In collaboration with the Okanagan Regional Library (Mission Branch), Inspired Word Café is thrilled to present a poetry workshop lead by local writer Dr. Steven Taylor!

This workshop invites writers at all stages and experience levels to engage in a learning and sharing environment.

No registration necessary—spots are first come, first served. This event is free to attend.

About the workshop: This workshop will feature accessible and welcoming writing exercises for all skill levels, with opportunities to share your work and receive feedback from Steven and fellow group members on your in-session writing. Each of the two sessions stands alone, with a different focus for each workshop. Workshop One (December 5) will focus on writing moderate length fixed poetic form, with participants having the opportunity to explore sonnets, villanelles, pantoums and acrostics. Workshop Two (February 13) will focus on short-form and ekphrastic poetry.

If you are currently exploring any of these forms and wish to bring a sample of existing writing, you are also welcome to workshop that as time allows.

About Dr. Steven Taylor: Steven worked as an educator in the UK for 40 years as a teacher (working with students from kindergarten to Grade 12), a school principal and a school improvement adviser. Since retiring and moving to Canada, he has continued his involvement with education, studying creative writing at UBCO and facilitating writing workshops for the Society for Learning in Retirement. He writes his own poetry, comic fiction and creative non-fiction. He has recently joined the Board of IWC and enjoys performing his poetry at their Open Mic nights.

The Mission Branch of the ORL is located in MNP Place. This venue is wheelchair accessible and there is free on-site parking. Bathrooms are gendered stalled washrooms, with an all-gender and wheelchair accessible washroom available.

Our programming is made possible by the Okanagan Regional Libary, the City of Kelowna, the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, and the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.

We respectfully acknowledge that we live and work in the unceded, ancestral territory of the Syilx people. It is a privilege to be able to put on events as uninvited guests on their land.