If you're struggling with a manuscript or report and need inspiration to get the project finished, the Port Moody Public Library has some solutions this month.
On Nov. 19, the library will host a free day-long aimed at helping authors with their stories and words, and connecting readers with writers — and writers with other writers.
Published author and English teacher will lead a workshop at 10 a.m. called Overcoming Writer's Block. Participants are asked to bring their writing tools.
Next up is the authors' fair at 12:30 p.m. where readers can browse the authors' tables, pick up a new book and have it signed.
Children ages eight to 12 can also sign up to hone their skills at a Kids Writing Workshop, on from 1 to 2 p.m.
And you can listen to a panel discussion — moderated by Tri-Cities author and publisher Erik D’Souza — about writing dialogue and capturing character voice. The event starts at 3 p.m.
Gabriel Viana, the library’s programming and outreach librarian, told the Tri-City News that Writers Fest was held in 2015 and 2019, but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There is a such a depth and diversity of literary talent in the Tri-Cities — writers, illustrators, journalists, essayist, researchers, etc.," Viana said.
"You browse through the local author collection and find thrilling romance, scintillating mysteries, charming picture books, hard-hitting memoirs and more on the same shelf. Through this festival, we wanted to highlight these local authors and give them the opportunity to share their stories and their knowledge with the community."
Library staff hope the Writers Fest will interest authors, as well as "passionate bloggers, teens with opinions, children with big imaginations, bedtime-story creators and Dungeon Masters."
To register for the Writers Fest workshops, and for more information, you're encouraged to visit the .