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In 2024, I started a writing group to honour a promise I made to my mentor, Ann Y.K. Choi. Ann is my novel-writing instructor at the University of Toronto. Not only did Ann help me improve my writing, but she also introduced me to many talented CanLit writers and people within the publishing industry. When I went to thank her, she said, “If you really want to thank me, do for others what I’ve done for you.”

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Since meeting Ann, I’ve encountered many wonderful people whom I consider mentors – Dennis Bock, Danila Botha, Karen Connelly, Angel Di Zhang, Marina Endicott, Kateri Lanthier, Colin McAdam, Diane Terrana, Jessica Westhead, and Alissa York. One thing these mentors share in common – As they advance in their literary journeys, they reach back to support and uplift other writers along the way.

 

In that spirit, I’ve founded a writing group that aims to provide:

• Honest critiques of each other’s work;

• Connections (e.g., reading opportunities) to help each other advance in our writing careers; and

• Support (because rejections don’t feel that bad when you have friends who understand exactly what you’re going through).

 

Why are we called The Secret College?

Around the first anniversary of our writing group, we decided to give ourselves a name. Members suggested names, and we held a vote. The winner was “The Secret College,” suggested by Becca Maine, a member who has been with the group since its founding.

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The name is our way to pay tribute to the University of Toronto (U of T), where:

• I met my mentor, Ann;

• We hold our in-person meetings; and

• Most of our members attended as students in the School of Continuing Studies (SCS).

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U of T consists of seven colleges. These include Innis College, New College, St. Michael's College, Trinity College, University College, Victoria College, and Woodsworth College. They function as communities within the larger university.

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The SCS does not belong to any of the colleges, as it is considered a separate function from the rest of the university. However, our group functions like its own college – We teach, we learn, and we share information and resources in a school environment. In a way, we resemble a secret college that exists on campus, guiding current and future writers toward success in our writing. Although our group also includes many students who did not attend U of T, we believe that our writing group embodies the spirit of a Secret College. Of course, the name also sounds cool, fancy, and mysterious.

 

Members

This is us - past and present members. Some of us are well along in our literary journeys. Others have only recently started writing. But no matter where we are in our progress, we move forward with one hand behind us, to support and uplift others along the way.

• Becca Maine

• Carolina Pombo

• Chyx Xyng

• Danielle La Valle

• Elfreda Tetteh

• Holly Gutwillinger

• Jade Jacinto

• Kaitlyn Fernandes

• Leonard Cervantes

• Luisa Alvarez

• Malaika Khan

• Marissa Wu

• Mathew Whitelaw

• Morgan Zhou

• Nicholas de Kruyff

• Rhu Skyler

• Robin Hoffman-Cadham

• Sarah Ariza-Verreault

• Sarah Mayberry

• Stevie Martindale

• Zehra Goawala