As people who stutter, writing can be a rewarding way to express ourselves outside of speech, yet the intersections between speech and literature aren’t always obvious. What are the expectations for writers to be public speakers, and is there knowledge about dysfluency in the writing and publishing worlds? Will you disclose your stutter prior to a live reading, or accept an offer to narrate an audiobook? How will it unfold? How can stuttering contribute to the authenticity of the narratives you’re telling? Join professional author Daniel Allen Cox as he shares how he went from hiding his stutter to making it a core part of his work as a memoirist and novelist. A group discussion will follow, about how to make writing a safe place to explore stuttering.
This Personal Story presentation will mostly occur in English, with some components in French, including a bilingual group discussion.
Daniel will sign copies of his book, I Felt the End Before It Came: Memoirs of a Queer Ex-Jehovah’s Witness.
- Grow confidence in the benefits of talking about their stutter in writing contexts
- Develop a greater knowledge of the publishing industry, including how to work with event organizers and other professionals
- Have the opportunity to talk about their experiences as a public speaker and what has helped them
About the presenters
Daniel Allen Cox
Daniel Allen Cox is the author of I Felt the End Before It Came, shortlisted for the Grand Prix du livre de Montréal and named one of the Best Books of 2023 by Publishers Weekly. Daniel’s essays have appeared in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and Best Canadian.