The history
The Alexandra Writers Centre Society became a registered charity under the Societies Act of Alberta on September 22, 1981.
The organization was started by a small group of writers, led by J. Michael Fay, who had been running creative writing classes out of the basement of the Alexandra Centre in Inglewood for several years.
The AWCS has always been a place for writers to gather and support one another on the creative writing journey. That original foundation is what keeps us going strong today.
Come to learn about writing, stay for the community.
It doesn't matter if you're writing for something to do, overcoming trauma, creating a legacy project or want to become a published poet, novelist, short story writer. AWCS has something for everyone.
We welcome brand new writers, and the more experienced - all ages.
The Free Fall Method of Writing
The Alexandra Writers Centre uses the free fall method of writing that was initially created by WO Mitchell as a way to free your inner editor and get words on the page, believing that real creativity comes when you’re not overthinking.
Having worked with Mitchell, founding member, Michael Fay, further refined the Free Fall Method as a tool for generative writing using prompts, thereby creating a way to unlock the creativity when it feels like the well has dried up. At AWCS you can participate in various groups and drop ins that use this method as a means of overcoming writers block, working through a story idea or better understanding your characters, creating imagery, evoking emotion. We play with forms and various prompts while also sharing and encouraging one another in a safe, creative space.
We are always adapting and changing. Today we offer a variety of opportunities to share your voice, explore your creativity in whatever form, no matter where you come from or where you want to go.
The organization was started by a small group of writers, led by J. Michael Fay, who had been running creative writing classes out of the basement of the Alexandra Centre in Inglewood for several years.
The AWCS has always been a place for writers to gather and support one another on the creative writing journey. That original foundation is what keeps us going strong today.
Come to learn about writing, stay for the community.
It doesn't matter if you're writing for something to do, overcoming trauma, creating a legacy project or want to become a published poet, novelist, short story writer. AWCS has something for everyone.
We welcome brand new writers, and the more experienced - all ages.
The Free Fall Method of Writing
The Alexandra Writers Centre uses the free fall method of writing that was initially created by WO Mitchell as a way to free your inner editor and get words on the page, believing that real creativity comes when you’re not overthinking.
Having worked with Mitchell, founding member, Michael Fay, further refined the Free Fall Method as a tool for generative writing using prompts, thereby creating a way to unlock the creativity when it feels like the well has dried up. At AWCS you can participate in various groups and drop ins that use this method as a means of overcoming writers block, working through a story idea or better understanding your characters, creating imagery, evoking emotion. We play with forms and various prompts while also sharing and encouraging one another in a safe, creative space.
We are always adapting and changing. Today we offer a variety of opportunities to share your voice, explore your creativity in whatever form, no matter where you come from or where you want to go.
our AWCS Youth Program
AWCS YOUTH MANDATE
The Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society’s youth program aims to foster creativity, community, and leadership in an accepting and supportive environment.
OUR HISTORY
In September 2010 Kim Firmston and Emily Firmston (then nine-years-old) started a unique youth writing club, under the umbrella of the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society (AWCS), with the purpose to provide a space to grow Calgary’s under-served youth literary arts community. Growing quickly in youth, programs, and project partnerships with community groups, we set our aim for the AWCS to become the premier place in Calgary for youth writing programming as well as a hub in the youth writing community.
The AWCS Youth Programs promote writing, literacy, communication, creativity, teamwork, and leadership, demonstrating how these skills can be applied to many other aspects of life. We coax many youth away from isolation and anxiety and assist them in developing the skills to be confident writers, strong presenters, great team members, fearless leaders, amazing self-advocates, and compassionate members of the greater creative community. These skills translate back into school, work, and home settings in the form of self-confidence and advocacy.
Upon moving to cSpace we have been able to expand our services and partnerships and continue a careful well throughout growth to support our youth and the various communities we belong to. Today our membership has grown exponentially, and many young creators take advantage of our large variety of programming. We look forward to a bright future supporting our youth in becoming the adult leaders, creative problem solvers, and communicators the world needs.
OUR CULTURE
Our Youth Culture is based on lifting each other up and helping each other out, no matter what the age. All of us (youth and adult) are on a creative journey and even though we are different ages and are at different stages, we are all peers. Our youth culture was put into place over the first few meetings of our existence, and through careful monitoring and vigilance, we have been able to maintain this through our continued growth. Please help us share our culture with others!
AWCS Youth Program Covenant
1. Treat others with respect and kindness. We’re all friends here, or soon will be. We must protect and care for each other. Lift each other up and support each other.
2. If there is an issue between members, working with the instructors/mentors to find a solution makes us stronger. We are able to go to the Youth Liaison or the Youth Program Director if we feel we aren’t getting the answers or solution we need.
3. Listen to each other. Everyone’s ideas are valid and important. Create a space where sharing is not met with criticism.
4. Be respectful to both the people in the AWCS, the larger arts community of cSpace, and the facility and items within.
5. This is a safe place for you to be you. Neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, physical diversity, and more are what make us who we are. By accepting each other now, we can grow into our best selves. Therefore, we will always do our best to take into account each other’s needs and use proper pronouns.
6. We all do our part to set up, clean up, and maintain the space.
7. We value self-respect and growth as well as the ability to share skills with others. We will embrace the weirdness.
8. And finally, we will use the skills we learn here to better the world and do good.
The Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society’s youth program aims to foster creativity, community, and leadership in an accepting and supportive environment.
OUR HISTORY
In September 2010 Kim Firmston and Emily Firmston (then nine-years-old) started a unique youth writing club, under the umbrella of the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society (AWCS), with the purpose to provide a space to grow Calgary’s under-served youth literary arts community. Growing quickly in youth, programs, and project partnerships with community groups, we set our aim for the AWCS to become the premier place in Calgary for youth writing programming as well as a hub in the youth writing community.
The AWCS Youth Programs promote writing, literacy, communication, creativity, teamwork, and leadership, demonstrating how these skills can be applied to many other aspects of life. We coax many youth away from isolation and anxiety and assist them in developing the skills to be confident writers, strong presenters, great team members, fearless leaders, amazing self-advocates, and compassionate members of the greater creative community. These skills translate back into school, work, and home settings in the form of self-confidence and advocacy.
Upon moving to cSpace we have been able to expand our services and partnerships and continue a careful well throughout growth to support our youth and the various communities we belong to. Today our membership has grown exponentially, and many young creators take advantage of our large variety of programming. We look forward to a bright future supporting our youth in becoming the adult leaders, creative problem solvers, and communicators the world needs.
OUR CULTURE
Our Youth Culture is based on lifting each other up and helping each other out, no matter what the age. All of us (youth and adult) are on a creative journey and even though we are different ages and are at different stages, we are all peers. Our youth culture was put into place over the first few meetings of our existence, and through careful monitoring and vigilance, we have been able to maintain this through our continued growth. Please help us share our culture with others!
AWCS Youth Program Covenant
1. Treat others with respect and kindness. We’re all friends here, or soon will be. We must protect and care for each other. Lift each other up and support each other.
2. If there is an issue between members, working with the instructors/mentors to find a solution makes us stronger. We are able to go to the Youth Liaison or the Youth Program Director if we feel we aren’t getting the answers or solution we need.
3. Listen to each other. Everyone’s ideas are valid and important. Create a space where sharing is not met with criticism.
4. Be respectful to both the people in the AWCS, the larger arts community of cSpace, and the facility and items within.
5. This is a safe place for you to be you. Neurodiversity, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, physical diversity, and more are what make us who we are. By accepting each other now, we can grow into our best selves. Therefore, we will always do our best to take into account each other’s needs and use proper pronouns.
6. We all do our part to set up, clean up, and maintain the space.
7. We value self-respect and growth as well as the ability to share skills with others. We will embrace the weirdness.
8. And finally, we will use the skills we learn here to better the world and do good.