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royalcitylit

Non-profit Society, Literary Arts.
Register for our free RCLAS workshop today! RCLAS Register for our free RCLAS workshop today! RCLAS Writing Workshop: How to Save Your Darlings with Mark Cameron DATE: SAT Jun 13 2026 TIME: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm LOCATION New Westminster Public Library Main Branch - Auditorium 716 6th Avenue New Westminster, BC, V3M 2B3 Pre-register here: https://www.nwpl.ca/events/how-to-save-your-darlings/?occurrence=2026-06-13 Sometimes we must sacrifice words for the benefit of a story. But what if our darlings—characters, scenes, quotes, plot threads, or turns of phrase that we hold dear—don’t really need to be killed? This interactive workshop will discuss how to recognize which elements of a story are worth saving and how to make them count. We’ll explore how literary devices like metaphors, motifs, backstory, and world-building can be used to breathe life into our literary darlings. And we’ll take inspiration from iconic darlings (books and film) that were narrowly saved from the cutting room floor.   Advance prep for attendees: Think of something from one of your own stories—fiction or nonfiction—that is precious to you, but which doesn’t quite belong in the story you’re trying to tell. Come ready to fight for it—to make it worth saving—through a series of thought-provoking exercises. (But be warned: just as not all stories have a happy ending, not all darlings can be saved!) Takeaways you can expect from this workshop: * How to weave a seemingly unimportant element deeper into a story * How to differentiate between valuable and extraneous content * The story-enriching value of iterative editing * Getting the ideas in your head to shine on the page * Knowing when to let go (RIP) Mark Cameron, Workshop Leader: Mark Cameron is an author, poet, and musician who writes across a broad range of genres and forms. He has self-published two novels and is currently working on two book-length projects: a Young Adult speculative fiction novel and a creative nonfiction book about navigating modern overwhelm. A resident of New Westminster, BC, Mark recently earned a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. An aspiring writing instructor, he also co-chairs the Wine Country Writers’ Festival in Penticton.
Howdy folx! We hope to see at the next Poetry and Howdy folx! We hope to see at the next Poetry and Art Salon, coming up NEXT weekend. We are back in Room 417 for this one. Enjoy an afternoon of poetry readings, art “Show & Tell”, chats, and more! Come listen, share, and connect.  Presented by Janet Kvammen, Poet Laureate of New Westminster. @iheartnewwest ⚘SUNDAY May 31, 2026 ⚘2:00 - 4:00 PM ⚘Anvil Centre. Studio 417. ⚘ Free, Drop-in ⚘Feature Poet Katie Stobbart @katieshutter ⚘Feature Artist Damarys Sepulveda #rclas #NWPoetLaureate #poetryandart #NewWest #newwestartists #poetry
Join us for a special edition of Tellers of Short Join us for a special edition of Tellers of Short Tales with local author Lesley Hebert, author of The Heart of Japan. In this original and distinctive travel memoir she shares her experiences as a new grandmother, eager to understand the country where her daughter-in-law grew up. DATE: Wednesday June 03 2026 TIME: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm LOCATION: New Westminster Public Libary Main Branch - Auditorium - 716 6th Avenue New Westminster, BC, V3M 2B3 Author reading, meet and greet and book signings. Followed by an Open Mic if time permits. Author Bio: Originally from the UK, Lesley Hebert is a retired teacher of English as a second language who lives New Westminster with a sociable husband and anti-social cat. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in print and online platforms including Beyond Words, Canadian Stories, travelthruhistory.com, The First Line, Pocket Lint, Parabola, Immigration Diaries, Forage, The Mocking Owl and several anthologies, including A Poetry of Place: Journeys Across New Westminster, Red Eyes and Tired Lungs: A BC Wildfire Anthology and The Age Collective GOLD Poetry Project. A member of the Federation of BC Writers and the Royal City Literary Arts Society, she won first place (non-fiction) in the RCLAS Write On 2023 competition. Her first publication, in 2017, was Telling Our Stories: New Westminster Lawn Bowling Club Celebrates its 100th birthday. The Heart of Japan, was published in January, 2026. Both of these books are available in the New Westminster Public Library. She is currently working on a historical romance set in 11th Century Japan. In partnership with RCLAS, City of New Westminster and New Westminster Public Library. #RCLAS #Tellersofshorttales #booklaunch #books #writing #reading #NewWest
Celebrate 5 Years of the Indigenous Market & Expre Celebrate 5 Years of the Indigenous Market & Expressions of Reclamation SATURDAY June 6 from 11 AM – 5 PM on the boardwalk at River Market for a vibrant day celebrating Indigenous art, culture, music, fashion, food, and community. Joseph Dandurand is reading at 2:30PM, (Tellers of Short Tales, in partnership with RCLAS.) Come together to honour creativity, culture, storytelling, and connection at this special 5th anniversary celebration. Presented by Arts New West in partnership with Shop First Nations and Native Art Renaissance River Market - Westminster Quay, 810 Quayside Drive, New Westminster SATURDAY June 6 | 11 AM – 5 PM #RCLAS #tellersofshorttales #JosephDandurand
Help us spread the word about our free workshop fo Help us spread the word about our free workshop for newcomer women and female identifying folx coming up on May 28th! Thank you! Your Story in Verse: Free Poetry Workshop for Newcomer Women With Jessica Lee McMillan and Alan Hill Your story in your own words – a poetry workshop for newcomer women – no experience needed! Meet new people, learn new skills, share your story. Date: Thursday May 28, 2026 Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm FREE to attend. Drop in ok but registration helpful – Email secretary@rclas.com 📌Location: Wildfires Bookshop Literary Lounge 712 A 12th Street New Westminster, BC Presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society and City of New Westminster #rclas #writingworkshop #FreeWorkshop #NewWest
📌WORKSHOP REMINDER 📌Register today 📌 Only a few sp 📌WORKSHOP REMINDER 📌Register today 📌 Only a few spots are left! Don't miss out. Coming up this Tues aft May 5 we have a writing workshop with author Cynthia Sharp in partnership with @efryvancouver This includes an art exhibit as well featuring the works of Naureen Ali. Link to register is also on our website www.rclas.com #RCLAS #writingworkshop #EFry #community #newwest
POETRY OPEN MIC NIGHT (In partnership with Groove POETRY OPEN MIC NIGHT (In partnership with Groove Cat Books and Records and Royal City Literary Arts Society) Thursday, April 16 from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM Location: Groove Cat Books and Records 775 6th Street, New Westminster, BC Phone: 604-553-0929 Free 2-hour parking, Wheelchair accessible. Bring your poetry to share! 5 min slots, sign-up starting at 6:50pm “Admission is free, but please support our hosts with a minimum $5 purchase — think of it as fueling the poetry with books, vinyl, and good vibes.”  Bring a new poem to read, or dust off an “oldie but a goodie”! Don’t really think yourself a poet but LOVE poetry? You could share a famous, or even a not-so-famous poem that you LOVE! Or, just come to listen! That works, too — Be there or be square! PEACE! #RCLAS #GrooveCatBooksandRecords #poetry #openmic #iheartnewwest #newwest #newwestevents
BIG NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT! Our COGSWELL AWARD has a b BIG NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT! Our COGSWELL AWARD has a brand new submission period. It will be opening up on April 1! We are also thrilled to announce our 2026 Judge is Kevin Spenst!!! YAY!!! #CogswellAward #rclas #poetry #bookawards #CanLit #canadianpublishers
Celebrate UNESCO Poetry Day Join us in celebratin Celebrate UNESCO Poetry Day Join us in celebrating the beauty and power of poetry! Bring a poem to read and enjoy lively dance performances by the Ilocano Group and Forever Young. There will also be time to socialize, share ideas, and enjoy light snacks together. Venue: Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026 Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm For more information, please contact: Ashok K. Bhargava or Janet Kvammen, Bonnie Quan Symons
Join us for a wonderful evening celebrating the ne Join us for a wonderful evening celebrating the new book by Celeste Snowber featuring poetry inspired by the art of Suzi Morris. Location: ANVIL CENTRE | STUDIO 417 MARCH 26, 2026 THURS 7:00-8:30 pm Portals: The Colours of Our Longing, published by Hurtwood Press, London, is a visual and poetic conversation between a painter and a poet/performance artist. Lyrical texts sit alongside images at once delicate and intense, as words and paintings enjoin the reader to consider how body and spirit can dance together. This collaboration creates something personal and universal, which brings beauty to a troubled world. Celeste Nazeli Snowber is a poet, dancer, and multidisciplinary artist whose work, through her writing, teaching and site-specific performance, explores embodied forms of inquiry. Suzi Morris is an artist whose paintings question ideas of the sublime body, most recently, through her affiliation with the School of Medicine at Imperial College, in response to the new science discipline of genomics. Link to FB event - https://www.facebook.com/share/1B3HqmXeKj/ #Poetry #RCLAS #poetryandart #booklaunch #NewWest
Last evening 😊 Thank you to Winston Le. RCLAS was Last evening 😊 Thank you to Winston Le. RCLAS was pleased to offer this fun workshop all about neologisms and language-making. Many of the writers who attended had no past experience with this and really appreciated learning more about it. The word "fascinating" was heard more than once. This has opened up a whole new world and creative vision to explore! Thanks, Winston. Follow here @winstonladdle Thanks to RCLAS Director Jessica Lee McMillan for hosting. Best from Janet K. Thanks to the City of New Westminster and Anvil Centre.
Save the Date: Royal City Literary Arts Society Save the Date: Royal City Literary Arts Society Annual General Meeting. 📍SUNDAY MARCH 15, 2026 at 1pm 📍RSVP secretary@rclas.com 📍Location: New West Public Library, 716 6th Avenue, New Westminster, BC We are always looking for volunteers. If you interested please send a note. Annual membership $35 Most of our events are free, and you don't need to be a member to attend ... but keep in mind that membership revenue helps to keep us going. Thanks for your support! PS you don't have to live in New West to be a member. #rclas #literaryarts #writing
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RCLAS Writing Workshop "to construe a frankenlang" RCLAS Writing Workshop "to construe a frankenlang" with Winston Lê 📍Date: Monday MARCH 9, 2026 📍Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm  📍Location: ANVIL CENTRE | STUDIO 417, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster. ✔This workshop is Free BUT registration is required. Email secretary@rclas.com Workshop Description:  A neologism is a new word or expression, or a new meaning for an existing word. Through this “coinage,” we’ll explore versatility and dynamic innovation of language-making. In this workshop, we will explore how morphology (texture, sound, shape), semiotics (sign-making, interpretation), and re-materiality (physical body/vessel to embody the neologism) can reshape and enhance and expand our lexical innovation onto our babbling world. This will be a workshop on innovative linguistic processes that will lead to the creation of a poem based on your newly-created word. This class will be both lecture and workshop base. We will begin by discussing the varying definitions and elements that make up a neologism, as well as how one might experiment with the concept further... Through three linked generative writing exercises, we will explore a “exquisite corpse” approach in writing a poem based on a neologism and by doing so, destabilize and decolonize the nature of the poem and language itself. We’re going to have fun stitching up some linguistic body horror!" @royalcitylit @anvilcentre @new_westminster
Royal City Literary Arts Society and Silver Bow Pu Royal City Literary Arts Society and Silver Bow Publishing present  Double Book Launch with poets T K Torme  “Silent Meow” and Candice James “10 PAK- 5 The Long Poems” Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026, Free Admission Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm Location: New Westminster Public Library, 716 6th Avenue, New Westminster Downstairs Auditorium, accessible by elevator. *Poetry readings *Meet and greet *Book Signings *Engage in conversation with the authors *Door Prizes #rclas #poetrycommunity #poets #poeticjustice
Come by our table and say hello! Come by our table and say hello!
SAVE THE DATE: WordPlay New West is coming up Feb SAVE THE DATE: WordPlay New West is coming up Feb 19, a free drop-in writing session with Alan Hill. Unleash your creativity! 📍Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 📍Time: 7:00 PM to 9 PM 📍Location: təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre, Multi-purpose Room 2,  65 E Sixth Ave, New Westminster Join local poet Alan Hill for a fun, casual evening of writing. Select your favourite writing tools (pen & paper or phone). Writing prompts will be provided. The event is free, no registration required and no experience necessary. In Partnership with Arts New West, City Of New Westminster & Royal City Literary Arts Society #RCLAS #wordplay #writing #ArtsNewWest #NewWest
CONGRATULATIONS! We are very pleased to announce t CONGRATULATIONS! We are very pleased to announce the Winner of the Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence In Poetry. Garry Gottfriedson – THE FLESH OF ICE (Caitlin Press) View on our website here (including judge's comments): https://rclas.com/2025-fred-cogswell-award/ Gratitude to our esteemed judge Cecily Nicholson for her diligence, dedication, and time. THANK YOU! RCLAS would like to thank all the poets and publishers who submitted work.
CONGRATULATIONS! 12th Annual Fred Cogswell Award CONGRATULATIONS! 12th Annual Fred Cogswell Award For Excellence In Poetry. Second Place: Kayla Czaga – MIDWAY (House of Anansi Press) View on our website here (including judge's comments): https://rclas.com/2025-fred-cogswell-award/ RCLAS would like to thank all the poets and publishers who submitted work.
CONGRATULATIONS! Third Place: Barbara Tran  – PRE CONGRATULATIONS! Third Place: Barbara Tran  – PRECEDENTED PARROTING (Anstruther Books|Palimpsest Press) View on our website here (including judge's comments): https://rclas.com/2025-fred-cogswell-award/
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