My name is Jonathan Ball.
I am an award-winning author of dark, experimental fiction, poetry, and film. I hold a PhD in creative writing and literature, and use an analytical approach to show serious writers new ways to write, edit, and work so they can create innovative art that stands taller than the crowd.
I believe most writing problems (whether complex problems like how to edit from messy first draft to polished final draft, to basic issues like trying to develop that messy first draft in the first place) can be solved through either analysis or experiment.
I don’t believe there is anything mystical or mysterious about writing. While literature is an art, writing is a craft. You might produce fine art at the end of the day, but you have to work just like a carpenter would work during the day.
When the day is done, your floor should be a mess. Don’t stress about the mess.
I work to provide resources for writers in three areas: writing experiments, structural editing, and working methods.
My blogzine, The Maelstrom, features articles on writing, editing, and working methods, book reviews, interviews with other artists, my own creative work, and featured work by others.
I co-created the #95books Reading Challenge to help you read more and have more fun reading, and am here to help support you on your reading journey.
For fun, I write a weekly humour column, Haiku Horoscopes. I know the future so you don’t have to!
I write and edit books in multiple genres, from fiction to poetry to nonfiction — from plays that are impossible to produce to massive compilations of interviews.
I create online courses, and teach offline courses at universities in Winnipeg, and hold occasional workshops.
You can also work with me: I write, edit, and help artists secure grants.
This site features exclusive content for patrons-only and all my free content is made possible through your generous patronage.