Upcoming Workshops

Upcoming Workshops

by | Jun 26, 2026 | Mentoring, On Writing, Presentation News

WorkPlay Story Writing Workshop

Calling writers aged 9 to 12 in Richmond Hill, Ontario! I’ll be hosting a WorkPlay Story Writing Workshop weekly from July 22 to August 12, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Richvale Branch of the Richmond Hill Public Library, and I would love to see you there.

Spark your imagination in this hands-on workshop. You’ll write your own mystery story, create fantastical worlds and the characters who live in them, and develop stories about real people—including you! With fresh and inspiring story-starters, you’ll have fun with words and develop your creative writing skills.

I can’t wait!

Feeling It: Creating Emotional Depth in Your Novel

I’m happy to announce my next workshop with Whale Rock Workshops. I’ll be co-teaching Feeling It: Creating Emotional Depth in Your Novel with author and poet Laura Shovan for the second time.

“I just didn’t connect with the character.”
“The character didn’t resonate with me.”

How many times do writers hear these phrases when submitting to editors and agents? These dreaded, vague responses can often leave writers scratching their heads. Was it the writing? The plotting? How can they write stories that readers can’t resist?

Emotionally deep stories grab readers’ attention and encourage them to care about the characters and their world. It’s one way to improve your writing and craft stories that readers (and agents and editors) connect to. Join us for a deep-dive into getting your characters’ emotions on the page.

Participants are expected to bring a chapter from a novel at any stage of development. Each session will tackle different ways to achieve emotional depth, whether you are connecting emotionally to your writer self, your characters, or your story ideas. Sessions will include exercises and side-writing assignments and will explore drafting and revising to achieve emotional depth. Participants will have homework to complete between sessions.

Each participant will walk away with a chapter of greater emotional depth as well as the tools needed to tackle all their manuscripts.

Participants will submit ten, double-spaced pages and receive feedback from one of the instructors.

This workshop is for you if:

  • You are writing a middle grade or young adult novel.
  • You are writing a memoir.
  • You love plot and/or dialogue, but struggle with getting to your character’s heart.
  • You’ve received the dreaded “I just didn’t connect…” feedback on your manuscript.
  • You would like to explore new ways of emotional connection in your writing practice.
  • You are gearing up for submission and want to be sure your book hits the emotional highs and lows.
  • You are a novelist looking to enhance your skills.

You will complete this workshop with:

  • A deeper understanding of the importance of getting emotions onto the page.
  • Practical tools and techniques to help you infuse your work with emotional resonance.
  • New ideas and inspiration for how to take your project and writing to deeper places.

Upcoming Workshop and Mentorships

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Mentoring, On Writing

Revise Your Picture Book Manuscripts

Do you have picture book manuscripts that you’d like to revise with a small, committed group of writers dedicated to helping you produce your best work? Please check out my upcoming picture-book revision class through Whale Rock Workshops.

When

Wednesdays April 22 – June 24
(excluding May 27)
7:30 – 9:10 PM EST | Online

Level

All Levels

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

This in-depth, hands-on, nine-week workshop is limited to eight participants. You’ll use your own manuscripts to explore picture-book craft/revision, you’ll discuss craft elements you can apply to your own manuscripts, and you’ll participate in weekly online discussions that dive into picture book craft topics.

Our nine weeks together include:

    • An initial session on learning how to participate in a writer-centered critique group—one that centers on each writer’s needs and creates a safe, nurturing feedback experience. (This session is required for participation.)
    • Eight 80-minute workshop sessions facilitated by me where writers will offer and receive targeted, constructive feedback that inspires revisions and helps you meet your writing goals.
    • Two manuscript critiques per participant during the workshop sessions, including feedback from me.
    • Learning about picture book craft from me and one another’s creative efforts and insights.
    • Eight weekly online conversation prompts about picture book craft in a separate, online digital learning space exclusive to the group.

Build-Your-Own Whale Rock Mentorships

This winter, Whale Rock is introducing a build-your-own mentorship to meet your unique needs. These are immersive, writing experiences designed to offer writers one-on-one attention, feedback, and skill-building from expert, MFA-level faculty members, including me. Please go to Build-Your-Own Mentorships to check out the options, or message me to chat.

For more info and to register, go to:

Whale Rock Workshops

Mentoring News

by | May 28, 2025 | Mentoring

I love teaching at at Whale Rock Workshops. In fact, I recently finished facilitating a small-group workshop on revising picture books that was so wonderful I didn’t want it to stop. You will still find me teaching workshops and delivering lectures through Whale Rock.

Now, I’m excited to announce that I’m adding to my teaching by joining the faculty for the Creative Writing Graduate Certificate Program at the Humber School for Writers in September 2025! This is a long-term, graduate-level program where I’ll be focused on mentoring children’s writers as they create their best work. It’s now accepting applications for Fall 2025.

Upcoming Presentations

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Presentation News

Appleby College Festival of Authors

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, you can find me at the first-ever Appleby College Festival of Authors, located in Oakville, Ontario! Its goal? To celebrate the incredible work of Canadian authors. I’m thrilled to see this new festival joining the literary landscape. Let’s help it be a big success so that it can continue for years to come.

At this year’s festival, you’ll find panels of speakers who are all there to share their books and delve into their creative journeys. Whether you like fiction or memoirs, thrillers or romance, picture books, or YA, you’ll find an author and books that are right for you. Tickets are only $10 and are available here.

I’ll be speaking with moderator John Corr and panelists Richard Scrimger and Sylvia McNicoll about The Power of Friendship in Stories. Plus, A Different Drummer bookstore will be on site so you can pick up new books, including my latest – Monster vs. Boy. I hope to see you there!

Writing Craft Talk at CANSCAIP

On June 11, I’ll be speaking at the monthly CANSCAIP members’ meeting at 7 p.m. ET. Meetings are via Zoom, and you can contact CANSCAIP for membership options or a one-time invitation as a guest.

I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Workshop: Revise Your Picture Book Manuscripts

by | Nov 8, 2024 | Mentoring, On Writing, Presentation News

I’m excited to share my next workshop with Whale Rock Literary Workshops. Details below!

Revise Your Picture Book Manuscripts:
A Faculty-led, Writer-Centered Critique Group

Dates: Wednesdays March 26 – May 21, 2025
Time: 7:30 – 8:50 PM EST
Where: Online

Do you have picture book manuscripts that you’d like to revise with a small, committed group of writers dedicated to helping you produce your best work? Join award-winning author and MFA-level instructor Karen Krossing for this in-depth, hands-on, nine-week workshop limited to eight participants. You’ll use your own manuscripts to explore picture-book craft/revision, you’ll discuss craft elements you can apply to your own manuscripts, and you’ll participate in weekly online discussions that dive into picture book craft topics.

Our nine weeks together include:

  • An initial session on learning how to participate in a writer-centered critique group—one that centers on each writer’s needs and creates a safe, nurturing feedback experience. (This session is required for participation.) 
  • Eight 80-minute workshop sessions facilitated by Karen Krossing where writers will offer and receive targeted, constructive feedback that inspires revisions and helps you meet your writing goals.
  • Two manuscript critiques per participant during the workshop sessions, including feedback from Karen.
  • Learning about picture book craft from Karen and one another’s creative efforts and insights.
  • Eight weekly online conversation prompts about picture book craft in a separate, online digital learning space exclusive to the group.

You will complete the workshop with:

  • Having built a community of fellow picture book writers.
  • The revision tools and craft knowledge to revise your own manuscripts as well as your peers’.
  • Meaningful ways to workshop and evaluate picture book stories.
  • Two critiques of your picture book manuscripts.
  • The tools needed to form your own writer-centered critique group or enhance your existing group.

This workshop is for you if:

  • You seek targeted, constructive, inspirational feedback on your picture book manuscripts.
  • You want to expand your understanding of picture book craft with a focus on revision.
  • You want to co-create a safe, nurturing feedback experience for all levels of writers.
  • You are seeking a writer-centered critique group or the tools and insight to enhance your existing critique group.

Register Here