Saskatchewan Writers Guild

Saskatchewan Writers Guild Our Funders: SaskCulture and Saskatchewan Lotteries The first annual general meeting of the SWG was held in 1970. Initially, 75 people joined.

Brief History

In the summer of 1969, a conference of writers led to the creation of the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild. The first two programs were the establishment of local writing groups throughout the province and the creation of a newsletter. Both programs are still active. The SWG was incorporated in 1971. In 1976, the first Executive Director was hired and an office was established in Reg

ina. Grain, the national literary magazine, was founded in 1973. Since then, the SWG has evolved into a professional organization of over 600 members, including writers of all genres and all levels of development.

PRESENTER REVEAL: Emily Riddle (she/her) is Nehiyaw and a member of the Alexander First Nation (Kipohtakaw). She is a wr...
12/21/2025

PRESENTER REVEAL: Emily Riddle (she/her) is Nehiyaw and a member of the Alexander First Nation (Kipohtakaw). She is a writer, textile artist, and library worker based in Amisko Waciw Wâskahikan (Edmonton, Canada). In 2022, she released her first full length poetry collection, The Big Melt which won the Griffin Poetry Prize Canadian first book award. Her writing has been published in The Malahat Review, Canadian Art, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, among others. Emily Riddle is a dedicated Treaty 6 descendant and a semi-dedicated Edmonton Oilers fan.

Emily Riddle will be giving a workshop on Saturday morning and will be involved in the panel discussion. This year's festival is not one to miss!

RSVP here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/writing-north/writing-north-rsvp-form

See you on January 23 and 24!



[ID: A prairie canola landscape that has been altered with shattered pieces of the image overlapping, leaving a feeling of unease and uncanniness. In the centre at the top is a rectangular photo of Emily Riddle. Beneath her photo is her name in large text and medium sized text promoting this year's festival theme: "Things are not as they seem" (with the second "e" upside down). Details about date and location are bottom center. End.]

As part of Common Weal Community Arts' Respond to Racism program, Common Weal Arts are launching a new multi-phase proje...
12/20/2025

As part of Common Weal Community Arts' Respond to Racism program, Common Weal Arts are launching a new multi-phase project titled “Creating Shared Futures” exploring Indigenous–Black relations through theatre. From January to March 2026, participants will engage in hands-on workshops led by nationally and internationally recognized artists - focusing on ethical relation-making, power play, site-specific performance, and collaborative creation.

Supported by the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, On Cue Performance Hub, and Buffalo People Arts Institute, the program includes playwriting intensives, dramaturgy, and mentorship to help artists grow and thrive. Successful applicants receive a $1000 honorarium.

Join us in building a more diverse, inclusive theatre ecosystem. Learn more and apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SS2RrZU5o73mr0bTH1kvh8JUmJU7mVQEH8tm_v06kMQ/edit?ts=6917a924.

Project page on Common Weal's site: https://www.commonweal.ca/creating-shared-futures

No prior theatre experience is required.

A public information session will be offered on December 11th at 4 pm on Zoom. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Savannah at [email protected].



This project is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada.

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PRESENTER REVEAL: tonia laird is a Michif writer from Treaty 6 territory. Her work is included in multiple publications,...
12/20/2025

PRESENTER REVEAL: tonia laird is a Michif writer from Treaty 6 territory. Her work is included in multiple publications, including literary magazines, fantasy and comic book anthologies, video games, Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition, mobile game, Everlove: Rose, and the interactive novel, Poster Girl. Her first novel, Seventhblade, was released in 2025 by ECW Press, and she is currently working on the young adult supernatural climate-dystopian trilogy, Black Dog, to be released starting fall 2026 by Simon & Schuster Canada. Tonia’s most recent stint in video games was as a Lorekeeper and Worldbuilder at Thought Pennies Entertainment.

tonia laird will be giving a workshop on Saturday afternoon and will be involved in the panel discussion on Saturday. This year's festival is not one to miss!

RSVP here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/writing-north/writing-north-rsvp-form

See you on January 23 and 24!



[ID: A prairie canola landscape that has been altered with shattered pieces of the image overlapping, leaving a feeling of unease and uncanniness. In the centre at the top is a rectangular photo of tonia laird. Beneath her photo is her name in large text and medium sized text promoting this year's festival theme: "Things are not as they seem" (with the second "e" upside down). Details about date and location are bottom center. End.]

The SWG office will be closed from the afternoon of Dec 24 until January 4. Back in office January 5! Have a safe holida...
12/19/2025

The SWG office will be closed from the afternoon of Dec 24 until January 4. Back in office January 5! Have a safe holiday season, folks.

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Do you enjoy writing and want to develop your storytelling skills?Global Gathering Place and Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild...
12/18/2025

Do you enjoy writing and want to develop your storytelling skills?

Global Gathering Place and Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild are hosting Weaving Words, a free, small-group, in-person storytelling program for newcomers who meet on the following dates from 6:00-8:00 pm: January 13, January 15, January 20, January 22, January 27, February 3.

The theme of the program is: If the City Could Speak. Every city has its stories. Some are loud, and some are very quiet. There are stories from the past, stories from today, and stories for tomorrow.

To register contact Kris Pabisiak at [email protected] or call 306-665-0268.

For more information about the program, visit our website: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/weaving-words-a-storytelling-workshop-series-for-newcomers



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PRESENTER REVEAL: Waubgeshig Rice grew up in Wasauksing First Nation on the shores of Georgian Bay, in the southeast of ...
12/18/2025

PRESENTER REVEAL: Waubgeshig Rice grew up in Wasauksing First Nation on the shores of Georgian Bay, in the southeast of Robinson-Huron Treaty territory. He’s a writer, listener, speaker, language learner, and a martial artist, holding a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the author of the short story collection Midnight Sweatlodge and the novels Legacy, Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves. He appreciates loud music and the four seasons. He lives in N’Swakamok - also known as Sudbury, Ontario - with his wife and three sons.

Waubgeshig Rice will be giving a feature talk on Friday evening of Writing North and will be involved in the panel discussion on Saturday. This year's festival is not one to miss!

RSVP here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/writing-north/writing-north-rsvp-form

See you on January 23 and 24!



[ID: A prairie canola landscape that has been altered with shattered pieces of the image overlapping, leaving a feeling of unease and uncanniness. In the centre at the top is a rectangular photo of Waubgeshig Rice. Beneath his photo is his name in large text and medium sized text promoting this year's festival theme: "Things are not as they seem" (with the second "e" upside down). Details about date and location are bottom center. End.]

Join us in the New Year for another write-in on January 12! You want to write, we give you the space to write.Our usual ...
12/17/2025

Join us in the New Year for another write-in on January 12! You want to write, we give you the space to write.

Our usual 7-9:15pm drop in hours via Zoom.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pJgcpvcDTB6YYIgwbrj_sg

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Build the foundation of your literary career with this practical, two-hour online workshop designed for emerging writers...
12/17/2025

Build the foundation of your literary career with this practical, two-hour online workshop designed for emerging writers with Sabrina Spenser Smith. We’ll break down the many paths for gaining experience beyond publication—editing, teaching, readings, mentorships, grants, community work and more. You’ll also learn how to craft a clear, compelling literary CV that reflects your strengths and ambitions.

After the session, participants may submit their CV for individualized feedback from Sabrina. Leave with a sense of direction, concrete next steps and a CV that truly represents your growing practice.

January 16, 6:30-8:30pm via Zoom.

$30.00 for members
$50.00 for non-members

Register here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/crafting-your-literary-career-path-with-sabrina-spenser-smith



[ID: promotional graphic for the workshop "Crafting Your Literary Career Path" with Sabrina Spenser Smith. A colourful path goes from one illustrated person writing in a notebook to someone writing on a laptop to another person writing on paper at a desk. A headshot of Sabrina (Sabrina stands smiling in front of a light-coloured wall with bare branches behind her, wearing long curly hair, clear-framed glasses, dangling earrings and a dark ribbed sweater) is in the bottom right at the end of the colourful path. Text on the image details workshop date and time noted above in the caption. End.]

The SWG invites you to celebrate Tara Dawn Solheim’s 10 years as Executive Director of Sage Hill Writing! Please join us...
12/16/2025

The SWG invites you to celebrate Tara Dawn Solheim’s 10 years as Executive Director of Sage Hill Writing! Please join us on Tuesday, December 16 for our come-and-go party between 4:30 – 7:00 pm at the SWG Office's Ken Mitchell Library - #1150 8th Avenue, Regina.

Everyone welcome. Free snacks and mocktails served.

SWG is wheelchair accessible. We have an elevator to the side of the building. We will need to bring it up on our end, so call our office if you will be using the elevator so a staff person can help you!

RSVP here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/celebrate-tara-dawn-solheims-time-at-sage-hill-writing



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REGINA WRITERS, we are seeking submissions to the 2026 City of Regina Writing Award, funded by the City of Regina! This ...
12/15/2025

REGINA WRITERS, we are seeking submissions to the 2026 City of Regina Writing Award, funded by the City of Regina!

This competition is an award for literary merit in creative writing for a work-in-progress; it is open to writers in all genres. You are eligible to apply for this award if you are 19 years and older and if you were a Regina resident as of January 1, 2025. Applicants may submit one entry to this competition per year. Previous winning entries (for both winners and runners-up) may not be submitted again. The award is designed to enable one local writer to work on a specific solo writing project for a three-month period. The winner will receive $4,500 and each runner-up will receive a one-week individual retreat at St. Peter’s Abbey. The award competition is juried anonymously by professional writers from outside Saskatchewan.

Apply here: https://skwriter.com/programs-and-services/awards/city-of-regina-writing-award

Deadline: January 21 (midnight).



[ID: Promo graphic for the call for submissions that lists the deadline. In the top right and bottom left corners are two yellow lined starburst shapes. The bottom is lined with the City of Regina logo and SWG logo. End.]

NEW WORKSHOP: Blow Up Your Darlings!: Incorporating Camp Humour into Your Fiction with Benjamin Johnson. Camp as a sensi...
12/12/2025

NEW WORKSHOP: Blow Up Your Darlings!: Incorporating Camp Humour into Your Fiction with Benjamin Johnson.

Camp as a sensibility uses incongruity, theatricality, and humour to ‘blow up’ our idea of ‘good’ literature. Learn how you can use these tenants in your own work to generate ideas, unstick yourself from problem spots, and craft narratives that explode off the page!

January 27 from 6:30-8:30pm via Zoom.

Register for this workshop here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/blow-up-your-darlings-incorporating-camp-humour-into-your-fiction-with-benjamin-johnson
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[ID: A big comic bubble with jagged edges exclaims "Blow Up Your Darlings!" Below it is text with the workshop title, date, location and time. Beside the text is a cut-out headshot of Benjamin Johnson (a white man with tousled brown hair smiles in front of a wintery backdrop. He is dressed in a grey plaid scarf and a denim fleece over a white t-shirt). End.]

Have you applied to participate in our Virtual Facilitated Retreat in February yet? No? You should! It's going to be AMA...
12/12/2025

Have you applied to participate in our Virtual Facilitated Retreat in February yet? No? You should! It's going to be AMAZING.

Open to ALL writers in Canada. This retreat is perfect for all writers—beginner, emerging, or established—who would like to dive deeply into their writing for a few days.

Our Virtual Facilitated Retreat will be via Zoom from February 5-8, 2026.

Apply by January 8 for a spot. There are only 10 spots available, so apply soon!

Fee details: $200. This includes a one on one meeting with our VWiR David Ly, feedback on your work from David as well, ample writing time, connection with other writers, and a celebratory reading!

For more information and application guidelines, visit our website here: https://skwriter.com/events-and-workshops/call-for-2026-virtual-facilitated-retreat-application





[ID: an illustration of a person with long orange hair, black circle glasses, and a green top typing on a laptop at a desk. On the desk there are books, a coffee mug, and a desk lamp. Beside the illustration is text that says the dates of the virtual retreat listed in caption, app deadline listed in caption, and "Call for participants Virtual Facilitated Writers Retreat". End.

Do you need a little time away from the pressures of daily life to focus on your writing while at home? Join us for the Virtual Facilitated Retreat!…

Address

Suite 100 1150 8th Avenue
Regina, SK
S4P3R9

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13067917740

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Our Story

Brief History In the summer of 1969, a conference of writers led to the creation of the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild. Founding Members were Jean Freeman, Vera Simenson, Ron Ware, Joan Conway, and Ken Mitchell. The first annual general meeting of the SWG was held in 1970. Initially, 75 people joined. The first two programs were the establishment of local writing groups throughout the province and the creation of a newsletter. Both programs are still active. The SWG was incorporated in 1971. In 1976, the first Executive Director was hired and an office was established in Regina. Grain, the national literary magazine, was founded in 1973. Since then, the SWG has evolved into a professional organization of over 600 members, including writers of all genres and all levels of development.