Writing can be lonely.
Let’s fix that!
I help writers find and shelter their voices in fun, encouraging, gentle workshops that bring the pleasure back into this thing that we love to do.
WORKSHOPS
I really love writing workshops, especially the generative kind. I take a lot of them, and many of the poems in my book started in some workshop or other.
Because I like them so much, I became certified in facilitating workshops in the AWA Method. Amherst Writers & Artists is an international writing organization founded on the belief that everyone is a writer. AWA supports practiced and emerging writers through a proven workshop method.
Keep scrolling to learn what I’m up to these days.
UPCOMING
Gathering Words for Summer in-person week
at Naramata Centre
July 21-25, 2025
Naramata Centre - click here for more information
Summer (and a week at Naramata in particular) can go by so fast! Let’s gather some impressions, some thoughts, some of that wonderful summer-at-Naramata energy for later, by writing them down. This five-day, in-person workshop is for anyone who wants to write - in any genre or style -in community in an encouraging, gentle, and exploratory way. We’ll build our fluency and skill with carefully-selected prompts and exercises, as well as by learning to listen like a writer for what’s strong in each other’s work. We’ll connect to ourselves and each other and will remember why we enjoy writing in the first place. We will respond only with positive feedback, naming what’s working well in each other’s just-written work. We will treat all work as fiction, talking about the writing as opposed to the writer. We can always choose not to share, and the leader of the workshop will write and share along with everyone else. We will come away more confident in ourselves as writers - a writer being someone who writes.
ONGOING
WRITERS’ DROP-IN WITH KELSEY ANDREWS
Next Dates: Jan 11*, Feb 1, Mar 1, Apr 5, May 3, Jun 7 2025
Nell Horth Room, Sidney Public Library
First Saturday of the month, 2 to 4 pm PT
We’ll have three quiet writing periods where we can write with the provided prompts or on our own work, with two breaks in between to get to know each other. Offered in partnership with the Sidney/North Saanich Library.
UPCOMING
WRITING IN THE DARK OF THE YEAR III
Naramata Centre Zoom
Tuesdays, January 14 to February 11, 2025, 6pm to 8pm PT
$125
This five-week workshop is for folks at all levels who want to write—in any genre or style—in community in an encouraging, gentle, and exploratory way.
PAST OFFERINGS
HARVEST OF WORDS
Naramata Centre Zoom
Tuesdays, Sept. 3 to Oct. 8, 2024, 6pm to 8pm PT
$150
This five-week workshop is for folks at all levels who want to write—in any genre or style—in community in an encouraging, gentle, and exploratory way.
WRITING IN THE DARK OF THE YEAR II
Naramata Centre Zoom
Tuesdays, January 9 to February 6, 2024, 6pm to 8pm PT
$125
This five-week workshop is for folks at all levels who want to write—in any genre or style—in community in an encouraging, gentle, and exploratory way.
WAW Poetry Workshops for People Afraid of Poetry
On two Saturdays, May 4 and 11 2024, I will be leading writing workshops as part of AWA’s Write Around the World series, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm PDT (Vancouver time)/4:00 to 6:00 pm EDT (Toronto time).
A Write Around the World workshop event allows beginner, emerging and experienced writers to experience a workshop that holds safe and creative space using the Amherst Writers & Artists Method. This is also a once-a-year fundraiser to support the social justice programs offered by AWA.
Registration is by donation – $20, $30, or $40 if you’d like to pay it forward and help a fellow writer to attend.
I will be offering my Poetry for People Afraid of Poetry workshops, which will help you play with language in a gentle, nonjudgemental atmosphere. You will read (and enjoy) poems and write some drafts of your own. You will have a chance to share your writing (though you don’t have to) for positive and encouraging feedback. You will never again feel that you need an MFA or a decoder ring to “get” a poem.
These workshops are good as a pair or can be taken standalone. Different aspects of poetry will be discussed in each.
This workshop is offered in partnership with my friend, Monika Davies. She is hosting another workshop Saturday morning. Why not come to both? Those who sign up for both will be entered in a draw to win a blue-pencil session, where one of us will look at up to 1,000 words or three pages of your work and give encouraging comments and suggestions.
WRITING IN YOUR FUTURE
Elderberry Room, Cook St. Village Activity Centre, 380 Cook St.
Saturday, January 27, 2024, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
$32
I am not a fortune-teller, but if you join us Saturday January 27th from 1:30 to 3:30, I see writing in your future.
In this workshop we will use a few ancient divination techniques, not to divine our future, but to get our writing started. No divination experience is required for this spontaneous workshop. Poetry, fiction or memoir can all be conjured with these fun prompts.
Poetry Workshops for People Afraid of Poetry
Elderberry Room, Cook Street Village Activity Centre, 380 Cook St.
Saturday Dec 2 and 9, 2023 at 1:30 to 3:30 pm
$30 for either workshop, or $50 for both
One free space reserved in each workshop for an Indigenous person
Are you afraid of poetry? Not sure you understand it? Maybe you already write poetry, but still that little voice in your head says you’re not doing it “right”?
This is an invitation to enjoy it again, as you did with nursery rhymes as a child.
In these workshops, Kelsey will help you play with language in a gentle, nonjudgemental atmosphere. You will read (and enjoy) poems and write some drafts of your own. You will have a chance to share your writing (though you don’t have to) for positive and encouraging feedback. You will never again feel that you need an MFA or a decoder ring to “get” a poem.
These workshops are good as a pair or can be taken standalone. Different aspects of poetry will be discussed in each.
