There’s a wellspring of resources that aspiring writers, or even established authors, may not be yet taking advantage of in Central Alberta.
Based in Camrose, the Battle River Writing Centre (BRWC) has a core of local contributors, but has a membership that spans the globe, from the Canadian Prairies to Australia, Dubai, and more.
The group encourages and critiques each other in their writing endeavours, both published and unpublished. There is also a focus on writing about where you’re from, a “sense of place,” explains founder and BRWC coordinator Dr. Jane Ross.
With a PhD from the University of Cambridge in the UK, Ross has an extensive background in academic writing, but says she loves “everyday writing” so much more — that’s her “real cup of tea.”
“I’m rural and cosmopolitan, in that order,” she said.
Her published works include poems and essays along with her academic endeavours, including a book of poems Green Parrots in my Garden, written about her time living in Dubai.
“Every morning they’d come to my garden while I was having breakfast and they inspired me.”
Some of the centre’s esteemed members include established Canadian authors Rudy Wiebe, Astrid Blodgett, and Rosemary Griebel from Castor.
Member Dorothy Griffith, hailing from Ponoka and now living in Fort Saskatchewan, is also an “astounding” and “innovative writer,” said Ross.
Not just a regional namesake, the Battle River Writing Centre’s members draw inspiration from the Battle River itself, Ross explained.
One of the purposes of the centre is to “awaken (writers) to the sense of place we all have that is so often obscured in Central Alberta,” said Ross.
“We try to evoke a sense of place and deep wonder about it.”
The groups holds many writing sessions outdoors to inspire aspects of nature-based works, including at the headwaters of the Battle River east of Winfield, and its end waters in Battleford, Sask.
Inspiration can be found all around, Ross said, even — or maybe especially — in Central Alberta.
The group has also visited the Fort Ostell Museum in Ponoka to glean inspiration on the area’s history of settlers and Indigenous relations, the old psychiatric hospital, and the emergence of industry.
The centre has ties with Bashaw, writing stories about the town’s bus, and working with the Happy Gang Centre and the Bashaw Arts Club.
Poetry workshop
Since 2012, the BRWC has celebrated poetry month in April with a workshop, inviting writers of all levels to take part in a day of delving deep into the world of writing with presenters and hands-on learning.
This year, the workshop, “Writing Poetry for Submission,” is being held on April 27, at the Camrose Heritage Railway Museum and Park. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes lunch.
The cost per participant is $75.
The interactive workshop will be facilitated by Alexina Dalgetty, with assistance from Dr. Ronna Jevne and Ross.
For poets, or would-be poets, the day will feature a course map from inspiration to publication, including an exploration of a variety of poetic forms, writing to prompts, group critiques and refining your work.
Besides giving instruction on poetry forms and writing about Central Alberta, Dalgetty will be presenting about dealing with rejection from publishers.
“If you’re going to submit, you’re probably going to get rejected sooner or later,” said Dalgetty, adding she’ll be giving examples of some famous writers who were rejected hundreds of times.
“(Being rejected) is not about being a bad writer, it’s about sending it to the wrong place.”
The BRWC meets every third Friday of the month for Writing Room.
The centre has also held summer workshops at the Ellis Bird Farm for the past four years.
For more information about the centre, livingheritage.weebly.com.
To register for the poetry workshop, contact them at writingpoetryforsubmission@gmail.com or phone 780-672-9315.