Off Topic Publishing
@offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
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Publisher, writing workshops, Contest. Community of writers and readers. #WritingCommunity Founding Editor: @marionlougheed.bsky.social www.offtopicpublishing.com
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offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Can't get enough writing time?

Come to our retreat! We'll visit Germany's 2nd biggest book fair. Write by the lake + in one of Europe's oldest coffee houses! ✍️😀

offtopicpublishing.com/retreat

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingRetreat #Leipzig #Europe #History #Germany #Coffee #WritingTime
2026 Writing Retreat
Leipzig, Germany – March 15-21 – includes a visit to the Leipzig Book Fair! Maybe you’ve been writing for years. Maybe you’ve never had the courage or the opportunity to set…
www.offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"We tried to make baguettes on the flour-dusted kitchen counter"

=> Read "How to Make a Legacy" by Andrew Shaughnessy - August Poetry Contest Honourable Mention!

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Poetry
“How to Make a Legacy.” – by Andrew Shaughnessy
We tried to make baguettes on the flour-dusted kitchen counter
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Can't get enough writing time?

Come to our retreat! We'll visit Germany's 2nd biggest book fair. Write by the lake + in one of Europe's oldest coffee houses! ✍️😀

offtopicpublishing.com/retreat

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingRetreat #Leipzig #Europe #History #Germany #Coffee #WritingTime
2026 Writing Retreat
Leipzig, Germany – March 15-21 – includes a visit to the Leipzig Book Fair! Maybe you’ve been writing for years. Maybe you’ve never had the courage or the opportunity to set…
www.offtopicpublishing.com
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
finnwritesstuff.bsky.social
I DID A THING! I bought plane tickets to Germany. I’ve never been - I’m going by myself but I’ll end up in Leipzig for a writing retreat. Thank you @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social for hosting something so cool.
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"With your finger, draw a circle - let it fail.
Call that failure a door."

=>Read "How to Make a Body Stay" by Kath Healing - August Poetry Contest Honourable Mention.

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Poetry
“How to Make a Body Stay” – by Kath Healing
Take the kettle off before it screams.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"the weathered wanderer extols the waves breaking..."

Read "EMPTY CANVAS" by Mark Hoffe - winner of August's Off Topic Poetry Contest.

Honourable Mentions:
- "How to Make a Body Stay" by Kath Healing
- "How to Make a Legacy"…

https://offtopicpublishing.com/2025/08/31/empty-canvas-by-mark-hoffe/
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offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"Personally, I thought He was pushing it, trying too hard with the “Creator of all things” bit. It was a bit much—over the top, I might say."

=> Read "On the Seventh Day He Rested" by Lisa Pollock - July Fiction Contest Honourable Mention.
“And on the Seventh Day He Rested” – by Lisa Pollock
Personally, I thought He was pushing it, trying too hard with the “Creator of all things” bit. It was a bit much—over the top, I might say.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"My fingers pinch the crisp envelope corners until it stings, and I drop the emotional trigger like I’ve accidentally caught a wasp."

=> Read "Once You Open It, You'll Change" by Lisa Zeltzer - July Fiction Contest Honourable Mention
“Once You Open It, You’ll Change” – by Lisa Zeltzer
My fingers pinch the crisp envelope corners until it stings, and I drop the emotional trigger like I’ve accidentally caught a wasp.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"It shouldn’t have, but that’s what that little envelope did. It drew her in. It drew her out. Out of her own life and into a world of what ifs."

=> Read " The Envelope" by Laurel Howe - July Off Topic Fiction Contest Honourable Mention
“The Envelope” – by Laurel Howe
It shouldn’t have, but that’s what that little envelope did. It drew her in. It drew her out. Out of her own life and into a world of what ifs.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
“It was a lovely funeral,” Brit told the husband. Her eyes avoided the drink in the man’s hand—his third or fourth since they’d come back to the house.

-> Read "Out in the Open" by Alison McBain - August Fiction Honourable Mention

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Fiction #ShortStory
“Out in the Open” – by Alison McBain
“It was a lovely funeral,” Brit told the husband. Her eyes avoided the drink in the man’s hand—his third or fourth since they’d come back to the house.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Add-On! Writing Retreat 2nd Guest in Same Room

Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for a second person in a room you've booked here. The total cost for two people sharing a room is $2100 CAD. Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or…
Add-On! Writing Retreat 2nd Guest in Same Room
Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for a second person in a room you've booked here. The total cost for two people sharing a room is $2100 CAD. Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or Interac etransfer, please contact Marion Lougheed via this form.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Writing Retreat – Leipzig – March 15-21, 2026

Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for one person in a room by yourself. If you'd like to add a second person, please purchase the add-on here: Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or…
Writing Retreat – Leipzig – March 15-21, 2026
Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for one person in a room by yourself. If you'd like to add a second person, please purchase the add-on here: Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or Interac etransfer, please contact Marion Lougheed via this form
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Moira had her suspicions about the headache. She wondered whether Margaret had planned all along that Moira would come on her own.

Read "Going Out by Deborah Thompson, winner of July's Off Topic Contest
“Going Out” – by Deborah Thompson
Moira had her suspicions about the headache. She wondered whether Margaret had planned all along that Moira would come on her own.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"“I WANT TO KISS YOU,” read the subject line in my inbox."

=> Read "Two Kinds of Courage" by L McMechan - June CNF Honourable Mention

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Travel #Creativenonfiction
“Two Kinds of Courage” – by L McMechan
“I WANT TO KISS YOU,” read the subject line in my inbox.
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
"I always wanted to know everything you thought of. Everything about the way you thought was beautiful, back then."

=>Read "Bro Island" by Murgatroyd Monaghan - June CNF Honourable Mention.

#OffTopicContest #CanLit

https://offtopicpublishing.com/2025/07/10/bro-island-by-murgatroyd-monaghan/
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offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Always wanted to write your own true (or true-ish) story? This 6-week online class with Dr. Robyn Diner will give you options, techniques and support. Pay-what-you-can spots available.

#WritingCommunity #Memoir #Storytelling #Writers #OnlineWorkshop

www.eventbrite.ca/e/what-about...
What About Me?: From Memoir to Autofiction
What is autofiction? How is it different from memoir or creative nonfiction? What personal, political and literary purposes might it serve?
www.eventbrite.ca
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
jedlooker.bsky.social
Look forward to the 2025 @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social #Writing #Conference! Great line-up of 🇨🇦 authors 🤓
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
madeprojects.bsky.social
PETERBOROUGH READER SPOTLIGHT: Murgatroyd Monaghan

We're stoked that Murgatroyd is going to be travelling to Peterborough for this event! And we might get to hear more about her e-book, white spaces where we learn to breathe, forthcoming from @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social! 👀
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
ktwagner.bsky.social
I'm teaching a workshop - The Power of Writing Prompts & Constraints - as part of Off Topic Publishing's 2025 online Conference, the weekend of August 9th and 10th. Check out the entire schedule at the link and join me! @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social

offtopicpublishing.com/conference/
Poster for Off Topic 2025 Writing Conference
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
ktwagner.bsky.social
I'm looking forward to teaching a writing workshop at the virtual Off Topic Publishing conference in August about one of my favourite topics: The Power of Writing Prompts and Constraints. @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social offtopicpublishing.com/conference
Picture of KT Wagner with text: Featured Speaker, The Power of Writing Prompts & Constraints - August 10th, 2025 13:40-14:35pm EDT Online offtopicpublishing.com/conference
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
thecreativesplurge.bsky.social
Off Topic Publishing is currently running their July competition, closing 10 July.

Get creating because this month it's Short Fiction up to 1500 words!

All the details are here →
https://offtopicpublishing.com/contest/

#WritingCommunity #WritingContest #TCS
@offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Contest – Off Topic Publishing
Guidelines for the Off Topic Contest for writers!
offtopicpublishing.com
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
“When Grief Made Me the Villain” – by Jessica Roberts

My love of horses ran like a thunderous herd in my blood, linking together three generations.
“When Grief Made Me the Villain” – by Jessica Roberts
My love of horses ran like a thunderous herd in my blood, linking together three generations.
offtopicpublishing.com