Begin Here
One-Day Writing Workshop

A fun and easy creative writing workshop for absolute beginners

So… You have no idea where to start.

Writing isn’t complicated. Thinking about it, avoiding it, fearing it, resisting it — that’s where things get tangled up.

This is a one-day version of one of our most popular workshops! In this workshop, we’ll bust past our barriers and write. This is a joyful, non-intimidating space for anyone who has the urge to express themselves through words, but keeps putting it off.

We welcome participants who are full of fear, have zero experience, and don’t know where to start. Bring us your uncertainties and we’ll help you uncover your unique stories, voice and drive.

While almost all our workshops at Firefly are a great place for beginners, this one is designed for them.

Here’s how it works:

We’ll gather in the morning at an historic lawn bowling club on the edge of Riverdale Park. We'll start the day with short, easy writing exercises to unclog our creativity and produce lots of new ideas. In the afternoon, we'll move into slightly longer writes, looking for a little tug that we want to take deeper.

Then we'll spread out for 30 minutes of silent writing time before we come out for a big share and closure.

This day will be a mix of autobiographical writing, reflection, lists, laughter and poetry. (This isn't English class — we'll make it fun.) We’ll share work as we create it for supportive feedback.

This workshop aims to be encouraging, joyful and productive at every step.

- Haven’t done any kind of creative writing workshop in the past, or have a long time ago.
- Love the idea of a whole day to create with a small group of humans.
- Feel ready (though maybe a little scared) to share their writing.
- Are interested in exploring their own lives as writing material and sharing some of what comes up. (We tend to get a little personal.)
- Thrive in small, cozy groups. (This workshop will never have more than 8 participants.)
- Feel aligned with our fundamental beliefs.
- Lots of new writing.
- A sense of your writing voice and your unique gifts as a writer.
- Writing peers whose work you are invested in.
- A feeling of creative playfulness and possibility.
- Creative courage.
- Critique or competition. We’re all about the love.
- Strict rules on “how to write”. We’ll work on developing your writing skills but we don’t subscribe to the idea that there’s one way to create powerful work.
- Pressure to write things you don’t want to write. We go where the joy is.

Details for Spring 2026:

In-person with Mari (she/her) at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse (Toronto)

Saturday, June 6, 2026
10am–5pm ET

Registration opens February 17th!

Read the Healthcare Harm Reduction Policy for the in-person version of this workshop.

Read about accessibility features of the in-person workshop space.

Cost:

The fee for this workshop is $285. If you prefer, you can pay in 4 monthly installments of $71.25. Tax will be added for Canadians in your local provincial rate. See our financial policies.

Four times a year, we give out bursaries for our programs to people with financial barriers. Check out our upcoming dates.

If you don’t have a credit card, let us know and we’ll gladly find a way to make it work.

Sign up here:

Registration opens on February 17th. Join our early bird mailing list for early access to future registrations or sign up for our newsletter.

Questions?

Your answer is probably on this page.

What clients are saying…

I am a person always blooming with ideas and imagery, but since finding Firefly, I have started believing in those ideas. I am able to give & receive feedback on pieces, feel empowered to move forward creatively and I can’t wait to write more. Since Begin Here, I’ve signed up for another course — I love Firefly so much. Thank you!

Laura Rajagopal
Writer
I had an awesome experience and would certainly recommend this course to my friends and loved ones. Everyone is a writer and the stories need to be shared and told. Thank you, Firefly, for being such an amazing guide. I hope to enroll in future courses!

Madhu Nagarajan
3D Artist, Blogger
If you are looking to explore the beginnings of your writing voice, this is the place to start. Listening to others inspired me and allowed me to appreciate the wild variety of perspectives out there among us. Total strangers began to know each other in strangely intimate ways as we wrote and shared stories with each other. Was it scary, yes, every time. And yet, we all participated, every time. Every different voice was heard and cherished and celebrated.

Amy Brassert