Writer in Residence
The Writer-in-Residence program promotes Canadian writing and literature to Vancouver citizens.
About the Program
The Writer-in-Residence program - created in 2005 - promotes Canadian writing and literature to Vancouver citizens. During her four-month residency, VPL's Writer-in-Residence for 2008, Caroline Adderson, will spend 75 per cent of her time writing, while 25 per cent of her time will be devoted to mentoring emerging writers, conducting workshops, and participating in other activities to share her experience with the broader community.
The Writer-in-Residence Program involves communities not typically exposed to Canadian literature. In the case of Adderson's residency, this will include working with writers whose first language is not English and with children and their caregivers.
The Writer-in-Residence program - created in 2005 - promotes Canadian writing and literature to Vancouver citizens. During her four-month residency, VPL's Writer-in-Residence for 2008, Caroline Adderson, will spend 75 per cent of her time writing, while 25 per cent of her time will be devoted to mentoring emerging writers, conducting workshops, and participating in other activities to share her experience with the broader community.
The Writer-in-Residence Program involves communities not typically exposed to Canadian literature. In the case of Adderson's residency, this will include working with writers whose first language is not English and with children and their caregivers.
The VPL Writer-in-Residence Program has been made possible in 2008 through the generous financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library.
For information about past Writers-in-Residence, please see our Past Writers-in-Residence page.
About Caroline Adderson
About Caroline Adderson
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Caroline Adderson was once hailed by Toronto Star critic Philip Marchand as one of the four most notable emerging writers in Canada, and by Margaret Atwood as one of the country’s most promising women writers.
She is the author of two internationally published novels, A History of Forgetting and Sitting Practice, and a widely anthologized previous collection of stories Bad Imaginings. Her work has received two Ethel Wilson Fiction Prizes, three CBC Literary Awards and many nominations including The Governor General's Literary Award, the Rogers Trust Fiction Prize and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Her most recent work of adult fiction, Pleased to Meet You, a short story collection inhabited with surprising characters, was long-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Caroline is most recently the author of three books for children: Very Serious Children, I, Bruno and its sequel which will appear this year. Caroline has also written for film and radio. Along with her many other achievements, in 2006, Caroline was awarded the Marian Engel Award, given annually to a female writer in mid-career in recognition of her body of work.
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Scheduling Writer's Interviews with the Writer-in-Residence
For a portion of her residency, the Writer-in-Residence will be available to meet with and mentor emerging writers. To request an appointment with Caroline Adderson, please contact the Community Relations Librarian at . Please note the following prior to making your request:
Every effort will be made to accommodate all author requests for interviews with Ms. Adderson. However, please note that the Writer-in-Residence has a limited amount of time available and it may not be possible for us to accommodate all requests. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
For a portion of her residency, the Writer-in-Residence will be available to meet with and mentor emerging writers. To request an appointment with Caroline Adderson, please contact the Community Relations Librarian at . Please note the following prior to making your request:
- Please specify why you would like to meet with the Writer-in-Residence and how you are hoping to benefit from this experience.
- Selected authors with manuscripts they would like to discuss are required to submit electronically a maximum of 10 pages of their work -- typed and double spaced -- to VPL at least one week in advance of their interview.
- While authors of all genres will be considered, preference will be given to authors writing in the following genres, reflecting Ms. Adderson’s areas of expertise: writing for children and teens, short stories, and fiction.
Every effort will be made to accommodate all author requests for interviews with Ms. Adderson. However, please note that the Writer-in-Residence has a limited amount of time available and it may not be possible for us to accommodate all requests. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
Upcoming Writer-in-Residence Events
Inaugural Writer-in-Residence Reading
Thursday, September 18
7:30 p.m.
Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level, Central Library (350 W. Georgia Street)
Join us for the first appearance of this year's Writer-in-Residence. Free admission.
Book Making For Children and Caregivers
Sunday, October 5
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level, Central Library (350 W. Georgia Street)
Caroline Adderson and illustrator Kathie Shoemaker team up to present an awesome book-making workshop for caregivers and children aged 4-6. Come and write and illustrate a story based on your own experiences and then take the finished book home. It’s sure to become a family favourite. This event is co-sponsored by Public Library Services Branch, Ministry of Education and Friends of Vancouver Public Library. We also acknowledge the support of The Canada Council for the Arts.
Free admission but space is limited. Registration is required, call (604) 331-4041.
ESL Writing Workshop
Tuesdays: October 21, October 28 & November 4
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location to be announced
If you love to write creatively and English is not your first language, if you write stories in another language but want to try English or if you are longing to write fiction but unsure of your language skills, this workshop is for you.
Caroline Adderson draws on over a dozen year's experience teaching English as a Second Language and a decade teaching creative writing. She will guide a group writers whose first language is not English in the joys and travails of writing fiction. Participants will study examples of work from writers of diverse cultural backgrounds writing in English and then use their own life stories, from childhood to present, to move from memoir to fiction. The workshop will provide a supportive environment where concerns about language ability will be secondary to the writing process.
Note: Participants should have Upper Intermediate to Advanced English Language Skills.
Free admission but space is limited. Registration is required, please call (604) 331-4041.
