Southbank winds up for another year
On Saturday, this year's SFU Southbank Writers celebrated the completion of their summer intensive writing program with a reading, a photo binge and a celebration dinner.
This year's group was diverse, devoted and diligent. We had people working on memoirs, essays, short stories, novels, and poetry.
It's true that a lot of the time we writers are solitary creatures, alone in a room with the proverbial blank page (now sometimes a computer screen). But writers do need to be around other writers.
The reaction when a heretofore solitary writer finds a peer group is delight and relief. What? You mean there are other people like me? I'm not the only one in the cafe with my back against the wall writing down scraps of things other people are saying?
As for being a mentor for Southbank, I can't think of a more perfect gig. Really looking forward to next year. Anyone who lives south of the Fraser (la rive gauche of Metro Vancouver?) will be relieved that no bridges are involved in travelling to SFU Surrey.
Check out the program here. So far it's run just in summer, but down the road, who knows? Do get in touch with SFU Continuing Ed if you have a question or suggestion. Our Director is Wayde Compton.