A Writers’ Guild AGM (and Conference), Expertly Reported On

One Writer’s Report on the 2025 SWG AGM (and Conference)

The Meeting

Like this author, you, Dear Reader, have surely been on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome(s) of the SWG’s Annual General Meeting; allow me to alleviate the suspense!

As an attendee, I spent the moments that I managed to leave myself before the meeting’s start - and this only because my wolfed-down breakfast was still making its way down my gullet in the aftermath of my rush to the venue - perusing the Annual Report, particularly the financial data at the back,* and attempting to familiarise myself with the esteemed Board nominees before having to vote on their continued/inclusion on said Board, in a fully-informed and well-considered manner.

With a movement and a second we were off; we whizzed through points on the agenda with the sort of speed that can only be achieved through weighty deliberation and thoughtful debate. Various other matters were raised and voted upon; we exercised our well-briefed judgements and polling arms with discernment.

*This is not a joke. I love a good comma-separated value!**

**Still not joking.

Expert photo #1, documenting additionally the presence of literary assistants.

Alas, it was over all too soon; one felt one could have continued in perpetuity, fuelled by the lingering aroma of hotel breakfast sausage; and yet, tempus fugit and we were called away to other, more trifling happenstances.

Other Business

There were, after the real meat of the AGM, some additional undertakings at the “conference itself,” which may perhaps interest you in an offhand way.

If one is invested, for example, in social affairs, there was plenty of communion and chit-chat between storytellers invigorated by one another’s presence and the bolstering knowledge that in close geographical proximity one might find dozens of other nerds as devoted to words and wild dreams as oneself.

There were, for the curious, thought-provoking and instructive workshops and panels to be enjoyed, and a keynote speech that hit all three “W’s” of uplifting discourse - wise, warm, and witty - from Lawrence Hill, whose name might, possibly, tinkle bells of familiarity (The Book of Negroes, Beatrice and Croc Harry, among many other titles).

Photo Essay

Being determined to manage for once to immortalise conference events in photograph, instead of being so exclusively focused that I misremember the existence of my phone, much less the fact that it captures reasonably good still images, I reminded myself with stern consistency during the week preceding the conference, plus each evening and every morning of the weekend itself, to TAKE PICTURES. Even one good snap of the main room, and perhaps a “selfie” with a table of fellow participants, or a banner of some description…

Below you can see the results:

Impressive, no?

In All Seriousness…

Thank you so much to everyone who made this prairie transplant’s first SWG Conference such a blast. It was beautifully organised, and so fun to meet the SWG staff and giggle about stuff in person - what a seriously fun group, and so dedicated to supporting the province’s storytellers; we are unbelievably lucky.

Many thanks to the hotel staff for your hard work and kindness.

Thanks to my new word nerd buddies, who are no doubt hoping I’ve lost their contact information and will be slightly dismayed when I actually reach out - I had the best time yappin’* with you.

Thanks to the expert and gracious panellists, workshop leaders and Lawrence Hill for giving us the gifts of learning and legitimacy that the best professional associations provide.

You all rock my 🧦!

*Gen Z terminology - my colleague is teaching me How the Youths Speak. Hence all my hip diction.

❤️