It took three months, an essay, an application, a resume and 20 pages of my own work, published or not, finished or unfinished, and works in progress. A month after the deadline, I got the email I hoped for: “I am very pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into The Writer's Studio Vancouver at Simon Fraser … Continue reading The Writer’s Studio
Author: J.G. Chayko
J.G. Chayko is a writer, actress and international arthritis advocate living on the beautiful west coast of British Columbia. She has published poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. She is the author of the blogs The Old Lady in My Bones, based on her experience living with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Corkboards and Coffeehouses, essays on her writing life. Her work has been featured in Canadian Stories, Arthritis Digest UK, Health Central, and Pain Free Living Magazine. She is a contributing writer to the book “Real Life Diaries: Living with Rheumatic Disease”. She is a graduate of the Writer's Studio and is working on her first novel.
Far and Away: A Writers Dream
There’s something romantic about stories of writers who have the means to travel to other places, live there for a few months and write. This is the dream we all have as writers. We imagine a cabin in the woods, a quiet desk at the window with a view, wildlife roaming freely through a lush … Continue reading Far and Away: A Writers Dream
A Summer of Reading
Write every day. That’s the advice we are given when we start writing - to make it a habit, to incorporate it into our daily schedule, to just write. And for the most part, I do. But during the summer, my writing work slows down. Most of my deadlines have passed, the days are warmer … Continue reading A Summer of Reading
The Pitch
You haven’t heard from me in a while. It’s because I’ve been writing. It’s the reason we embark on this journey – to write, to put our words out there, to tell our stories. I’ve been fortunate, in my short writing life, to connect with an audience early on and find opportunities to share my … Continue reading The Pitch
It’s All Worth It
We come to the desk every day and write. We send out our stories, poems and non-fiction articles just waiting for that one bite that will launch us into literary success. We wonder if we are making progress with all the hours we spend lurking in our own imaginations and putting all those words into … Continue reading It’s All Worth It
Taking Research on the Road
Research is necessary for the writer. We research everything from the right kind of devices for writing, publication procedures, literary agents, publishing houses, facts versus fiction, writing markets, coaches, editors, people, professions, places - the list is almost endless. Research is essential for us to find the right fit for our work, and often it … Continue reading Taking Research on the Road
Why Everything Falls Into Place
A writer friend of mine posted on his social media page: “some days I feel like everything is going wrong and some days I feel like everything falls into place.” Most days of writing can be a struggle. It takes work to craft that perfect piece we finally deem ready for the public eye. While … Continue reading Why Everything Falls Into Place
Happy New Year 2017
"It seems like New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken – at least that’s what it feels like for me. Every year I envisioned these grand sweeping dreams and every year those dreams floated away from my reach, bursting like delicate soap bubbles. Lost in the shadow of my grand promises, however, I somehow … Continue reading Happy New Year 2017
The Twelve Days of Writing
I thought it was appropriate to republish this fun little piece I originally published in December 2014. After all, tis the season... On the first day of writing, my muse said I need: 12 spiral notebooks Eleven paper clips Ten cups of coffee Nine fat pens Eight sticky notes Seven rough drafts Six … Continue reading The Twelve Days of Writing
Working It Out
Contrary to popular belief, writers actually do (and must) participate in a life outside of our own secluded world – I can’t always be at my desk, but no matter where I go or what task I am currently performing, my mind is constantly in motion, spinning out chunks of dialogue, visualising settings and chasing … Continue reading Working It Out
