Alison Pick puts pen to paper on first novel in Banff

Alison Pick headed into her first writing program at The Banff Centre thinking she would work on a collection of short stories, but in the back of her mind she was struggling with the fact that she wanted to start her first novel.

Once settling into her space in Banff National Park, she found that The Banff Centre experience was a great opportunity for her to start this ambitious new project.

“It was a really vague idea that one day I would like to write a novel. It seemed like an impossible thing to do. Getting to Banff changed that. The environment was so conducive — the community of artists combined with having your cooking and cleaning taken care of — it seemed like a good time to start,” said Pick.

Working with faculty member Anne Fleming in the program Wired Writing Studio, Pick spent two weeks on campus mapping out ideas for The Sweet Edge, an eventual Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2005. Pick used the 20-week correspondence to continue with the first draft of the novel, and also getting feedback on several of her short stories.

“Having somebody believe that I could do it, and being recognized as a writer by another writer, was really beneficial,” said Pick. “I remember her helping create the space and conditions for me to work in. She wasn’t critical of the actual writing. She was very respectful of the stage that I was at with it, seeing as how I was just starting.”

After the release of The Sweet Edge, Pick took part in the Writing Studio program. This time around she learned how important it is to take a step back and be immersed with other writers, having conversations and creating connections.

“It’s such a gift to find the time for that. To go for walks, have conversations about literature and the process of being a writer. It’s as important as the studio time,” she added.

Pick was named a faculty member for the Wired Writing in 2010, working with emerging poets in Banff and in corresponding. “It has been a great pleasure to work with my students after having myself been on the receiving end of that mentorship. I feel acutely aware of how helpful it can be at the early stages of a writing career, and I hope I’ve been able to guide my students in the same wonderful way that Anne guided me.”

Jill Battson spends bulk of time in Banff writing, recording, and experimenting

Jill Battson first came to The Banff Centre for a Spoken Word residency directed by John Sobol. She remembered the quality of the facilities and value of that experience, so when Spoken Word was revived by Sheri-D Wilson, Battson embraced the opportunity to return.

As an internationally published poet and poetry activist, Battson has collaborated for years with artists in other disciplines. With the goal of “sharing poetry with the world at large instead of simply an audience of other poets,” she has worked with composers, musicians, choreographers, and visual artists to expose diverse audiences to poetry.

Battson arrived in Banff with a project and structure in mind: the libretto for a Requiem for 20 voices. Her experience in the Spoken Word program was largely self-directed, focusing two weeks on generating material. With the bulk of her time spent writing, the remainder included time for recording experimentation, performance, and conversations with other poets.

“Coming to Banff is an opportunity to get away from life for awhile,” says Battson. “Access to Wi-Fi and the library allowed me to do research, meals were taken care of, and there were no distractions, so I could focus on writing.”

Program faculty exposed Battson to different elements of spoken word through video, music, and a variety of recording modes. Battson enjoyed reconnecting with poets she had not seen in a long time, as well as meeting new ones. She found her creativity was sparked by spending time with other participants and going for walks in the mountain setting.

Her project has continued to progress since it began at The Banff Centre. A year later, she has a final draft of 30 poems that comprise the libretto and she has brought a composer on board. Andrew Staniland, winner of CBC’s Evolution composer competition, will spend eight or nine months composing the music to bring the libretto to life. The requiem will be rehearsed in Toronto before premiering at the Luminato festival in June 2010.

Battson already has her next visit to The Banff Centre in mind and is starting to think about new media collaboration possibilities during a self-directed residency.

Taking risks in a Rocky Mountain setting results in a stronger story for Jeremy Klaszus

Jeremy Klaszus thought the Literary Journalism program sounded like a writer’s dream: a month to work in a private studio in the Rocky Mountains, learning more about writing from experienced editors. He was interested in the program to provide a deadline and an incentive to finish a personal writing project.

Entering the program with the first draft of a memoir about his grandfather, Klaszus remembers his roundtable discussion with the editors and other participants. He was challenged to explore the purpose behind his story and the elements he employed to tell it. He was encouraged to confront parts of his family’s story that he had avoided and, ultimately, tell a stronger story.

Klaszus enjoyed the program for the setting, the schedule, and the company of writers. A private studio in the forest provided space for him to write and think. Over the month, he was able to structure his own days and realize when he worked best – in the morning and evening – so he often enjoyed the beauty of Banff by going for afternoon bike rides. The other writers provided valuable advice not only on his project, but writing and book publishing.

“My experience at The Banff Centre helped me to find my writing voice and feel more comfortable using it. It also encouraged me to take more risks when I write,” says Klaszus. He currently writes for Fast Forward Weekly in Calgary and looks forward to pursuing further memoir projects in the future.

Writing Studio retreats offer a stepping stone to success for poet Karen Solie

Karen Solie’s recurring visits to The Banff Centre have been invaluable stepping stones in her writing career. Her first experience at the Centre, in the Writing Studio program, resulted in the publication of her first collection of poems, entitled Short Haul Engine. Her second experience in Banff, also in the Writing Studio, produced work for her second published collection, Modern and Normal. Therefore, it made perfect sense for Solie to return to Banff to finish work on her third collection. The Leighton Studios provided just the retreat she needed.

Solie was assigned to the Henriquez Studio, a charming “studio in a boat”. The refurbished fishing boat is fully equipped for a writer’s needs and she found the space to be “beautiful, cozy, and quiet.” Familiar with the facilities, resources, location, and atmosphere, she was able to focus solely on her writing, without the distractions of daily life. “I wrote 10 pages of new work in 15 days, which is a fantastic amount, for me, and nearly all of that made it into the new book. The content of a couple of pieces written during that time is directly influenced by Banff and the Bow Valley,” says Solie. This third collection of poems, Pigeon, has recently been published.

Solie appreciates each experience she has had at The Banff Centre and is certain she will continue to look to Banff as an important resource throughout her writing career. “The opportunity to spend time in Banff is always precious and inspiring,” says Solie.

Karsten Heuer found the comforting community he craved for — focus on Finding Farley

For Karsten Heuer, writing can be a lonely process. Several months into working on his latest book, Finding Farley, he craved interaction with others who were devoted to the art and craft of storytelling. The Mountain Writing program provided the opportunity to get perspective on his project, exchange ideas, and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

His experience at The Banff Centre gave clarity and direction to his project:

“Surrounded by a group of five other highly motivated writers and a couple of extremely helpful editors, I had a breakthrough and suddenly understood what the book's deeper purpose had to be. I remember one evening in particular, madly jotting down scenes and turning points on a stack of index cards that, by the end of the night, were scattered all over my room and bed. It was one of those magical times when the entire project was in my head and the writing couldn't keep up with the thoughts.”

Beyond writing, Heuer enjoyed meeting and sharing ideas with other artists during meal times. Over three weeks, he met musicians, composers, photographers, painters, and broadcasters. These interactions were “incredibly stimulating and inspiring” for Heuer, feeding into his own work.

Heuer left the program with a comforting sense of community that he had been lacking before. He now takes comfort in the knowledge that he is among many who strive to produce meaningful work. He even keeps the group photo from his program pinned above his writing desk as a reminder that he is not alone.

Heuer continues to work on Finding Farley, about a five-month canoeing and sailing trip across Canada he took with his wife and young son to meet author Farley Mowat. He is also helping his wife finish up a documentary about the same trip.

Prior to attending the Mountain Writing program, Heuer won the Grand Prize of the 2005 Banff Mountain Book Festival for his book, Being Caribou.