369f8c3cd89766d7d841e377312
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:From Hoops to Books: How Losing Basketball Led Me to Writing
DESCRIPTION:Educator and Big Five–published author Keenan Jones from the Twin Cities (Minnesota) shares his journey from standout basketball player to children’s author after a career-ending injury and a transformative creative writing class reignited his passion for storytelling\; his debut picture book\, Saturday Morning at the Shop (Simon &amp\; Schuster/USA&amp\;Canada)\, celebrates community and culture through a boy’s experience in his neighborhood barbershop\, and in this session he will offer his personal story\, practical advice for breaking into publishing\, and insights on resilience and motivation as a marginalized creator\, leaving attendees inspired and ready to pursue their own creative paths.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:52625a66fb54ecf7b8b2d9c18c02b7c6
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/52625a66fb54ecf7b8b2d9c18c02b7c6
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:Launch of last year's WWC collaborative novel\, Whiskers Through Time
DESCRIPTION:WHISKERS THROUGH TIME: the Calgary Cat Chronicles\n\nCome join 17 authors to launch a delightfully quirky collaborative novel set in Calgary throughout the last century. This novel was brainstormed and outlined at WWC 2025. &nbsp\;Come hear how the authors experienced the process of working together to create this book.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a88b912f08a14761dfbf25ae76f4600f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/a88b912f08a14761dfbf25ae76f4600f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:Bring Your Own Lunch and Play D&D (New and Rusty Player Friendly)
DESCRIPTION:Play a quick one hour game of Dungeons and Dragons. Whether you’ve never played before\, played over a decade ago\, or play all the time - you’ll fit right in.\n\nProvided for your convenience.\nPre-made Lv1 characters (or you can bring your own - 5E)DiceInstructionsFun!\nSign up or drop in. 5-6 players per table.\n
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7d8b17e6f1f49848cd7bc16065210b9c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7d8b17e6f1f49848cd7bc16065210b9c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:Gemma Files Lecture
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4c7c214d2e731cc931e9a5afd5a16628
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4c7c214d2e731cc931e9a5afd5a16628
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:It's a Bird. It's a Plane -- Crafting Realistic Imaginary Creatures for Sci-Fi and Fantasy
DESCRIPTION:You&#39\;ve created a world\, but what about the fauna in it? &nbsp\;Let&#39\;s use our imaginations to furnish an enviroment filled with unique--yet realistic--wildlife.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:fe88c51d9a1b412170edb24d3a2c7c00
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/fe88c51d9a1b412170edb24d3a2c7c00
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:You're Write About It!
DESCRIPTION:Everyone thinks writers are intelligent\, well-informed\, and clever — but what do they really know? Laugh along with host Kevin Weir and a panel of hilarious writers as they try to answer unfair trivia questions\, unravel groanworthy puns\, and play ridiculous minigames all to win the Goard of Knowledge (see: nothing) and an uneasy sense of satisfaction.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:393d3bf684e3a0d9e9c45463335a7ff9
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/393d3bf684e3a0d9e9c45463335a7ff9
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Fundamentals of Commercial Fiction - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.*** \n____________________________________________\n\nIn this intensive Masterclass\, professional fiction writer Craig DiLouie guides you through the four pillars of good commercial fiction writing—plotting\, character\, dialogue\, and theme. Whether new to writing or a veteran\, this comprehensive presentation will help you level up your craft.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:85e59fca0f7cf78590d9e635f92ffb63
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/85e59fca0f7cf78590d9e635f92ffb63
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Make Shame Your Bitch - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nPart craft-talk\, part author-development bootcamp\, this workshop will help you turn your greatest vulnerability into your superpower.&nbsp\;\nLearn how to harness shame to add depth and drama to your characters' motivations.&nbsp\;Understand how your own shame triggers may be holding you back as a writer.&nbsp\;Experience first-hand how it’s possible to transform shame into resilience and resolve.&nbsp\;Drawing on cultural examples of weaponized shame\, including the presenter’s own experience surviving global tabloid media humiliation\, our time together will focus on reclaiming our power to write bolder\, wiser\, more authentic stories. &nbsp\;Expect relevant literary examples\, personal storytelling\, safe sharing of a tiny slice of your personal experience\, plus cathartic scribbling\, cutting and pasting. Vibe: Brené Brown\, Monica Lewinsky and Jon Ronson get together to share secrets\, strategies and stationery supplies. Let's do this.\n&nbsp\;\nOpen to writers at all levels.&nbsp\;\nPlease bring your most open-hearted self. Everything else will be provided.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a13efcf9976e19123679b25241ce7e0a
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/a13efcf9976e19123679b25241ce7e0a
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:An Isekai by Any Other Name
DESCRIPTION:Portal fantasy\, parallel dimensions\, alternate timelines\, maybe even time travel or cryogenics. From Outlander to Back to the Future\, John Carter to George Bailey\, Oz to Narnia\, these stories place contemporary characters in a new and unfamiliar settings. What are some of the storytelling advantages (and potential pitfalls) of throwing your character headlong into another world? And why do readers keep coming back for more?
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e4f1f22a52da0b8fd003c04d8829616d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e4f1f22a52da0b8fd003c04d8829616d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:Survival Skills in Dystopian Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Let’s explore a few different dystopian scenarios and see what a person would absolutely need to actually survive for years and years. Most of us know the basic survival needs for humans. Could you do it? What settings may have special requirements for survival? What type of person is best suited for survival in a dystopian setting? What might your character’s strengths and weaknesses be?
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e61da004ce74dda4930d002c2c10d812
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e61da004ce74dda4930d002c2c10d812
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T180000Z
DTEND:20260814T191500Z
SUMMARY:The AI Argument
DESCRIPTION:Since AI emerged\, writers and other creatives have been debating about whether or not it has a place in their work. There have been many benefits and drawbacks listed for both sides of the argument. This panel attempts to answer the question: does AI have a place in the creative realm? Listen to both pro-AI and anti-AI authors and decide for yourself.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:1b4765872d27c79ee0413d35bd1721bd
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/1b4765872d27c79ee0413d35bd1721bd
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Tyche Books Presents: 2026 New Releases
DESCRIPTION:Join us in celebrating Tyche&#39\;s new releases for 2026\, including Fascination\, the latest anthology from Rhonda Parrish\, and Jumpship Freedom\, Adria Laycraft&#39\;s conclusion to the Jumpship trilogy.\n
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d3207c0f7447f4b309c29b0a39c8ea0e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d3207c0f7447f4b309c29b0a39c8ea0e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Open Board Games
DESCRIPTION:Come on into the games room and try out some board games\, meet people\, and chat.
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0cf43abd3e2b3f2a23aa2ef1116ae708
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0cf43abd3e2b3f2a23aa2ef1116ae708
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:A CRASH COURSE IN CONTRACTS FOR WRITERS
DESCRIPTION:Writers are all about writing. Other aspects of the business\, like contracts\, are often mysterious and intimidating. \n\nThe object of this seminar is to give writers a crash course in writing and publishing contracts\, exploring the history and evolution of these contracts\, the key elements in a publishing contract\, what it means\, what you don't worry about\, what you are giving\, what you are getting in return\, and what you fight for. It's about teaching you to tell good contracts from bad and what kinds of clauses to look out for. Along the way\, we'll explore other sorts of writer-related contracts and how to approach and understand them. Useful for new writers\, but everyone will get something out of it. D.G. Valdron\, the seminar proponent has been an active writer and a lawyer for over thirty years.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:46baac19810c3736d2a25260d2ed9e96
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/46baac19810c3736d2a25260d2ed9e96
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Fear Factor: How Fear Rewires Your Character’s Behavior\, Logic & Responses
DESCRIPTION:Fear doesn&rsquo\;t just make a person feel unsafe\; it rewires perception\, disrupts logic\, and shapes behavior. Learn how to show your character&rsquo\;s fear on the page by understanding how it manifests and leads to specific responses.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:14b0e744a2dc211f10967e648426d494
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/14b0e744a2dc211f10967e648426d494
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Game Theory 101 for writers
DESCRIPTION:From the Prisoner&#39\;s Dilemma to non-zero-sum strategies\, game theory explains why people (and characters) act against their own interests. In this beginner-friendly session\, SF author and futurist Ron S. Friedman explains basic game theory scenarios\, and how authors can explore these principles to fuel great fiction&mdash\;enhancing rivalries\, negotiations\, betrayals\, and world-building.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b084fd6232bc6761aebd0156e5854bc2
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b084fd6232bc6761aebd0156e5854bc2
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:From the Author’s chair: looking at the gatekeepers from the Author’s POV
DESCRIPTION:Time to turn the tables… we’ve all seen agent panels and publisher talks\; we’ve all done pitch sessions and have heard what we have to do from the industry side\, now it’s time to hear from the creators and creatives who toil and sacrifice to make the art that the industry gauges. What does this industry of gatekeepers look like… from the author’s chair? Join a breadth of authors who’ve braved traditional\, alternative\, and self-publishing journeys\, and find out what they’ve learned about navigating their art though all the hoops &nbsp\;and into the hands of their readers. Let’s talk about the perilous endeavour of turning art into artistic product.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b3857730e653c95a5946c43b061a0a31
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b3857730e653c95a5946c43b061a0a31
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Full Circle - How to thrive in a writing circle
DESCRIPTION:Writing circles don't have to be scary\, even if the writing is.\n\nJoin members of the Federation of BC Writers Dark Fiction Writing Circle for an inspiring session about creating a writing circle that will last\, or finding one that is the perfect fit for you and your work. &nbsp\;You&nbsp\;can&nbsp\;have it all–community\, craft refinement and career development. They’ll guide you through important topics such as group structure\, critique etiquette\, communication\, creating a safe space\, and group goals and projects.&nbsp\;\n\nWhether you’re writing jump scares or love affairs\, finding your circle can help take your stories to the next level.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4b792a0cb005b603ae1008273668f9ed
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4b792a0cb005b603ae1008273668f9ed
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Series Crossovers & Shared Worlds
DESCRIPTION:In the ever-evolving landscape of literature\, series crossovers and shared worlds present both thrilling opportunities and unique challenges for authors. Join an insightful panel featuring experienced authors who have successfully navigated the complexities of creating crossover narratives.\n\n\nThis session will delve into the art of crafting compelling crossovers that not only captivate existing fans but also invite new readers into the fold. Panelists will share their firsthand experiences in planning\, pacing\, and executing crossover stories that enhance rather than confuse.&nbsp\;\n\n\nThrough this engaging discussion\, you'll learn best practices for maintaining continuity across different storylines while providing seamless entry points for newcomers.&nbsp\;\n\n\nWhether you’re an author looking to expand your storytelling universe or a reader eager to explore how beloved characters can intersect in fresh ways\, this session promises valuable insights into the intricacies of shared worlds and cross-genre narratives. Join us as we uncover the secrets to creating rich\, interconnected stories that resonate deeply with audiences—both old and new—and celebrate creative possibilities.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:67ca93d96fc70d8bf48d4abd64236b9a
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/67ca93d96fc70d8bf48d4abd64236b9a
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Short & Sweet\, Why Word-Economy Needs to be in Every Writer's Toolkit
DESCRIPTION:Focusing on the art of concise and impactful writing\, award-winning author Alexis Marie Chute delves into the importance of word-economy and its role in enhancing writing skills. Attendees will learn valuable techniques to convey powerful messages using minimal words\, refining their writing for maximum effect.\n\n\nTopics covered:\nSentence structure\nImagery\nMusicality\nEditing and revision\n\n\nChute offers practical strategies to instill brevity\, clarity\, and precision in writers&rsquo\; expression\, enriching their communication abilities. By embracing the concept of word- economy\, writers can equip themselves with a crucial tool that not only enhances writing but also encourages effective communication in all they do.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:59324542fe1b6f4d055481ff38340309
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/59324542fe1b6f4d055481ff38340309
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:Speak Up! Techniques for Readings and Literary Performances
DESCRIPTION:So many of us introverted authors have brilliant words to share\, but a solid dose of anxiety and inexperience when it comes to sharing them. &nbsp\;Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or a basement bard\, this workshop has tangible exercises to strengthen your reading & delivery regardless of your ability. &nbsp\;Using some warm-up activities and techniques\, we will have even the most reserved writer tiptoeing towards the podium. &nbsp\;Doing exercises to develop our hand gestures\, intonation\, body language\, dynamics\, and more\, we’ll break down the performance toolkit into manageable steps that anyone can master.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2d5e444dc1345716b5b647d721ca3ac1
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2d5e444dc1345716b5b647d721ca3ac1
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T193000Z
DTEND:20260814T204500Z
SUMMARY:The Ruminating Muse: Spiral Into Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Spiral-thinking can be a poetic engine. This neurodivergent-friendly workshop explores ways to transform attention patterns such as rumination\, thought loops\, or daydreaming into powerful craft techniques\, especially for poetry\, hybrid writing\, or experimental prose.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2107685343703d05cfdd47ab27dffd22
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2107685343703d05cfdd47ab27dffd22
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing Annual Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Join us for this year&#39\;s spotlight on fresh work from our talented SF&F authors! Enjoy readings\, Q&A\, and door prizes as we celebrate our authors and their accomplishments in 2026!\n
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2fa95cbae62ed92d91f5e12b5b333238
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2fa95cbae62ed92d91f5e12b5b333238
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T223000Z
SUMMARY:TTRGP Games: Pathfinder and Shadowdark
DESCRIPTION:Table Top Roleplaying\n\nPathfinder with Darren Tenor - A world of adventure awaits\, but it needs you to be the hero of the story! Pathfinder is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game where you tell heroic tales in a world of quests\, magic\, monsters\, and treasures. Your choices\, and the roll of the dice\, determine how the story unfolds.\n\nShadowdark with Calvin Jim &nbsp\;- Shadowdark is what an old-school fantasy adventure game would look like after being redesigned with 50 years of innovation. It’s fast\, familiar\, intuitive\, and deadly. Built for sword-and-sorcery adventures\, fell monsters slither in darkness and ancient gems glint upon forgotten thrones\, waiting to be discovered.\n\n
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c8f439c256247310c0f9c1855bae032b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/c8f439c256247310c0f9c1855bae032b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:From Overwhelmed to Organized: Your 12 Month Marketing Plan
DESCRIPTION:Most authors don&rsquo\;t need&nbsp\;more&nbsp\;marketing advice\, they need a clear\, sustainable plan they can actually follow. This in-depth session guides writers through creating a personalized\, realistic 12-month marketing strategy that aligns with their goals\, resources\, budget\, and available time.\nBuilding on foundational principles of author branding and audience engagement\, this workshop walks participants step-by-step through a practical decision-making framework: choosing what to do\, when to do it\, and how to prioritize tasks throughout the year. We will explore a wide range of marketing options\, including social media\, newsletters\, events\, ads\, collaborations\, publicity\, and retailer optimization\, and assess each through the lens of financial investment\, human resources\, and time commitment. The goal is not to do&nbsp\;everything\, but to identify the right mix of strategies that fit each author&rsquo\;s capacity and career stage.\nParticipants will receive a checklist/customizable planning template that maps key marketing actions across a 12-month time frame. Together\, we will break down how to set measurable goals\, batch tasks\, schedule seasonal opportunities\, and create a plan that feels achievable rather than overwhelming. By the end\, each attendee will walk away with the start&nbsp\;of their own year-long marketing roadmap\, and the confidence to adapt it as their career grows.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0cd37d4fec0e8933d78d6011590568a5
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0cd37d4fec0e8933d78d6011590568a5
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:Let's Talk About Sex: Writing Effective Sex Scenes
DESCRIPTION:In this presentation\, we will discuss the purpose and effect of sex scenes\, how to use sex scenes to develop characters and relationships\, how to handle sensitive language and wording regarding anatomy\, and how to emphasize consent and safety so that readers feel comfortable and safe within the scene. This presentation will help you gain the confidence to write sex scenes in a professional and sensitive manner\, since such an important topic deserves nothing less.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9d9ec12ea4527dd9c097ed3d1e172ae8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9d9ec12ea4527dd9c097ed3d1e172ae8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:Practice Makes Perseverance: Steps to Creating a Graphic Novel
DESCRIPTION:The prospect of bringing a graphic novel to life can feel daunting\, but with practice\, perseverance and plenty of self-care\, you too can create the graphic narrative you&#39\;ve been dreaming of (or furiously wrestling with). Aaron Navrady&#39\;s talk will focus on the steps taken from initial inspiration to finished product\, using samples of process from his most recent self-published work\, The Cold Fire. The story is a fictional medieval epic about a Norman Crusader tasked with pursuing heretics across the Alps during the Albigensian Crusade.\n&nbsp\;\nHighlighting each stage of the project\, the presentation will explore story research and development\, rough sketches\, layout design\, pencilling\, inks\, watercolours\, final page prep\, pitching to publishers\, self-publication and distribution of finished chapters\, and useful anecdotes from other creators that helped along the journey. Included will be a segment on what writers should bring to the table when procuring artists to illustrate their graphic novel script. Aaron will also share the experiential highs and lows that come with carrying forward a 10 chapter epic. He&#39\;ll focus in on the satisfaction found in the process\, and balancing self-care with dragging your book kicking and screaming across the finish line.&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:578b7e791c3293f7db7860d61641511f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/578b7e791c3293f7db7860d61641511f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Adaptation: Turning your Novel into a Script—and Vice-Versa - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\nLearn how to transfer your core ideas from one medium to the other—not just expanding and contracting but completely reimagining a work to best use its strengths in a new form. Robert J. Sawyer is a member of the scriptwriting unions Writers Guild of Canada and Writers Guild of America. The ABC TV series FlashForward was based on his Aurora Award-winning novel of the same name\, and he was one of the scriptwriters for that series\; Rob has also written commissioned feature-film scripts\, adapting both his own work and that of others. On the flip side\, his novel The Downloaded started life as a commissioned TV pilot script.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:995821e4bbb6313fd9488ed6bc3b2954
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/995821e4bbb6313fd9488ed6bc3b2954
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Sketch Writing with Kevin McDonald - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nKevin McDonald is offering a 4 hour workshop about sketch comedy. Students will bring in a one line premise for a sketch\, eg. "What if a guy was $10 short of being a millionaire". Kevin will start the class with an opening talk about writing comedy sketches\, and then will work through each premise with the class. Students will discover how to flesh out the idea and make it a whole sketch.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d2393993ac75d578cab9c8cac1e842bc
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d2393993ac75d578cab9c8cac1e842bc
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:Adventures in Shorts! Finding Success with Short Fiction and Personal Essays
DESCRIPTION:Trying to publish a book often involves a lot of waiting: waiting to finish drafts\, waiting to query\, waiting to hear back\, waiting some more. This session makes the case that short stories\, poems\, essays\, and first-person articles are among the best ways to stay creatively alive—and professionally visible—during that wait. Rather than seeing short-form writing as a side hustle or consolation prize\, this talk reframes essays and other short forms as powerful building blocks for a writing career.\nWe’ll explore how short stories\, poetry\, personal essays and first-person pieces help writers develop voice\, test ideas\, and build a publication record that signals seriousness to agents\, editors\, and publishers. Publishing essays can grow confidence\, open doors\, and keep momentum going when a book project feels slow or uncertain. They can also become laboratories for themes\, obsessions\, and stories that eventually make their way into book-length work.\nDesigned for emerging and mid-career writers\, this session offers practical\, encouraging guidance on using essays to build a résumé\, a readership\, and a sense of forward motion—without giving up on the book you’re dreaming of.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c143f7856553caf7c2669434765838c2
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/c143f7856553caf7c2669434765838c2
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:No Blueprint Required: Writing Careers Off the Map
DESCRIPTION:A playful speculative fiction writer\, a literary flash-fiction writer\, and an optimistic spoken-word poet walk into a bar . . . and discuss how they built creative community and redefined success on their own terms. Friends Andrew Buckley\, Finian Burnett\, and Miranda Krogstad share the strategies\, mistakes\, breakthroughs\, and intentional choices that led them to their unconventional full-time writing careers. This panel will prove that there’s no single blueprint for a writing career—and sometimes the most exciting paths are the ones no one told you were possible.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7c886d5dbd763f2e7f09231eda1bbd6c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7c886d5dbd763f2e7f09231eda1bbd6c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:Paths to Publication: Traditional\, Hybrid\, and Self-Publishing in Today’s Market
DESCRIPTION:In today’s publishing landscape\, writers have more pathways to share their work than ever before—but choosing the right one can be overwhelming. This panel brings together voices from traditional publishing\, hybrid publishing\, and self-publishing to offer a clear\, candid look at what each route entails. Panelists will discuss the advantages and challenges of their respective models\, including timelines\, creative control\, editorial support\, financial considerations\, distribution and marketing expectations.\n\n\nRepresenting the hybrid perspective\, Felicia Zuniga—Calgary poet\, journalist\, and author of Growing Up\, Girl—will share her experience working with a publisher that provided professional services such as editing\, cover design\, ISBN registration\, and sales support with an author-investment model. Her insight bridges the gap between the gatekeeping of traditional publishing and the independence of self-publishing\, helping writers understand what hybrid publishing looks like and how to evaluate their options.\n\n\nWhether you’re finishing your manuscript\, exploring your first book project\, or reconsidering your publishing direction\, this session will equip you with practical knowledge\, comparisons and real-world advice from writers who have navigated each path. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of which publishing model aligns best with their goals.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:420eb0e9dd185995afae7bf3bf9f64a0
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/420eb0e9dd185995afae7bf3bf9f64a0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:From Idea to Picture Book Outline & Beyond
DESCRIPTION:Do you have an idea for a picture book\, or a partially written manuscript\, but aren&rsquo\;t sure what to do next? This interactive session will help participants create a story outline and the important components required for a rough&nbsp\;draft. We&nbsp\;will use a flexible structure template that can be adapted to individual manuscripts. Participants will learn basic guidelines and expectations for writing picture books. Links will be provided for our go to kidlit resources and information on the next steps to take.\n\n\nFormat:\nExamples and explanation&nbsp\;\nAnswer template question\nShare\nRepeat\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:406692a032aa4fbe08877ff7f2ad6523
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/406692a032aa4fbe08877ff7f2ad6523
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:Get Ready for Live Action Slush
DESCRIPTION:WWC Workshop &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; 90 min\nGet Ready for Live Action Slush\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;Randy McCharles and Valerie L. King&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nBring your 250 word page for opinions\, (from a past judge\, and a frequent participant)\, and find out what works and what doesn’t. Remember that the judges (as do acquisitions editors) all have their own biases\, so what doesn’t work for one could very well be another’s cup of tea.&nbsp\;\nRandy and Val will give you a quick run down on what to expect when you participate in a Live Action Slush. Then we’d like to hear your piece and we’ll give you our opinions on how to perhaps impress the judges.&nbsp\;\nNew writers or experienced writers\, unpublished or published. People that are wanting to practice their skills in a new genre. Even if you were successful in a different genre. This is where you can test out that experimental piece\, or your fledgling. Our aim is to provide a safe and encouraging environment to step out of our comfort zones.\nWorkshop leaders will be Randy McCharles (author and winner of Aurora Awards for his writing\, and author included in World’s Best Fantasy’ by Tor)\, plus Valerie L. King (who has participated in as many of the LAS as she can\, and is writing a Dystopian Urban Fantasy series).
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6d3fd96ed423a391f374b40f9ccd5c91
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/6d3fd96ed423a391f374b40f9ccd5c91
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T210000Z
DTEND:20260814T221500Z
SUMMARY:High stakes short fiction
DESCRIPTION:High stakes short fiction is a workshop built around writing compelling and attention-grabbing short stories. We&#39\;ll cover idea generation\, plot\, character\, and dialogue in this workshop designed to make your short fiction stand out.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:977847bad8e82445f03cc323b08c948d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/977847bad8e82445f03cc323b08c948d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:In Conversation 1
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6f5d928f9d23c28aa9f63f7e57063a26
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/6f5d928f9d23c28aa9f63f7e57063a26
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Book Banning and Censorship: Looking at the Bigger Picture
DESCRIPTION:Book banning and censorship have become hot-button items in Alberta in 2026 as the United Conservative government continues to announce new measures for limiting access to books deemed to be controversial. In this session\, Kit Dobson sets these issues into context by examining how these limits on books fit into a long history of censorship\, a practice that has also come back into vogue in jurisdictions across North America. Dobson teaches on this subject at the University of Calgary and has done media commentary about it for CTV\, the CBC\, the Globe and Mail\, and elsewhere.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:31f49750849c6209035a2f299aa37402
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/31f49750849c6209035a2f299aa37402
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Bucket of Bones: Building the Skeleton of Your Murder Mystery
DESCRIPTION:This interactive and entertaining presentation will introduce mystery writers and readers to the world of mystery building\, from the ins and outs of how police might investigate your fictional crime\, to choosing your victim\, your sleuth\, your setting and more.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7cc4ba87e4bebe0216499e6173837749
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7cc4ba87e4bebe0216499e6173837749
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:The Whole Package: Creating a Top-Quality Published Book That Jumps Off the Shelf and Attacks Your Reader (Nicely)
DESCRIPTION:A great book is more than just good writing&mdash\;it&rsquo\;s a complete package that includes strong editing\, professional design\, and smart branding. How many times have you been turned off from buying a book because the layout or design was just . . . not great? It screams&nbsp\;amateur\, right?\n\n\nThis session will cover the&nbsp\;must-have elements&nbsp\;of creating a well-designed\, pleasing product so you&rsquo\;re taken seriously in the book world. We&rsquo\;ll discuss the importance of cover design\, levels of editing\, formatting\, blurbs\, metadata\, and marketing as well as how to use the IBPA Industry Standards checklist to make sure you don&rsquo\;t hit a sour note when your opus makes her debut on the world stage. Readers really do judge a book by its cover (and pretty much everything else within the covers)!&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5fc3e6e3a2713798be7ef39588f357bc
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/5fc3e6e3a2713798be7ef39588f357bc
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Who's afraid to write about aging?
DESCRIPTION:If writers tell gritty stories about war\, espionage\, and post-apocalyptic hellscapes\, why is it that writing about aging seems to scare us the most? Hundreds of thousands of Canadians live in nursing or retirement homes\, over 3.7 million Canadians provide care for their parents or in-laws\, and 1.8 million Canadians are "sandwiched" between care responsibilities for both children and seniors (StatCan). Yet issues related to elder care are conspicuously rare in our literature. Come listen to how these brave writers explore the topic\, and decide for yourself if this triggers an ”ick factor” (as one agent put it)\, or is a sorely needed type of storytelling. Be brave. Their stories have helped folks of all ages to feel less alone\, offer insights on how to prevent the worst outcomes\, and can send you an existential trip that will only makes you more lively at parties.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a6c686b438f124321a8c25354e6321d1
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/a6c686b438f124321a8c25354e6321d1
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Writing As Resistance: Using Our Words to Critique\, Challenge\, and Disrupt
DESCRIPTION:“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” - Albert Camus\n\nAs writers\, our words wield great power - we craft unique characters\, narratives\, and worlds. But we must not forget that\, in doing so\, we have the ability to enact change. We can spark necessary conversations\, challenge conventions\, and re-write narratives that divide and persecute us. Come join a conversation about writing as resistance with a panel of emerging writers across various genres. We will discuss how we use our art to confront and critique racism\, ableism\, classism\, misogyny\, fatphobia\, and other oppressive social structures.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:899dae17060f94753aaa86f335dc4ff0
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/899dae17060f94753aaa86f335dc4ff0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Writing Hopepunk: Marginalized Perspectives
DESCRIPTION:When the world seems determined to crumble into dystopia\, one of our most precious commodities is hope. Hope that a better way\, or a better world is possible\, especially for those with one or more marginalizations who are already seeing our freedoms under threat. Join a panel of writers discussing how they bring their unique perspectives to defying the establishment and clawing hope out of the looming abyss.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:76b9dd1ae169fc29e94517ea98b18139
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/76b9dd1ae169fc29e94517ea98b18139
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T223000Z
DTEND:20260814T234500Z
SUMMARY:Things That Make You Go: Go! A Workshop on Keeping Your Momentum
DESCRIPTION:&nbsp\;What happens on the days when you don&rsquo\;t feel inspired\, when everything is dark and heavy and cloudy? And what about the bright days\, when the sun is out\, the world is calling you outside\, and writing still feels like a drag? This workshop explores the real\, human challenges of sustaining a writing practice through rain or shine\, literally and figuratively.\n\n\nWe&rsquo\;ll look at how to keep going when doubt\, negativity\, or overwhelm threaten your progress. How to get back your spark even when your book hates you. How to slip back into the story when the world feels chaotic and nothing makes sense. Together\, we&rsquo\;ll discover the art of becoming delusional. Trusting that writing is still worth it. And you&rsquo\;ve got a pen\, a voice\, and a stubborn inner child that refuses to shut up.\n\n\nWe will laugh and cry and find both the joy and the practical steps we need to get back on the page.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:491136ac564217ab21e1239a264c5098
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/491136ac564217ab21e1239a264c5098
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260814T230000Z
DTEND:20260815T003000Z
SUMMARY:Take your character from an RPG to a Novel
DESCRIPTION:You’ve loved taking your RPG character through adventures. \n\nNow it’s time to give their story a novel. Learn how to make the transition.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:050aa6d4cda6e8483f76eb6abd5db76c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/050aa6d4cda6e8483f76eb6abd5db76c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T010000Z
DTEND:20260815T024500Z
SUMMARY:Goblin Casino & Market
DESCRIPTION:This is totally NOT an illegal casino run by goblins.\n\n\nBut if it was\, you could use a sinister laugh (or a sinister look) to get in. Once in\, you will receive free tickets to play the free games - at which\, if you win\, you will receive more tickets. These collected tickets can be spent at the Goblin Market which contains items definitely not stolen from your or other’s houses.\n\n\nIf you wish to donate cool and cursed stuff for the Goblin Market\, drop it off at the AWCS no later than Tuesday August 11th - or bring it to the Games Room at When Words Collide.&nbsp\;\n\n\nDonations should be something you loved at one time\, but now love less and don’t want to dust OR something weird someone gave you for a birthday or Christmas (Do they even know you? Seriously!)\n\n\nTest your luck at goblin classics like:\n\nMarble RaceDuck PondWheel of ticketsHorse RaceGoblin Hold ‘Em - Calvin JimGoblin Black JackGoblin RouletteClaw Machine - the only paid game. Pay for a game with a ticket or donate to the AWCS Youth Program (tap or cash accepted)\, and get infinite plays until you win!Dice GameFrog Game\n
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:94328487d5d431e07d0729f3ffdf58d7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/94328487d5d431e07d0729f3ffdf58d7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T030000Z
DTEND:20260815T054500Z
SUMMARY:Midnight Gaming (D&D and V&V)
DESCRIPTION:Dungeons & Dragons with Rhonda Parish\nD&D is the world’s most popular fantasy tabletop roleplaying game. It is a cooperative\, storytelling game where you and other players take on the roles of the &nbsp\;characters within a story\, making friends and enemies\, fighting monsters\, discovering loot\, and completing quests.\n\nVillains and Vigilantes with Darren Tenor\nV&V is a tabletop roleplaying game where you play a superhero. While trying to live your life and keep your secret identity\, your character\, and others at the gaming table\, will be thrown into comic book style super-hero adventures.
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:39c258314b370c68722a538a3b4e050d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/39c258314b370c68722a538a3b4e050d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T030000Z
DTEND:20260815T050000Z
SUMMARY:Noir at the Bar
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2a635130d132e365f56e94da2484040d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2a635130d132e365f56e94da2484040d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Books with Hooks
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ebc2e8edd28ca210eb9653d94f898de2
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ebc2e8edd28ca210eb9653d94f898de2
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Breakfast and Play D&D (New and Rusty Player Friendly)
DESCRIPTION:It’s so early! But since you’re up - bring your breakfast and let’s play some Dungeons and Dragons. Everything will be provided - except nutritional sustenance.
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ad110671bdb6ac2eb1422fc210f7253c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ad110671bdb6ac2eb1422fc210f7253c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Selling Your Book Without Platform
DESCRIPTION: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&mdash\;and the lessons any writer can adapt to position their book for commercial success.\nWe&rsquo\;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 &ldquo\;commercial potential&rdquo\; really means\, how to identify and leverage the right comp titles\, and why those choices matter long before a book hits submission. Finally\, she&rsquo\;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&rsquo\;ll want to start this part sooner than you think!)&nbsp\;\nThis 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.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2322bb05a582cb0d885ac5c63fad6c2e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2322bb05a582cb0d885ac5c63fad6c2e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:What's Under the Bed - Creating monsters who'll haunt readers long after they've closed the book
DESCRIPTION: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.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:814235c724d6d78b3dade9d3f0a1cdf6
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/814235c724d6d78b3dade9d3f0a1cdf6
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond Character vs. Plot Driven: The Differences between Literary Upmarket\, & Commercial Fiction - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nPeople often say\, "I know it when I read it"\, but what is truly the divide between calling a novel literary or commercial fiction? And how can you determine if your manuscript hits one or the other\, or falls in\n that coveted space\, Upmarket? It's far more than plot driven vs. character driven\, but we'll analyze what those terms really mean\, along with active vs. passive readers\, prose differences\, thematic\n structure\, “postcards”\, and more. (A basic understanding of plot structure and character arcs is needed for this masterclass.)
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:efd2a36aea90d3309edd03be4276c76a
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/efd2a36aea90d3309edd03be4276c76a
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Feminine Solutions in Science Fiction and Fantasy
DESCRIPTION:The rise of the third wave of feminism has spawned a new heroine: the tough chick—whether anachronistically set in a historical fantasy or whipping through the galaxy in a stolen one-woman Millennium Falcon—who out-fights the toughest monster or mercenary. Does the female protagonist have to be a kickass who wins through masculine aggression\, or does she use alternate solutions to the universe's problems?
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b2f7a00b3455f5d33223cf80d4df8d25
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b2f7a00b3455f5d33223cf80d4df8d25
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Fractured Realities: Time Loops\, Parallel Worlds\, and What Breaks Between
DESCRIPTION:Parallel universes and time travel let stories bend reality—and test the limits of cause\, choice\, and consequence. This panel explores how creators use multiple dimensions and non-linear time to examine identity\, fate\, and responsibility\, from paradox-driven thrillers to deeply personal narratives. Panelists will discuss the rules that make these concepts compelling\, common pitfalls\, and why audiences remain fascinated by worlds where time refuses to behave.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7cf75d1808babaca6cadf286d3220546
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7cf75d1808babaca6cadf286d3220546
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Writing Beyond the Self: Creating Characters Outside Our Lived Experience
DESCRIPTION:Can writers create authentic\, respectful characters outside their own race\, gender\, orientation\, culture\, or identity? Should they? In this conversation\, our panelists will explore how to write characters beyond personal experience — with empathy\, research\, and nuance. We'll talk about representation\, sensitivity reads\, and the difference between inclusion and appropriation. This panel is for anyone interested in writing across differences.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b535d43011521048b286b414d018f77c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b535d43011521048b286b414d018f77c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Get Outta My Head!
DESCRIPTION:POV\, head-hopping\, and Breaking the Rules
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:570afe27f3c601550773c24f6650e2f4
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/570afe27f3c601550773c24f6650e2f4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T150000Z
DTEND:20260815T161500Z
SUMMARY:Writing While Neurodiverse: ADHD Strategies for Authors
DESCRIPTION:Having ADHD can present unique challenges for writers of all experience levels\, whether you struggle to stay organized\, lose steam halfway through a draft or get derailed by every new idea. This can leave many people doubting their ability to ever write a book. This presentation by the co-author of the #1 Amazon bestselling writing guide book&nbsp\;A Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers&nbsp\;outlines some of the common issues writers with ADHD face and gives you the tools and strategies to overcome them. You&rsquo\;ll learn how to organize your ideas\, build a sustainable writing practice and stay motivated all the way to &ldquo\;The End&rdquo\; with practical tools\, real-life examples and mindset shifts that work with&mdash\;not against&mdash\;your ADHD. Writing a book isn&rsquo\;t out of reach for ADHD authors\, it just needs a different approach!\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:edaeaed3b793a0f8f6a4cdfdf4dca6ce
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/edaeaed3b793a0f8f6a4cdfdf4dca6ce
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond the Postcard: Cuba's Untold Stories
DESCRIPTION:Beyond the Postcard: Cuba’s Untold Stories opens a window into a Cuba that exists beyond the postcard image—beyond vintage cars\, palm trees\, and streets staged in nostalgia.\n \nBeneath that surface is another geography: memory that refuses to fade\, silences that were never neutral\, survival written into everyday life\, and stories that were never supposed to be spoken.\n\n Based on the book Cuba\, Qué Linda es Cuba by Hebert Poll Gutiérrez (Primigenios Publishing House\, Miami\, 2020)\, this is not a conventional book presentation. It is a multidisciplinary crossing where film\, puppetry\, animation\, poetry\, and spoken word collide—sometimes gently\, sometimes violently—bringing fractured memory and lived imagination into the same fragile space.\n\n At its core\, the work speaks to what has been erased\, softened\, or pushed out of frame. It opens a space to think about identity\, migration\, social fracture\, and cultural resilience\, while asking audiences across Canada’s diverse communities to recognize what echoes of their own stories live inside Cuba’s narrative.\n\nHere\, performance is not illustration—it is evidence. Film\, poetry\, and live action do not decorate the story\; they interrupt it\, question it\, expose it.\n\n The audience is not outside of it. They are pulled into writing\, response\, silence\, discomfort—into a shared questioning of freedom\, dignity\, and belonging.\n\n A central element of the experience is “The Wall of Voices”\, an interactive space where audiences leave fragments of themselves—memories\, contradictions\, unfinished thoughts—expanding the work beyond the stage and into collective memory that keeps shifting.\n\n Guiding this journey is storyteller Diane Din Ebongue\, moving between artistic languages\, holding tension between page and stage\, past and present\, truth and imagination.\n\nThis is not only a Cuban story. It is a human one—fragile\, urgent\, and still unfolding.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:32c0dd2d3758641db6b1811d0b9e0d76
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/32c0dd2d3758641db6b1811d0b9e0d76
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:In Conversation 2
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:3395ff11369c2d4af261f415c63f4a5c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/3395ff11369c2d4af261f415c63f4a5c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:15 Ways to Make Money in the Writing World
DESCRIPTION:If you&#39\;re not independently wealthy\, and aren&#39\;t excited by the &quot\;starving artist&quot\; lifestyle - you&#39\;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&#39\;t taboo. But to earn it\, you may need to get creative. Suzy will share current facts on what&#39\;s possible in today&#39\;s writing industry\, and discuss ways that you can turn your love of writing into a viable side hustle\, or promising career.&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9f00adc56ebe17ef8e2f809b195df788
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9f00adc56ebe17ef8e2f809b195df788
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Level Up or Die Trying: Writing and Succeeding in Progression Fantasy & LitRPG
DESCRIPTION: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?\n\nFrom an author who is now working with a publisher to adapt her Progression Fantasy novel into a webcomic\, in this Presentation\, you will learn:\n\nIntro: 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.\nTerminology: What is Progression Fantasy and LitRPG\, how they differ from other SFF genres\, common tropes and story structures\, most popular platforms\, usual audience…\nHow 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.\nGetting 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…\nClosing statements: Where to find more resources (guides\, tools)\, where to find communities (connections\, mentorship programs)\, questions.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:3c50d899235dd1d6b0c8281b16109b1c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/3c50d899235dd1d6b0c8281b16109b1c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:The Modern Hero - Virtues of Uncommon People
DESCRIPTION: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?\n\n\nRetired 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.\n\n\nFor 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.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d6a32d0f31f32bd6ea8f332fd4e8caae
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d6a32d0f31f32bd6ea8f332fd4e8caae
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a dynamic panel discussion on Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy\, where we explore the ideas\, traditions\, and artistic worlds created by Asian authors and writers from different ethnic backgrounds. \n\nThis panel will examine how science fiction and fantasy serve as powerful spaces for incorporating Asian mythology and culture\, re-imagining history\, and imagining alternative futures shaped by diverse perspectives.\n\nPanelists will discuss how mythology\, folklore\, colonial histories\, migration\, and rapid technological change influence their storytelling. From futuristic cities to magical realms inspired by different cultures\, Asian science fiction and fantasy offer narratives that challenge Western genre norms while expanding what speculative fiction can be. The discussion will also address themes such as identity\, language\, and more\, highlighting how these stories speak to both local experiences and global audiences.\n\nWhether you are a long-time reader of speculative fiction or new to the genre\, this panel offers an engaging opportunity to deepen your understanding of how Asian voices are reshaping science fiction and fantasy today\, and how you can incorporate it into your writing.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c2c6dabc40e46088d5e3b56a8b922f74
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/c2c6dabc40e46088d5e3b56a8b922f74
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Creating a Unique Detective Figure
DESCRIPTION:Creating a compelling and exciting detective figure can draw readers into the world of crime fiction. Whether it's a cozy armchair detective\, a nosy neighbour\, a police officer\, or a private eye\, the role of the detective guides readers through solving the crime. The figure has evolved from the original Sherlock Holmes\, yet there are still traces of this style of detection in many modern figures like Benoit Blanc from Knives Out. Hear from crime writers and how they choose to create a detective figure.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bbd53d2e802d62e937450b38516903d0
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/bbd53d2e802d62e937450b38516903d0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Panel Intro to TTRPGs: Their Similarities and Differences
DESCRIPTION:Darren Tenor\, Calvin Jim\, Cipher\, and Rhonda Parish with Host Kim Firmston\n\nSo you know Dungeons and Dragons\, but do you know Vampire the Masquerade\, Land of Eem\, Mothership\, or the myriad of other Tabletop Roleplaying Games created by those who love to tell stories with others? \n\nDiscover the wider world of Tabletop Roleplay and find your new obsession.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:00ddbef1a2173bf36582db81b2fdf5b2
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/00ddbef1a2173bf36582db81b2fdf5b2
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:What About Me: From Memoir to Autofiction
DESCRIPTION:Are you trying to write memoir\, but it’s just not working for you? Why not give autofiction a chance?\n\n\nAlthough memoir is often praised as the genre that can best capture and convey a writer’s personal tale and truth\, the process of writing one can feel highly constraining. In turn this workshop looks to autofiction as a more liberating way to tell stories linked to the self. It asks: What is autofiction? How is autofiction different from memoir or creative nonfiction? What personal\, political and literary purposes might it serve?\n\n\nThe first half of this workshop consists of an interactive presentation that highlights the strengths and limitations found in some contemporary memoirs\, and then it shifts to exploring recent autofiction. As participants are exposed to autofiction\, they learn how to: blur the boundary between truth and fiction\, subject their biographies to a twist\, construct alter egos\, re-imagine life events\, reconfigure form—and create the most compelling literary\, political and philosophical chaos.\n\n\nIn the second half of this workshop\, participants will be given specialized prompts along with space to begin to craft their own autofictional slice of life\, which they may share with other participants. Generous and insightful feedback from the instructor will also be provided.\n&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:54be95ffa929f538acd7e3e03528dc2d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/54be95ffa929f538acd7e3e03528dc2d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T163000Z
DTEND:20260815T174500Z
SUMMARY:Whose Plot is it Anyway? How to Master the Dominant Arc in Hybrid Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Genre-blending is the best-seller standard in today&rsquo\;s market. Romantasy has exploded thanks to BookTok and Bookstagram. But Romantasy isn&rsquo\;t the only genre blend\, despite it being the obvious heavyweight. There&rsquo\;s also cozy blend (Legends and Lattes &ndash\; Fantasy\; The Southern Book Club&rsquo\;s Guide to Slaying Vampires &ndash\; Horror\; The Long Way to a Small\, Angry Planet &ndash\; Sci-Fi (and more))\, Sci-Fi Thriller (Dark Matter\, or Project Hail Mary)\, and Historical Fantasy (The City of Brass).\n\n\nUsing these four genre blends in particular (romantasy\, cozy\, sci-fi-thriller\, and historical-fantasy)\, we&rsquo\;ll discuss how to identify the dominant arc (which genre will provide the inciting incident\, climax\, and resolution)\, and how to weave the secondary arc required beats into the timeline of the primary arc. You&rsquo\;ll learn how to stay true to the overarching genre&rsquo\;s mandatory checkpoints while ensuring the secondary genre&rsquo\;s contribution is impactful\, satisfying\, and marketable.\nAttendees will learn:\nThe non-negotiable beats of the most common dominant genres and where the secondary genre&#39\;s beats can be slotted in for maximum impact\;Techniques for satisfying two sets of reader expectations\;How to use the secondary genre&#39\;s beats to raise the stakes or create complications within the dominant genre&#39\;s framework.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b94417776030934e704c85eff1a113f8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b94417776030934e704c85eff1a113f8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Quiplash With WWC
DESCRIPTION:Join Kevin Weir for Jackbox’s most popular game\, Quiplash. Bring your cellphone\, tablet\, or laptop and you’re ready to go. In Quiplash\, there are no rules or correct answers. You just say whatever you want! Your answer will be pitted against another player’s answer in a head-to-head battle. Other players and the audience then vote on their favorite answer. It’s that simple! Come and join the fun!
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4dce954b48dec0b85112def1949858b8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4dce954b48dec0b85112def1949858b8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:A CRASH COURSE IN COPYRIGHT
DESCRIPTION:Writers live by Copyright\, it is a fundamental principal of our existence. But it is often only vaguely understood. \n\nWhat 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.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:523250003636d0b0813134bc24e9cbdc
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/523250003636d0b0813134bc24e9cbdc
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:An Author's Guide to Longevity and Adapting to the Changing Publishing Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Publishing has never changed at such a breakneck pace. But some authors not only survive\, they thrive for decades\, throughout those changes. \n\nVeteran 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.\n\nFrom 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.\n\nIdeal for writers at any stage who want a long\, sustainable\, and adaptable career.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:99e4a7cfb0827a2922320eedd50dd837
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/99e4a7cfb0827a2922320eedd50dd837
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Bored of Your Book? How to Fall in Love With Your Story Again
DESCRIPTION:Let&#39\;s talk about every writer&#39\;s nemesis...BOREDOM. Many writers get to a point in their process where they lose interest in their book or notice that it&rsquo\;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&rsquo\;t have a very good understanding of your plot and characters. Maybe your confidence is wavering and you&rsquo\;re not sure if what you&rsquo\;re writing is any good. Guess what: it&rsquo\;s all related to dopamine\, the brain&rsquo\;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&rsquo\;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&rsquo\;ll be excited to get back to writing.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a045ec2def46ab9302cbedb36ddb8e89
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/a045ec2def46ab9302cbedb36ddb8e89
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Make a Killer Movie: Writing Genre Films For Yourself (and the Market)
DESCRIPTION: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. &nbsp\;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. &nbsp\;Sharing real world experience for stories that are done to death and making sure it has the elements that attract producers\, actors and financing. &nbsp\;This can include adapting stories for screen and finding stories that talk about the world\, your POV and tread new ground in familiar ways.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b41c7c635766435f31e0909a66ff3bd2
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b41c7c635766435f31e0909a66ff3bd2
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Flying Pork Chops - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nWrite from your heart\, apply fiction techniques\, throw in a flying pork chop and voilà\, you have everything you need to tell a good short story. In zero to sixty minutes\, we'll cover the essential elements of fiction writing coupled with the magic of random elements designed to level up your writing.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4342aa8e9024225b17718d5c1f5ff2e6
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4342aa8e9024225b17718d5c1f5ff2e6
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Master the 5 Elements of Writing - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nHave you ever read (or written!) a scene that feels a little flat\, and you just can’t seem to put your finger on why? Chances are\, the writer hasn’t used the 5 Elements of Writing (Setting\, Dialogue\, Actions\, Reactions\, Inner Thoughts) to their full advantage. Writing is the only creative medium that can exploit all of these elements. Learn why an imbalance in these elements makes your writing boring\, how to spot problems\, and what elements to use\, when to make your scenes 3D in your readers’ minds and take your writing to the next level.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:91d958f8dc09a833c4d0a784121d629e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/91d958f8dc09a833c4d0a784121d629e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Making Monsters: the Art & Craft of Writing Horror
DESCRIPTION:How do you write a jump scare? What words will give a reader goosebumps? Should you describe your monster in detail or leave something to the imagination? These are the questions horror writers obsess over\, usually alone with only our keyboards and our ghosts for company. But not today! Join us for a discussion you can sink your teeth into about the challenges\, tools\, and techniques of crafting horror fiction.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:425b5a5616da5e6b0746a12d43c95ce0
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/425b5a5616da5e6b0746a12d43c95ce0
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Queer Rep in Mainstream Media
DESCRIPTION:A panel featuring queer authors discussing LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. Focused on diverse perspectives from queer writers.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:a47923660f6d65cd40cb4e6edce47852
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/a47923660f6d65cd40cb4e6edce47852
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Live Action Slush: Short Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Reader:&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:SLUSH
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9855823fe608e52291c62d004082afbf
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9855823fe608e52291c62d004082afbf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Afro-Cuban Poetry: From Myths and Memory to Social Transformation
DESCRIPTION:Afro-Cuban Poetry: From Myths and Memory to Social Transformation.\nThis 60-minute workshop explores Afro-Cuban poetry and film as living forces of resistance—tools to defend identity\, confront stereotypes\, and turn silence into action. Moving beyond nostalgia or fixed religious readings\, it treats poetry as something alive: memory that breathes\, joy that resists\, language that refuses disappearance.\n Participants engage with selected excerpts from Nicolás Guillén\, Nancy Morejón\, Rogelio Martínez Furé\, Yadian Carbonell Hechavarría\, Mireya Rodríguez Frontela\, and Hebert Poll Gutiérrez\, listening to how rhythm\, oral tradition\, and ancestral memory build a collective voice that insists on presence and refuses erasure.\n Short film screenings extend this field of meaning\, where image does not illustrate poetry—it continues it. It becomes testimony. And testimony becomes resistance\, memory\, and survival.\n\nFilms links:\nThere was a country: &nbsp\;https://drive.google.com/file/d/19HR20KelRph_-NTG-ItSnjsfs2YKbvzf/view?usp=sharing\nWhispers from the black gods: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYLUIGfTgQ0-vqwUf4La1xH9PzwIhgEG/view?usp=sharing\n&nbsp\;\nThe workshop also opens space for guided reflection through provocative questions:\n• What truth are you afraid to say out loud?\n• What part of your identity has been silenced?\n• How can we transform pain into strength through art?\n\n Participants close by writing a short poem or reflection shaped by identity\, resistance\, and hope—leaving with something they can carry into the world: poetry and film as tools of cultural defense\, and as forces that keep transformation moving inside the community.\n As Rogelio Martínez Furé reminds us: “What is not remembered\, does not exist.”\n\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9141d25a5c9a5ac461cff561da01f395
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9141d25a5c9a5ac461cff561da01f395
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T180000Z
DTEND:20260815T191500Z
SUMMARY:Bring Your Trauma!
DESCRIPTION:Bring a traumatic/dramatic event or scene you want to write about. It can be a fictional or a real event that you want to portray effectively and are having difficulties with.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:92466b27f3de3401713a0d059f2d72f9
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/92466b27f3de3401713a0d059f2d72f9
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Inside the 'Shop: The Story Behind the Story
DESCRIPTION:Join Keenan Jones\, an educator and Big Five–published author from the Twin Cities\, for an interactive author event celebrating his debut picture book Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop (Simon &amp\; Schuster/USA &amp\; Canada). Inspired by the lively culture of barbershop mornings\, Keenan will share the creative journey behind the book—from the initial spark and character development to collaborating with his publishing team—and explain his aim to honor the community\, tradition\, and everyday spaces where stories shape identity. Attendees can enjoy a live reading and learn about the inspirations and steps that led to publication.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7ad88cd3eea656894bf4c8f95acb268f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7ad88cd3eea656894bf4c8f95acb268f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Pitch Games
DESCRIPTION:Back by popular demand\, stand up and present your best elevator pitch in front of a panel of experienced judges. Train hard\, this is Olympic-style "Live Action Slush" for book pitches. Pitches are given a sizzle and delivery score. Judges will hold up two scores. Shaky delivery? Don’t panic\, your pitch might be HOT\, and we'll all want to read the book. Maybe your pitch fizzles instead of sizzles? Maybe you'll nail the delivery instead. Get a ho-hum response? Maybe there's a training montage in your future. Ready? Get your game face on\, it's pitch time!
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ace930a0870724c5ff4bc60731819c26
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ace930a0870724c5ff4bc60731819c26
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:TTRPG Games: Legend in the Mist / Vampire the Masquerade
DESCRIPTION:Legend in the Mist with Calvin Jim\nThis is a rustic fantasy RPG based on the award-winning and groundbreaking narrative game engine of City of Mist.\n Spin a fireside tale of unlikely villagers setting out on a quest into a greater unknown world\, rife with peril and mystery\, in the vein of The Lord of the Rings\, The Wheel of Time\, Princess Mononoke\, and many other classic fantasy stories.\n\nVampire the Masquerade with Cipher
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:54016cd26e0a4371349e78ec62417341
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/54016cd26e0a4371349e78ec62417341
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Butterflies and Plot Twists: Chaos Theory for Writers
DESCRIPTION: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&mdash\;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.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4973ce1309483da7d13a578b387aa44e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4973ce1309483da7d13a578b387aa44e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Confessions of a Pants-aholic — How to Plot a Novel When You’d Rather Do Anything Else
DESCRIPTION: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?\n\nIf these scenarios are familiar\, welcome. This is the session of your people.\n\nJoin 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.\n\nThis 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!
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e5c62d48f885a6793583e82b5b139a13
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e5c62d48f885a6793583e82b5b139a13
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:50 Ways to Kill Your Lover (Homicide at Home)
DESCRIPTION:Poisons\, “accidents” and other domestic murder methods—our panelists share the many ways victims can die at or near home. This panel also promotes our fourth biennial anthology\,&nbsp\;Crime Wave 4: Home Sweet Homicide.\n\nSession Sponsor: Sisters In Crime (SinC)\n&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b2f49eb565118f2b35cf53ce147d9b2b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b2f49eb565118f2b35cf53ce147d9b2b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Surviving Publishing
DESCRIPTION:Writing can be a lonely endeavour\, requiring a lot of hard work and delayed gratification. Sometimes it feels easier to throw in the towel rather than completing all the steps necessary to get a book done and out the door. Get tips and inspiration from writers who have gone through the process and lived to tell the tale.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:988275811c6b09526c3039c97014a120
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/988275811c6b09526c3039c97014a120
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:This too shall pass… write what you want/write for the market.
DESCRIPTION:Market trends come and market trends go. Sparkly vampires and the dystopian wave\, trauma autofiction and the romantasy tsunami&hellip\; this too shall pass. Join panelists new and old (ahem\, debut authors and those with a few books out there)\, as they discuss writing and publishing across genre and within it\, chasing market trends and staying true to their artistic drive\, and how to keep that muse alive even when the tides have swept publisher interests far from shore!\n
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2dfda7c074177b55eec847e09ec7ee4f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2dfda7c074177b55eec847e09ec7ee4f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Query Slush
DESCRIPTION:Want to know if your query letter works? Query letters are your first introduction to an agent or publisher. They need to introduce your work in a way that stands out in the hundreds of emails filling their inboxes. Join this lively slush reading where anonymous queries are read out to a panel of experts (authors\, agents\, editors\, publishers\, or assistants) who will raise their hand when they would stop reading. Find out if your query makes the cut or if something is&nbsp\;getting in the way.\n\nReader: Erin Weir
CATEGORIES:SLUSH
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f3a8f616f8d65acfd2d00658289ba376
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f3a8f616f8d65acfd2d00658289ba376
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Craft a Collaborative Novel
DESCRIPTION:Join Shawn Bird from Lintusen Press to brainstorm and outline a novel in this fast-paced\, engaging\, and productive workshop. Writers at all levels of experience are invited to participate.&nbsp\;\n\nAt the end of the workshop\, interested participants &nbsp\;are invited to commit to writing a chapter within a communal document throughout the following three months\, in order to bring the novel to reality for a release in 2027. &nbsp\;\n\nPast novels begun at WWC include The Dragon Problem (2023) and Laurel Lake Lodge (2024). Check the program for this year&#39\;s launch!\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:3488919485797b8d865ee8b41c4e111d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/3488919485797b8d865ee8b41c4e111d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T193000Z
DTEND:20260815T204500Z
SUMMARY:Real vs. Reality
DESCRIPTION:Reality is factual: what happened\, when\, where\, how\, and to whom. When written\, it is accurate journalistic reporting. Yet\, as creative writers\, we want our readers to feel deeply\, experience the intensity of actions\, and know the internal agony\, ecstasy\, desolation\, and joy our characters feel when reality strikes. This workshop focuses on methods and choices used to expose the personal impact of an event versus a merely factual description through literary examples and writing exercises. Designed for non-fiction as well as genre fiction\, this workshop will help you increase the emotional impact of your work\, whether dealing with murderers\, lovers\, monsters\, siblings\, or all the above.&nbsp\;\nWhat attendees will learn\nHow to transform facts into an emotional impact.Explore how other writers take everyday events and create emotionally charged narratives.How to discover their own emotions surrounding events and relate their intensity to readers.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b350f69babcbbb80ebb1a0d62396891f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b350f69babcbbb80ebb1a0d62396891f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond the Bottom Line: Running an Anticapitalist Author Business
DESCRIPTION: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?&nbsp\;This session explores what it means to build an anticapitalist authorial practice&mdash\;one rooted in community\, ethics\, and balance rather than productivity and profit. We&rsquo\;ll unpack how capitalism shapes our work as authors\, and explore practical ways to do business differently.&nbsp\;Participants will learn concrete strategies for creating an authorial business that honours people\, the planet\, and personal well-being.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:404c093ba13d026a6a20f7bbf6af9a74
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/404c093ba13d026a6a20f7bbf6af9a74
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Offstage Characters: What Are They Up To?
DESCRIPTION:Especially in plotty books like mysteries and thrillers (and what SF\, fantasy or romance doesn&#39\;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&#39\;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.&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:067a6dd19ae7587f3dc433b09b623793
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/067a6dd19ae7587f3dc433b09b623793
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Fiction as Riot: Writing When the World is F*cked - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nWhen the world sucks\, writing is an act of resistance. This masterclass explores how to channel rage and grief into powerful fiction without sacrificing your craft. We’ll talk about play\, joy\, and creativity-care\, and we’ll also dive into the how of writing about the difficult stuff. Perfect for writers who want both escapism from the evils of the world and the tools to shine a spotlight on those evils.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ac7a15731c0e260b53c1e79300b74767
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ac7a15731c0e260b53c1e79300b74767
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Screenwriting Essentials - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nStorytelling when applied to film or TV is one of the most exciting mediums to explore. It not only improves a writer’s ability to structure story\, but it provides the opportunity to look at the art of story from a visual perspective. This masterclass is an interactive and engaging ‘how-to’ guide for structuring a film script\, including plotting\, character development\, dialogue\, and film theory. We’ll analyze existing film scenes and scripts while exploring and establishing the rules of scriptwriting (and also how to break those rules).
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5a57acbb48582890526c0ae7e082b0a3
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/5a57acbb48582890526c0ae7e082b0a3
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Disability\, Romance\, and Adventure: Yes\, Your Book Can Have Them All!
DESCRIPTION:Oftentimes\, disabled bodies and/or neurodivergent brains are desexualized and/or de-romanticized because of ableist narratives. These narratives also propose that disabled folks are incapable of sharing in the adventure without a “cure." But as disabled and neurodivergent authors\, we are the protagonists of our own lives\, so why can’t we craft stories that turn these harmful tropes upside down? This panel will discuss how it’s not only plausible but also realistic to put disabled folks as the romantic and heroic leads. We’ll talk about how we don’t need to “fix” bodies and/or minds for these characters to shine!
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:83042f4da0449b9d7224710cce130e6b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/83042f4da0449b9d7224710cce130e6b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:The Personal is Political and The Political is Personal! Activism and Advocacy Through Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Ben Zalkind will facilitate this session with Kirti Bhadresa [and others] that will offer a primer on how authors use fiction as an incubator of political imagination. Storytelling has long been a tool of political awareness and change. Writers articulate the political discontent of our time\, expose and tear down unjust power structures through our art. Readers access otherwise-silenced stories through the books they read. This panel will excavate literature’s rich political terrain\, explore how ideas take shape and how unseen stories can be brought into the mainstream through fiction. Bring your fire and your curiosity for this rousing talk that promises to bring empowerment and hope! Let’s put our imaginations to work! The world needs our voices now more than ever.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7bf75237f730b72d22fefb81374bff20
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7bf75237f730b72d22fefb81374bff20
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Workplace Horror - Something Smells in the Break Room
DESCRIPTION:We're not saying that every job is a horror\, or every workplace is cursed\, but some days... \n\nWhether you feel like stepping across the threshold is entering literal hell\, or that your boss is the devil\, or that microwaved tuna someone left on the counter to cool off is possessed\, there IS horror to be found where you most expect it. \n\nJoin us as we delve into what makes this sub-genre so delightfully horrible\, with a raft of recently published examples and where one might find a market for your own.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7d08f2223da044cd7290f3b50718f256
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7d08f2223da044cd7290f3b50718f256
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Writing for Tabletop Roleplaying Games (and publishing them)
DESCRIPTION:Want to homebrew your own tabletop roleplaying adventure? Perfect! \n\nOur panel will walk you through the steps of what to prepare\, what to skip\, and how you can make the whole thing as painless as possible. \n\nThen - as an added bonus\, Darren Tenor will tell you how to sell what you’ve created.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9697b0c1d8a04895e3397639c1c5794f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9697b0c1d8a04895e3397639c1c5794f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Live Action Slush: Romance
DESCRIPTION:Reader: Nicole Roche
CATEGORIES:SLUSH
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:97c8aab0e67e0c986767eb2f2f31b873
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/97c8aab0e67e0c986767eb2f2f31b873
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Accelerate It: Writing in Flow
DESCRIPTION:In this one-hour seminar\, Rosey guides writers into a more natural\, sustainable way of writing so the story in their head can finally make it onto the page. This session is designed for writers who feel stuck\, scattered\, or slowed down by doubt\, perfectionism\, or lack of time\, even though they know the story is there.\n\n\nRooted in a heart-led\, intuitive approach to craft\, this seminar blends structure and flow so writing feels fun and easy\, and you actually look forward to sitting down to write!\n\n\nIn this session\, you&rsquo\;ll learn how to:\n- Identify what&rsquo\;s actually blocking your writing and why pushing harder often makes it worse\n- Create a simple\, doable framework to move your story from idea to draft\n- Develop scenes that flow naturally while still supporting a compelling\, page-turning plot\n- Prioritize your writing in real life\, even with limited time and competing demands\n- Put fears\, self-doubt\, and inner criticism on pause so they don&rsquo\;t derail your momentum\n\n\nBonus: Learn how to stop getting hung up on irrelevant details that stall progress and interrupt flow.\n\n\nThis session is ideal for writers who want to write with more ease\, confidence\, and consistency by embracing the heart of their story.\n\n\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9fc54daaa9db799243dd869dca150ae1
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9fc54daaa9db799243dd869dca150ae1
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T210000Z
DTEND:20260815T221500Z
SUMMARY:Laugh Out Loud Literary Devices
DESCRIPTION:We all know the serious side of creative writing\, but what about the lighter side of the literary arts? &nbsp\;This workshop will hit your funny bone with laugh out loud examples of personification\, simile\, metaphor\, hyperbole\, and more! &nbsp\;Have a blast writing and sharing some rapid-fire comedic material that will have the whole room giggling together! &nbsp\;Regardless of the outcome\, it will be&nbsp\;seriously&nbsp\;good writing!\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2836b1d0331469e01c92ba98ccf4c11b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2836b1d0331469e01c92ba98ccf4c11b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Channel A
DESCRIPTION:Channel A is a party game in which you create and pitch ridiculous anime series and convince the other players that they really want to watch them! \n\nCreate shows based on random words in your hand\, and vote for your favorites. So\, ready your kaiju\, magical girls\, and secret ninjas and tune in for an evening of hilarious fun! No previous anime knowledge needed!
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:4a3cca9a23c1091b1216f7449e1dd897
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/4a3cca9a23c1091b1216f7449e1dd897
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Breaking Barriers: Writing\, Developing\, and Creating Despite Disabilities
DESCRIPTION: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.&nbsp\;\n\nThis 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.&nbsp\;\n\nThrough 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.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f0a795278c570dcb2cc1aad35dd3aaf5
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f0a795278c570dcb2cc1aad35dd3aaf5
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T231500Z
SUMMARY:Making an Audiobook: Getting your Words off the Page
DESCRIPTION:Have you found a way to get your words onto the page? Congratulations! But whether you're published\, self-published\, or perhaps just working up to it\, there is an audience waiting for you out beyond that page. They are the growing number of 'readers' who'd rather listen than read. This seminar is about getting your words into their ears.&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nAudiobooks are not new. But never have they been so popular! No longer the specialty domain for seniors and the visually impaired\, audiobooks are the preferred source for readers on the go. Roughly 21 million Canadians accessed audiobooks last year\, meaning that over 100 million audiobooks were consumed! Once thought to be a niche market\, audiobooks now have a place of their own among the books on our shelves.&nbsp\;\n\n\nWhat would it cost to turn your written words into spoken words? What would you need to record them yourself or have a professional voice actor read them for you? How do you approach the technical requirements of preparing a manuscript as an audiobook?&nbsp\;\n\n\nI’m no expert. But I am an enthusiast\, and I can tell you that there’s no thrill like hearing your own words being spoken into the world the way you heard them in your head when you wrote them. There’s a world waiting to hear those words.\n\n\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0c4536174c6b86b4e674c98f63ec55d7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0c4536174c6b86b4e674c98f63ec55d7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Resurrecting Religious Legends for a Modern Audience
DESCRIPTION: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.&nbsp\;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.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6fcd0238efbc2855e05c5947c4843d2e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/6fcd0238efbc2855e05c5947c4843d2e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:The Most Powerful Characterization Detail You're Overlooking: A Character's Job
DESCRIPTION: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.\n\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d79bf8cad9ecdc9b75f600d474f9d2b8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d79bf8cad9ecdc9b75f600d474f9d2b8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:Cinematic Storytelling: Does Hollywood Flair Work in Speculative Fiction?
DESCRIPTION:Cinematic storytelling in fiction is often seen in a negative light. It can reduce character agency and emotion\, pulling away from the introspective side\, instead relying on tense action and big explosions. Books and movies are very different media. What works in one doesn’t necessarily translate to the other. But is there a way to adapt the techniques of the visual medium and utilize it for the written word? Has the overwhelming rise in movies and television altered the way people read and what they expect?\n\n\nThis panel will look at the techniques of cinematic storytelling\, discussing whether or not they can effectively be used in speculative fiction.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:fc93faa74ca7fb02a1e518a899f81ade
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/fc93faa74ca7fb02a1e518a899f81ade
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:From Personal to Perennial: The Craft and Career of Picture Books
DESCRIPTION:Picture books may be short\, but the path to publication—and beyond—is rarely quick or simple. In this craft-and-business-focused panel\, four traditionally published picture book authors unpack how personal stories move from idea to book deal to long-term career momentum.\n\nPanelists will discuss how they identify the central “big idea” in personal material\, make key craft decisions around structure and narrative style\, and navigate the editorial process from acquisition through revision. The conversation will also pull back the curtain on the business realities of picture books\, including how each author secured their publishing deal\, realistic timelines from contract to publication\, and how awards\, reviews\, and recognition have shaped the life of their books after release.\n\nFinally\, the panel will explore what happens next: sustaining visibility\, building on early success\, and making strategic choices that keep both the work and the career moving forward. Designed for writers at any stage\, this session offers a clear-eyed look at the art and economics of creating picture books with staying power.\n\n
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:262feabf7ca75d4ec7ce0ab595f500d5
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/262feabf7ca75d4ec7ce0ab595f500d5
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260815T223000Z
DTEND:20260815T234500Z
SUMMARY:From the Past to the Page: Transforming Historical Research into Compelling Fiction
DESCRIPTION:In this engaging panel\, members of the AWCS Historical Fiction Roundtable will discuss the numerous resources available to writers of historical fiction\, memoir\, and true tales of historical events. They will share their personal research journeys and show how oral histories\, letters\, diaries\, records\, archives\, and books have contributed to their writing.\n\n\nPanelists will describe their favourite tools and techniques for creating stories that are historically accurate\, entertaining\, and relevant for modern readers. They’ll share their approaches to handling research gaps and tackle the fundamental question\, “In the end\, what is more important: history or the story?”\n\n\nParticipants will leave the session with ready to implement strategies for accessing and organizing resources and finding their authentic voice within their historical research.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f184bf64021b09d7517f06bbb1e0f2df
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f184bf64021b09d7517f06bbb1e0f2df
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T000000Z
DTEND:20260816T024500Z
SUMMARY:Board Games and Magic the Gathering Mixer
DESCRIPTION:Join Cipher in the games room and try out some board games\, meet people\, and chat. \n\nPlus\, if you are interested\, play or learn to play Magic the Gathering. We will have a few sets of cards available\, but if you play - bring yours and join us!
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:dcc4f8a0ddad813be38427b104b62a69
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/dcc4f8a0ddad813be38427b104b62a69
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T000000Z
DTEND:20260816T011500Z
SUMMARY:IFWA at the Improv
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:56d7321d7d4de143ef3f4840be54b1ea
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/56d7321d7d4de143ef3f4840be54b1ea
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T000000Z
DTEND:20260816T030000Z
SUMMARY:Kevin McDonald Superstar
DESCRIPTION:***This presentation is part of WWC's annual Saturday Night Showcase Event. Tickets are sold separately (register at the link provided)\n\nThe night includes: \nHollywood Cringe Red Carpet welcome!Kevin McDonald\, Superstar!Buffet dinner from the spectacular chefs of the Hyatt RegencyCash BarOpen Karaoke after-party!\nAbout Kevin McDonald\, Superstar!\n\nKevin McDonald Superstar is a comedic\, autobiographical "rock opera" written by McDonald about an adventure he had in the early 90s in Toronto and New York with Dave Foley and his on again/off again girlfriend\, named "Cheater. It is "funny trauma" - with songs!&nbsp\;\n\n
CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bb1582d5ab83899be9758162d67c0dee
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/bb1582d5ab83899be9758162d67c0dee
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T013000Z
DTEND:20260816T024500Z
SUMMARY:Readings From Your Next Favourite Romance Authors
DESCRIPTION:Hear established and debut romance authors read excerpts from their latest novels\, discover your next favourite book\, and stick around afterward to ask questions!\n\nPlus Eliza Gordon!
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:95bb2bda811b49ee3f08bfd5b0883fee
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/95bb2bda811b49ee3f08bfd5b0883fee
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T030000Z
DTEND:20260816T054500Z
SUMMARY:Midnight TTRPGs (Mothership and D&D)
DESCRIPTION:Mothership with Darren Tenor \nMothership is a science fiction horror tabletop RPG that immerses players in a tense\, survival-focused experience set in the depths of space\, combining elements of horror and exploration.\n\nDungeons and Dragons with Rhonda Parrish\nD&D is the world’s most popular fantasy tabletop roleplaying game. It is a cooperative\, storytelling game where you and other players take on the roles of the &nbsp\;characters within a story\, making friends and enemies\, fighting monsters\, discovering loot\, and completing quests.
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f09dac92a72e19109803c9967a6d36e8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f09dac92a72e19109803c9967a6d36e8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T030000Z
DTEND:20260816T041500Z
SUMMARY:Open Mic Night
DESCRIPTION:Open Mic is back. &nbsp\;Join us for an evening of entertainment. Or be a part of it! Bring your vocals\, instruments\, poems\, stories\, and stand-up comedy routines in front of the mic. Vanessa and Val will put you into a rotation\, so that you can keep coming back with more. We ask that you time your performances to be about 5 mins or less each. We also request family friendly language in the performance pieces.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social Hub\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0308f7ba4c22d173423cc39f64e6e443
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0308f7ba4c22d173423cc39f64e6e443
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T150000Z
DTEND:20260816T161500Z
SUMMARY:BYOBreakfast and Play D&D
DESCRIPTION:It’s so early! \n\nBut since you’re up - bring your breakfast and let’s play some Dungeons and Dragons. Everything will be provided - except nutritional sustenance.
CATEGORIES:GAMES
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:268394d4cefb986f2724f1764cc7a7e7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/268394d4cefb986f2724f1764cc7a7e7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T150000Z
DTEND:20260816T161500Z
SUMMARY:THREENOTE: With Amanda Leduc\, Danny Ramadan\, and Craig Dilouie
DESCRIPTION:Craig Dilouie: \nDemocratization: The Double Edged Sword\nIn this keynote\, professional fiction writer Craig DiLouie reviews how publishing has changed in the past 25 years\, focusing on&nbsp\;democratization—how technology produced a renaissance in small press and self-publishing but is now threatening to replace humans altogether even as it offers new augmentation tools.
CATEGORIES:KEYNOTE
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ad45bf533bc04e53a1fb9bba78116dd7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ad45bf533bc04e53a1fb9bba78116dd7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T150000Z
DTEND:20260816T161500Z
SUMMARY:A Quiet Hour of Reflection and Poetry
DESCRIPTION:A Quiet Hour of Reflection and Poetry\nMuch as a memoir can retell the highlights and low moments of a life\, poetry can tell the story of a sensitive soul. &nbsp\;Come enjoy the poetry of best-selling\, Pushcart Poetry Prize-nominated poet Josephine LoRe. &nbsp\;She will share from all her collections: &nbsp\;from her first haiku in the 2016 Haiku Canada Anthology\, to the poems in the collaborative collection Late to the Sky\, set to be published in the Spring of 2026.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6b62928c3e0ec66745bd52e5ce350972
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/6b62928c3e0ec66745bd52e5ce350972
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T150000Z
DTEND:20260816T161500Z
SUMMARY:What Next? Self-editing Strategies for Moving Your Manuscript Forward
DESCRIPTION:Learn how to engage with your novel or memoir draft objectively and critically\, so you can elevate it like a good editor would.\nYou&rsquo\;ve finished your novel. It might be the first draft. It might be the fourth. You&rsquo\;ve patched plot holes\, checked facts\, refined prose\, and proofread the whole thing&mdash\;twice. You&rsquo\;ve invested so much already\, you&rsquo\;re not sure investing in a professional editor is the right move. But in the competitive world of traditional book publishing\, you know that submitting too soon can mean scuttling your chances.&nbsp\;\nSo&hellip\;what next?\nJoin professional editor Sandra McIntyre for a manuscript assessment walk-though and learn how she approaches a high-level novel or memoir edit. Review which elements to consider at the assessment stage and see which problems crop up repeatedly.&nbsp\;\nHalf of good writing is revision\, and developing self-editing skills is an essential part of developing as a writer. This presentation is suitable for fiction and creative non-fiction writers interested in levelling up their big picture self-editing skills.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bc291084875845ec4d6c2fd90ea955bc
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/bc291084875845ec4d6c2fd90ea955bc
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T150000Z
DTEND:20260816T161500Z
SUMMARY:The Importance of Finding Your Tribe
DESCRIPTION:Writing has been called a singularly lonely profession. However\, for those who seek to build a long-term career as a writer\, finding and building your writing community\, your tribe\, is perhaps the most important thing you can do (next to actually writing).&nbsp\;\n\nJoin a panel of authors as they share their experiences and tips on finding and building community\, and why these steps have been so important to each of them.&nbsp\;\n\nPutting yourself out there can be hard for introverts\, but the positives are incalculable. It’s where you find Beta readers\, mentors\, and support groups that will make a difference to your work and career. Engaging with the writing community is where you’ll find ARC reviewers and blurb providers\, and form relationships with agents\, publishers\, and media. It’s also where you make friends who will join you on your journey and gain the deep sources of inspiration that help keep you going during the dark days.&nbsp\;\n\nWhat attendees will learn:\n•&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;Steps to finding your tribe\n•&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;How to develop and grow your community – and why\n•&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;Why finding and investing in you\, and in your tribe and writing community\, is critical to your long-term career. &nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0ff19b7fd0a27c789f4eaab80e2a5ab1
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0ff19b7fd0a27c789f4eaab80e2a5ab1
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Creativity & Chaos
DESCRIPTION:This part-game\, part-workshop\, part-collective-hallucination literary event lets writers drive the story. Co-hosts Finnian Burnett and Andrew Buckley lead participants through word games and collaborative storytelling exercises designed to spark creativity\, dismantle perfectionism\, and build genuine connections between writers.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e57a8d97d1707b3d55d39781823b1347
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e57a8d97d1707b3d55d39781823b1347
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Building RPG Props Without Breaking the Bank
DESCRIPTION:While many RPGs use theatre of the mind\, building props to add to your game can really get your players excited (or scared) when they see how big the Big Bad Guy really is! \n\nDarren Tenor\, seasoned Game Master\, is here to lead you through building jaw dropping props within a budget.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f8494aaba168ed5d18c38a64158a2538
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f8494aaba168ed5d18c38a64158a2538
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Designing Interactive Stories: An Intro to Visual Novels with Em Williamson
DESCRIPTION:Visual novels are a type of interactive fiction video game that grant writers the power to easily create digital choose-your-own-adventure-style stories. \n\nIn this workshop\, instructor and game developer Em Williamson will guide you through the basics of creating your own visual novel. Learn about how to balance your own writing style with player freedom\, how to create compelling narrative choices and branching paths\, how to create art and assets (even if you don't know how to draw!)\, and what software is out there to help you get started on your visual novel journey.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d49cd7c554328323b4f8fe0ee95787b4
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d49cd7c554328323b4f8fe0ee95787b4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Embrace the cringe of the Canadian identity to find success
DESCRIPTION:This session unpacks the challenges of writing from the Canadian perspective and encourages writers to embrace the cringe in order to find success. Writing from a uniquely Canadian perspective isn&#39\;t easy\, and this session includes practice-based critical reflexive techniques to examine the Canadian identity\, how it informs our writing\, and why our writing matters. The seminar focuses on the creative process in a Canadian context and can be broadly applied to a range of genres.&nbsp\;\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2997b4f795f43175ead5d52497f4464a
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2997b4f795f43175ead5d52497f4464a
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Ten Ways to Market Your Book on a Budget
DESCRIPTION:Many new authors\, even those who are traditionally published\, don&rsquo\;t realize they&rsquo\;ll always have to be the loudest and most consistent cheer-leader of their work. It now goes with the territory\, but where do you even start? And everything is so expensive&hellip\;\nThings like Amazon Ads can be confusing and ineffective unless you know how to use them and even then\, they&rsquo\;re apt to change along with the algorithm. It can be very scary when you suddenly realize you&rsquo\;ve spent the month&rsquo\;s rent on Ads that may\, or may not\, work. 😳\nIn this presentation\, participants will be encouraged to seek out opportunities\, services\, and support that is close at hand\, is simple and/or user friendly\, and doesn&rsquo\;t cost huge bucks.\nThree particular periods will be focused upon if time allows because they&rsquo\;re equally important to the success of marketing and many new authors don&rsquo\;t realize they need to begin their marketing before publication:\nPre-launch (3&ndash\;6 months before)\nLaunch (month of release)\nPost-launch (3&ndash\;12 months after)\nSpecific Discussions Will Include (but are not limited to):Net Galley\nBook Contests\nVictoria&rsquo\;s Co-op\nCanva | Unsplash\nTag Lines\nSocial Media\nEmail Marketing\nPersonal Landing Page\nGive-aways: Pit-falls and Perks\nCross Promotion\nThis class will include links to prepared check-lists and websites that they can download and keep track of their progress.\n\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9b4fe2fa7a77a4a58b3d2b266f526300
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9b4fe2fa7a77a4a58b3d2b266f526300
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Inside the Villain's Mind: The Psychology Behind The Crime
DESCRIPTION:&nbsp\; &nbsp\;Featuring a retired homicide detective\, a forensic criminal psychiatrist\, a divorce attorney\, and a prolific author of neurodivergent characters\, this panel will expose the psychology of the villain&#39\;s mind and the investigator&#39\;s drive. Understanding why people commit criminal acts can enrich your writing and bring realism to the crime writer&#39\;s story.&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;Panelists will share insights and methods for developing nuanced criminal characters and investigators\, discuss psychological diagnoses\, and offer ideas on how to tackle sensitive topics such as trauma\, addiction\, and mental health.&nbsp\; &nbsp\;Panel takeaways:\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\;* Creating well-rounded\, believable criminal characters.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\;* Discovering the motive(s) driving your main characters.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\;* Approaches to writing about mental health issues and trauma in a sensitive and realistic way.\n&nbsp\; &nbsp\;* Developing investigative characters who understand and respond to the criminal mind.\n\n\n\n
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d3c181ee32fa9901b4d518b71aed56ed
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d3c181ee32fa9901b4d518b71aed56ed
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:The importance of names and language
DESCRIPTION:Talking about the importance of names and language while writing. It can be easy to allow oppressive voices seep into our narratives and ignore important aspects of name giving and sourcing. All cultures have sacred practices around naming\, how can we utilize those practices to breath new\, authentic life\, into the stories we tell.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:13784153ee491fcebf11fd3ed4980d16
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/13784153ee491fcebf11fd3ed4980d16
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T163000Z
DTEND:20260816T174500Z
SUMMARY:Marketing Without the Ick: Show Up\, Be Seen\, and Share With Heart
DESCRIPTION:Marketing that&#39\;s fun\, doable\, and feels like YOU instead of marketing that&#39\;s performative and exhausting!\n\n\nIn this one-hour seminar\, Rosey draws on over a decade of professional marketing and communications experience\, along with years of supporting entrepreneurs\, to demystify marketing and make it feel less daunting.\n\n\nThis session reframes marketing as an extension of storytelling and relationship-building\, not self-promotion. Writers and creatives will learn how to market themselves with confidence\, consistency\, and integrity\, without copying trends or burning out.\n\n\nSpecifically\, you&rsquo\;ll learn how to:\nUnderstand what effective marketing actually looks like behind the scenes\nClarify your message so people quickly understand who you are and what you offer\nBuild trust and visibility through consistent\, relationship-first marketing\nChoose the right platforms and strategies instead of trying to do everything\nCreate a marketing rhythm that feels sustainable and supports your creative work\nPlus\, market in a way that sparks connections and conversions\n\n\nYou&rsquo\;ll leave with a clearer understanding of how marketing works\, and ideas we&#39\;ll generate in real time that you can apply immediately.\n\n\nThis workshop is ideal for writers and creatives who want to show up powerfully online\, build real momentum\, and stop feeling resistance to marketing altogether.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:76318d2f7b83402c3246831574ca2e09
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/76318d2f7b83402c3246831574ca2e09
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:My Stupid Career\, with Kevin McDonald
DESCRIPTION:Kevin does a talk with comedy where he tells then story of his... well\, stupid career. From when he realized that he may be funny as a kid to meeting the Kids in the Hall to starting a solo career in Los Angeles\, ending with the Kids in the Hall reuniting in 2000 for their first big tour.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:b18b40129d7292abfa57f90351fcebac
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/b18b40129d7292abfa57f90351fcebac
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:The Do's and Don'ts of Cover Design
DESCRIPTION:Need advice on choosing an eye-catching cover\, what you should and shouldn't pay for\, or just plain frustrated by Amazon refusing your current cover AGAIN? The Do's and Don'ts of Cover Design gives you clear\, easy to understand guidelines for the technical and creative aspects of building your own cover. Using real book covers to help you visualize advice\, this seminar addresses some of the biggest issues and easiest mistakes most self publishers make in choosing a cover. You don't need to be a professional graphic designer to make impressive\, technically proficient\, and memorable covers: you just need to know where to start.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:cee12a0052079334a0f06fb9e249b5ce
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/cee12a0052079334a0f06fb9e249b5ce
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:When Dark Clouds Roll In
DESCRIPTION:&quot\;When Dark Clouds Roll In&quot\; takes participants through what can happen when embarking on a personal growth journey after a crisis or tragedy. Retired Detective Dave Sweet shares his insights on resilience and draws on several chilling case examples\, along with his own personal journey with Post Traumatic Growth.\n\n\nThis presentation identifies the formula for resilience\, which enables investigators to work effectively in uncomfortable and unpleasant environments while serving both the living and the dead.\n\n\nThe takeaway for writers is that not every detective story requires an investigator to end up as the traditional broken-and-damaged image of themselves at the end of their case. In fact\, surprisingly\, for many\, the opposite may be true\, and this reality can add depth to a character in any mystery writer&#39\;s works. This presentation will show participants how.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:823a05d62cdefbaed3dda06e14e1bb50
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/823a05d62cdefbaed3dda06e14e1bb50
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:Working with a Freelance Editor: What to Expect When You’re Expecting (a Manuscript Edit)
DESCRIPTION:Congratulations! You typed &ldquo\;The End&rdquo\; and you&rsquo\;ve popped the celebratory bottle of Mo&euml\;t or sparkling cider you&rsquo\;ve been saving for this very occasion. *Clink!* Now that you&rsquo\;re done cheering your huge accomplishment\, pull on your gumboots and get back in the trenches: It&rsquo\;s time to send your book to the editor.&nbsp\;\n\n\nIn this seminar\, we will discuss:\n\n\nthe different types of editorsthe layers of editingwhat you can expect from an editorthe pros and cons of programs like ProWritingAid and AutoCrithow to use AI to assist you in the self-editing processdeciding whether you really need an editor if you&rsquo\;re querying agentssome great self-editing tips and techniques you can take on yourself to make sure your manuscript is in tip-top shape before you send it off to that agent or editor\n\nBring your questions and be ready to get red-inked!\n\n\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:71adcad7cd679e0680105de41e9804f7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/71adcad7cd679e0680105de41e9804f7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:10 SIGNS You’re Ready to Write a Murder Mystery - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n\n____________________________________________\n\nWhen are you actually ready to write your mystery novel? You have an idea\, a theme\, or a moment—but no idea how to proceed forming that inspiration into a story. Or you’re three-quarters through your manuscript and have the sneaking suspicion that something isn’t quite the way it should be. But you don’t know what ‘should be’ is.\n&nbsp\;\nThis session cuts through the uncertainty with ten signs that show when you can confidently move forward\; no matter if you are going from vague concept to first draft or from finished manuscript to polished plot. You can break through the chaos of conflicting advice\, assumed obstacles and disconnected information with some structural understanding and insider secrets.&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;\nYou don't need a complete outline or the perfect twist—but you do need key fundamentals. This talk reveals what those fundamentals are and why they matter. Missing a few? You'll know exactly which skills to develop next. No guesswork\, no overwhelm.&nbsp\;Each sign points you towards concrete techniques you can learn and apply immediately. This session guides you\, step by step\, through some well-known and some lesser-known mystery writing basics to keep you inspired and on track while writing your murder mystery.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:ccae50bcd0e4d590922d41c296cb3bf5
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/ccae50bcd0e4d590922d41c296cb3bf5
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:A Very\, Very\, Very Fine House: The Warp and Weft of Worldbuilding - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nA Very\, Very\, Very Fine House: The Warp and Weft of Worldbuilding.&nbsp\;\nFrom politics to food to the architecture of love\, worldbuilding underpins so many of your narrative decisions—and this holds true regardless of whether you’re writing a novel\, working in nonfiction\, or crafting a poem. Understanding the building blocks of the world that you create is a crucial part of the creation process. &nbsp\;Join Amanda Leduc for an in-depth discussion of what to consider when building the world of your manuscript.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:bd580bc3010376778866d40ff6f61c2f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/bd580bc3010376778866d40ff6f61c2f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:From Manuscript to Market: Ask Us Anything
DESCRIPTION:This interactive Q&A flips the traditional panel format on its head. Instead of listening to pre-set discussions\, attendees bring their own questions and get answers from a cross-section of the publishing industry. Whether you're curious about submissions\, revisions\, contracts\, marketing\, or career paths\, this panel is shaped entirely by what you&nbsp\;want to know.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:12613a0494c602aac229de8a93b5248e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/12613a0494c602aac229de8a93b5248e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:Hard Science Fiction Shouldn't Be Hard
DESCRIPTION:The science in Science Fiction need not be a barrier for readers. \n\nFrom the World War II style of Star Wars to the physics-bound solar system of 2001: A Space Odyssey\, authors have a spectrum of how accurate and detailed the science should be. \nWill pages of mathematical formulae on black holes turn readers away? Will characters breathing in space cause your audience to laugh during a tense\, dramatic scene? Do you need a PhD in neuroscience\, or will a quick glance at the Wikipedia page on brains suffice? Just how did Andy Weir make growing potatoes exciting?A story's science is as much about world building as a magic system is to a fantasy setting\, and communicating that to readers is no less important. In this forum\, panelists will discuss the pros and cons of hard science\, how to go about researching a topic\, and how best to integrate it into their writing.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d1bcf7c8e963784ecbd256343eccdfd4
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d1bcf7c8e963784ecbd256343eccdfd4
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:Historical research methods that work for you
DESCRIPTION:Conducting historical fiction research takes many forms. Some writers prefer to research\, both virtually and through books. Some prefer to conduct ‘on the ground’ research in their story locations. Some prefer a combination of both. Each method has pros and cons. Join historical fiction authors Donna D. Conrad\, Marie Powell\, and J.C. Corry as they share their preferred methods\, and some tips and tricks they use to get the most out of their preferred research method.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c53cbbd12d9229fa2d8d63b1809486ae
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/c53cbbd12d9229fa2d8d63b1809486ae
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:Get that grant! How to win literary arts grants
DESCRIPTION:The literary arts is an emerging sector in the world of arts funding. This workshop will unpack how to improve your grant applications\, what to include\, and what the judges are looking for. Unlike other art forms\, the literary arts comes with many challenges including bias from judging panels who simply don&#39\;t understand the discipline very well. In this workshop\, we will work on crafting an author statement which can be used for future grant applications.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:1ab3ab433fa8900fd62d51613ef39ac8
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/1ab3ab433fa8900fd62d51613ef39ac8
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T233000Z
SUMMARY:Make and Take with Kim
DESCRIPTION:Make a cool and unique momentum of the 2026 When Words Collide Conference while trying all manner of word art. \n\nAll materials and instructions are provided. Fun for everyone! It’s a great way to end a great weekend!
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen A\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7bf18115fca2f41d0e8f2062e5948b84
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7bf18115fca2f41d0e8f2062e5948b84
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T180000Z
DTEND:20260816T191500Z
SUMMARY:Workshop with Bianca Marais - TBA
DESCRIPTION:
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:6447dbd9b3e875d57762f2fddcf3f7a9
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/6447dbd9b3e875d57762f2fddcf3f7a9
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Actors Read YOUR Dialogue!
DESCRIPTION:Worried your dialogue sounds wooden\, one-note\, or like no human would ever say it? Do all your characters potentially speak with the same voice (yours)? We’ve got your back. The team at Full Circle Theatre knows one thing about theatre\, it’s ALL DIALOGUE\, BABY! In this fast-paced\, high-reward workshop\, you’ll bring one dialogue-heavy page from your work-in-progress\, and we’ll bring the actors. Three experienced performers will bring your words to life - one will narrate stage directions (if you have them)\, and the other two will perform your dialogue. Got a three-character scene? Even better! We’ll skip the narration and dive right in.\nYou’ll hear your work read aloud\, get immediate insight into what lands and what falls flat\, and leave with clearer ears and stronger dialogue. Trust us: this is the most fun you’ll ever have editing.
CATEGORIES:AUTHOR EVENTS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:60ec3a4bd5c9dd29c01f641d9df62daf
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/60ec3a4bd5c9dd29c01f641d9df62daf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:How to Make Readers Fall in Love (or Hate) Your Characters
DESCRIPTION:Every great story lives or dies by its characters. Readers don&rsquo\;t remember plots\, they remember people who made them feel something in a moment. In this seminar\, storyteller and producer Chris Corvan explores the psychology of reader attachment and how to intentionally craft characters who inspire obsession\, loyalty\, or loathing.\nThrough examples from literature\, film\, and his own multimedia projects\, Chris unpacks the emotional mechanisms that bond readers to fictional people: empathy\, projection\, mirroring\, and moral tension. You&rsquo\;ll learn how to design emotional triggers. From moments of vulnerability\, contradiction\, and humanity\, that make readers invest in your characters long after the story ends.\nWhether you write heroes\, antiheroes\, or beautifully broken souls\, this session gives you tools to move beyond &ldquo\;likable&rdquo\; and into unforgettable.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:36280f15c9d264b56813718c30d11eb7
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/36280f15c9d264b56813718c30d11eb7
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Leveling Up Your TTRPG Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Ready to turn your D&D sessions from “we walk into a tavern” into “LEGENDARY TALES OF EPIC CHAOS”?! Join us for a relaxing\, laughter-packed class on levelling up your storytelling skills at the table.\n\nWe’ll take you through the magic of worldbuilding and show you how to give each corner of your realm its own vibe\, mystery\, and personality. Learn how to mix tones and styles of your players\, so the characters aren’t just a husk meant to do damage\, but they will live and breathe and win you Oscars. Trust us\, tears will be shed and gore so visceral\, you’ll clench your buttcheeks!\n\nWe’ll break down backstories that actually matter (and not just “my parents are dead”)\, plus share tips on weaving player choices into a collaborative narrative that feels alive\, reactive\, and downright cinematic. Again\, Oscar-winning worthy right?&nbsp\;\n\nWhether you’re a DM\, a player\, or someone who just wants more story spice in their campaigns for any TTRPG\, this class is your ticket to a +5 in Creativity. Bring your imagination. We’ll bring the inspiration.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:875898034f8e71c37ea925f1cf02db34
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/875898034f8e71c37ea925f1cf02db34
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Your Process\, Your Way: The Busy Wordsmith’s Sustainable Writing Practise
DESCRIPTION:For the busy writer\, books don&rsquo\;t end up unfinished because of a lack of talent or inspiration\; it&rsquo\;s often because they lack a sustainable writing practice. And what is sustainable? It&rsquo\;s what&rsquo\;s going to work best for you. Developing a writing practice doesn&rsquo\;t have to be about setting rigid schedules\, daily word counts or copying the habits of famous authors\; it&rsquo\;s about showing up consistently in a way that you can maintain\, even when your motivation dips or life gets busy. We&rsquo\;ll explore how writers can build a process that actually fits their lives\, instead of trying to force themselves into methods that collapse under pressure. We&rsquo\;ll look at how routines become habits\, what type of accountability works best for you and how to stay engaged with a project long enough to finish it. It&rsquo\;s time to let go of one-size-fits-all advice and start designing a practice that supports creativity\, momentum and completion. If you want to stop starting and start finishing\, this is how you build a writing life you can sustain.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d19ade67cb33fbe3c0e2cc289318246c
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d19ade67cb33fbe3c0e2cc289318246c
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Beyond the Familiar: Crafting Asian Fantasy Worlds
DESCRIPTION:Explore how authors draw on the rich mythologies\, folklore\, histories\, and landscapes of China\, Japan\, East and Southeast Asia to create immersive fantasy worlds. This panel will examine the unique approaches to magic\, spirits\, animals\, and societal structures in Asian fantasy and speculative fiction\, offering insights into worldbuilding\, character design\, and narrative style that go beyond Western tropes. Writers will leave with practical strategies for crafting authentic\, compelling fantasy inspired by these traditions.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:953da38c4163f778b0c90a5f9a555eda
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/953da38c4163f778b0c90a5f9a555eda
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Power Dynamics in Fantastical Worlds
DESCRIPTION:In many tales\, plot dynamics hinge on who has power and who doesn't. How are some characters marked and how does that affect their agency in a fantasy or science fiction world? How can you use viewpoint to emphasize power dynamics? Panelists will talk about how to handle power ebbs and flows when writing speculative fiction.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:0849bf46a30d929c2b599d8bdd28066f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/0849bf46a30d929c2b599d8bdd28066f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Through Fires and Fascism: Staying Creative When the World Seems Upended
DESCRIPTION:How do we keep creating when the world feels unbearable? This panel explores art as resistance\, writing through despair\, and finding joy in storytelling when everything around us is crumbling. These authors will talk about writing through the hard stuff and practical strategies for self-care when everything sucks.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:123d1892c66215f5646bfaf86cc68598
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/123d1892c66215f5646bfaf86cc68598
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:Feedback Without Freefall: How to Hear Critique and Know What to Do Next
DESCRIPTION:Feedback can save a story or sink it\, and most writers are never taught how to tell the difference. Notes come in\, emotions spike\, and suddenly the path forward blurs. Many writers lose confidence\, start doubting their instincts\, or feel pulled in too many directions to revise with any clarity. This workshop explores what actually happens in that moment—and how to move through it with steadiness instead of panic.\n\n\nIn this workshop\, developmental editor&nbsp\;Sarah Brinley&nbsp\;explains how to shift from emotional reaction to strategic decision-making. Drawing on her background as both a registered nurse and an editor\, she outlines a clear process for receiving critique without letting it derail your momentum. You’ll learn how to recognize your first internal response—whether it’s bracing\, withdrawing\, or freezing—and how to pause long enough to separate discomfort from insight. Sarah also breaks down how to identify which notes matter most\, how to spot patterns across different readers\, and how to translate comments into a focused revision plan rather than a scattered checklist.\n\n\nBy the end\, you’ll have a repeatable way to turn feedback into direction instead of doubt—and a steadier\, more resilient approach to navigating critique throughout your writing life.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:594ef040f7c9f90d757393def2d85b60
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/594ef040f7c9f90d757393def2d85b60
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T193000Z
DTEND:20260816T204500Z
SUMMARY:How to Write a Synopsis without Crying First
DESCRIPTION:It doesn't have to be the Dreaded Synopsis. It can be the efficient\, well-written synopsis that highlights your premise and stand-out voice\, all without making you want to give up writing. We'll cover a Synopses Writing Recipe using Shawshank Redemption as a practice example.
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:9e83214a56797db06e8e2a7823bfa582
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/9e83214a56797db06e8e2a7823bfa582
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:War of the Words Readings
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:1e6db2adcf9d4d663999599acc7d0eea
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/1e6db2adcf9d4d663999599acc7d0eea
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:The Resilient Writer
DESCRIPTION:Every writer faces rejection. The question isn&rsquo\;t if it will happen\, but how you&rsquo\;ll respond when it does. From hitting #1 to receiving more than 400 rejections in a row\, Jodi McIsaac has learned what it takes to keep writing through the ups and downs of a career in publishing. &nbsp\;\n\n\nWhat she discovered might surprise you. What if rejection isn&rsquo\;t the enemy of your writing career but an essential part of the path forward? What if there&rsquo\;s a way to transform the sting of a &ldquo\;no&rdquo\; into fuel that keeps you going? This workshop will challenge how you think about failure and give you practical strategies to build the resilience every writer needs.\n\n\nYou&rsquo\;ll hear stories from celebrated authors who faced hundreds of rejections before finally breaking through and will discover why ego is a writer&rsquo\;s worst enemy. Whether you&rsquo\;re just starting out or you&rsquo\;re a published author navigating a career setback\, you&rsquo\;ll leave knowing how to weather rejection\, focus on what you can control and find the motivation to keep creating work that matters.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:fa49adfd91fe785a243d04c99035f763
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/fa49adfd91fe785a243d04c99035f763
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Write What You Know: Transform Lived Experience into Powerful Fiction
DESCRIPTION:What if the stories that shaped your life could also shape your career?\nIn this inspiring and practical session\, Julie A. Christiansen&mdash\;award-winning psychotherapist\, executive coach\, and bestselling author&mdash\;shares how she wove threads from her family history and clinical experience into a four-part women&rsquo\;s fiction series written under the pen name Jaycee Ryan. The emotional authenticity of her stories resonated so deeply with readers that it opened the door to a traditional publishing deal for her nonfiction work\, The Rise of Rage.\nParticipants will learn how to mine their personal and professional lives for rich\, layered storylines\, how to ethically draw from real-life trauma and relationship dynamics without retraumatizing themselves or others\, and how fiction can become a powerful platform for building thought leadership&mdash\;even in nonfiction genres.\nThis session is ideal for writers of memoir\, fiction\, or creative nonfiction who want to turn lived experience into meaningful narratives&mdash\;and for professionals seeking to translate their expertise into publishable stories that sell.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:2f699df23addce9be2f86fd3df7da79e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/2f699df23addce9be2f86fd3df7da79e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Strategies for Surviving Feedback - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nWriting feedback is hard to come by and can be rated on a scale between encouraging and soul-crushing. Critical feedback\, the kind that pushes you to dig deeper into a piece you just poured your heart and soul into\, can feel the worst. It can make you question your skills\, your purpose\, and your relationship with the reader who dared to tell you what they thought. It’s natural for defenses to go up\, to assume the reader misunderstands your writerly purpose or fails to appreciate your creative endeavors. But what if you could accept or even appreciate the kind of feedback that makes your stomach turn?&nbsp\;\n\nWhat if you can learn to value the discomfort of receiving notes that leaves you feeling awful? Clarifying the role of feedback in your writing process and a developing a method to ask for and receive notes on your work can help. Preparing yourself for how to use feedback to improve your writing can make you a better writer and preserve a few relationships along the way.\n\nIn this seminar\, two writers share strategies for surviving and thriving when feedback hits hard.
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Bannerman\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:11da552736e643559a9cd3dad6480b56
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/11da552736e643559a9cd3dad6480b56
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:The Three Bodies Problem - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req)
DESCRIPTION:***Please note that Masterclasses are add-ons that require pre-registration and a separate payment. Masterclasses are only available to Festival Passholders. Adding to your SCHED schedule does not mean you are registered for the class.***\n____________________________________________\n\nWhen writing a memoir\, one faces an ultimate dilemma: what to tell\, how to tell it\, and how to make it relevant to the mainstream readership. \n\nA trick exists to figuring this out\, but it requires reflecting on what you write and who you are as you write it. In this workshop\, you will question the author's role in memoir writing and the tools you can use to accomplish truthful\, yet inviting non-fiction.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:MASTERCLASS
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Walker\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:5c09c045b14e4589c2848086ba5928cb
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/5c09c045b14e4589c2848086ba5928cb
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:The Third Path to Publishing: Finding Author Success with a Small Press
DESCRIPTION:&nbsp\; &nbsp\; Many writers believe there are only two paths to publishing a book: securing a &ldquo\;Big 5&rdquo\; deal after years in the query trenches\, or self-publishing. This session explores a powerful third option: publishing with a small\, independent literary press.&nbsp\; &nbsp\; Led by three first-time authors with novels debuting in 2026\, this candid panel demystifies how to secure a traditional book deal without a literary agent. You&rsquo\;ll learn how these writers leveraged mentorships\, the writing community\, cross-genre publications\, and conferences like When Words Collide to land a publisher. The panelists themselves met through an Alexandra Writers&rsquo\; Centre Society (AWCS) course\, highlighting the value of engaging with your local literary community.\nAttendees will learn to identify independent presses that align with your specific genre and master the submission strategies that get you past the slush pile. Plus\, you&rsquo\;ll discover how to turn workshops\, free writer-in-residence resources\, and paid courses into not only a network\, a wealth of experience and material\, but a robust literary r&eacute\;sum&eacute\; that attracts publishers.\n
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:8739c9e38070f6446f13698ee0b6972e
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/8739c9e38070f6446f13698ee0b6972e
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Tricks\, Tips & Traps for Successful Writing Groups
DESCRIPTION:Whether you are a debut novelist or an established author\, a disciplined writing group is a powerful engine for professional growth. Join our panel of three seasoned writers for a strategic look at how to build\, lead\, and sustain a high-functioning literary community. The presentation will conclude with an interactive Q&A session to address your specific group challenges.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f39f43a90117db744a0ca2c575071f0b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f39f43a90117db744a0ca2c575071f0b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Why Do We Keep Destroying the World?
DESCRIPTION:Post-apocalyptic fiction like pandemics\, climate collapse\, nuclear war\, and zombie plagues is still going strong. \n\nWhy is apocalypse so appealing? This panel could explore what post-apocalyptic narratives offer readers and writers. They could discuss how politics are embedded in their apocalypses\, whether "cozy catastrophe" is even possible\, what anxieties their stories channel\, and when stories can be exploitative versus cathartic.
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:062495959d399c715e2fccc50e343671
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/062495959d399c715e2fccc50e343671
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Live Action Slush: Science Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Reader: Krista Wallace
CATEGORIES:SLUSH
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:db3aeaf07ae68fa7db6b5cc16f089a0f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/db3aeaf07ae68fa7db6b5cc16f089a0f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Ripped from the Headlines: Unique Places and Ways to Find Inspiration
DESCRIPTION:In this workshop\, you will be inspired by the bizarre\, the mundane\, and perhaps even the insane. Sometimes\, you simply need a nudge from the inspirational muse to get out of your own way. During the session\, a headline is read aloud and briefly discussed\; you are given several minutes to jot down the ideas that come to mind. This format allows for the sharing of your writing and the receipt of validation ("I like that!")\, while also encouraging you to think outside the box in a fun and exciting environment. We will establish a safe space for all and embrace the process of being inspired by the happenings around you. You will leave with a new awareness of the abundance of inspiration that exists all around you. Does this version fit the flow of your program\, or should we refine the opening hook?
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:e540390f4533221b48e9de4fc1fa6263
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/e540390f4533221b48e9de4fc1fa6263
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T210000Z
DTEND:20260816T221500Z
SUMMARY:Write-Her Rhythm
DESCRIPTION:Write-hers (women and female presenting folk) we are the keepers of everyone else&rsquo\;s schedules\, stories\, and needs. In this collaborative workshop we&#39\;ll look at invisible and overt obstacles preventing us from writing and interrupting our flow. We&#39\;ll discuss familial and cultural messages\, roles and obligations\, and other ways we&#39\;ve been taught to suppress ourselves. We&#39\;ll open up our write-her hearts\, create a roadmap to express our authentic voices\, and lean in to our collective sisterhood for support and encouragement.\n
CATEGORIES:WORKSHOP
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:403e3578fc4c7a998a0af6504b36a925
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/403e3578fc4c7a998a0af6504b36a925
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Developmental Editing Your Book
DESCRIPTION:Want to know for sure whether agents\, publishers and readers will love your book? Readers’ enjoyment is less subjective than you think. You can learn to read your own writing with an editor’s eye. Developmental Editing looks at the big picture of your book’s draft as a whole\, identifying red flags and finding ways to fix issues before you send it off to readers. In this presentation\, Suzy shares her proven Developmental Editing methodology\, used to evaluate hundreds of manuscript drafts\, so that you can apply it to your own drafts and your book ready for readers.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:7b934482d5fec3c9ef59a037168d576b
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/7b934482d5fec3c9ef59a037168d576b
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260817T234500Z
SUMMARY:Something in the Air Tonight: Using Setting to Reflect Emotion
DESCRIPTION:Pounding hearts\, sweaty armpits\, and noodle legs – there are so many ways to convey a character’s emotion through their own experience\, but how can we take that further in our writing? In this workshop\, we’ll discuss and practice techniques for expanding our characters’ feelings into the setting itself\, so that the very world around them is coloured by their experiences.Bring a paper and pen – or whatever you’d prefer to free write with – and come prepared to learn\, practice\, and discuss other writers’ work and our own as we uncover the potential for deepening scenes and making every word count.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:c4d68047e275ee4548b549f039e3a9cf
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/c4d68047e275ee4548b549f039e3a9cf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:The Hidden Architecture of Character Desire: How Want\, Fear\, and Contradiction Drive Every Scene
DESCRIPTION:Every memorable character is pulled by a longing they can&#39\;t shake and a fear they can&#39\;t outrun. That inner friction\, wanting one thing while dreading another\, shapes how they think\, react\, and move through their world. It influences their decisions\, alters what they notice\, and gives a scene its underlying charge. When desire is written with honesty and precision\, tension rises naturally\, and even quiet moments feel active and alive.\n\n\nThis lecture looks closely at the internal forces that guide a character from within. Developmental editor&nbsp\;Sarah Brinley&nbsp\;explains how to identify what a character wants\, what they avoid\, and how the gap between those two pressures influences the story at every turn. The focus is on understanding how emotional movement creates narrative movement\, and how character-driven tension can replace the need for constant plot escalation.\n\n\nWriters will learn a clear method for building scenes around these internal dynamics so that momentum comes from desire\, fear\, and choice rather than from external events alone. By the end of the session\, you will have a practical way to reveal who your character is becoming and a framework for shaping scenes that feel grounded\, intentional\, and aligned with the emotional truth of your story.\n
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Stephen B\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:04fc810d3eb363b32d4ece10ede84546
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/04fc810d3eb363b32d4ece10ede84546
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:“How Do You Say…”: Writing With a Bilingual Mind
DESCRIPTION:What if your imagination runs on one language\, but your emotions bloom in another? Or it feels as if the place where imagination and emotion overlap comes in one version per language? This workshop explores bilingual\, immigrant\, and translingual cognition — the shifts of memory\, rhythm\, metaphor\, and voice across languages. Drawing on hybrid poetic structures and lived translingual experience\, with just a touch of psycholinguistics\, we will discuss ways to harness the power of language-interference\, emotional memory\, and translation as craft tools.
CATEGORIES:LECTURE/SEMINAR
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:f8bb5b86c6a1d558b07b382850d38e74
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/f8bb5b86c6a1d558b07b382850d38e74
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Cross-Genre Careers: Keeping Series & Voice Coherent Across Genres
DESCRIPTION:In today’s dynamic literary landscape\, many authors are venturing beyond the confines of a single genre\, crafting stories that blend cozy mysteries with heart-pounding thrillers\, or intertwining fantasy with contemporary romance. \n\nBut how can multi-genre writers effectively manage their diverse narratives while maintaining a coherent voice and a loyal readership? Join us for an enlightening panel featuring experienced multi-genre authors who will unravel the complexities of branding\, reader expectations\, and audience engagement.\n\nThis session is designed for writers navigating the challenges of appealing to multiple audiences without sacrificing their unique voice. Our panelists will delve into essential strategies for building a recognizable brand that resonates across genres. Learn when to strategically use pen names versus unified branding approaches to ensure clarity and consistency in your marketing efforts.&nbsp\;\n\nDiscover practical techniques for creating clear entry points into your various works\, enabling readers to transition from one genre to another without feeling lost or confused.&nbsp\;\n\nWhether you’re an established author looking to branch out or an emerging writer eager to explore new literary avenues\, this panel promises actionable insights on navigating cross-genre storytelling. Join us as we explore how to protect your creative voice while engaging diverse readerships\, celebrating the rich tapestry of literature that thrives at the intersection of genres.&nbsp\;
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Doll\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:afc58c3256c5aa229831cb51c47ca798
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/afc58c3256c5aa229831cb51c47ca798
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Decolonization of Speculative Fiction
DESCRIPTION:We live in a world made up of peoples of diverse races\, cultures\, and ethnicities. We often forget that colonization has had an immense effect on how we write characters. What are these colonial fallacies and stereotypes and how do we remove them from our fiction?
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Herald\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:266843c7d77d15b08b36c0796107430f
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/266843c7d77d15b08b36c0796107430f
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Writing the long game: the endurance panel.
DESCRIPTION:Getting a manuscript completed is a huge effort\, getting one published is an even more Herculean task. But what adjective can be used to describe the follow-up novel\, and the one after that\, and the one after that… Brobdingnagian\, we suppose. Join four authors who have done just that: learn about the long game\, what hurdles these authors have faced from their first\, through multiple publications\, what helped and hindered their careers\, and how do they keep going? This panel will illuminate their journeys in order to help yours!
CATEGORIES:PANEL
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:024f1f548fe6fd7a5a0564b1b1f7ff13
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/024f1f548fe6fd7a5a0564b1b1f7ff13
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260816T223000Z
DTEND:20260816T234500Z
SUMMARY:Live Action Slush: Fantasy/Urban Fantasy
DESCRIPTION:Reader: Megan Baldrey
CATEGORIES:SLUSH
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:581d78c90ee0ac155dd0b7b04f3a2f5d
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/581d78c90ee0ac155dd0b7b04f3a2f5d
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260525T143953Z
DTSTART:20260817T000000Z
DTEND:20260817T013000Z
SUMMARY:Closing Ceremony: TWONOTE with Andrew Buckley\, Gemma Files; plus War of the Words Winners
DESCRIPTION:\n
CATEGORIES:SPECIAL EVENT
LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6\, 700 Centre St S\, Calgary\, AB T2G 5P6\, Canada
SEQUENCE:0
UID:d11554a385259a274b9caddbe0dbf6df
URL:http://whenwordscollide2026.sched.com/event/d11554a385259a274b9caddbe0dbf6df
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR