authors, books, children's books, picture books, podcast, short stories, writing, writing proces, young writers

Squirm (Episode 5: Tension)

A "telling tales" episode about how to build tension in fiction, with stories, excerpts, and prompts. Featuring guest authors Lena Coakley, Sarah Raughley, and Don Cummer. 45 minutes. PG. Check out the Episode 5 webpage for audio, show notes, and author bios.    

podcast, writing

Nasty People Meet Nasty Ends (Episode 2: Characters)

Welcome to Cabin Tales: Spooky Stories for Young Writers. This is Episode Two: Nasty People meet Nasty Ends. It's a long one at 50 minutes. I’m Catherine Austen. And my guests today are great Canadian writers Karen Krossing, Monique Polak, and Tim Wynne-Jones. Today we’ll be talking all about characters. Check out the Episode 2… Continue reading Nasty People Meet Nasty Ends (Episode 2: Characters)

Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest
contests, public libraries, short stories, What's New, young writers

2020 Winners Announced

The Award Ceremony for the Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest had to be cancelled this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So the judges (including me) made short videos to announce this year's winners and honourable mentions, and the wonderful folks at the library put it all together into two ceremonial videos:… Continue reading 2020 Winners Announced

author talks, friday form, school visits, writing proces, writing workshops, young writers

Young Writers Workshop: Know your Character

To all the young writers whom I'd hoped to meet at a workshop this spring or summer (cancelled due to Covid-19)... If you're stuck at home with a pen handy, why not start a story or ten? Don't know how to begin? I'll take you through five easy entry points over the coming weeks. (Kind of… Continue reading Young Writers Workshop: Know your Character

Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest
contests, public libraries, What's New, writing, writing workshops, young writers

Awesome Authors 2020

The Ottawa Public Library's annual Youth Writing Contest -- Awesome Authors -- is underway! If you're an Ottawa resident between the ages of 9 and 18, sharpen your pencils or boot up your computer because it's time to get writing and drawing. Awesome Authors honours the very best poems, stories, and comics in English and French… Continue reading Awesome Authors 2020