Kobzar Scholarship Recipient Hones Craft at Humber School for Writers

By Christine Turkewych

Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship recipient, Natalia Buchok of Oakville, Ontario, attended the Humber School for Writers last July, held at Humber College in Toronto. The week long workshop provided Natalia with many learnings and feedback on her manuscript from established author Janice Kulyk Keefer, winner of the 2008 Kobzar Literary Award.

“This was an invaluable experience and I am very grateful to the Shevchenko Foundation for the scholarship.” 

Recently, Ms. Buchok had her short story “A Bar of Chocolate” published in the anthology Kobzar’s Children, edited by  Marsha Skrypuch. A trained child and family therapist with degrees in psychology, art history and social work, Natalia has completed one historical novel and is in the process of writing another. Her novel features aspects of her family history in which a grandmother’s unfulfilled dreams become her son’s legacy. The main character survives the hardships of World War II and immigrates to Canada. Facing unforeseen challenges, he remains true to his dream of reuniting with his wife and children in the Free World.

Natalia began writing as a young girl with a fascination for recording her father’s accounts of life in Ukraine and his journey to Canada. Early on, an English teacher had taken notice of her writing ability and encouraged her to develop her writing skills. However, creative writing courses were not available at the time and she was not interested in journalism. Years later while living abroad, she found more time for her writing and embarked on producing a historical novel.

Before arriving at the Humber workshop last summer, Natalie worried about how acceptable her work would be to established authors. In actuality, participation in readings and discussions with renowned authors reinforced Natalia’s confidence in herself as a writer. The Humber School for Writers engages established authors such as Wayson Choy, M.G. Vassanji, Martin Amis, Isabel Huggan, Alistair MacLeod, David Mitchell, Kim Moritsugu, Nino Ricci, Marsha Skrypuch, Erika de Vasconcelos, and Janice Kulyk Keefer. They provide workshop participants with insight and inspiration for writing. Artistic Director Antanas Sileika provides leadership that ensures an A+ experience for writers.

Significantly, individual coaching from author Janice Kulyk Keefer, brought sound editing advice and critical feedback with which Natalia could improve her manuscript and writing style. Today, Natalia feels that her writing is improved and that she will take it to “the next level”, a step closer to a publishable book. 

“Janice was a great coach and brilliant teacher. She started each class with a reading from a book and began a discussion with the question – What makes you want to read on?  We had to read critically and read as writers. Janice emphasized that writers must read others’ works to improve their own craft.”

Upon reflection, Natalia’s most memorable moment occurred while reading her manuscript aloud to all workshop registrants - established and novice writers. Their attentiveness throughout her reading amplified the interest value of her narrative with a Ukrainian Canadian theme.

Additionally, Natalia learned many lessons from literary agents and publishers. She comments that the knowledge gleaned enables her to effectively steer the manuscript through the demanding journey toward publication.

After participating in the workshop, the registrants/writers may also become a support group to each other and form a writing circle. Importantly, Humber has an in-house agent, who may be able to help the novice writer to place his/her manuscript with a publisher.

The Ukrainian Canadian Taras Shevchenko Foundation funds the Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship and one literary expert at the Humber School for Writers through the Kobzar Literary Award and Program endowment fund.  The Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship is awarded annually to a Canadian writer with an advanced manuscript on a Ukrainian Canadian theme. All applications are made directly to the Humber School for Writers.

Christine Turkewych, Ph.D, is Program Director, Kobzar Literary Award and Program, Ukrainian Canadian Taras Shevchenko Foundation. For more information, visit www.kobzarliteraryaward.ca