Testimonials

"I have attended several Little Birds sittings and try to go whenever I can. Ellen creates a thoughtful and warm environment for experienced and beginner workshoppers alike. With the small group format and Ellen’s facilitation, every poem gets the care and attention it needs to be revised effectively. Some of my forthcoming poems were workshopped at Little Birds and the feedback was a huge help!"

- Leah McLean-Evans

"Ellen's workshops are the best and I'm honoured to be along for the ride."

- Cindy Arlette Orellana

"I think Ellen is doing a wonderful service for budding authors from all walks of life and levels of expertise. It’s difficult finding a creative writing workshop (yet alone a poetry-focused workshop) in Ottawa. Little Birds Poetry provides an open, intimate forum that is buttressed by its small group format, which fosters an indelible sense of collegiality and respect among fellow peers. I’m so thankful for this workshop – it breathed fresh new air into my writing. I’ve learned so much about diction, tone, language, voice, and imagery by just reading the poetry of other participants and engaging thoughtfully with their unique perspectives on the craft of writing."

- Jamal Baksh

"Ellen has created something truly special. I love the diversity—of age, of background, of poetic style—that Little Birds Poetry workshops attract. Any piece I bring is guaranteed an honest but respectful review that lets me sense how a varied audience might receive it. I leave each session with concrete suggestions and an energy that fuels my writing for days."

- Susan Robertson

"Little Birds Poetry introduced me to diverse writers, from different literary scenes in the GTA: Downtown, North York, East Side, West Side, all meeting at an affordable, accessible location. It was great to meet audiences and organizers from all over, and to share our unique ways of editing. Learning how younger writers and older writers have different ways of reading, but agree on the final edits, is a worthwhile reason to keep returning."

- Terry Trowbridge