Want to explore telling/writing/creating your own life story and how where you live shapes it?  Join writer, poet, and teacher of Creative Writing, Vivian Hansen, through monthly workshops in 2025-2026. 

In his book, Prairie Coulee, Thomas Willock says that “the coulee meant much more than a place: it meant an entire community; the net sensation of a whole association of experiences, first-hand or rumoured, from the distant past, or the anticipated adventure tomorrow morning would bring.” 

Focusing on landscape and its variations can help define your characters, your plot, and your sensitivities in all genres.  In this yearlong series of workshop, we will explore what happens when you write about the coulee and its community. As a storyteller, what does it mean to include yourself in a community that is natural landscape, or communal rituals, like having a coffee with friends?

We will explore your memories with landscape; with the prairie coulees in and around Airdrie.  What history informs the grass in this place?  Have you (or your character) migrated from elsewhere? Perhaps still trying to discover landscape? These workshops will facilitate your poetry, creative nonfiction and fictions.  We’ll discuss what roads a prairie landscape can provide for your writing journey.

You will read, write, discuss and get feedback. This is an ideal workshop for the beginner to the experienced writer, storyteller, poet. 

Ideally, you would attend every workshop, but come as often as you can (more dates coming). Sign up for each date.

BIO

Vivian Hansen has taught various levels of poetry (Introductory, Prose Poem, and Manuscript Creation) at Alexandra Writers Centre.  She teaches for the Faculty of Continuing Education with the University of Calgary, in the Certificate Program in Creative Writing.  Courses taught:  Creative Writing Explorations, Creative Nonfiction, and a final mentor project.  She also mentors privately, and with the Writers Guild of Alberta.  She has worked as a Story Coach in the Author Development Program with the Alexandra Writers Centre and the Borderlines Writing Circle.  Vivian holds a BA in English from the University of Calgary, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia.