Consultations

Consultations with our Canadian Writer-in-Residence are free and open to the public.

Writers from across Canada are welcome to submit; however, priority is given to writers located in the Calgary area.

We welcome submissions of work at any stage, but a manuscript is not required. You can request a consultation in order to:

• receive guidance and edits on your written work,
• simply ask a question,
• discuss an idea, or
• receive general advice pertaining to writing and publishing in Canada.

Booking a consultation

Please fill out the form below to book a one-hour consultation with 2023-24 Writer-in-Residence Francine Cunningham.

Manuscript Specifications

• Prose: excerpts may be no more than 15 double-spaced pages in 12-point font with standard margins.
• Poetry: excerpts may be no more than 15 pages in 12-point font with standard margins. 

Please note that your manuscript excerpt must be submitted a minimum of one week before your appointment. Consultation requests that do not meet these specifications will be asked to resubmit.

Consultation Hours

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m MST.
• NOTE: Francine will be holding additional consultation hours on Oct. 30 and Nov.1-3 (consultations are available between 10 and 4 p.m. on these days only). If you would like to book one of these days, please select "other" below and provide three possible time slots. 

Consultations must be booked in advance. If you need to book outside of these hours please select "other," and we will do our best to accommodate alternate schedules, but cannot guarantee availability.

Consultation Format

One-on-one consultations are available via Zoom. Due to high demand for consultations with our writers-in-residence, you are entitled to one individual consultation per academic year.

Accessibility

Zoom’s auto-captions are enabled. You are welcome to retain a copy of the live transcript.

Digital Security and Online Safety

Zoom meetings will not be recorded and will remain private. We ask that you extend the same courtesy and refrain from taking audio recordings, screen shots, or video recordings during consultations. 

Content Advisory

We work to create a safe and supportive environment for all voices and do not accept submissions that contain racist, xenophobic, misogynist, and/or homophobic content.

The Calgary Distinguished Writers Program retains the right to decline a consultation request at its discretion.