Accomplished writer hosting library residency

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This article was published 15/10/2018 (2712 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wolseley’s Jordan Wheeler has been selected as the Winnipeg Public Library’s 2018-19 writer-in-residence.

The Gemini-award winning screenwriter and fiction author will provide free consultations to local writers from his temporary office at the Millennium Library (251 Donald St.) until April 30, 2019. For someone who has gotten used to working at home in recent years, Wheeler says the public office provides an interesting challenge. 

“You get used to not having to wear your shoes all day,” he said, laughing. “I’ll have to get my moccasins fixed so I can bring them in.”

Wheeler is from George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan and has been writing professionally since 1982. Credits to his name include teen and children’s fiction books Brothers in Arms, Digital Ogichida and Just a Walk; as well as the TV series Arctic Air, renegadepress.com and North of 60.

This residency is an opportunity to take care of some unfinished business for Wheeler, who was previously offered a writer-in-residence position at the Yukon Public Library but turned down the job to take an internship writing for North of 60.  

“I rolled the dice and took that gig instead,” he said, adding that the TV show ended up helping establish his career. “I’ve always sort of, not regretted it, but it just felt like, man, it would’ve been nice to go off and do that.”

In addition to his broad writing background, Wheeler was selected for the residency because of his teaching experience — which includes hosting writing workshops at universities and through organizations like Artists in Schools, the National Screen Institute and the Banff Centre.

“We had a really, really strong list of applications this year,” said Danielle Pilon, reader services head librarian at the Millennium Library. “Jordan has worked one-on-one with a lot of writers as a mentor and coach and he’s taught all age ranges so we thought he would have a lot to offer local writers.”

Wheeler says he is looking forward to connecting with other writers and lending a second opinion to both emerging and established writers in Winnipeg. 

“We can all get pretty isolated in our own writing,” he said. “This keeps you involved with people — you see the trends and where stories are coming from in this day and age.”

The library’s writer-in-residence program has been running since 1985 with the goal of giving local writers, regardless of their background, a chance to get professional advice. Writers can submit manuscript copies online to wpl.writerinres@gmail.com or in-person at any public library branch. 

While screen and fiction writing are Wheeler’s forte, he has experience with nearly every genre.

“I’m pretty confident that whatever any aspiring writer brings to the table, I’ll be able to respond to,” he said.

During the residency he will also be putting on several public workshops, details of which will be announced at a later date. More information at winnipeg.ca/library