Mark Frutkin’s work, including 10 novels, three poetry collections, and three books of non-fiction, has been published internationally and translated into seven languages. In 2007, his novel, Fabrizio’s Return (Knopf), won Ontario’s Trillium Book Award and the national Sunburst Award, and was nominated for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Canada/Caribbean region). His collection of poetry, Hermit Thrush, was shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award in 2016. In the 1970s, he spent ten years living in the Gatineau Hills north of Ottawa in a log cabin with no electricity or running water. With nothing to do but read, write, shovel snow, and chop wood, this period served as his apprenticeship to becoming a writer. He has worked as a journalist and critic for the Globe & Mail, Harper’s, the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, amazon.ca/com, and other print and online media, and served as co-editor of ARC Poetry Magazine. Over the years, he could be found teaching creative writing at Carleton University, and the Universities of Ottawa, New Brunswick and Western Ontario. He has received numerous grants for writing from the Canada Council, the OAC, and the City of Ottawa. See more details at markfrutkin.com.
Read what participants have said they enjoyed most about Mark’s Fall 2020 online offering of “Poetry: The Open Mind”:
- Mark has a perfect blend of expertise and quiet encouragement for new poets (or experienced ones). He allowed participants to critique and then filled in the gaps. Kudos!
- I liked the feedback received by Mark Frutkin and by the rest of the participants in the workshop. The encouragement to write and the overall atmosphere – relaxed and yet very educational.
- I learned a lot, gained a real appreciation for poetry, and will continue studying/writing it.
- The lecturer’s comments on the participants’ material/presentations were very helpful.
- [I enjoyed] the opportunity to see a variety of poems from the participants and to learn from the comments of the lecturer and participants on the poems, including on my own poems. The workshop was inspiring and interesting.
- [I enjoyed] the high quality of the lecturer’s workshops and encouragement to his participants.
- Great feedback on our poetry from the lecturer and also the other participants. Definitely an experienced educator/poet and I would not hesitate to take another workshop from Mark.
- The six weeks went by too quickly!
Read what participants have said they enjoyed most about Mark’s 2017 and 2018 offerings of “Poetry: The Open Mind”:
- The exposure to different ways of looking at and writing poetry.
- Encouragement to participate in a constructive way with other workshop members and to produce creative material.
- I had the chance to learn through doing. The workshop critique of the poetry was very useful, and encouraging.
- The lecturer was very well acquainted with his subject matter, and led the workshop with authority and sensitivity.
- Mark’s accommodating style.
- The opportunity to circulate poems to the group and to receive constructive feedback.
- The lecturer and his approach to the subject matter. The opportunity to meet other poets. Constructive feedback on my material.
- The balance between presentation of new material and class discussion, opportunity to share and discuss the work of all the students.
- The level of interest and participation of all the participants, students and lecturer.
- I loved this session. Perfectly reflects why Lifelong Learning Program is so important and rewarding.
- Mark was an engaging and interesting lecturer. He did a great job of pacing the lectures to match the goals of the group.