Author: jacobscheier

New Workshop: Writing About Illness And Disability

Pamenar Press Presents:
Writing About Illness and Disability
with Jacob Scheier

In this eight-week writing workshop we will be writing poetry and personal narrative (prose) exploring illness and disability. Through close reading, discussion of literary devices and workshop writing exercises and assignments, participants will work towards making their experiences of illness and disability speak to others in an evocative and possibly provocative way. Subject matter is not limited to physical illness and/or disability but includes mental health issues—as you identify them, (including, but certainly not limited to trauma). There is, in fact, no limitation on what “counts” as illness or disability. This course is inclusive and embraces diversity: people of color, indigenous peoples, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people of all backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged to be participants. No prior creative writing experience is needed to take this workshop. Novice writers are encouraged to take part.

“Jacob creates a class atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and truly creative, and this has given all of us the freedom to write very moving and powerful pieces around the subjects of grief and loss.” —Dianne Moore, Learner, former student of Jacob Scheier’s Writing About Grief workshop course.

Thursdays 6:30-9 pm October 3-November 21
401 Richmond Street West, Suite 401
Cost: $300.00 (sliding scale available for those in financial need)

About Jacob:
Jacob Scheier is a Governor General’s Award-winning poet. He is the author of two poetry collections with ECW Press: More to Keep us Warm (2007) and Letter from Brooklyn (2013). He is also the author of the nonfiction ebook My Never-Ending Acid Trip (2013) published by The Toronto Star. His poems and works of personal narrative have been widely published in journals and anthologies across North America and in the UK. For several years Jacob has facilitated creative writing workshops, including the course Writing About Grief, which he has taught at Ryerson University’s Chang School of Continuing Education and with indigenous communities in the Yukon and Ontario—amongst many other places and communities. Writing About Grief was inspired by Jacob’s experience being a peer-facilitator of support groups for bereaved young adults. Similarly, Writing About Illness and Disability comes out of Jacob’s personal experience and creative writing. Jacob also has an academic background in Disability Studies. To learn more go to jacobscheier.org

About Pamenar Press:
Pamenar Press is an independent, cross-cultural, multilingual, experimental publisher, based in the UK, Canada, and Iran. Learn more about us at: pamenarpress.com

To register or for further information please contact: info@pamenarpress

Registration Open for Writing Poetry About Grief Winter 2015

Writing Poetry About Grief

An 8 week long Poetry Writing Workshop taught by award winning writer, Jacob Scheier.

This is a workshop course on writing poems that explore loss and grief. Through reading, discussion of literary devices and workshopping writing exercises and assignments, participants will work towards making their experiences of grief and loss speak to others in an evocative and poetic way. Subject matter is not limited to the death of a loved one, but can include, for example, a divorce/break up or losing a part of a person through injury or illness.

“Jacob creates a class atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and truly creative, and this has given all of us the freedom to write very moving and powerful pieces around the subjects of grief and loss.”
– Dianne Moore, Learner, former student.

About Jacob: Jacob Scheier is an award winning poet. He was the winner of the 2008 Governor General’s Award for poetry and his poems been published in magazines across North America, aired on CBC radio and inspired a contemporary dance performance at the Enwave Theatre in Toronto. His second full length collection, Letter from Brooklyn, was published with ECW Press (2013). Jacob read from Letter from Brooklyn as a guest author, this past fall, at the 2014 International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront. He has been a volunteer peer-facilitator with Bereaved Families of Ontario since 2008 and has been facilitating workshops on writing about grief since 2011. To learn more about Jacob go to jacobscheier.org

When and Where: Thursdays 6:-9 pm, January 22-March 12, 2015. 373 Front Street West (Just east of Spadina).

Cost: $250.00. Reading material provided (participants are responsible for photocopying assignments for workshop and providing own supplies for in-workshop writing exercises (i.e. pen and paper or a labtop computer).

To register: contact Jacob at [email protected]

For more info: call 416-949-6003 or email [email protected]

Writing About Grief Workshop Course: Sept. 16-Nov. 18, 2014

Writing About Grief

A ten week long Creative Writing Workshop taught by award winning writer, Jacob Scheier.

This is a workshop course on creative non-fiction (memoir, personal essay) and poetry engaging personal experiences of loss and grief. Through reading, discussion of literary devices and workshopping writing exercises and assignments, participants will work towards making their experiences of grief and loss speak to others in an evocative way. Subject matter is not limited to the death of a loved one, but can include, for example, a divorce/break up or losing a part of a person through injury or illness.

“Jacob creates a class atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and truly creative, and this has given all of us the freedom to write very moving and powerful pieces around the subjects of grief and loss.”
- Dianne Moore, Learner, former student.

About Jacob: Jacob Scheier is an award winning poet and journalist.  He was the winner of the 2008 Governor General’s Award for poetry and his poems, essays and articles have been published across North America. His second full length collection, Letter from Brooklyn, was published with ECW Press (2013). He is also the author of the non-fiction ebook My Never Ending Acid Trip, published by The Toronto Star (2013) and a regular contributor to Toronto’s NOW Magazine. He has been a volunteer peer-facilitator with Bereaved Families of Ontario since 2008 and has been facilitating workshops on writing about grief since 2011. To learn more about Jacob go tojacobscheier.org

When and Where: Tuesday evenings September 16-November 18, 2014, 6:30-9 pm. 25 Maitland Street, Toronto (1 block south of Wellesley St. and 1 block east of Yonge St.)

Cost: $225.00. Reading material provided (participants are responsible for photocopying assignments for workshop and providing own supplies for in-workshop writing exercises (i.e. pen and paper or a labtop computer).

To register: contact Jacob at [email protected]

For more info: call 416-949-6003 or email [email protected]

Writing About Grief Summer Weekend Intensive Workshop: August 16th and 17th

Weekend Intensive Workshop with Jacob Scheier

A weekend-long intensive workshop on writing creative non-fiction (memoir, personal and lyric essay) and poetry engaging personal experiences of loss and grief. Through reading, discussion of literary devices and techniques and writing exercises, students will work towards making their experiences of grief and loss speak to others. Subject matter is not limited to the death of a loved one, but can include, for example, a divorce/break up or losing a part of a person through injury or illness.

Saturday, August 16th, Personal Narrative: 11-5 pm

Sunday August 17th, Poetry: 11-5 pm

Total cost: $150

Single Day (your choice): $100

Materials Provided

122 Golfview Avenue in the Beaches (Toronto)

I placed “runner up” at IFOA’s Battle of the Bards

In the 6th annual International Festival of Authors “Battle of the Bards” on Wed. April 2 (2014)  I competed against 19 other fine poets. Catherine Graham was the winner and I was fortunate enough to receive a kind of “runner up” status along with Julie Joosten. As a result the three of us were awarded an invitation to read our work at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto this October. Details of reading date and time TBA.

Read more about the event here

Poem in New Anthology

My poem “My Mother Dies in Reverse” from Letter from Brooklyn was just republished in the anthology: MESS: the hospital anthology, a collection of poetry and prose. It’s a beautiful book and I am additionally honoured that my poem inspired the cover art. You can read an interview with the editors, in which my poem among other works in the book are discussed, here