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Immerse yourself in a creative writing workshop this summer!
The 2026 workshop is scheduled to run from July 13-17, 2026
About the workshop:
Since 1992, the Humber School for Writers (HSW) has offered an immersive, focused workshop to jump start your creative writing. Mornings are spent in classes with one of Humber’s esteemed writing advisors, and afternoons are devoted to craft and industry talks by Canada’s top authors, poets, publishers, editors and agents. You’ll connect with peers and build your literary support network. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced writer, there’s something for you in our July writing workshop!
Workshop co-ordinator:
Nathan Whitlock is a novelist, culture writer, editor, professor, and podcaster with extensive experience and connections within the writing and publishing worlds. He will be available throughout the week to help facilitate the workshops and presentations, and to assist attendees with any concerns or issues they may have. Contact Nathan at Nathan.Whitlock@humber.ca.
About the authors:
In recent years, attendees have been given insights into their work and the life of a writer by such celebrated authors as Jenny Offill, Kyo Maclear, Nita Prose, Sheila Heti, Michael Redhill, Naben Ruthnum, Noor Naga, and Saeed Teebi. The summer 2026 mentors are Kate Cayley, Farah Heron, Sidura Ludwig, Bonny Reichert, and Shyam Selvadurai.
Kate Cayley has published three collections of poetry and two short story collections, and her plays have been performed in Canada, the US and the UK. She has won the Trillium Book Award, an O. Henry Prize, and the Mitchell Prize for Poetry, and been a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, among other awards. Her writing has appeared in Best Canadian Poetry, Best Canadian Stories, Brick, Electric Literature, Joyland, Lithub, and The New Quarterly. She has been writer in residence at McMaster University, Sheridan College and the Toronto Public Library, and mentored emerging writers through the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA, Humber School for Writers, Diaspora Dialogues, and Sisters Writes. Her first novel, Property, is published by Coach House Books.
Farah Heron is a critically acclaimed romance author for adults and teens. Her books have been praised by CBC books, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR. Her adult books include Accidentally Engaged and Just Playing House, and her young adult books include Tahira In Bloom and Remember Me Tomorrow. Farah was recently the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library.
Sidura Ludwig is an award-winning writer of books for adults and children, including You Are Not What We Expected (House of Anansi Press), Rising (Candlewick Press), Swan: The Girl Who Grew (Nimbus Publishing). Her work has won the Vine Literary Award for Fiction and been shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award and a Winnipeg Book Award. Sidura has also worked as a radio journalist for CBC, a communications specialist in the U.K. and a copywriter for not-for-profit organizations. She holds a Master of Journalism from Carleton University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has taught creative writing workshops, both online and in person, for over 30 years.
Bonny Reichert is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist. She has been an editor at Today’s Parent and Chatelaine, and a columnist and regular contributor to The Globe and Mail. She holds a Master of Fine Art in creative nonfiction from the University of King’s College in Halifax and teaches writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. In 2020, Bonny was longlisted for the CBC Short Story Prize and in 2022, her memoir How to Share an Egg won the Dave Greber social justice writing award for a book-in-progress. When it was published in 2025, How to Share an Egg was a national bestseller.
Shyam Selvadurai is the author of the novels Funny Boy, Cinnamon Gardens, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, The Hungry Ghosts, and Mansion of the Moon. He is the editor of the anthologies Story-Wallah: A Celebration of South Asian Fiction and Many Roads Through Paradise: An Anthology of Sri Lankan Literature. His work has won the WHSmith/Books in Canada First Novel Award, Lambda Literary Award, the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award, a Canadian Screen Award, and the New York Cinema Independent Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and has been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, the DSC South Asia Literature Prize, the Trillium Award, the Aloa Literary Award, and the Premio Internazionale Riccardo Bacchelli. He has served as Festival Curator for the Galle Literary Festival.
Content and Format
You should attend if
- you want to learn to write short stories, novels, poetry, memoir, creative non-fiction, Y/A (young adult) or children’s literature
- you’re already working on a book but would like to improve your writing with feedback from established writers and your peers
- you’d like to know how to find someone to publish your work
- you’d like to expand your own writing community by meeting like-minded aspiring writers
- you’d like to build your professional network through meeting top authors, agents, editors, publishers, and publishing professionals
The workshop runs from July 13 to 17, 2026, and consists of five three-hour workshop classes, numerous craft talks and industry lectures, and one one-on-one feedback session with your mentor. New for this year: dedicated workshop courses for thriller, memoir and romance writers!
David Bezmozgis in conversation with literary agents Jackie Kaiser and Bridgette Kam.
Antonio Michael Downing workshops student writing in 2023.
Editors Janie Yoon and Julia McDowell offer flash assessments of student work.
Saeed Teebi discusses his critically acclaimed short story collection, Her First Palestinian.
Workshop Courses
Summer Workshop: Literary Fiction
Explore the art of literary storytelling with a focus on character, voice, and theme. In morning sessions, participants share and critique pre-submitted work in small groups led by acclaimed author Shayam Selvadurai. Afternoons bring the entire Summer Workshop cohort together for live readings and engaging talks by publishers, agents, and celebrated writers. This course is ideal for those crafting short stories or novels with a literary focus, emphasizing nuance, depth, and the development of a distinctive narrative style.
Summer Workshop: Romance Writing
Designed for writers passionate about love stories in all their forms, this workshop delves into the structure, tropes, and emotional depth of romance fiction. Each morning, participants receive peer and instructor feedback in an intimate group setting. In the afternoons, the workshop opens up to the full community for readings and industry panels, offering insight into the publishing world and opportunities to connect with professionals. Whether you're writing contemporary, historical, or speculative romance, this course will help you refine your voice and deepen your storytelling.
Summer Workshop: Thriller Writing
This workshop is for writers crafting suspenseful, page-turning fiction. Participants will workshop their submitted pieces in focused morning sessions. Afternoons feature dynamic programming where all Summer Workshop participants gather for readings and discussions with industry insiders. Learn how to build tension, pace your plot, and deliver unforgettable twists while gaining exposure to the business side of thriller writing.
Summer Workshop: Writing for Children
Focused on writing for young readers, this course welcomes authors working on picture books, middle-grade fiction, or YA. Mornings are dedicated to small-group critique and mentorship with a Canadian children’s author. In the afternoons, participants join the larger workshop community for readings and guest talks, gaining insight into the children's publishing landscape and connecting with fellow writers across genres.
Summer Workshop: Memoir
This course supports writers telling true stories from their lives. Morning sessions offer a supportive space to share and refine personal narratives with guidance from a Canadian memoirist. Afternoon programming brings all participants together for readings and conversations with publishing professionals, offering inspiration and practical advice on bringing memoirs to market. Ideal for writers seeking to transform lived experience into powerful prose.
Summer Workshop: Introductory Writing Workshop (Poetry & Fiction)
Perfect for newer writers or those exploring multiple genres, this introductory workshop welcomes submissions of poetry or fiction. Mornings are spent in small groups, receiving constructive feedback and encouragement from a multi-genre Canadian author. In the afternoons, participants join the full Summer Workshop cohort for readings and industry sessions, gaining exposure to the broader literary community and discovering pathways for future growth.
Fees
The deadline to register is July 10, 2026. Those who register and pay their fees by May 8, 2026, are eligible for an early bird discount.
The 2026 regular fee is $1,200. Students who register and pay by May 8, 2026, will pay $1,140. Humber School for Writers graduates from the last three years (2023 to 2026) will pay $1,104.
The fee displayed is the standard domestic tuition fee and should be used as a guideline only. Actual fees will be calculated when you complete your registration and may vary slightly.
Cancellation Policy: Humber reserves the right to cancel the workshop due to low enrollment. If the workshop is cancelled, registrants, will be notified by June 26, 2026, and a full refund of fees paid to Humber will be issued.
How to Apply
Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible in order to improve their chance of being paired with their preferred mentor. To apply, please click on the link below and follow the steps to register for the course and submit all the information requested.
For application inquiries, please contact Nathan Whitlock at 437-565-1473 or Nathan.Whitlock@humber.ca.
Reputation
Over 330 of our alumni have published over 1000 books!
Notable alumni authors include
- Eva Stachniak (The Winter Palace)
- Roberta Rich (The Midwife of Venice)
- Cathy Marie Buchanan (The Painted Girls)
- Robert Rotenberg (The Guilty Plea)
- Shari Lapeña (The Couple Next Door)
A student listens to Alissa York during the 2022 workshop at Victoria College.
Olive Senior leads a workshop class.
Testimonials
“Lots of really good stuff here and I enjoyed it immensely.”
“Kate was an exceptional mentor. Set a great tone for workshopping and feedback...essential to the whole experience! So, so knowledgeable about the current literary landscape, and how our work might fit. Recommended tons of reading to help us, and her own feedback was clear, pointed and sensitive to our needs. Would work with her again in a heartbeat!”
“I'd taken a quick look at Shyam's bio, including books he's written, and was worried that we lived in two different worlds and he wasn't a good suit for me, but he was brilliant and had a great overall knowledge of storytelling, plus he was very personable, patient, and accommodating. I appreciated his advice regarding my work. He seemed to hold a high respect for the students' reasons for being there and acted accordingly. Within one week, this man totally earned my respect and admiration.”
“I found the talks given by the writers so helpful because they humanized the process of writing and inspired me to make more of a realistic commitment to it.”
“By the end of the week I loved everyone in my workshop. I left feeling more knowledgeable and inspired.”
Location
About Lakeshore Campus
Humber Polytechnic’s Lakeshore Campus combines beautiful lakefront parkland and historic buildings with high-tech classrooms and labs. Explore local shops, bike the trails and take in the Toronto skyline.
On-Campus Accommodations
The Lakeshore Campus is accessible by TTC, but for out-of-town participants, Humber’s new Lakeshore Residence offers short-term stays. For more information or to book a room, visit the residence website.
Where to Find Us
Situated in the west end of Toronto, on the shores of Lake Ontario.
3199 Lake Shore Blvd., West Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M8V 1K8
Opportunities for Further Study
The Creative Writing Graduate Certificate
The Humber Summer Workshop in Creative Writing is a complement to the online Creative Writing graduate certificate, the two together comprising a flexible and affordable alternative to a standard low-residency MFA.
Humber’s Creative Writing graduate certificate program helps you improve your writing from the comfort of home. You’ll work one-on-one with a professional writer-mentor to improve your book-length project, learning how to develop plot, character, dialogue, style and more through feedback on your own manuscript.
We've recently added a playwright and a screenwriter to our list of available mentors – giving you the opportunity to complete a large body of work which may be all or parts of a full-length novel, memoir, feature-length screenplay or multi-character play; or a collection of poetry, short fiction or creative nonfiction essays.
This is a project-based program in which you meet the learning outcomes by working through your own manuscript. As well, you will attend weekly online classes synchronously or asynchronously to discuss craft, readings and the writing process to support your development. Writers looking for an affordable alternative to a low-residency MFA program will find this program especially helpful following the Summer Workshop in Creative Writing.
