How (Not) to Be a Writer: Strategies and Tips With Which to Maintain a Healthy Writing Practice

Not without example, the writing life has commonly been associated with substance use and abuse; mental and physical illness; domestic and personal strife; reckless or anti-social and self-destructive behaviour. By contrast, this workshop will ask what it means to embrace ordinariness and to live thereby a healthy, sustainable writing life. Participants will learn commonsensical and usable actions and strategies by which to make writing one among other habits at the heart of well-being.

About Your Instructor

Adrian Michael Kelly is the author of Down Sterling Road, a novel, The Ambassador of What, a collection of short stories, and the forthcoming memoir (summer, 2026) Maybe It's Me. Born in Timmins, Ontario, he was raised by his father in Campbellford, and currently lives in Kingston, where he's at work on a new novel. He has taught courses as well as workshops in literature and in writing across Canada and around the world, and, as a writing coach, working one-on-one, as well as with small groups, he's helped dozens of writers from diverse backgrounds with diverse projects find their form and voice.