News & Events

Patricia, winner of an Excellence in Teaching Award, teaches Creative Writing at University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies. Click here to register.

UPCOMING

You’re invited to Patricia’s workshop “Before You Hit Send: Getting Submission-Ready” at The 2026 Toronto Writing Workshop: April 11, 2026. This one-day event features workshops with literary agents, editors, and people in-the-know about the publishing business today. Come to hear up-to-date information and instruction about how to get your manuscript published.
As a volunteer for PEN Canada’s Writers in Exile program, Patricia is delighted to be presenting a free workshop in April 2026 for refugee writers on pathways to publication. Members of PEN Canada can find sign-up information in their PEN newsletters.
On May 27-29, Patricia is looking forward to attending and presenting at the Canlit, Writing, Publishing and Pedagogy Conference at the University of Winnipeg. More information to come soon.
On August 8, Patricia will be presenting at the Off Topic Writers Conference , an online event that you can register for HERE.
In September 2026, Patricia will be joining an exciting line-up of writers at the St Lawrence Writers Festival. Details to follow.

PAST

Patricia and Off Topic Publishing presented an online workshop, “Pathways to Publication” on October 16
Patricia presented at Unlocking Your Creativity: A Collaborative Literary Event, with keynote speakers Anne Michaels and Sheila Heti, on Saturday, October 4.
Join Patricia at the Mississauga Literary Festival on Saturday, September 13. See Patricia’s presentation at 10 a.m. or find her at her book exhibit on the 3rd floor.
In a ceremony on June 3, 2025, Patricia received the University of Toronto Excellence in Teaching Award: Creative Writing—an award that honours “exceptional instructors who exemplify the highest standards of teaching in adult education.” The students who nominated her wrote that she is “a kind, positive, and dedicated instructor and mentor with a gift for putting her Creative Writing class participants at ease in what can be a vulnerable space for emerging writers. She fosters a sense of community in her classroom, and challenges learners to step out of their comfort zones to create meaningful work.”
Patricia’s personal essay “How should we live our lives in a time of enormous threats?” was published in the Toronto Star on July 26, 2025. Find it in the Opinions pages.
Patricia will be reading from a new manuscript at the Drunk Fiction reading series on Wednesday, March 26 at The Caledonian, 856 College St, Toronto. Secure your spot here.
On March 5, 2025, Patricia and Victoria Hetherington presented “The Art of the Literary Sex Scene (Fiction and Memoir)” at the Women in Publishing Summit Panel.
Check out Patricia’s conversation with Liisa Kovala on the Women Writing podcast. You’ll hear writing prompts, some hot tips for getting published, and thoughts on whether you should look for a Canadian or an American publisher.
On Nov. 27, Patricia presented a free webinar on getting published in Canada. Stay tuned for the repeat later this spring.
Check out Patricia’s conversation with Brent van Staalduinen, “How to Reject Rejection,” on the Rejected Central podcast.
See Patricia’s article “What I Wish I Knew Before I Signed My First Book Deal” in Authors Publish.
On Saturday, September 14, Patricia will be at the Mississauga Writers’ Festival. Come to the 11 a.m. feature: Manuscript to Marketplace. Click here for tickets.
On Thursday, May 16, Patricia co-presented a workshop at West End Phoenix with Victoria Hetherington on writing sex scenes in literary fiction.
On Thursday, Nov. 23, Patricia presented an in-person workshop on creating memorable characters in fiction and memoir.
On Sunday, Nov. 26, Patricia gave a FREE online workshop on getting published in Canada.
On Sunday, October 15, Patricia presented an online masterclass, “The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Published” at LitFest: Canada’s Original Nonfiction Festival. Get your ticket here.
On Saturday, November 4, Patricia presented a masterclass at Sudbury’s Wordstock.
Patricia presented to a full room, many of the participants in costume, at Toronto’s Fan Expo on Sunday August 27. Her workshop was entitled “Writing and Publishing Your Own Book.”
Find Patricia’s five tips on getting published HERE.
Patricia spoke about her new book and the publishing industry in Canada at Junction Reads on June 11. Watch the conversation here.
On May 27, Patricia signed books at one of her favourite festivals, Word on the Street.
On Saturday, May 6, Patrica led a community creative writing workshop at the West End Phoenix https://www.westendphoenix.com
On March 30, CFMU FM aired an episode of Get Lit, in which Patricia was the featured guest. https://www.jamietennant.ca/index.php/2023/03/30/e322-with-patricia-westerhof/
On March 26, Soliloques Anthology published an interview with Patricia. Her former student Lucy Farcnik was the interviewer. https://www.soliloquies.org/post/publishing-and-the-nature-of-creativity-with-patricia-westerhof
On March 11, The Winnipeg Free Press published a glowing review of The Canadian Guide to Creative Writing and Publishing: “Aspiring writers would do well to heed worthy pointers” by Dave Williamson. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/2023/03/11/aspiring-writers-would-do-well-to-heed-worthy-pointers
On March 10, Patricia was featured on Literary Lobby, discussing what writers need to know about getting published in Canada. Listen now:
@TalkShoe: http://ow.ly/O8T450Nchfr
Apple Podcasts: http://ow.ly/HToy50Nchfq
Spotify: http://ow.ly/wXTB50Nchfp
WHEN should writers give their work away for free? Patricia answered this question in a blog post: https://www.dundurn.com/blog_/t43181/p159385-when-should-writers-give-their-work-away-for-free-
On Feb. 2, Patricia spoke at the Ontario Librarians’ Association Superconference 2023 about what librarians can do for aspiring writers.
On January 3, Patricia was interviewed by Open Book on how to get published in Canada today: https://open-book.ca/News/How-to-Get-Published-in-Canada-Today-A-Conversation-with-Patricia-Westerhof—