Blog

By Steve Oetting I promised myself I would control my exuberance, but the Ephemera workshop was the most exciting Guild event I have ever attended. We had 15 participants that composed amazing stories in just two 12-minute writing sessions. But the most notable thing was the camaraderie. As we heard each piece read aloud to the group, the applause and laughter that rang out in that small room must have shaken the timbers of the …

Our Poetry Competition has been extended. Submit your poems before the deadline of March 23.

By Angela Almeida International Women’s Day – observed every year on March 8 – is a time the Manitoba Writers’ Guild (MWG) takes to honour women’s historical and enduring fight for equality and liberation throughout the years. We also celebrate the remarkable achievements of generations of women within the writing community. The MWG is proud to recognize the contributions of our women authors, whose works continue to enrich Manitoba’s literary landscape. Check out talented women …

By Harriet Zaidman The Sheldon Oberman Mentorship Program reception took place in the MWG Boardroom on Sunday, February 22. We celebrated last year’s mentorships and introduced this year’s pairings before an audience of about 20 friends, relatives and Guild members.  Sheldon Oberman, after whom this program was renamed in 2004 (formerly named the Emerging Writers’ Program), never forgot how the mentorship program helped shape him. Sheldon was a founding member of the Manitoba Writers’ Guild and …

Every February, the Manitoba Writers’ Guild (MWG) celebrates Black History Month by uplifting the voices of emerging BIPOC writers, which is why the MWG offers programs like the Rabindranath Tagore Poetry Competition. The poetry competition’s theme this year is “A Tumultuous Journey with a Bright Horizon,” speaking to both the challenges and the strength within BIPOC creative communities. It acknowledges the realities BIPOC writers face while celebrating the resilience that continues to shape the future …

By Andy Dutfield “Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here. – Sue Monk Kidd                                            The Manitoba Writers’ Guild held a successful Memoir Writing Workshop on Saturday 24th January 2026 at the ArtSpace building. The presenter was Steve Oetting, supported by Amanda Le Rougetel, Heather Emberley, Jessica Smithies and Susan Rocan. There was a full house of over twenty participants, both …

The Manitoba Writers Guild mourns the loss of Victor Enns, who passed away December 9th in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. A founding member of the Manitoba Writers Guild in 1981, Victor was also the founder, publisher and long-time editor of Rhubarb Magazine, Winnipeg’s seminal voice for Mennonite literature and culture and the author of six collections of poetry. He was a frequent contributor to national literary magazines and anthologies and, among other leadership roles in …

My Journey Through Work-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) By Tami Reynolds and Lisa Bukoski Where will you find about 50 doctors, paramedics, hunters, a dog groomer, a recent immigrant from the Middle East and numerous Manitoba Writers’ Guild folks, along with delicious empanadas and advice on how to live life fully or eat a pineapple? At Philip Habacon’s release of his memoir, 55 Things Learned at 55, of course. His memoir, based on journal entries, …

Ron Romanowski’s Book Chat – 10,000 Dancers Working Off Broadway By  David Yerex Williamson On Wednesday, November 12th, Ron Romanowski delighted a small but enthusiastic audience during a reading and book chat about his most recent poetry collection, 10,000 Dancers Working Off Broadway. Hosted by the incomparable Susan Rocan, former Guild president, historian and general doer of things needing to be done, Ron connected with old friends, new fans and supportive artists. Following a short …

By Tami Reynolds and Steve Oetting Want to see a movie, watch a play, and ride the dark train into a labyrinth of horror, all for free? You need to attend an MWG book launch. They say a rolling stone gathers no moss, a proverb which certainly applies to Den Valdron. Mr. Valdron wrote his first short story at the age of 13 and never stopped, and today he is the author of more than …

by Lori Gaudet Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of the Guild. Despite the problems that plagued the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) non-profit organization, resulting their demise earlier this year, many authors still find value in the concept behind it. This article is intended for those folks in order to provide some helpful information for writers looking for a replacement. …

By Andrew Dutfield and Steve Oetting What is more fun than a barrel of monkeys? The MWG Annual General Meeting, of course! You might not have expected it, but this year’s AGM was a lot of fun, held on October 18 at the Bill and Helen Norrie Library. To start off with, our good-natured and always entertaining Chair/President, David Williamson, was in terrific form. We were all heartily welcomed with a few humorous stories of …