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Chapter by Chapter
A 10-Month Manuscript Project Are you ready to write? EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO APPLIED. WE WILL BE IN TOUCH SHORTLY. AWCS Members: $1650 | Non-Members: $2250 38 weeks - September 2025 to June 2026 Enjoy the consistency, accountability, comradery, and support, of a small group for ten months as you work on your writing project. Chapter by Chapter is designed to encourage and motivate writers to complete a first, second, third, or final draft of their current work in progress. This is a weekly commitment with one class focused on discussion, skill building, exercises, and the next class focused on workshopping. You will be expected to write a lot of words, edit your existing work, give and receive feedback in a way that keeps one another motivated. |
This class is recommended for intermediate to advanced level writers with a significant piece of work in progress – at least a first draft – previous participants in an AWCS novel writing course and those familiar and comfortable with group critique. You should be committed to finishing a bigger project and comfortable giving feedback on a variety of genres – such as, but not limited to narrative nonfiction, memoir, mystery, literary/upmarket, speculative fiction, romance – from young adult to adult – short story or essay collections.
Note: This class is not recommended for picture books, poetry or academic non-fiction.
CLASS START DATES & TIMES
Online Classes (Zoom)
Instructor: Andrew Buckley | Wednesdays, Begins September 17, 2025 | 5pm-7pm PT | 6pm-8pm MT | 7pm-9pm CT | 8pm-10pm ET
Instructor: Finnian Burnett | Wednesdays, Begins September 17, 2025 | 6pm-8pm PT | 7pm-9pm MT | 8pm-10pm CT | 9pm-11pm ET
Instructor: Sarah Pratt | Fridays, Begins September 19, 2025 | 9am-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12pm-2pm ET | 1pm-3pm AT
In Person Class (Alexandra Writers Centre)
Instructor: Susan Forest | Thursdays, Begins September 18, 2025 | 7pm-9pm MT
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Andrew Buckley (he/him) is a storyteller, educator, and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience in creative writing and marketing. His humorous and satirical writing style persists despite polite requests to stop, as he creates engaging speculative fiction across traditional and self-publishing platforms.
Known for his distinctive voice that seamlessly blends humour with compelling narratives, Andrew has established himself as a versatile creator across multiple platforms, including novels, comic books, screenplays, podcasts, and immersive storytelling experiences. He is the creator of *Deadly Dinner Parties*, an interactive mystery series designed to bring murder, intrigue, and laughs to your dining room table.
His engaging presentation style and deep understanding of storytelling mechanics make him a sought-after speaker at schools, colleges, writing conferences, and comic conventions worldwide.
At the time you’re reading this, he’s likely busy working on several new projects and attempting to bend time and space to allow for more hours in the day. Andrew is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.
Dr. Finnian Burnett (they/them)’s work explores the intersections of the human body, mental health, and gender identity. They are a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant, a finalist in the 2023 CBC nonfiction prize, and a 2024 Pushcart nominee.
Their work appears in Blank Spaces Magazine, Reflex Press, The Daily Sci-Fi, CBC, and more. Their two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man and The Price of Cookies, are available through Ad Hoc Fiction and Off Topic Publishing respectively. Finnian is represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory. Their collaborative work with author Andrew Buckley, Queer Tales of Shakespearean Proportions is represented by Terrie Wolf.
When not writing or teaching, Finnian enjoys walking, Star Trek, and cat memes. Finn can be found at www.finnburnett.com
Susan Forest is an award-winning editor and an author of over 25 internationally published short stories (Analog, Asimov's, Beneath Ceaseless Skies). The first two books in her Addicted to Heaven series, Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold won Canada's Aurora Award the year each came out. Gathering of Ghosts (2023, third in the series), confronts issues of addictions in an epic fantasy world of intrigue and betrayal. She also edits an award-winning anthology series for Laksa Media Groups, most recently as co-editor of Life Beyond Us, with the European Astrobiology Institute. In 2021, she was Editor Guest of Honor at Keycon. Her latest works are nonfiction: Undaunted: Dark Tales of Courage Witnessed Through the Eyes of a Homicide Detective (co-authored with Detective Dave Sweet) and Braided Tracks a biography of her sister, the fifth woman in Canada to become a full mountain guide.
Sarah Pratt (she/her) is a bookseller, literary events coordinator, editor, publisher, and creative writing instructor. An Alberta Magazine Publishers Association finalist, her short fiction has appeared in Room, Plenitude, On Spec, and the Shirley Jackson award winning anthology TWISTED BOOK OF SHADOWS (Haverhill Press, 2019). She is the author of one collection of short stories SUICIDE STITCH (EMP Publishing 2015) and her debut novel, INFRACTUS (Coffin Hop Press, 2017). She is co-editor at The Seventh Terrace, a small press for horror fiction. Watch for her next book, THEY'RE ALL NAMED POPPY, forthcoming from (Radical Books, 2025)
Expressions of Interest NOW OPEN
Chapter by Chapter is an intense commitment. In previous (or similar) runs of this program, we have seen writers who have joined prematurely. Although they start with a lot of enthusiasm, their energy fizzles out quickly with the realization that writing is a lot of work. On the other hand, some intermediate or advanced writers don't realize they are at a more advanced level and think they are only beginners, so they won't register. The form below is a way for us to help guide you to get the most out of this program.
No matter what level you are or think you are at, if you are interested in this class, please submit an Expression of Interest. We will review all expressions of interest and if we agree you are ready, you will be invited to register. Registrations will be open for a limited time and on a first come, first served basis, so if you are selected, you will have to register quickly to secure your spot.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING INTO THIS PROGRAM
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT
The ideal candidate for this course:
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
1. Click the link below
2. Fill out the form.
3. Include a 10 page writing sample from your project that you want to work on during the class. (11 or 12pt font, Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial etc., pages numbered, double-spaced)
4. Click Submit
If you register and start the class but then discover it isn’t what you thought it would be, you just don’t mesh with other participants, or an emergency comes up and you can’t attend, we will give you a grace period to the end of October to withdraw and receive a 75% credit. No credits will be given after October 31.
All other withdrawal/refund policies apply.
Don't let finances be a barrier to your learning. Please consider the J. Michael Fay Subsidy Program, if necessary.
* If you submitted an expression of interest and meet the general criteria for the class, you will be invited to register. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. There are only 8 seats available in each class. If you receive the notice to register, we recommend you do so quickly, as these seats will fill quickly.
Note: This class is not recommended for picture books, poetry or academic non-fiction.
CLASS START DATES & TIMES
Online Classes (Zoom)
Instructor: Andrew Buckley | Wednesdays, Begins September 17, 2025 | 5pm-7pm PT | 6pm-8pm MT | 7pm-9pm CT | 8pm-10pm ET
Instructor: Finnian Burnett | Wednesdays, Begins September 17, 2025 | 6pm-8pm PT | 7pm-9pm MT | 8pm-10pm CT | 9pm-11pm ET
Instructor: Sarah Pratt | Fridays, Begins September 19, 2025 | 9am-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12pm-2pm ET | 1pm-3pm AT
In Person Class (Alexandra Writers Centre)
Instructor: Susan Forest | Thursdays, Begins September 18, 2025 | 7pm-9pm MT
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Andrew Buckley (he/him) is a storyteller, educator, and keynote speaker with over 20 years of experience in creative writing and marketing. His humorous and satirical writing style persists despite polite requests to stop, as he creates engaging speculative fiction across traditional and self-publishing platforms.
Known for his distinctive voice that seamlessly blends humour with compelling narratives, Andrew has established himself as a versatile creator across multiple platforms, including novels, comic books, screenplays, podcasts, and immersive storytelling experiences. He is the creator of *Deadly Dinner Parties*, an interactive mystery series designed to bring murder, intrigue, and laughs to your dining room table.
His engaging presentation style and deep understanding of storytelling mechanics make him a sought-after speaker at schools, colleges, writing conferences, and comic conventions worldwide.
At the time you’re reading this, he’s likely busy working on several new projects and attempting to bend time and space to allow for more hours in the day. Andrew is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.
Dr. Finnian Burnett (they/them)’s work explores the intersections of the human body, mental health, and gender identity. They are a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant, a finalist in the 2023 CBC nonfiction prize, and a 2024 Pushcart nominee.
Their work appears in Blank Spaces Magazine, Reflex Press, The Daily Sci-Fi, CBC, and more. Their two novellas-in-flash, The Clothes Make the Man and The Price of Cookies, are available through Ad Hoc Fiction and Off Topic Publishing respectively. Finnian is represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory. Their collaborative work with author Andrew Buckley, Queer Tales of Shakespearean Proportions is represented by Terrie Wolf.
When not writing or teaching, Finnian enjoys walking, Star Trek, and cat memes. Finn can be found at www.finnburnett.com
Susan Forest is an award-winning editor and an author of over 25 internationally published short stories (Analog, Asimov's, Beneath Ceaseless Skies). The first two books in her Addicted to Heaven series, Bursts of Fire and Flights of Marigold won Canada's Aurora Award the year each came out. Gathering of Ghosts (2023, third in the series), confronts issues of addictions in an epic fantasy world of intrigue and betrayal. She also edits an award-winning anthology series for Laksa Media Groups, most recently as co-editor of Life Beyond Us, with the European Astrobiology Institute. In 2021, she was Editor Guest of Honor at Keycon. Her latest works are nonfiction: Undaunted: Dark Tales of Courage Witnessed Through the Eyes of a Homicide Detective (co-authored with Detective Dave Sweet) and Braided Tracks a biography of her sister, the fifth woman in Canada to become a full mountain guide.
Sarah Pratt (she/her) is a bookseller, literary events coordinator, editor, publisher, and creative writing instructor. An Alberta Magazine Publishers Association finalist, her short fiction has appeared in Room, Plenitude, On Spec, and the Shirley Jackson award winning anthology TWISTED BOOK OF SHADOWS (Haverhill Press, 2019). She is the author of one collection of short stories SUICIDE STITCH (EMP Publishing 2015) and her debut novel, INFRACTUS (Coffin Hop Press, 2017). She is co-editor at The Seventh Terrace, a small press for horror fiction. Watch for her next book, THEY'RE ALL NAMED POPPY, forthcoming from (Radical Books, 2025)
Expressions of Interest NOW OPEN
Chapter by Chapter is an intense commitment. In previous (or similar) runs of this program, we have seen writers who have joined prematurely. Although they start with a lot of enthusiasm, their energy fizzles out quickly with the realization that writing is a lot of work. On the other hand, some intermediate or advanced writers don't realize they are at a more advanced level and think they are only beginners, so they won't register. The form below is a way for us to help guide you to get the most out of this program.
No matter what level you are or think you are at, if you are interested in this class, please submit an Expression of Interest. We will review all expressions of interest and if we agree you are ready, you will be invited to register. Registrations will be open for a limited time and on a first come, first served basis, so if you are selected, you will have to register quickly to secure your spot.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING INTO THIS PROGRAM
- It is a heavy commitment.
- You must be open-minded to reading a variety of genres even if it's not a genre you would normally read. If you don't feel you can review outside of your genre, this class is not for you.
- One week is craft, one week is critiquing. It's up to you to find your own balance and process to still put in the work to complete your own manuscript.
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT
The ideal candidate for this course:
- has a few publications under their belt
- is currently working on a full length manuscript
- should have a completed first draft
- experience critiquing/workshopping
- evidence of a proven commitment to their craft through courses and workshops, mentorship and writer in residence opportunities
HOW TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
1. Click the link below
2. Fill out the form.
3. Include a 10 page writing sample from your project that you want to work on during the class. (11 or 12pt font, Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial etc., pages numbered, double-spaced)
4. Click Submit
If you register and start the class but then discover it isn’t what you thought it would be, you just don’t mesh with other participants, or an emergency comes up and you can’t attend, we will give you a grace period to the end of October to withdraw and receive a 75% credit. No credits will be given after October 31.
All other withdrawal/refund policies apply.
Don't let finances be a barrier to your learning. Please consider the J. Michael Fay Subsidy Program, if necessary.
* If you submitted an expression of interest and meet the general criteria for the class, you will be invited to register. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. There are only 8 seats available in each class. If you receive the notice to register, we recommend you do so quickly, as these seats will fill quickly.
