On Creative Writing

By Sheelagh Caygill

The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition is designed for creative writers who need that extra push, that spark to reignite their passion and move forward with their work.

Have you ever felt stuck in your writing? Maybe you're wrestling with your first draft, or you've lost momentum on a project that once excited you. Maybe self-doubt has crept in, or life has simply gotten in the way. If any of this sounds familiar, this competition might be exactly what you need.

The competition offers one writer a prize including sessions with a writing coach, editing, a one-year free membership with Brain.fm, and a Q & A interview with On Creative Writing. This prize is about transformation. It's about getting the professional support and tools you need to move your writing forward.

If you know you have a bit of talent within you—that unique combination of observation, imagination, and perspective that only you can bring to your work—but your spark is diminished, then I want you to enter. 

The prize

First, you'll receive two one-hour coaching sessions with Fiona Fenwick, a professional coach and mentor based in New Zealand who specializes in helping creative writers reconnect with their creative energy, focus, and clarity. 

In your first Zoom session with Fiona, you'll discuss and explore your goals, challenges, and any obstacles getting in your way. Are there habits preventing your progress? 

Fiona will help you find solutions and provide actionable recommendations. 

Then, three to four months later, you'll have a follow-up session for continued support. 

Plus, Fiona will be available for email support as needed throughout the process.

Fiona specializes in helping writers overcome self-doubt and build sustainable writing habits. Her coaching is truly a lifeline for anyone navigating the ups and downs of the creative process. 

Listen to a simulated coaching session with Fiona in my interview with her in the episode titled How a writing coach helps creative writers become unstuck, released Sept. 23 2025.

You'll receive a free full year subscription to Brain.fm. This isn't just background music. Brain.fm's music is scientifically engineered to work with your brainwaves to help you focus, relax, sleep, or meditate.

The third component is two hours of professional editing and feedback from me. As an experienced journalist and creative writer, I'll tailor the editing to your specific needs. 

You might want to divide the time into two sessions—I can review your work first, then we'll discuss my feedback over Zoom. Or you can use me as an alpha or beta reader, and I'll send you a detailed report. 

Finally, you'll have the opportunity to be featured in a Writers Reveal Q&A interview here at On Creative Writing. You'll also be promoted through our newsletter and social media platforms. It's a wonderful opportunity to share your story and connect with our community of readers and writers.

To enter you need to have reached the age of majority in your country or jurisdiction. 

You'll need to answer two questions. The first question asks why you deserve to win. This is the answer that Fiona and I will evaluate, based on how well it's written—we'll consider spelling and grammar, use of language, persuasiveness, and writing style.

The second question asks you to describe your project in 300 to 700 characters. Tell us about the genre, the subject, whether you've started, and if you have a deadline. 

The entry fee is just $6 dollars Canadian to cover administrative costs. You can pay through our Ko-fi page when you submit your entry. 

Entries, coaching, and editing sessions will be in English.

Deadline: Friday, December 19th, 2025 at eleven a.m. Mountain Standard Time.

If you're in a creative rut, dealing with writer's block, or need motivation to push through, this prize will help!

Enter here: https://www.oncreativewriting.com/writers-spark-coaching-contest

In this episode of On Creative Writing, guest host and poet Kim Mannix sits down with acclaimed Canadian author C.J. Levigne to explore her post-apolyptic novella, The Drowned Man’s Daughter.

C.J. shares the origins of the book, which came out of her experiences with climate grief and a sense of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes how these experiences, combined with her fascination for the rugged beauty of the Nova Scotia coastline, shaped the novella’s evocative setting—a small, weather-beaten fishing village teetering on the edge of environmental collapse.

C.J. offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process, revealing how she balances meticulous research with moments of creative spontaneity. She discusses the challenges of editing The Drowned Man’s Daughter, particularly when it came to maintaining narrative tension and emotional resonance in a shorter format.

Kim and C.J. discuss the novella’s unique blend of speculative genres, including elements of magical realism, folklore, and eco-fiction. C.J. explains how she wove together these threads to create a story that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary, reflecting anxieties about climate change while also drawing on the mythic traditions of the Atlantic coast.

The episode also highlights C.J.’s experience working with NeWest Press’s Barbour Books imprint, which is focused on acquiring speculative fiction. C.J. talks about collaborating with Barbour’s new editor, Jenna Butler, whose keen editorial eye and passion for innovative storytelling helped shape the final manuscript. She shares anecdotes from the editing process, including tough decisions about what to cut and what to expand, and how Jenna’s feedback pushed her to deepen the core of the story.

C.J. works full-time and mentions the "bl**dy mindedness" she employed to finish The Drowned Man’s Daughter, working from initial drafts through rounds of revision and the uncertainties of submitting to publishers.

She emphasizes the importance of research—not just into the environmental science that underpins the novella’s world, but also into the folklore and oral histories of coastal communities. Kim and C.J. touch on the role of community in the novella and on how isolation and connection are mirrored in both the story and the author’s own creative journey.

Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of blending genres, including dystopian fiction, building immersive settings, and working with a supportive editorial team. It is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, place, and pressing contemporary themes.

Host Kim Mannix is a poet who has just released her debut collection, Confirm Humanity. Read Kim's interview with On Creative Writing.

Author Saad Omar Khan, a Pakistani Canadian writer and the author of the acclaimed debut novel Drinking the Ocean, joins host Sheelagh Caygill for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about his writing and his book.

Saad was born in the United Arab Emirates to Pakistani parents and lived in the Philippines, Hong Kong, London, and South Korea before immigrating to Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics and has completed a certificate in Creative Writing from the School of Continuing Studies (University of Toronto) where he was a finalist for the Random House Creative Writing Award (2010 and 2011) and for the Marina Nemat Award (2012).Saad shares insights into his multicultural upbringing and how his cosmopolitan upbringing has shaped both his view of the world and his writing. He reflects on the complexities and richness of navigating cultures, and how these experiences inform the characters, settings, and themes in his writing.

Listeners will hear a reading from Drinking the Ocean, where Saad brings to life the emotional depth and lyrical prose that have won him praise for this debut. He reflects on the literary influences that have shaped his voice, and discusses how he sought a balance of perspective for the characters of Murad and Sofi in Drinking the Ocean.

Saad strives to authentically portray the nuances of faith, mental health, and culture in his fiction. He discusses how he aims to represent these themes with honesty and sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes and instead offering multidimensional characters who grapple with real-life challenges. He shares his writing process, through to revisiions, and talks about the authors and books that have influenced him.

We touch on balancing a full-time professional career with creative writing. Saad offers advice for writers who are juggling multiple responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of discipline, time management, and self-compassion. He also highlights the role of literary communities—both online and in-person—in providing support, feedback, and a sense of belonging for writers at all stages of their careers.

The episode also explores the complexities of love, identity, and belonging, as Saad discusses how fiction can be a powerful tool for empathy and understanding. Saad offers a look at the challenges and rewards of writing about topics that are deeply personal yet universally relatable.

Find Saad Omar Khan online.

Drinking the Ocean is published by Wolsak and Wynn.

Read Saad Omar Khan's interview at On Creative Writing.

Guest host and poet Marco Melfi (author of Routine Maintenance) joins poet and professor Chris Hutchinson to explore the intricacies of Chris’s latest poetry collection, Lost Signal. Marco and Chris have a thoughtful discussion about the intersections of creativity, technology, and culture in contemporary poetry. They reflect on the enduring power of poetry to connect people across differences, create moments of shared understanding, and inspire both joy and critical thought.

The poets unpack the origins of Lost Signal, with Chris sharing the inspirations and experiences that shaped the collection. He discusses how the rapid evolution of technology and the omnipresence of digital culture have influenced not only the themes of his poems but also his approach to language and form.

The conversation explores the role of place and personal experience in Chris’s poetry. He describes how his sense of identity is shaped by the landscapes he’s inhabited, from urban environments to more rural settings, and how these places inform the emotional and imagistic texture of his poems. Chris emphasizes the importance of observation and presence, explaining how paying close attention to the world around him fuels his creative process and helps him capture moments of beauty, uncertainty, and transformation.

Chris reads several poems from Lost Signal, offering listeners a glimpse into his poetic voice and sensibility. Each reading is accompanied by a discussion of the poem’s origins, themes, and craft. Chris shares insights into his writing process, highlighting his use of intuition in writing first drafts and the necessity of revision in refining his work. He talks about the challenges of balancing spontaneity with careful editing, and how he strives to keep the energy of an initial idea while shaping it into a finished poem.

Marco and Chris delve into broader questions about the function of poetry in society. Chris believes in poetry’s unique ability to critique cultural norms, question dominant narratives, and foster empathy among readers. He discusses the pleasure he finds in the musicality and playfulness of language, as well as his commitment to engaging with social and political issues through his art. The conversation touches on the responsibilities of the poet in an era of rapid change and uncertainty, and how poetry can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for personal and collective reflection.

Chris offers advice to aspiring poets and writers, encouraging them to trust their instincts, embrace revision, and remain open to the world’s complexities.

He explains: "My process as very intuitive. I honestly haven't had an idea for a poem or a book. Other people have ideas and schemes, and I admire that . . . you know, you travel to museums or do interviews and compile all this information and you kind of know where you're going. I think that's a very mature and sophisticated kind of creative process that I envy. And unfortunately, or maybe for better or for worse, I just don't. I've never been able to. Or maybe I haven't even bothered to try to do anything quite like that.

"I love sitting down and having no expectations and not really knowing what a poem is. If I have preconceived ideas or assumptions about what am I going to do, then I won't make any discoveries. It's no surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader, as Robert Frost once said.

"I like the idea of clearing one's mind and turning off one's internal editor, self-criticism, and doubts, in order to just allow language to kind of gurgle up from your unconscious or wherever it comes from and spontaneously spill out onto the page."

Thanks to Marco Melfi for hosting this episode, and to Chris for his time as a guest!

Chris Hutcinson

Lost Signals

Marco Melfi

Routine Maintenance

Novelist Susan Wadds presents an audio essay for this episode of On Creative Writing. She discusses her debut novel, What the Living Do. The title is from a poem by Marie Howe, which addresses someone who has passed away, and tells what the living is doing with their day.

Susan's novel centers on Brett Catlin, a woman navigating the complex terrain of grief, guilt, and a cancer diagnosis, all while coming to terms with a haunting childhood tragedy. The story looks at how the past continues to shape the present, and how healing can emerge from even the deepest wounds.

Many years ago, Susan had cancer and felt that there was a psychological underpinning to the disease. She shares her experiences with illness and how it informed both the emotional landscape of her protagonist, Brett Catlin, and the broader themes of her novel. She describes the challenges of writing authentically about pain and vulnerability, and how drawing from her personal journey allowed her to create a character who feels both real and relatable. Susan also discusses the cathartic power of storytelling, and how writing became a means of processing her own grief and uncertainty.

A significant part of Susan’s writing journey involved participating in supportive writing workshops. She shares how these creative communities provided not only technical guidance but also much-needed encouragement and camaraderie.

She wrote What the Living Do after years of not writing, even though she had been writing since before her teenage years. But after spending a lot of time in India and raising a family, she had stepped away from writing seriously. She had lost her confidence in being able to write a story, but was introduced to a woman named Sue Reynolds, who uses the Amherst Writers and Artists method of writing and workshop facilitation to help writers write what they need to write. Susan went to Sue's workshops and with the support of other writers and celebrating one another's successes, she found her voice and the confidence to complete her novel.

When it came to the creation of the novel's protagonist, Susan listened to Sherry Coalman, a writer and theatre person, who talks about a sacred image in writing. This can be can epicenter of what it is you're going to write about. For Susan, the sacred image was noticing women on roads, crews who actually weren't down in the ditches with the men, but just holding stop slow signs. And as most writers do, she asked the question, what if, what if what? What kind of person would she be if she was down there, scraping roadkill and filling potholes and taking down trees? Who would that be? Well, she'd be a little bit tough, able to hold her own in a misogynistic landscape or job. Susan flipped the script and gave Brett a younger lover. She has a work partner named Mel, who's indigenous, and Brett projects all of this wise Indigenous wisdom onto Mel.

Susan reflects on the role of positive feedback in a writer’s development. She recounts moments when a kind word or thoughtful critique made all the difference, motivating her to keep going during periods of self-doubt. She encourages aspiring writers to seek out communities that foster growth and to be generous with their own encouragement.

Listeners will come away with insights into the intersection of life experience and fiction, the value of creative support networks, and the transformative potential of writing through pain. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, Susan’s story is about the resilience of the creative spirit and the healing power of narrative.

Susan is based in Sebright, Ontario, Canada. Find on Substack and Instagram.

News! The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition is open! One creative writer has an opportunity to win one prize comprising:

• Coaching from coach and mentor Fiona Fenwick!
• A free full year of Brain.fm.
• Editing from Sheelagh Caygill.
• Q&A interview published with On Creative Writing. 

Find The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition details here. Closing date: December 19, 2025.

Show notes: Go to coach and mentor Fiona Fenwick's transcript.

Fiona summarizes the wisdom from two popular books on writing: Dorothea Brande’s classic Becoming a Writer and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

Drawing on her own experiences as a coach and writer, Fiona transforms the knowledge in these books into six essential lessons.

Lesson one: Mindset over innate talent. Brande and Lamott emphasize that while talent is helpful, the writer’s mindset—openness, curiosity, and resilience—shapes a successful writing life.

Fiona discusses ways to cultivate a grow a, growth-oriented mindset, including daily affirmations, self-compassion, and reframing setbacks as opportunities for learning. She shares anecdotes from her coaching practice, illustrating how writers who focus on mindset are better equipped to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of the creative process.

Lesson two: The power of routine. Fiona highlights how Brande advocates for establishing a consistent writing schedule, treating writing as a daily practice rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.

Lamott’s advice is to take things “bird by bird”—one small step at a time. Fiona offers tips for building sustainable routines, such as setting realistic goals, creating a dedicated writing space, and using rituals to signal the start of a writing session. She addresses common obstacles, like procrastination and perfectionism, and suggests gentle strategies for overcoming them.

Lesson three: The fear of failure. This is a challenge that plagues writers of all levels. Drawing from Lamott’s candid discussions about “shi**y first drafts,” Fiona reassures listeners that imperfection is not only acceptable but necessary.

She encourages writers to embrace the messy, uncertain early stages of writing, reminding them that every published work began as a rough draft. Fiona shares exercises for quieting the inner critic and building confidence, such as freewriting, journaling, and celebrating small wins.

Lesson four: Honesty in writing. Both Brande and Lamott stress the importance of authenticity—writing truthfully about one’s experiences, emotions, and observations.

Fiona discusses how vulnerability on the page can create powerful connections with readers and foster personal growth. She offers guidance on navigating the discomfort that often accompanies honest writing, including setting boundaries and practicing self-care.

Lesson five: The emotional challenges writers face. Fiona acknowledges that writing can stir up difficult feelings—self-doubt, frustration, even grief. She draws on Brande’s advice to treat writing as both a craft and a form of self-discovery, and Lamott’s encouragement to keep writing even when it’s hard.

Lesson six: Have a supportive writing community. Both Brande and Lamott highlight the importance of connecting with other writers for encouragement, feedback, and inspiration.

Fiona shares her own experiences with writing groups and online communities, offering suggestions for finding or creating a circle of supportive peers. She discusses the benefits of sharing work, giving and receiving constructive feedback, and celebrating each other’s successes.

Fiona weaves these six lessons together, and the central message is: nurture your unique creative voice, or, as Brande called it, your “writer’s magic.”

She encourages you, as a writer, to trust yourself, embrace imperfection, and find joy in the writing process. By drawing on the wisdom of Brande and Lamott, Fiona offers a roadmap for writers seeking inspiration, guidance, and a sense of belonging.

Find Fiona at Fionafenwick.com.

In this episode of On Creative Writing, guest host and poet Kim Mannix converses with award-winning Chinese-Canadian poet Natalie Lim to discuss Natalie's highly anticipated debut poetry collection, Elegy for Opportunity.

Natalie shares the origins of her collection’s title, which draws inspiration from the Mars rover Opportunity, a solar-powered explorer that operated on Mars from 2004 until 2018, and its poignant final transmission.

Natalie explains how the rover’s journey and eventual silence became a powerful metaphor for exploring themes of grief, longing, and the search for meaning in times of crisis, both personal and collective.

The two poets delve into the creative process behind Elegy for Opportunity, which reveals how Natalie crafted the book’s structure to mirror the emotional arc of loss and recovery. Natalie describes her decision to use an accessible style in her poetry, aiming to invite readers into intimate moments of vulnerability and reflection.

She describes how she balances deeply personal narratives—such as her experiences with family, identity, and cultural heritage—with broader, cosmic questions about humanity’s place in the universe.

Kim and Natalie explore the challenges and rewards of writing about vulnerability, especially as a young poet navigating questions of identity and belonging.

Natalie shares insights into her writing routine, the importance of community and mentorship in her development as a poet, and the literary influences that have shaped her voice. She cites poets such as Ocean Vuong, Tracy K. Smith, and Ada Limón as inspirations, noting how their work encouraged her to embrace honesty and emotional risk in her own writing.

The conversation also touches on the intersection of science and art, as Natalie reflects on how the story of the Mars rover allowed her to weave together motifs of technology, exploration, and human emotion. She looks at the process of researching Opportunity’s mission and how scientific language and imagery found their way into her poems, creating a unique blend of the personal and the cosmic.

Listeners will hear Natalie's thoughts on the evolving landscape of contemporary poetry, including the importance of accessibility and representation.

Natalie offers advice for emerging writers on finding their authentic voice and building resilience in the face of rejection and self-doubt. She also shares a glimpse into her future creative projects, expressing excitement about experimenting with new forms and themes in her next body of work.

Natalie brings to life her collection's central motifs of loss, hope, and the enduring human desire to connect across distances—whether between people or between planets.

Kim and Natalie's conversation closes with Natalie reading from Elegy for Opportunity. In her reading of the poem 'Elegy for Opportunity III', Natalie brings to life the collection’s central motifs of loss, hope, and the enduring human desire to connect across distances—whether between planets or between people. Her reading exemplifies the collection’s ability to hold space for both sorrow and possibility, leaving listeners with a sense of comfort and inspiration.

Many thanks to Kim Mannix for interviewing Natalie!

Read Natalie Lim's Q&A interview with On Creative Writing.

Natalie Lim's website.

Kim Mannix's website.

The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition

Today's guest is Fiona Fenwick, a coach and mentor who coaches creative writers, too. Fiona is part of On Creative Writing's new competition: The Writer's Spark Coaching Competition, which delivers one prize including two-hours coaching from Fiona, and more! Check it out at the link above! Closing date: Nov. 4, 2025.

----

On Creative Writing's Sheelagh Caygill welcomes Fiona Fenwick, a New Zealand-based coach, who includes creative writers amongst her clients. Fiona is an author and mentor and in this episode gives insights into navigating and overcoming the most common challenges creative writers face.

Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting as a writer, this episode gives practical advice, real-world examples, and encouraging strategies to help you move forward with confidence.

Listeners are treated to a simulated coaching session at the start of the episode, where Fiona demonstrates her approach to helping writers clarify their goals, identify obstacles, and develop personalized action plans. This segment offers a behind-the-scenes look at the coaching process and highlights the value of having a mentor or coach to provide guidance and encouragement.

Sheelagh and Fiona dive into the universal struggles that writers encounter, such as writer’s block, perfectionism, and self-doubt. Fiona draws on her experience coaching writers from all backgrounds to explain why these obstacles arise and how they can be addressed. She emphasizes that these challenges are not signs of failure, but rather natural parts of the creative process. Fiona shares actionable techniques for breaking through writer’s block, including setting realistic goals, establishing a regular writing routine, and using prompts to spark creativity.

They touch on perfectionism, a hurdle that often prevents writers from finishing their work or sharing it with others. Fiona discusses the importance of giving yourself permission to write imperfectly, especially in early drafts, and how embracing the messy parts of creative writing can lead to greater authenticity and growth. She offers tips on silencing the inner critic and reframing negative self-talk, so writers can focus on progress rather than perfection.

Fiona provides reassurance that even the most successful writers experience moments of uncertainty. She shares strategies for building self-confidence, such as celebrating small wins, seeking constructive feedback, and connecting with a supportive writing community. For introverted writers, Fiona offers tailored advice on how to find motivation and accountability without feeling overwhelmed by social expectations.

A key topic discussed is the importance of understanding one’s purpose in writing. Fiona explains how clarifying your “why” can serve as a powerful motivator and guide your creative decisions. She encourages writers to reflect on what they hope to achieve with their work, whether it’s to inform, entertain, inspire, or make a difference in the world.

The episode also discusses Fiona’s book, Stand Out and Step Up, a reputation tool kit for life.

This episode delivers plenty of actionable advice on how to be authentic, build a support network, and maintain accountability throughout the writing process. Fiona’s compassionate and practical approach empowers writers to embrace their unique voices, persist through challenges, and celebrate their progress along the way.

Find Fiona's website: www.fionafenwick.com.

Connect with Fiona on LinkedIn.

Fiona's interview with Oncreativewriting.com.

This episode of On Creative Writing is for lovers of poetry everywhere! Talented poet Kim Fahner reads two poems from her new collection of poetry, The Pollination Field. The poems Kim has selected are "Man, Sleeping on the Living Room Floor" and "Attic Colony".

Kim is a poet, novelist, playwright, and teacher based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. She is chair of the Writers Union of Canada, and was the poet laureate for the City of Greater Sudbury from 2016 to 2018.

The Pollination Field was published this summer by Turnstone Press. This new collection is a poetic foray into the literal and metaphorical world of bees, but it also includes an exploration of other pollinators such as bats, beetles, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and even humans.

In these poems, Kim continues with her poetic observation and documentation of how the human world impacts the environment. Kim also incorporates myth and feminism in her consideration of how women evolve over time. Read more about Kim, her writing, and the pollination field in the show notes.

Read Kim Fahner's Q&A interview with Oncreativewriting.com, and find Kim at Kimfahner.com.

Aaron Kreuter, author of the new novel Lake Burntshore, discusses his writing with Emma Woodhouse. He delves into the origins of his passion for storytelling and the path that led him to write his novel. Aaron opens up about the inspirations that shaped Lake Burntshore, a coming-of-age story set against the evocative backdrop of a Jewish summer camp. He discusses how his own experiences and observations of camp life informed the novel’s vivid setting and authentic characters, bringing to life the joys, challenges, and complexities of adolescence within a tight-knit community.

Aaron writes about weighty themes such as identity, colonialism, and the political tensions surrounding Zionism and Indigenous land rights. He reflects on the responsibility and opportunities fiction offers to address real-world issues, sharing how he approached these sensitive topics with nuance and empathy. He talks about the delicate balance between weaving political and historical realities into a compelling narrative while ensuring that the story remains grounded in personal experience and emotional truth.

Listeners gain insight into Aaron’s creative process, from the initial spark of an idea to the discipline required to bring a manuscript to completion. Aaron emphasizes the importance of community for writers, recounting how feedback from peers, mentors, and writing groups shaped his work and helped him navigate moments of self-doubt. He discusses the challenges of editing and revising, offering practical advice for writers facing the daunting task of refining their drafts. Aaron also shares his experiences with the publishing process, highlighting both the obstacles and the rewards of bringing a debut novel into the world.

Emma and Aaron celebrate the power of fiction to foster empathy, spark conversation, and illuminate the complexities of our world. They discuss how storytelling can serve as a bridge between cultures and perspectives, inviting readers to question assumptions and engage with difficult questions. Aaron’s experiences are a testament to the resilience and creativity required to pursue a writing career, and his reflections offer encouragement and inspiration to aspiring authors.

Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or simply curious about the intersection of literature and social issues, this episode offers an engaging look at the art and craft of contemporary fiction.

Links:

Aaron Kreuter.

Aaron's interveiw with On Creative Writing.