What Makes a YES Writing Project?

1. Creative Idea

What’s your artistic vision?

• Poetry & Spoken Word: Original poems, free verse collections, spoken word performances, experimental or hybrid poetry.

• Fiction Writing: Short stories, flash fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, realistic fiction, character-driven narratives.

• Scriptwriting & Playwriting: Stage plays, screenplays, audio dramas, narrative podcasts.

• Interactive & Digital Storytelling: Branching stories, visual novels, digital essays, video game scripts, online narrative experiences.

• Collaborative Writing & Journaling: Group storytelling, zines, co-written pieces, journaling projects, community-sourced writing.

2. Community Engagement

How does your project connect with others?

• Collaborating with Artists: Working with writers, actors, illustrators, editors, or other creatives.

• Story Collection & Interviews: Gathering local stories, memories, and lived experiences to inform or inspire written work.

• Workshops & Teaching: Leading writing circles, craft workshops, or peer editing sessions.

• Community Research & Storytelling: Exploring neighbourhood histories, cultural traditions, or community issues through writing.

• Public Readings & Literary Events: Hosting readings, open mics, story exchanges, or interactive literary experiences.

3. YES Project

How can YES support your writing project?

• Covers project costs (materials, collaborators, printing, recording tools, event space).

• Helps create a final public event (reading, book/zine launch, audio story debut, publication, or another creative format).

• Supports your development as a writer, facilitator, and community storyteller.

Example YES Writing Projects:

1. Voices of the Block: A Community Poetry Walk

Voices of the Block is an outdoor literary installation where original poems appear across local streets and gathering places. Participants collect stories and memories from community members, transforming them into short written pieces displayed in parks, storefront windows, and transit stops. The project invites neighbours to contribute lines or reflections, turning the neighbourhood into a shared poetry landscape.

2. Future Worlds Writing Lab

Future Worlds is a collaborative genre-writing program where youth co-create a shared sci-fi or fantasy universe. Through workshops focused on worldbuilding, character design, and speculative storytelling, participants develop short stories that unfold in the same imagined world. The project culminates in a community reading and a published anthology showcasing their collective creativity.

3. Storytellers at the Table

Storytellers at the Table is a narrative writing and storytelling series inspired by family rituals, food traditions, and everyday conversations. The project hosts writing circles and story-sharing sessions that help emerging writers craft personal essays or narrative pieces. It concludes with a community reading that centres warmth, humour, and intergenerational storytelling.

4. The Zine & Joy Collective

The Zine & Joy Collective brings together young writers and visual artists to create a series of community-made print and digital zines. Participants learn about journaling, collaborative writing, editing, design, and layout. The project ends with a public launch event where the zines are shared with community members and local organizations.

5. Echoes: An Audio Story Archive

Echoes is an audio storytelling project built from interviews with elders, newcomers, and long-time residents. Participants transform recorded conversations into narrative podcasts, audio essays, or short documentary-style pieces. The project culminates in a listening event that celebrates the voices and histories of the community.