Stacy

 As a Writing Facilitator and Word Excavator Stacy's style is supportive, informative, exploratory, experienced and fun!  While the craft of writing a serious endeavour, the art of creating truly deserves to be playful, and more importantly: Honest. Fearless. Present.

A member of the Writers Guild of Canada and the Playwright's Guild of Canada, the latter of which, Atlantic Representative for two years.

A 'Featured Poet' at St. John's Spoken Word in January 2017, her poetry has been published with Black Moss Press, Discord & Din, ROOM and Galley Road.  Stacy co-edited and was lead actor for a NIFCO-produced film, titled: The Mourning After, it premiered at The Nickel Independent Film Festival June 15, 2016.   Stacy's short film script, 73 Seconds, was selected through NIFCO's open call, and received a workshop of the script with Sherry White in January 2018.  

Stacy Says: I love a small boy named Cohen. I am an Aquarius. I have never eaten ketchup or been stung by a bee. I like to believe in mermaids and faeries. I once slept in a refugee camp at the border of Burma and Northern Thailand. This particular adventure was balanced by trek and elephant. I am an advocate for social change, and believe change, chance and choice: true gifts. I think the Pen, indeed, mightier than the Sword. 

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   My Work

• Gold Circle Award: Columbia University's Scholastic Press Association, NYC non-fiction,  Into the Abyss - an article that explored Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in journalists
• Recipient of Toronto Arts Council Playwriting Grant
• Commissioned to write a radio play for CBC Toronto from a National submission call
  

• Playwright, Worms for Sale, chosen from a North American submission call, Alumnae Theatre Toronto produced seven sold-out performances
• City Voices: a book of monologues and poems - 'My Place of Origin' - poem

• Women Writing Letters, 4th edition - 'A Letter to My Grandmother' - creative non-fiction

• WORD: the Writer's Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador's quarterly journal - essayist
• Open Pit Theatre, Yukon - playwright,  Toronto Cold Reads - playwright
• Oxygen magazine: Associate Editor, Copy Editor and Contributing Writer

• Freelance Writer/Editor: various Canadian glossies, including Chatelaine, Today's Parent
• A Rewording Life - one of a thousand contributors to help spread 'the word'
• Podcast: Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids   "Be Careful of Anyone Named Trina"
• Performance Reader/Writer: International Women's Day, St. John's Women's Work Festival 2016
• Women's Works Festival: 2017 - Workshop Facilitator of Two-Day Writing Workshop

       My Mentors:

• University of Toronto, Master Poetry Program: Award-Winning Poet, David Donnell

• University of Toronto, Dramatic Playwriting: Award-Winning Playwright, Colleen Murphy

• CBC Toronto Radio Creative Department: Award-Winning Writer, Bev Cooper

• Playwriting Master Intensive Workshop: Award-Winning Writer, Judith Thompson

• Writing Workshops with Award-Winning Author/Poet/Publisher: Stuart Ross

• Writing Workshops with Giller-Author & Story is a State of Mind Creator: Sarah Selecky
• NIFCO: Brad Gower, Justin Simms     Women's Work Festival: Sara Tilley, Ruth Lawrence
• Piper's Frith 2016 (playwriting) and MUN 2018: Award-Winning Playwright, Robert Chafe
• PEI Screenwriter's Bootcamp June 2017: Mentored by Hannah Cheesman, creator of Whatever Linda

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    Praise for my Work

Review of "Worms for Sale", first draft: "I was totally taken off guard by this script. Unless it is too late at night as I read this and I am desperate for some real art, I think it is actually quite an amazing piece. This is wonderfully bizarre, quintessentially Newfoundland, quirky, and very compelling.
Gardner's storytelling in terms of structure etc. seems a bit awkward at times in the sense that it frequently seems to break the rules of good craft, but it certainly works for me.  She has a knack of giving us the scene we least expect or writing it too long but making it satisfying.  I think this is a unique voice that we should pay particular attention to."
~ James Roy, CBC  Toronto, Senior Producer

"I picked Stacy's work out of a slush pile over four hundred manuscripts deep for a CBC Radio Drama submission call. I picked her work because of her distinctive voice, because the material was so fresh and engaging that I couldn't get it out of my mind. I felt an obligation to work with Stacy to get her voice out into the world. The original and professional radio drama script that resulted from our collaboration exceeded my expectations. Stacy later adapted this work for the stage and this too knocked my socks off. Working with Stacy on this project ("Worms for Sale" for CBC Radio Arts and Entertainment") was one of the highlights of my tenure with the Radio Drama department. I highly recommend both Stacy and her work."
~ Joe Mahoney, Author, CBC Toronto, Senior Manager

"I attended Women Writing Letters (in Toronto), where Stacy delivered an emotional and personal reading, one I'll never forget. Her willingness to share her vulnerability and deepest feelings amazed me. Stacy's "letter to her grandmother" was imbued with deeply felt compassion, humour and an emotionally powerful engagement with her work. Impressive and profoundly touching."
~ Jack Cunningham, Toronto Artist

Women Writing Letters: "Stacy Gardner, Thank you for your vulnerability. The Rock may have some striations but it is all the more beautiful for it!"
~ Sheryl Gordon, Author

Today's Parent Magazine: Stacy tackled assignments with enthusiasm and professionalism and offered invaluable feedback in both art and editorial meetings; she has a solid understanding of what it takes to put out a glossy, consumer monthly magazine. Quick to learn, funny and forthright, Stacy would be a welcome addition to an editorial team.
~ Denny Manchee, Writer & Editor