This event is a partnership between the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and the Alexandra Writers’ Centre. Street parking is free from 6:00 PM onwards.

Amy LeBlanc holds a PhD in English from the University of Calgary where she researched horror, gothic, and interactive literature. She is the author of four books, most recently, I used to live here (Porcupine’s Quill 2025). She is the manager at Nocturne Books, Calgary’s horror bookstore.

The Horror of Choice — Writing Interactive Horror Fiction In this mini workshop, we’ll talk about how to work interactivity into your horror fiction and how you can draw from the world of videogames to create immersive, frightening, and dread-inducing prose.

Calgary, we hope to see you at Connections Brewing for another pub night. This month we will be featuring a mini horror-writing workshop with Calgary’s own Amy LeBlanc! October 13, 2026 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM MT Last Best Brewing & Distilling (Upstairs in the dining room) 607 – 11th Ave SW Calgary

Speak Up is now live! Speak Up will be streaming from YouTube. This event is sponsored by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and and Santjuri Buks. Learn more about Speak Up here.

About the Feature: Oma is Loud is the 2026 Canadian Poetry Slam Champion and 2026 winner of the Evaristo Prize for Poetry. She is a Poetry Translation Centre (UK) Undertow Fellow. Her poetry-theatre production Pretty Dangerous: Four Acts on Womanhood premiered at the Calgary Library in 2026.

Join us for a free monthly open mic with Speak Up YYC! Next month's feature is Oma is Loud. October 29, 2026 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM MT SANTJURI BUKS in Marlborough Mall Unit 34, 3800 Memorial Drive N.E Calgary

Writers are welcome to attend and stay for both. Stop by to chat and support your fellow writers, and ask about joining our Discord today! October 21, 2026 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM MT Rooster Kitchen & Bar 10732 Whyte Ave Edmonton

Edmonton, our October Queer Writers' Collective Meeting will be back as usual on the third Wednesday of the month. The Queer Writers' Collective Meeting will be followed by the WGA's monthly Edmonton pub night at 7:00 PM MT.

The pub night follows directly after the Queer Writers’ Collective meeting from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM MT at the Rooster Bar & Kitchen.

You do not need to read on theme for the open mic. Whether you're a first timer or a veteran, all are welcome. Come and share your words with the wonderful and encouraging Edmonton writer community.

Edmonton, October's next pub night will feature a spooky Halloween theme: Unrequited Love! October 21, 2026 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM MT Open Mic Sign-Up at 6:45 PM MT Rooster Bar & Kitchen 10732 82 Ave (Whyte Ave) Edmonton

Please note that the location of future VERS/E events is still being determined. This event series is supported by the League of Canadian Poets and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.

Join Edmonton queer writers on the first Wednesday of every month, September through April. October’s feature is Teren Hazzard! October 7, 2026 6:00 PM MT Doors & Sign Up 6:30 PM MT Open Mic Fringe Grounds Cafe 10330 84 Ave Edmonton

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Felice Cafe has announced a permanent shut down and the VERS/E Queer Poetry Open Mic will be moving temporarily. The new venue for tonight's Open Mic will be at the Fringe Grounds Cafe, Edmonton. Details below!

Read more about our features: Ashley Rae Carter-Wells, Morag Northey, Eugene Stickland, Mary Vlooswyk, and Sheri-D Wilson. Hosted by the WGA's Ashley Frerichs. This event is presented by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and the Calgary Spoken Word Society.

Six distinctive writers and artists gather at the Witches’ Well, where words and music explore nature, memory, transformation, witchcraft and the strange magic hidden in everyday life. Lyrical, surprising and just a little spellbinding.

An atmospheric evening of poetry, storytelling and live cello, arriving just in time for Halloween! October 28, 2026 Doors: 6:30 PM MT Show: 7:00 PM MT cSpace Marda Loop Theatre (First Floor) 1721 29 Ave SW Calgary Tickets: Entry by donation here (suggested donation $20)