FBCW upcoming events

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (11 Jul 2026)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

A seven-week, everything you wanted to know about indie/self-publishing but didn’t know who to ask course with Jenn Sommersby and guests! Join us on Saturdays from July 11th to August 29th for this informative and hands on series.

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

Self-publishing can be empowering, creative, and practical—but it can also be confusing to figure out alone. From editing and design to distribution, marketing, launch planning, and long-term sales, there are a lot of decisions between “I have a manuscript” and “My book is out in the world.”

FBCW’s Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 is a seven-week course designed to help writers understand the full self-publishing process from beginning to end. Led by longtime indie publisher and freelance editor Jenn Sommersby, with special guests bringing insight into key parts of the publishing journey, this course will give participants a clear, realistic roadmap for preparing, producing, publishing, and promoting their own book.

This course is for writers who are considering self-publishing, actively preparing a manuscript, or looking for a better understanding of what it takes to publish independently. Participants will learn how to make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, understand publishing platforms and production needs, and build a launch plan that fits their goals, capacity, and budget.

Over seven weeks, participants will explore the self-publishing landscape, develop a practical publishing plan, learn the basics of book production and distribution, strengthen their author platform, and prepare for marketing, launch, and post-publication opportunities.

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Compare platforms such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, Publish Drive, direct sales via Shopify and WooCommerce, print-on-demand (Lulu, BookVault, Books.by), and other distribution options, including considerations for bookstores and libraries.

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Jenn Sommersby is a novelist, editor, publishing educator, and Superman nut. A graduate of SFU’s Writer’s Studio (2007), her YA debut, Sleight, was a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Book for Kids & Teens (fall 2018) and an Ontario Library Association Best Bets Honourable Mention Book for Young Adults (2019). Jenn was also awarded a BC Arts Council Grant in 2019 for a YA eco-fiction/dystopian novel about water scarcity. She’s written a baker’s dozen books as Sommersby and Eliza Gordon, including best-selling rom-com titles, and her most recent women’s fiction/dramedy novel, Wish Upon a Rosie, released in February 2026 and was chosen as a finalist in the 20^th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA).

Jenn’s worked as a freelance editor since 2005 (via her company Plumfield Editing) for numerous internationally best-selling authors. Through her company, SGA Books, she supports indie authors with loads of publishing resources. Her first nonfiction advice/craft/confessional project in a new series, aptly titled Please Don’t Make Me Read This, is scheduled to publish in late 2026. She also works with FBCW as the Community Planning Manager. She is a tiny bit obsessed with writers and books.

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

July 2026 Member Orientation (15 Jul 2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Whether you’re a new FBCW member or a seasoned member who wants a refresher, join us for Member Orientation! We’ll be discussing member benefits, focusing on ways that the FBCW members can: Learn, Write, Connect, and Promote. Find out about the latest events, writing sprints, how to get involved, and where to get the information you seek.

The orientation overview will take about 20 minutes, and then there will be 10 minutes for questions at the end (30 minutes total).

Digital Doors Open at 1:55 PM, Event Starts at 2:00 PM Pacific Time

**This event will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants within a week of the session. The recording will be available for 45 days.

Writer Talk: With Literary Agent Jennifer Chevais (15 Jul 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Writer Talk: With Jennifer Chevais
Free, or by donation

Event Description

WRITER TALK is our new live interview series designed to pull back the golden curtain on the publishing world. Casual chitchat—not a workshop or webinar—a low-key Q&A between host and guest where you can bring your writing and publishing questions.

Each session features a guest from within this crazy industry—writers of all career stages repping a variety of genres and styles, successfully published authors, freelance and publishing house editors, agents, publicists, and other book-world professionals—in a candid chat meant to inform and inspire. We’ll dig into the real questions we all have about how to go from page 1 to published.

Digital doors open at 6:55 pm!

**This event will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants within a week of the session. The recording will be available for 45 days.

About our Guest:

Literary agent Jennifer Chevais is a generalist with a strong interest in commercial horror, speculative fiction, as well as children’s fiction and “just the right fit” nonfiction projects. As a generalist she is primarily drawn to character-driven stories peopled by characters so strong they'll either break your heart or pull it right out of your body.

She can be found online at www.therightsfactory.com/Agents/jennifer-chevais.

After the initial Q&A, attendees will have the opportunity to ask their own questions and join the discussion. If you’ve ever wanted to sit in on the kinds of conversations that usually happen behind closed doors, then we shall save you a spot!

If you have a topic burning a hole in your brain, drop me an email at jennifer@bcwriters.ca, and I will do my best to find an expert to sit in our very comfy, not-at-all-hot seat.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (18 Jul 2026)

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

Writing Intensive: Crafting Easy, Breezy Beach Reads (20 Jul 2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for five days of online learning from July 20 to 24, 2026.

ABOUT

CRAFTING EASY BREEZY BEACH READS is a weeklong online writing intensive focused on the craft, discipline, and deceptive difficulty of writing books that feel effortless to read. Beach reads are often described as “light,” but lightness is not the same as simplicity. Just because something is an easier read does not mean it is an easy write.

While each session is designed to stand alone, the overall writing intensive has been carefully curated to offer a range of practical craft lessons that build toward a cohesive and rewarding learning experience. Participants will explore the invisible engineering behind page-turners.

In a crowded and competitive field, quality matters. Readers may arrive looking for pleasure, escape, humour, romance, reinvention, or emotional release, but they stay because the writing is doing its job with precision. This program will also consider how serious themes—grief, class, power, identity, aging, desire, and transformation—can live inside accessible, pleasurable stories.

Designed for writers at all levels and career stages, CRAFTING EASY BREEZY BEACH READS invites participants to take light reading seriously as a demanding and rewarding craft. Bring your sunny premises, messy protagonists, half-built hooks, unresolved secrets, emotional undertow, and respect for the reader. The book may feel easy in their hands—but on the page, every effortless moment has to earn its place.

EVENT SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

All times are in Pacific (Vancouver) time.

Presentations will be recorded and available to registrants for 45 days after the intensive. The recordings will all be emailed at once, within a week of the end of the intensive. Socials and writing sprints will not be recorded.

DETAILED SCHEDULE:

~ Eliana West: Serious Themes in Accessible Fiction

How do you write about difficult topics without overwhelming readers or turning your novel into a lesson? Whether you're writing romance, fantasy, mystery, or historical fiction, serious themes can add depth, authenticity, and emotional resonance when they're woven naturally into your characters' journeys. In this workshop, we'll explore how to approach sensitive subjects with intention, empathy, and purpose while keeping story at the center of your novel.

We'll discuss intention versus impact, harmful editing, the power of language, unconscious assumptions, and how to avoid using controversial topics for shock value alone. Through practical examples and interactive discussion, you'll learn how to create characters who navigate complex issues in ways that feel authentic, relatable, and emotionally satisfying. You'll leave with tools to evaluate your own scenes, make intentional storytelling choices, and write fiction that entertains readers while exploring the issues that matter most.

~ Elisa Aisenstat: The Effortless Scene

This presentation uses the novel Beach Read by Emily Henry as an anchor text to explore the hidden engineering behind scenes that feel easy to read. Drawing on a practical scene structure framework built around POV Goal, Entry Hook, Middle, Exit Hook, and Climax, this session gives participants tools to build scenes that carry readers forward without them noticing the work being done.

The session begins with the Skeleton Blurb and Scene Blurb as planning tools, then moves into exploring the structural elements that build a foundation for a great scene. Participants will leave with a reusable framework they can apply to their own work, whether writing from scratch or strengthening scenes already on the page.

~ Jody Holford/Sophie Sullivan: Awkward (Meet) Cutes!

There's no better way to stumble into love than awkwardly. Join Sophie Sullivan for a workshop on creating memorable opening moments that make your characters pop off the page.

~ Jonathan Whitelaw: Crime & Mystery

In this session, we will look at the art of crafting mystery and thriller stories fit for the beach. We will examine how to deal with dark and gritty themes and characters in a way that makes them "light" and appealing, enough to not spoil a good vacation!

~ Kalie Holford: Beach Reads and Messy Leads: Sand is Messy, So Why Can’t Characters Be?

People make mistakes, and so do characters! The perfect feel-good read often follows imperfectly human love and people. Let’s talk about creating authentic, messy characters who fall down, get back up, and do it all over again.

~ Melinda Di Lorenzo: Twists, Timelines, and Thriller Tension

Melinda’s session explores the craft of writing a compelling thriller, from building a strong plot foundation to creating suspense through multiple points of view, layered timelines, and carefully earned twists. Using a favourite plotting approach often called the “Star Wars” (or "the Sooz") method, Melinda will show how writers can shape tension, escalation, and payoff while avoiding common thriller pitfalls. She’ll also look at what makes a twist feel surprising but satisfying, and how a strong ending can sometimes become the beginning of the story.

To close, Melinda will share a behind-the-scenes look at how her latest thriller short came to life.

~ Jenn Sommersby: The Almost-There Beach Read: Reader Promise, Payoff, and Revision

Some manuscripts have strong scenes, appealing characters, a compelling premise, and plenty of potential—but still don’t quite deliver the reading experience they seem to promise. So what’s going wrong?

In this practical editorial session, Jennifer Sommersby will explore the larger promises a novel makes to readers through its premise, genre, tone, opening pages, character arc, emotional stakes, and expected payoff. Rather than focusing on scene structure, this workshop looks at how the parts of a manuscript work together to create momentum, satisfaction, and trust.

Participants will learn how to identify common reasons accessible fiction can start to feel uneven, overstuffed, underpowered, or harder to read than intended, and will leave with a reader-focused diagnostic checklist they can use during revision.

~ Gabrielle Prendergast: BC Book Prize Winner on Writing Sci Fi & Fantasy

Session description: Coming soon!

~ Jacqueline Firkins: Women's Fiction

Session description: Coming soon!

ZOOM LINK

The Zoom link will be included in your registration confirmation and in follow-up reminders.

We will be using the same zoom link for the duration of the event.

Please watch your email for a confirmation of registration email.

If you do not receive your confirmation within 24 hours of registration, please check your spam folders.

Contact us at hello@bcwriters.ca if you have not received your confirmation by Thursday, July 16th to ensure we can get you the needed information.

RECORDINGS

Sessions (except social/discussion-based events) will be recorded and made available for 45 days after the last session.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Sessions will be a combination of talks, activities, and workshops.

The FBCW's statement of participant expectations applies in all settings. Please help us make this intensive a fun, safe experience for our presenters and community members by being respectful and considerate in your participation.

Most sessions will be 1 hour in length. Q&A may extend the session, but participants are not required to stay.

Participants are encouraged to have a pen and paper handy for all sessions.

RATES

FBCW MEMBERS: $69.50
GUEST: $89
SCHOLARSHIP: Limited scholarship-based discounts are available for those experiencing financial difficulties. Please email us at hello@bcwriters.ca to inquire.

POLICIES

RECORDINGS

Our presenters are provided with contracts that stipulate the length of time that recordings are available. We are obligated to respect these contracts. No extensions are possible.

Reach out if you have any tech challenges related to access of the recordings so that we can help you in the timeframe available.

REFUND POLICY

Full refunds will be issued up to July 3rd at 11:59 p.m.

Refunds for half of registration fees will be be issued until July 17th at 11:59 p.m.

No refunds are possible after July 17th at 11:59 p.m. except in the case of severe illness, death, or other urgent situations determined on a case-by-case basis.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We are an organization that cherishes the work of writers and artists. To that end, we ask that all participants respect the intellectual property of our presenters, recordings, and material shared. Do not reproduce or distribute Writing Intensive materials without written permission.

Similarly, if other participants share information or excerpts from their projects, please respect their intellectual property.

LIABILITY

In registering, participants understand and agree that the Federation of BC Writers (FBCW), its board, staff, presenters, and members are not liable for any damages or losses arising and waive any of the above from any and all liability.

The FBCW provides a space for presenters to share their experiences and insights with participants. The writing industry is a complex and ever-changing environment. As such, the FBCW does not endorse any specific information shared in our programming as being complete or accurate in all scenarios. Participants have a responsibility to research and make informed decisions on any information given or implied.

Difficult and triggering topics can arise as part of artistic practices that are unforeseeable for staff, volunteers, and other participants. The FBCW is not liable for any damages or harms caused by participating in our programming.

PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS

The FBCW is an organisation that celebrates diversity and inclusion; taking part in the program means that participants are expected to be respectful, inclusive, and support the dignity of all people regardless of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, language, ability, nationality, ability, health status, religion, and socioeconomic status. All people have identities that intersect the categories above. Examples of behaviour that undermine the above are: crude jokes, unwanted communication, statements minimising others’ experiences/histories, and threats.

Participants are expected to arrive a few minutes before sessions start. This allows for any technical issues to be resolved without the group being disrupted.

If a participant is late, we ask that they refrain from asking “what did I miss” type questions so that the event can proceed smoothly. Staff and facilitators will do the best they can to assist if vital information has been shared, but the recording should be able to resolve any questions of this nature.

We ask that participants be mindful of the amount of time they speak at events. All participants should have the ability to join in. Participants are expected to keep comments on topic and under a minute so that as many people as possible can participate.

Participants understand that if they are muted, it is not an intentional slight to them, but is needed to keep the session moving forward. Participants can be muted at the discretion of the FBCW facilitators.

Difficult topics can arise, and participants understand that we cannot always know or understand other people’s histories. To help make the space as welcoming and safe as possible, if a participant’s is to share information or read excerpts from works that contain certain themes (outlined below), they will identify this prior to reading it to the group. (e.g. sexual assault, extreme violence, self-harm/eating disorders/suicide ideation, abortion/miscarriage, mental illness, graphic adult content).

Participants are expected to understand, be sensitive to, and respect the fact that the work of writers, and their opportunity to read their work may be triggering and/or therapeutic to them. Artistic works require vulnerability and the safety to be vulnerable, especially with sensitive topics. Participants agree to do their best to maintain a safe and supportive space for the sharing of the work, regardless of its nature.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY

The Federation of BC Writers strives to make our events accessible to folks across ability and neurodivergence. We will do what we can to make our programming available to all people.

Our programming is based on zoom which means there are some limitations on what can be accomplished, but also advantages such as closed captioning and the ability to join from anywhere.

Accommodations are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations that would significantly hinder the ability of other participants to be involved or participate are not possible.

Some accommodations may be beyond our financial and administrative capabilities. In such cases, we will seek funding or alternatives if possible.

Sessions normally last for an hour. Participants are welcome to step way from their computers if they need to while turning off their camera and microphone, but we will not be able to fill people in on what they missed. Participants are asked to return to the recording in such instances.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (25 Jul 2026)

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

Writer Talk: With Jody Holford and Kalie Holford (29 Jul 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Writer Talk: With Jody Holford (Sophie Sullivan) and Kalie Holford
Free or by donation

Event Description

Digital doors open at 6:55 pm!

**This event will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants within a week of the session. The recording will be available for 45 days.

About Our Guests:

A mother-daughter writing duo? YES!

Jody Holford/Sophie Sullivan is a multi-published, Canadian author of romcoms and cozy mysteries. She's written more than thirty books and never gets tired of swoon-worthy moments in books she's reading or writing. When she's not lost in words, she's watching reruns of Friends, hanging with her family, and playing with her puppies.

Kalie Holford is an author and grad student studying Library and Information Studies. She resides in British Columbia where she lives with her family and two puppies. She loves Mamma Mia!, country music, and love songs and stories. Her passion is writing books about messy girls who make mistakes, learn to love, and grow alongside each other, and her debut, The Last Love Song, features all of these things. When she's not writing, she's likely making graphic designs, studying, or re-organizing her bookshelves for the thousandth time. She can also be found at @kalieholford on Instagram and TikTok.

After the initial Q&A, attendees will have the opportunity to ask their own questions and join the discussion. If you’ve ever wanted to sit in on the kinds of conversations that usually happen behind closed doors, then we shall save you a spot!

If you have a WRITER TALK topic or guest idea burning a hole in your brain, drop us an email at hello@bcwriters.ca!

Writer Talk: With Author Loghan Paylor, 2026 Canada Reads Winner (5 Aug 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Writer Talk, Featuring Loghan Paylor
Free or by donation

Event Description

WRITER TALK is our new live interview series designed to pull back the golden curtain on the publishing world. Casual chitchat—not a workshop or webinar—a low-key Q&A between host and guest where you can bring your writing and publishing questions.

Each session features a guest from within the industry, including writers of all career stages who rep a variety of genres and styles, successfully published authors, freelance and publishing house editors, agents, publicists, and other book-world professionals, in a candid chat meant to inform and inspire. We’ll dig into the real questions we all have about how to go from page 1 to published.

Digital doors open at 6:55 pm!

**This event will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants within a week of the session. The recording will be available for 45 days.

About Our Guest:

Loghan Paylor is a queer, trans writer whose first novel The Cure for Drowning (Random House Canada, 2024) won Canada Reads 2026, was longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize, named a Globe and Mail Best Book, and was a finalist for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize and the Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes. Their work has also appeared in Room, Prairie Fire, CBC Arts, and on the longlist for the CBC Nonfiction Prize. A graduate of the Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University, they also have an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and divide their time between teaching, writing, and co-owning a game company.

They can be found online at loghanpaylor.com.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (8 Aug 2026)

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

August Writers' Social (11 Aug 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Join us for a Writers' Social on Tuesday, August 11, from 7:00 - 8:30 PM Pacific by registering here and a Zoom link for the event will be emailed to you.

Many of us strive for connection with other writers. This monthly members-only event is designed to help bring us together for casual chats, with Breakout Rooms for specific topics, genres, and niches. Join us for 75 minutes of craft, career, and connection talk, with the chance to meet new people and get the most out of being a part of the FBCW.

Below are the proposed discussion groups for this month's meeting (subject to change). Please email hello@bcwriters.ca if you would like to suggest a discussion topic for an upcoming meeting. See you there!

Discussion Groups:

All about poetry
Editing and revision
Children's books / picture books
What are you reading? Current reads, favourite books
Memoir writers connect
Non-fiction writers connect (travel writing, journalism/reporting, research, etc)
Connecting writers with chronic illnesses
Romance writers
Traditional publishing chat (publishers, queries, finding an agent, etc)
Self-publishing chat
Writing and visual arts (film, theatre, photo essays)
General writing discussion

This event is exclusive to FBCW members. If you’re not a member yet, we would love to have you join us. You can find out more about membership at https://www.bcwriters.ca/benefits.

Digital doors open at 6:55 PM. Event starts at 7:00 PM Pacific.

August 2026 Member Orientation (14 Aug 2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The orientation overview will take about 20 minutes, and then there will be 10 minutes for questions at the end (30 minutes total).

Digital Doors Open at 11:55 AM, Event Starts at Noon Pacific Time

**This event will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants within a week of the session. The recording will be available for 45 days.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (15 Aug 2026)

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (22 Aug 2026)

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.

Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101 (7-week course) (29 Aug 2026)

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT

FBCW Enrolled: Self-Publishing 101

With Jenn Sommersby, freelance editor and indie/trad published author

Member price: $210 CAD (That's just $30 a session!)

Non-member price: $280 CAD

**This series will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to registrants each week after the session. The recordings will be available for 45 days.

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

Dates and time, all via Zoom:

Saturdays, July 11, 18, and 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon

Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 10: 30 a.m. to noon

(We are skipping the BC Day long weekend.)

By the end of the course, participants will have a clearer understanding of the self-publishing process and a personalized roadmap for moving their book forward.

Weekly topics may include:

Week 1: Understanding Self-Publishing

Explore the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing models; what authors are responsible for; common myths and scams; and how to define success for your book.

Week 2: Publishing Strategy and Project Planning

Develop a realistic plan for your book, including audience, comparable titles, budget, timeline, production needs, and what support you may need to hire.

Week 3: Book Design and Production

Learn what goes into creating a professional book, including cover design, interior formatting, ISBNs, metadata, print and ebook files, and key production decisions.

Week 4: Publishing Platforms and Distribution

Week 5: Author Platform and Branding

Clarify your author identity, reader audience, website, newsletter, social media presence, book description, and public-facing materials.

Week 6: Marketing and Launch Planning

Build the foundations of a launch plan, including advance review copies, endorsements, reviews, media outreach, events, promotions, and realistic marketing strategies.

Week 7: After Publication

Look beyond launch day to royalties, sales tracking, updates and new editions, audiobooks, rights, awards, festivals, speaking opportunities, and planning for future books.

Participants will leave with:

A better understanding of the self-publishing process from start to finish
A practical publishing timeline and production checklist
A clearer sense of budget, platform options, and distribution paths
Tools for thinking about author platform, marketing, and launch
A personalized roadmap for next steps

Bio:

Visit www.jennifersommersby.com and www.sgabooks.com for more.