On Creative Writing

Creative writers! A new audio essay from multi-genre author Kim Fahner, author of new poetry collection The Pollination Field.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/podcast-1/episode/ce41ea83/pushing-creative-writings-boundaries-writers-work-shaped-by-life-transformations-and-climate-crisis

UK poet Julia Webb has written a beautiful interview for On Creative Writing. She explores many things, including grief and how relationships with those we have lost change over time.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/julia-webb-poet-explores-evolution-of-grief

Canaidan authors Madeline Sheppard and Rachel Durocher have released a book taking a comedic look at motherhood and raising children. Aimed at parents, the book is like Dr. Seuss from sassy moms!
https://www.pentictonherald.ca/spare_news/article_8e03fede-5659-52fb-b80f-4fa264704d3a.html

Poet Melanie Marttila was diagnosed as autistc in 2021 - one of the most influential events shaping writing. Read her words on the power of reclaiming your authentic voice!
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/neurodivergent-author-melanie-marttila-on-the-power-of-reclaiming-your-authentic-voice

Authors Zoe Whittall, Sarah Leavitt and Jes Battis are among the Canadian writers shortlisted for one of 26 Lambda Literary Awards.
https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadian-authors-zoe-whittall-sarah-leavitt-and-jes-battis-shortlisted-for-2slgbtq-writing-awards-1.7598346

Vancouver author J.B. MacKinnon launcs a class-action lawsuit against Nvidia, alleging big tech used writers' works to train AI.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-author-leads-class-actions-against-ai-giants-1.7595962

Oncreativewriting's About page is live! See the full list of creative writing topics we intend to cover in coming months, and find out more about founders Emma and Sheelagh.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/about

Calling all writers who are worldbuilders - this free 4-day event promises to give you the craft tools, and insights to turn your wild idea into a novel.
https://worldshift.manyworldswriting.com/

Coming next week - an insightful audio essay on creative writing by novelist and poet Kim Fahner. In the meantime, read Kim's Q&A on writing and her love of Canadian writers!
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/author-kim-fahner-how-grief-gives-her-deep-understanding-of-her-characters-feelings

Our latest podcast has dropped! Listen to AI pro expert and author Paul Dettmann explore some important questions about AI and creative writing: https://www.oncreativewriting.com/podcast-1/episode/1f9db598/will-gen-ai-eventually-replace-creative-writers

Author and writing coach Fiona Fenwick offers coaching advice to writers and shares some of her favourite books in our latest Writers Reveal Q&A!
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/how-writers-can-be-their-authentic-best-insights-from-author-fiona-fenwick

Canadian author Allister Thompson has some excellent advice for writers! Discover Allistair's wise words and read about his new novel Birch and Jay in his Q&A interview:
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/allister-thompson-inspired-by-le-guin-grounded-in-canadian-landscapes

In Australia, July is Poetry Month. Here are ten collections from that diverse continent to explore:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/31/australian-poetry-month-2025-best-poem-collections-to-read

Will AI eventually replace creative writers? AI expert Paul Dettmann explores this question and many more in the latest episode of the On Creative Writing podcast:
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/podcast-1/episode/1f9db598/will-gen-ai-eventually-replace-creative-writers

This will make plenty of people think twice about their passwords! A weak password allowed hackers to sink a UK company, putting 700 people out of work.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gx28815wo

Canadian author Allister Thompson laments humankind's folly, but offers some excellent advice to writers! Discover Alistair's wise words and his upcoming YA book in our latest interview:
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/allister-thompson-inspired-by-le-guin-grounded-in-canadian-landscapes

Iranian-Canadian multigenre author Hollay Ghadery explores the origins of her writing, how an MFA helped refine her writing practice, and why reading poetry is essential for everyone.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/hollay-ghadery-writing-irrevocably-feminist-rooted-in-domestic-sphere

A headline or news report repeated 1000s of times means many people believe it. Remember the people-can't-tell-the-difference-between-AI-poetry-and-human-poetry story? It turns out that's not the case. #AI #writing #poetry
https://tinyurl.com/yaewn7zx

On Creative Writing's Emma Woodhouse answers our Writers Reveal interview! She explores why good editing is "immensely important" and what childhood activity inspired her write stories from another age:
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/emma-woodhouse-good-editing-essential-love-of-victoriana

Saad Omar Khan's novel Drinking the Ocean and released in May is receiving excellent reviews! This is one for your summer reading! Read Saad's thoughts on writing his Q&A interview:
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/saad-omar-khan-deep-writing-evolution-skill-reading-across-genres

Award-winning Canadian author Anthony Bidulka shares solid advice for creative writers in this exclusive Q&A with OnCreativeWriting.com.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/post/anthony-bidulka-novelist-tells-writers-looking-for-publisher-keep-up-faith-and-effort

How does a writer get an agent or publishing contract? On Creative Writing's Emma Woodhouse explores this and more in this podcast episode.
https://www.oncreativewriting.com/podcast-1/episode/c3601c2d/how-does-a-writer-get-an-agent-or-publishing-contract-persist-learn-adapt

The US's current administration gives Silicone Valley the greenlight on AI, and this isn't good news for creatives:
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/07/donald-trump-ai-action-plan/683647/

I will be running a flash writing workshop in collaboration with Life Righting Collective in August.

Dates: Saturday 9 & 16 August
Time: 10am - 1pm

It is one workshop split over two Saturdays.

It is suitable for memoir and fiction writing.

Link to book is in my bio and in the comments.

Overwhelmed with writing advice? Jane Friedman on how to put aside all the input and getting down to writing.
https://janefriedman.com/how-can-i-set-aside-the-cacophony-of-writing-advice-and-just-write__trashed/

ᑭᐢᑭᓱᒥᑐᐠ kiskisomitok: ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ launches today! By Edmonton's reuben quinn, the book is a resource for teaching and learning ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐁᐧᐃᐧᐣ nêhîyawewin (Cree) and is based on a teaching method he developed using a spirit marker writing system.
https://tinyurl.com/3djy5hsr

Most people who watch podcasts on Youtube aren't really watching at all. The video is minimized while they listen and are busy with another task:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/20/style/podcast-video-audience.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Yk8.z2eJ.fi3txW44t4VX&smid=url-share

Google users who encounter an AI summary are less likely to click on links to other websites than users who do not see one.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/22/google-users-are-less-likely-to-click-on-links-when-an-ai-summary-appears-in-the-results/

In a victory for authors, a US judge rules that three writers suing Anthropic for copyright infringement can represent all other authors whose books the AI company allegedly pirated to train its AI model as part of a class action lawsuit.
https://tinyurl.com/4c4bca9a

Will Substack's next phase of growth come from advertising? The NYT explores:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/business/substack-fundraising-social-network.html