When Words Collide 2026

When Words Collide 2026

A Festival for Writers, Readers, and Fans

Cordell Vos

Author

Invermere, BC

https://cordellvos.ca

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10:30am MDT

Welcome! Opening Ceremony & Keynote Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Terry Brooks

12:00pm MDT

It's a Bird. It's a Plane -- Crafting Realistic Imaginary Creatures for Sci-Fi and Fantasy Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 9Shelly Campbell

1:30pm MDT

A CRASH COURSE IN CONTRACTS FOR WRITERS Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 7D.G. Valdron

3:00pm MDT

No Blueprint Required: Writing Careers Off the Map Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5Yewande Daniel-Ayoade • Miranda Krogstad • Andrew Buckley • Finnian Burnett

4:30pm MDT

In Conversation 1 Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Andrew Buckley • Gemma Files • Bianca Marais • Craig DiLouie

7:00pm MDT

Goblin Casino & Market Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social HubKim Firmston

9:00pm MDT

Noir at the Bar Hyatt Regency Calgary - Thompson Social HubNiall Howell

9:00am MDT

Writing Beyond the Self: Creating Characters Outside Our Lived Experience Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 5James Downe • Robert J. Sawyer • Huck Kahng • Finnian Burnett

12:00pm MDT

Queer Rep in Mainstream Media Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldSarah L. Pratt • Danny Ramadan • Tanya MacIntosh • Adriaan Brae

1:30pm MDT

Surviving Publishing Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollRhonda Parrish • Jason Pearce • Margaret Curelas • Krista D. Ball

3:00pm MDT

Laugh Out Loud Literary Devices Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4Miranda Krogstad

4:30pm MDT

Cinematic Storytelling: Does Hollywood Flair Work in Speculative Fiction? Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollChris Corvan • Rick Overwater • Don Miasek • James Downe • Michael Peterson

10:30am MDT

Creativity & Chaos Hyatt Regency Calgary - DollAndrew Buckley • Finnian Burnett THREENOTE: With Amanda Leduc, Danny Ramadan, and Craig Dilouie Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 6Amanda Leduc • Danny Ramadan • Craig DiLouie

12:00pm MDT

Get that grant! How to win literary arts grants Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 8Lexie Angelo

3:00pm MDT

Strategies for Surviving Feedback - MASTERCLASS (pre-reg req) Hyatt Regency Calgary - BannermanFinnian Burnett • Christine Tsai Taylor

4:30pm MDT

Decolonization of Speculative Fiction Hyatt Regency Calgary - HeraldSusan Forest • Onyx Shelton • Zeva Mah • Calvin Jim

6:00pm MDT

Closing Ceremony: TWONOTE with Andrew Buckley, Gemma Files; plus War of the Words Winners Hyatt Regency Calgary - Imperial Ballroom 4+6Andrew Buckley • Gemma Files