Workshop 1: Shifting perspectives – Exploring point of view in writing
June 8th, 10.00am – 11.30am (PST)
Ages 19+
Every story is shaped by who tells it—and how. In this workshop, we’ll take a deep dive into point of view, one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s toolbox. We’ll examine how different narrative perspectives—first person, second person, and third person (limited and omniscient)—change the emotional tone, reliability, and depth of a piece.
Together, we’ll discuss the ethics and implications of storytelling positions, and write through a series of playful and challenging prompts. You’ll leave with new material, fresh insight into your own narrative voice, and a clearer sense of how POV can serve the emotional truth of your work.
The workshop is open to writers working in all genres and at all stages. Come with curiosity and a willingness to take risks on the page. This workshop is open to everyone and made possible with the support of LiterAsian.
Facilitators: Emi Sasagawa and Effie Pow
Workshop 2: From raw to refined – The art of editing with intention
June 22nd 10.00am – 11.30am (PST)
Ages 19+
Writing is rewriting—but editing doesn’t have to be a solitary or overwhelming process. In this second workshop, we’ll focus on what it means to revise with care, clarity, and creative vision. Building on the work you generated in Workshop 1 (or bringing a new piece you’re ready to shape), we’ll walk through a layered approach to editing: from structural shifts to line-level polish.
Participants will learn practical strategies for identifying the heart of a piece, clarifying what’s at stake, and making every sentence serve the story’s purpose. We’ll also discuss how to edit while preserving the integrity of your voice—and how to invite in feedback without losing your centre.
Whether you’re returning to revise work from Workshop 1 or bringing something brand new, this session will support you in transforming raw material into something intentional and powerful. This workshop is open to everyone and made possible with the support of LiterAsian.
Facilitators: Emi Sasagawa and Effie Pow
Perilous Words is a new writing circle for people who identify as Asian and 2SLGBTQIA+ to gather and share stories rooted in our lived experiences. Through workshops, writing sessions, and shared readings, we are taking back narratives that have long been written about us, but not by us, at a time of rising anti-Asian hate, homophobia, and transphobia. We connect in community through storytelling, memoir, and boundary-pushing creative work that holds space for both the weight of current political realities and the lightness of Asian queer joy. Perilous Words is a space for collective care and creative resistance — where our writing is not only heard, but celebrated.
We would like to acknowledge that our festival takes place on the unceded traditional territories of the Skwxwú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaɬ and xʷməθkwəy̓əm First Nations.
LiterASIAN 2025 