Teaching and Workshops
Ron Smith has taught fiction, poetry and publishing workshops at various universities over several decades. He helped establish the Creative Writing Department atVancouver Island University and taught workshops in the programme for 28 years. In 2005 he became the inaugural Fulbright Chair in Creative Writing atArizonaStateUniversityand in 2006 he took a semester appointment at The G. D’Annunzio University inChieti-Pescara,Italy, where he taught a course in North American Studies and Creative Writing. He has been a frequent guest panelist, literary jury member, workshop leader, and speaker/lecturer/reader at various universities acrossCanada, the States,England,ItalyandAlbania. From 1974 to 2010 he was the publisher of Oolichan Books and for three years in the late eighties, he was the fiction editor for Douglas & McIntyre. He has also edited books for M&S and has been a publisher’s reader for McGill-Queens and OUP. In 2011 he was awarded the Gray Campbell Distinguished Service Award for his contribution to publishing in BC. From 2008 to 2012 he was on the Board of the BC Arts Council.
Ron has always enjoyed the challenge and excitement of the writing workshop. He has participated in residency positions at such places as the Marlborough Arts Festival (UK), Concordia University, Western Washington University, ASU, Washington State University, University of Tirana (Albania), University of Siena (Italy), University of Bologna (Italy), University of Rome (Italy), Fernie Writer’s Conference, Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, Shuswap Festival, University of Leeds (UK), Hope Writers Guild and UBC. Recently he has given readings from his children’s book to literally thousands of children in BC andSaskatchewan. These have been especially rewarding experiences. Often he has read to entire school populations with much pleasure. His most recent event for kids was in Yorkton, an impromptu reading while he was on tour with his biography of the sports icon, Gerry James.
Ron Smith has spoken and given readings in Leeds, London, Marlborough, Swindon, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Calgary, Fernie, Hope, Vancouver, Sechelt, Salmon Arm, Nanaimo, Parksville, Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, Victoria, Duncan, Bellingham, San Francisco, Spokane, Pullman, Phoenix, Tempe, Rome, Siena, Bologna, Udine, Venice, Ferrara, Pescara, Tirana, Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Prince George, Nelson, Osoyoos, Oliver, plus many more that escape his memory.
Many writers that Ron has mentored over the years have gone on to have very successful writing careers. Several have won major awards and have published multiple books. He loves the writing process and brings over 35 years of experience as an editor and publisher to his passion for the written word.
Please contact Ron Smith directly through this website if you are interested in a workshop, individual mentoring or reading/lecture.
