6 Weeks
Duration
15 Writers
Cohort
Fall 2026
Oct 5 – Nov 15
CAD $795
Tuition
Backhouse Press
The Quiet Draft
A six-week guided writing residency
for serious personal work.
6 Weeks
A small, intentional writing space for people working with memoir, personal essay, and lived experience — designed for clarity, integrity, and completion.
This is transcends a course. It is a contained studio.
Who This Is For
This residency is for writers who:
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Are working with personal material and want to do so ethically
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Value depth over speed and substance over visibility
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Want guidance without performance pressure
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Are ready to complete a meaningful draft
This is not a fit if you are looking for constant feedback, line edits, or publication support
How It Works
Weekly rhythm.
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One pre-recorded teaching each week (20–30 minutes). Watch on your own time.
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One live group session each week. All sessions are recorded.
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Optional written reflection check-in. No individual feedback guaranteed.
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Clear start and end dates. One cohort equals one complete cycle. Structure protects quality.
Curriculum
Six weeks. One complete arc.
Week 1
Permission & Position
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What makes a story worth telling
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Separating experience from interpretation
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Releasing performative writing
Live Session: Orientation + container agreements
Week 2
Memory & Meaning
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How memory works on the page
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Scene vs. summary
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Ethical recall and responsibility
Live Session: Using dialogue + recreation
Week 3
Voice Without Exhibition
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Writing honestly without oversharing
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Containment as craft
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Silence as narrative strength
Live Session: Guided discussion + Q&A
Week 4
Shape & Structure
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Short forms that hold weight
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Fragments, essays, linked stories
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Letting structure do the labour
Live Session: Types of memoir + styles of writing
Week 5
Revision as Authority
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Editing without self-erasure
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Knowing when a piece is finished
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Trusting restraint
Live Session: Closing craft conversation
Week 6
After the Draft
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Private vs. public writing
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Readiness and discernment
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When not to publish
Live Session: Self-publishing vs traditional publishers
What you'll receive.
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Six weeks of guided instruction
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Weekly pre-recorded teachings (20–30 min)
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Six live group sessions (recorded)
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A digital copy of: All of it True? True Enough. On Form, Memory, and The Craft of Lived Experiences. By Bev Hotchkiss
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Curated reading list
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A contained, respectful studio environment
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Full MS review upon completion
What is not included.
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Line-by-line critique
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Open-ended access
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Private coaching
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Publication guarantees
Standard tuition
CAD $795
Equity access
2 sliding-scale spaces (application-based)
Alumni rate
15% discount on future Services
Cohort size
15 participants
Program dates
October 5 – November 15, 2026
Tuition & Access
CAD $795
Applications are reviewed to ensure alignment
and care for the group.
Payment Plans Available
For services over $1,000, we offer flexible payment plans — 3, 6, or 12 monthly installments depending on the package. Ask us about options when we connect.
About
Backhouse Press supports thoughtful, ethically grounded writing. Our work centres lived experience, restraint, and literary integrity.
Facilitated by Bev Hotchkiss
Apply
Apply to The Quiet Draft.
Text Info