Whistler Readers and Writers Festival Program 

October 14-16, 2011

Theme: LIT GRIT

10 Years and Still Kicking

"Sometimes a slog can be beautiful." 

Chip Health and Dan Heath wrote that in a Fast Company article earlier this year and though they were talking about the business world, they were talking about us. 

“Grit is tough,” they wrote, “because you don't get the psychic payoffs that come with an exciting discovery or a shift in direction. You rarely get big wins to celebrate. In fact, you may never truly win... But slow, inch-by-inch progress? It's called winning. 

Welcome to the 2011 Whistler Readers and Writers festival, our 10th anniversary of what we like to call Lit Grit. What started in a living room 10 years ago has grown into a multi-day, multi-venue, multi-artist event.  Sticking it out has meant facing down our own fear of failure, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and tackling more concrete roadblocks like grant cut backs and the changing face of the publishing industry.  Through foolhardiness (the idea that you can achieve anything despite the odds), perseverance, passion and the support of our loyal participants, we’re still here to talk about it, and laugh about it, and organize another fabulous festival. Our supporters continue to grow and they’ve asked us for more.  And just as in previous years we’re here to deliver. 

This year, we’re happy to offer a combination of developmental workshops for emerging and experienced writers about such things as how to create and push around your characters, panel discussions about why fiction matters or what makes a book last, and reading events with Governor General award winning writer, Miriam Toews, Scottish poet, John Glenday, and spoken word artist, Barbara Alder. In addition, several of our own local writers will present at the festival, including Michel Beaudry, Leslie Anthony, Sara Leach, Rebecca Wood Barrett and Stephen Vogler.  The festival this year will host 10 workshops sessions, 6 reading events, 3 panel discussion, a breakfast tribute to icons of writing, and a spoken word performance at the local event, entitled Eclectic 5 open mic event. 

Welcome to our 10th anniversary festival. It’s been quite the ride. We are so proud to be here to put on another fabulous event. 

Enjoy! 

Stella Harvey

Festival Director

Click here to download the program.