Creative Writing Toronto

Fantasy Writing Meetup — Weekly Creative Writing Workshop

# The Fantasy Writers’ Table ### A Weekly Fantasy Writing Meetup on the Danforth Come join us for a weekly gathering of fantasy writers, storytellers, and imaginative minds at **the only café** located near donlands station, Each week, we’ll focus on a different element of fantasy storytelling through breif lessons, creative exercises, writing time, and conversation with other writers. You don’t need to have a finished novel. You don’t even need to consider yourself a “real” writer yet. You just need a story you want to tell. ## Where We Begin: Character Our first two weeks will be all about characters. **Week 1 — Who Are They?** We’ll explore what makes a character feel real: their desires, fears, flaws, secrets, contradictions, and the things they don't want anyone to know. **Week 2 — What Makes Them Interesting?** We’ll dig deeper into character voice, backstory, relationships, and the choices that reveal who a character really is. From there, we’ll build outward. ## What’s Coming Next As the weeks continue, we’ll explore the pieces that turn compelling characters into compelling stories: **Conflict** — What does your character want, and what stands in their way? **Worldbuilding** — How do you create a fantasy world that feels alive without overwhelming the story? **Relationships** — How do friendships, rivalries, romance, family, and betrayal shape your characters? **Magic & Fantasy** — How can magic, creatures, mythology, and other fantastical elements deepen your story? **Plot** — How do you turn characters and conflict into a story that actually moves? **Stakes** — What happens if your characters succeed? And what happens if they fail? **Scenes & Storytelling** — How do you turn all of this into scenes that readers can't put down? And eventually, we'll explore **theme, character arcs, revision, and the deeper questions that make a fantasy story stay with its readers.** ## What to Expect Each meetup will be a chance to: * Learn one practical storytelling concept * Try a new creative writing exercise * Work on your own writing * Meet other fantasy writers * Share ideas and get inspired * Leave with something new on the page This isn't a lecture where you sit quietly and take notes. It's a place to **write and share.** Bring your notebook or laptop, your unfinished story, your strange idea, your half-formed character or simply your curiosity. Come for one week or make it a weekly ritual. Grab a coffee. Pull up a chair. Let's tell some stories. **All experience levels are welcome.**

Silent Writing/Reading #5

We will be meeting at the MaRS Discovery District (near Queen's Park Station), in the mezzanine area.

In-Person Writing Sprints

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

IN-PERSON Saturday Meeting!

Join us for our in-person Saturday critique session! We'll be meeting in the basement of **The Blake House**, which is located near Wellesley and Jarvis, about a 10-minute walk from Wellesley Station or Sherbourne Station. **In respect to the Blake House for hosting us, we humbly request that attendees purchase a meal, dessert, or drink if you are able to do so.** Feel free to bring in a piece of writing up to **2000 words** for reading and critique. Please bring paper copies so that listeners can easily follow and make notes. Dedicated listeners are equally welcome. In larger groups, please be mindful of giving everyone a fair chance to speak. Our group values and meeting structure can be found here: [https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines](https://www.torontosffwriters.com/sff-writer-rules-and-guidelines) We ask that writers provide content warnings when necessary. To limit the spread of diseases, we kindly ask that you stay home if you're feeling sick. We will be here every week! **\*\*We support the hard work and effort that goes into writing fiction, and do not condone the use of AI to replace the creative process.\*\*** And, that's everything! See you there!

Saturday Writing Meetup – near Bloor-Yonge

\*\*NOTE: This meetup currently lacks a regular host. (The current hosts are volunteers for online organizational purposes; they show up in person occasionally.) If you arrive and there is no host, don’t worry. Whoever is the longest-running member (or whoever wants to) can set the timer for the writing session. In this way, the meetup is self-sustaining, and not dependent on any one person. Thanks for your understanding.\*\* Join us for an hour of quiet writing, followed by an hour of (optional) socializing. \*\*SILENT WRITING BEGINS AT 1:15 PM. IF YOU'RE LATE, WELCOME! WE WILL IGNORE YOU (BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WRITING) UNTIL 2:15 PM.\*\* This meetup is open to everyone, whether you’re writing a novel, blog, class paper, or journal entry—or something completely different. Anyone interested is welcome to attend :) LOCATION: 5 Elements Cafe, basement level RSVP: Please be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. We recommend coming down to the basement to grab a spot before you buy anything, just in case. SCHEDULE: 1:00 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chill/leave. Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Shut Up & Write — West Queen West

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other's work. Other Important Details: WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

Self-Publishing, Superheroes, and Cultural Vigilantism

**Self-Publishing a Superhero Novel, Podcast & RPG Nights** **REAL PEOPLE. STRANGE IDEAS. EPIC NIGHTS.** **5 PM — TACOS & DRINKS** Tacos • Spicy Coleslaw • Chocolate Mousse BYOB **Red wine gratis. Martinis gratis.** **Round-TABLE CHECK-IN** **Cruel victories. Learned defeats.** What’s new in your adventuring life? **6:30 PM — NATURE WALK** Walk, explore, hang out. **7:30 PM — MUSIC, DANCING & CONVERSATION** **9:30 PM — LAST CALL**

Sunday Shut Up & Write!® in Sheppard-Yonge

We are now at **Yonge Sheppard Centre** in the **food court** near **Dazzle Mi**. We start a bit past 1pm, so if you're late, please find a seat and start writing -- we'd love to hear about your story or your day -- afterwards. :) **Coworking for writers in your area!** Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com) **Travel / Parking info:** Public Transit: 1. Take the TTC subway to Sheppard-Yonge Station. 2. Use the Yonge St. Sheppard Ave exit **Driving & Parking:** Parking Entrance to Yonge Sheppard Centre is located on Greenfield Avenue and Doris Avenue. Accessible parking is available on P1, P3 and Concourse. Be sure to check for parking limits or fees. **Location:** We gather around the tables in the food court near **Dazzel Mi**. If you spot a group of people with laptops out, that’s probably us! **RSVP:** Please do RSVP. But be advised that seating is first-come, first-served, even if you have RSVP'd. Seats are not reserved and we can't control how many other people are in the cafe. **SCHEDULE:** 12:45 to 1:15 PM: Arrive and get settled in -- come in early if you want to get lunch. 1:15 to 2:15 PM: Write in silence for an hour. \*\*If you arrive after 1:15, please silently find your own place to sit. We'll welcome you to join the group at 2:15.\*\* 2:15 PM: Introduce yourself. We'll go in a circle; just say your name and 1–2 sentences about what you're writing. (E.g., "I'm Rudolph and I'm writing a non-fiction book about red-nosed reindeer.") 2:20 PM onwards: Chat, hang out, keep writing if you want, leave whenever.

Wizards & Workouts - FREE

Do you consider rolling dice strength training? Can you run a D&D campaign, but not a city block? If so, **WIZARDS & WORKOUTS** is for you. My name is Peter Reynolds. I'm a writer and lover of role playing games. I'm also out of shape. I've been looking for ways to motivate myself to start working out with the same enthusiasm I bring to my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The plan is simple: host a fun, live role playing game where players take on the role of their favourite fantasy characters. The catch? You need to exercise if you want to succeed. Fighting a dragon? A fireball might cost you 5 pushups. Crossing a rooftop? Can you balance on one foot for a minute? By combining simple, low impact exercises, including walking & stretching, with an interactive adventure, we'll all get healthier, have fun and maybe meet some new friends along the way. All fitness levels are welcome (as are dogs), and no previous knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons is necessary. We meet in front of Broadview subway station at 10:00 am sharp and then walk to the Outdoor Fitness Station in Riverdale Park East (there are washrooms). At noon we start walking west, through the park, ending at the Blake House Restaurant \* (Wellesley & Jarvis) by 12:30. All sessions are free and I’ll be running them till it gets too cold. Hope to see you there! * The Blake House is where our Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers' Group meets every Saturday from 1pm - 4pm to critique each other’s work. For more information on this event. Check out our Meetup events page.

ROTMAN Author Talk: Power of Situations

( This event is SOLD-OUT ) We attend various ROTMAN events each year. Author Talks. Book Releases. Visiting Professors. ### **Agenda:** 5:00 pm - Check-in opens + light refreshments 5:30 pm - Author presentation and moderated Q&A 6:30 pm - Meet-and-greet with author + book signing ### **Book Synopsis:** **From the #1 bestselling author of *Grit,* a new book that reveals the hidden power of situations—and how you can shape them to bring out your best.** Angela Duckworth, PhD, is the bestselling author of *Grit* and the founder and CEO of Character Lab. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, she is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. **In Angela Duckworth’s first book, she showed that a common denominator of successful strivers is a blend of passion and perseverance she dubbed “grit.**” Ticket link is below. $22-$45 This second book springs from her deepening realization that grit, while necessary, is sometimes not sufficient. How you situate yourself to meet a challenge can be crucial. Duckworth’s in-depth research reveals the enormous influence wielded by the objects within arm’s reach, your peers and mentors, and even your zip code. Though you’re often told to make the best of your situation, it is far, far better to make your situation better first. **In *Situated*, you’ll discover:** * Why your personality changes, sometimes dramatically, from one situation to another—and how you can harness that shift * The secret to conquering temptation *without* willpower * Why taking the less effortful path can feel like cheating but often solves a stubborn problem * How the company you keep shapes the person you become * The most effective ways to help others succeed ***TICKET Link here-***- https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/news-events-and-ideas/public-events/events-listings/2026/october-2026/oct-8---angela-duckworth/

The Toronto Artist's Way Meetup Monthly Meetup

The purpose of the group, based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is for people to meet and talk about their artistic challenges in any field (painting, writing, music etc.) and encourage each other to break their creative blocks and fulfill themselves in their art. If you find people who are sympathetic, you may want to form your own group, meeting regularly to explore the book and supporting each other in their artistic journeys. I have gone through 2 such clusters and can say that it is a very powerful experience. Why not come to a meeting and see for yourself?

Photography Walk: Fall Colours @ U of T