Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence

The Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence program is a residency for Canadian writers. We offer both shorter, visiting author opportunities and longer residencies, depending on available funds and local planning initiatives from year to year. All Canadian writers of established literary reputation in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or drama are encouraged to apply.

Please note...

Going forward, the Edna Staebler Writer in Residence will be shifting to a biennial model, with the next residency scheduled for Winter 2027. As such, there will be no call for applications in Spring 2025. A new call for applications will appear on our website in Spring 2026 for the Winter 2027 Residency.

About the Program

The writer-in-residence will receive $21,000 for a 9-week in-person residency, a compensation rate per week commensurate with Canada Council funding (e.g. approximately $2,000 per week). Nine weeks will be spent with the community at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, and one week will be devoted to Laurier’s Brantford campus community.

The full-time position requires 40% of the author’s time (approximately 15-20 hours) to be spent on community programs or projects on Laurier's two campuses, leaving 60% of the work week available for the writer’s own creative projects. Community programs and projects include:

• Reading manuscripts and consulting with students and the public;
• Class visits;
• Giving readings and lectures;
• Leading workshops; or
• Participating in similar community programming in Brantford and Kitchener-Waterloo.

2025 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Resident: Thea Lim

Upcoming Activities for January, February & March 2025

Staebler WIR Inaugural Talk:

• Jan. 30, 7pm - Boring Worlds: The Storytelling Power of the Mundane. All are welcome

• Feb 12, 4 pm - 5:30 pm: Fiction workshop - The Story Machine: How to organize a story using plot...and beyond. Location: DAWB 4-105
• Mar 12, 11 - 12:30 pm: Nonfiction workshop - Courting Disasters: Using shape and research in creative nonfiction. Location: DAWB 4-105

Staebler WIR Office Hours: January 22-March 22. Location: DAWB 2-138

• Wednesdays, 1-3pm
• Thursdays, 12-2pm