Off Topic Publishing
banner
offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Off Topic Publishing
@offtopicpublishing.bsky.social
Publisher, writing workshops, Contest. Community of writers and readers. #WritingCommunity Founding Editor:
@marionlougheed.bsky.social

www.offtopicpublishing.com
Pinned
Can't get enough writing time?

Come to our retreat! We'll visit Germany's 2nd biggest book fair. Write by the lake + in one of Europe's oldest coffee houses! ✍️😀

offtopicpublishing.com/retreat

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingRetreat #Leipzig #Europe #History #Germany #Coffee #WritingTime
2026 Writing Retreat
Leipzig, Germany – March 15-21 – includes a visit to the Leipzig Book Fair! Maybe you’ve been writing for years. Maybe you’ve never had the courage or the opportunity to set…
www.offtopicpublishing.com
"The first death wasn't suspicious."

=>Read "The Mountain." by Donnalynn Ferguson - October Fiction Contest Honourable Mention
“The Mountain.” – by Donnalyn Ferguson
The first death wasn’t suspicious.
offtopicpublishing.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:04 AM
"Margot was tired. Her dreams had been keeping her awake for weeks. It was fascinating what her brain could conjure up while she slept."

=> Read "Folie A Deux" by Jennifer Kapler - October Fiction Contest Honourable Mention.

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Fiction #Supernatural #Dreams
“Folie A Deux – by Jennifer Kapler
Margot was tired. Her dreams had been keeping her awake for weeks. It was fascinating what her brain could conjure up while she slept.
offtopicpublishing.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:39 AM
"Laila averted her eyes from the baby’s face and made no attempt to adjust her loose embrace."

=> Read "The Crossing" by Cecilia Maddison - Winner of October's Off Topic Contest.

Honourable Mentions:
"Folie a Deux" by Jennifer Kapler
"Superhero" by N. E. Rule
"The Mountain." by Donnalyn Rainey
“The Crossing” – by Cecilia Maddison
Laila averted her eyes from the baby’s face and made no attempt to adjust her loose embrace.
offtopicpublishing.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:07 AM
"As soon as she emphasized that last word, I was scared. Now implied urgency. Now meant danger. Now meant there was something really wrong."

=> Read "Code" by Kalinda Michele Link - September CNF Contest Honourable Mention
“Code” – by Kalinda Michele Link
As soon as she emphasized that last word, I was scared. Now implied urgency. Now meant danger. Now meant there was something really wrong.
offtopicpublishing.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"Panic filled my chest. Don't let it be bad, don't let it be bad, I said to myself as I closed in on the patio."

=>Read "We'll be Fine" by Heather Maat - September CNF Honourable Mention.
“We’ll be Fine” – by Heather Maat
Panic filled my chest.  Don’t let it be bad, don’t let it be bad, I said to myself as I closed in on the patio. 
offtopicpublishing.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:50 AM
"Of all the things I fear, making a spectacle of myself ranks very high on that list."

=>Read " Kissed by a Fish" by Shirley Hay - September CNF Contest Honourable Mention

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Travel #creativenonfiction
“Kissed by a Fish” – by Shirley Hay
Of all the things I fear, making a spectacle of myself ranks very high on that list.
offtopicpublishing.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"We tried to make baguettes on the flour-dusted kitchen counter"

=> Read "How to Make a Legacy" by Andrew Shaughnessy - August Poetry Contest Honourable Mention!

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Poetry
“How to Make a Legacy.” – by Andrew Shaughnessy
We tried to make baguettes on the flour-dusted kitchen counter
offtopicpublishing.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Can't get enough writing time?

Come to our retreat! We'll visit Germany's 2nd biggest book fair. Write by the lake + in one of Europe's oldest coffee houses! ✍️😀

offtopicpublishing.com/retreat

#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritingRetreat #Leipzig #Europe #History #Germany #Coffee #WritingTime
2026 Writing Retreat
Leipzig, Germany – March 15-21 – includes a visit to the Leipzig Book Fair! Maybe you’ve been writing for years. Maybe you’ve never had the courage or the opportunity to set…
www.offtopicpublishing.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
I DID A THING! I bought plane tickets to Germany. I’ve never been - I’m going by myself but I’ll end up in Leipzig for a writing retreat. Thank you @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social for hosting something so cool.
September 4, 2025 at 12:11 AM
"With your finger, draw a circle - let it fail.
Call that failure a door."

=>Read "How to Make a Body Stay" by Kath Healing - August Poetry Contest Honourable Mention.

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Poetry
“How to Make a Body Stay” – by Kath Healing
Take the kettle off before it screams.
offtopicpublishing.com
September 13, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Calendar 2026 – featuring “CAPtions” Art by Sarah Balsley

For a limited time, order our 2026 calendar, featuring original artwork by Sarah Balsley. We are doing a single print run. Once it's sold out, it's sold out for good! From the artist: "Fungi is alien and odd, yet our very breath depends on…
Calendar 2026 – featuring “CAPtions” Art by Sarah Balsley
For a limited time, order our 2026 calendar, featuring original artwork by Sarah Balsley. We are doing a single print run. Once it's sold out, it's sold out for good! From the artist: "Fungi is alien and odd, yet our very breath depends on its quiet action. This collection is a cheeky way to connect the activities humans engage in, to their Fungi allies."
offtopicpublishing.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:43 AM
"the weathered wanderer extols the waves breaking..."

Read "EMPTY CANVAS" by Mark Hoffe - winner of August's Off Topic Poetry Contest.

Honourable Mentions:
- "How to Make a Body Stay" by Kath Healing
- "How to Make a Legacy"…

https://offtopicpublishing.com/2025/08/31/empty-canvas-by-mark-hoffe/
August 31, 2025 at 9:45 PM
"Personally, I thought He was pushing it, trying too hard with the “Creator of all things” bit. It was a bit much—over the top, I might say."

=> Read "On the Seventh Day He Rested" by Lisa Pollock - July Fiction Contest Honourable Mention.
“And on the Seventh Day He Rested” – by Lisa Pollock
Personally, I thought He was pushing it, trying too hard with the “Creator of all things” bit. It was a bit much—over the top, I might say.
offtopicpublishing.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:13 AM
"My fingers pinch the crisp envelope corners until it stings, and I drop the emotional trigger like I’ve accidentally caught a wasp."

=> Read "Once You Open It, You'll Change" by Lisa Zeltzer - July Fiction Contest Honourable Mention
“Once You Open It, You’ll Change” – by Lisa Zeltzer
My fingers pinch the crisp envelope corners until it stings, and I drop the emotional trigger like I’ve accidentally caught a wasp.
offtopicpublishing.com
August 22, 2025 at 5:49 AM
"It shouldn’t have, but that’s what that little envelope did. It drew her in. It drew her out. Out of her own life and into a world of what ifs."

=> Read " The Envelope" by Laurel Howe - July Off Topic Fiction Contest Honourable Mention
“The Envelope” – by Laurel Howe
It shouldn’t have, but that’s what that little envelope did. It drew her in. It drew her out. Out of her own life and into a world of what ifs.
offtopicpublishing.com
August 19, 2025 at 4:32 AM
“It was a lovely funeral,” Brit told the husband. Her eyes avoided the drink in the man’s hand—his third or fourth since they’d come back to the house.

-> Read "Out in the Open" by Alison McBain - August Fiction Honourable Mention

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Fiction #ShortStory
“Out in the Open” – by Alison McBain
“It was a lovely funeral,” Brit told the husband. Her eyes avoided the drink in the man’s hand—his third or fourth since they’d come back to the house.
offtopicpublishing.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Add-On! Writing Retreat 2nd Guest in Same Room

Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for a second person in a room you've booked here. The total cost for two people sharing a room is $2100 CAD. Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or…
Add-On! Writing Retreat 2nd Guest in Same Room
Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for a second person in a room you've booked here. The total cost for two people sharing a room is $2100 CAD. Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or Interac etransfer, please contact Marion Lougheed via this form.
offtopicpublishing.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Writing Retreat – Leipzig – March 15-21, 2026

Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for one person in a room by yourself. If you'd like to add a second person, please purchase the add-on here: Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or…
Writing Retreat – Leipzig – March 15-21, 2026
Join our writing treat in Leipzig, Germany, March 15-21, 2026. This ticket is for one person in a room by yourself. If you'd like to add a second person, please purchase the add-on here: Details here: If you would like to pay via a payment plan or Interac etransfer, please contact Marion Lougheed via this form
offtopicpublishing.com
August 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Moira had her suspicions about the headache. She wondered whether Margaret had planned all along that Moira would come on her own.

Read "Going Out by Deborah Thompson, winner of July's Off Topic Contest
“Going Out” – by Deborah Thompson
Moira had her suspicions about the headache. She wondered whether Margaret had planned all along that Moira would come on her own.
offtopicpublishing.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:51 PM
"“I WANT TO KISS YOU,” read the subject line in my inbox."

=> Read "Two Kinds of Courage" by L McMechan - June CNF Honourable Mention

#OffTopicContest #CanLit #Travel #Creativenonfiction
“Two Kinds of Courage” – by L McMechan
“I WANT TO KISS YOU,” read the subject line in my inbox.
offtopicpublishing.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:05 AM
"I always wanted to know everything you thought of. Everything about the way you thought was beautiful, back then."

=>Read "Bro Island" by Murgatroyd Monaghan - June CNF Honourable Mention.

#OffTopicContest #CanLit

https://offtopicpublishing.com/2025/07/10/bro-island-by-murgatroyd-monaghan/
July 11, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Always wanted to write your own true (or true-ish) story? This 6-week online class with Dr. Robyn Diner will give you options, techniques and support. Pay-what-you-can spots available.

#WritingCommunity #Memoir #Storytelling #Writers #OnlineWorkshop

www.eventbrite.ca/e/what-about...
What About Me?: From Memoir to Autofiction
What is autofiction? How is it different from memoir or creative nonfiction? What personal, political and literary purposes might it serve?
www.eventbrite.ca
July 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
Look forward to the 2025 @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social #Writing #Conference! Great line-up of 🇨🇦 authors 🤓
June 6, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
PETERBOROUGH READER SPOTLIGHT: Murgatroyd Monaghan

We're stoked that Murgatroyd is going to be travelling to Peterborough for this event! And we might get to hear more about her e-book, white spaces where we learn to breathe, forthcoming from @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social! 👀
June 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Off Topic Publishing
I'm teaching a workshop - The Power of Writing Prompts & Constraints - as part of Off Topic Publishing's 2025 online Conference, the weekend of August 9th and 10th. Check out the entire schedule at the link and join me! @offtopicpublishing.bsky.social

offtopicpublishing.com/conference/
June 21, 2025 at 4:04 AM