Canadian author Andre Alexis is the 2010 to 2011 James A. and Marjorie Spenceley/Canada Council for the Arts writer-in-residence for the University of Western Ontario's English department.

Alexis, who is a playwright, short story writer and novelist, is well-known for his first novel Childhood. It won the 1998 Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award and was a co-winner of the Trillium Book Award in that same year. He is also host of CBC Radio's Skylarking and contributing editor to This Magazine.

As part of his residency at UWO, he holds office hours like a professor and serves as a sounding board for burgeoning young authors at UWO and Fanshawe College.

"As of now, I've been reading manuscripts, lecturing," said Alexis. He's also been involved in disciplines beyond English, including helping business students with their presentation skills.

He brings with him many years of experience to the position.

"All I am is someone who's done something for a long time. I've likely faced the situations you've been facing," he said.

One of his recommendations for young writers is to simply write often and listen to their peers.

"By writing lots and for a long time is how I got to be myself," he said. "I had people start out at the same time as me. Your contemporaries are your greatest resources. You see them struggle with the same things."

And while heeding the advice of your fellow writers is always advised, there's still something to be said for a formal writing education.

"Writing schools force you to write," he said.

Ultimately, those interested in writing should be focusing on selfawareness to develop their style.

"Get to where your writing reflects who and what you are," Alexis explained. "That's where the art resides, being aware of what you're doing."

He also advises that writers should be aware of any stylistic ticks they may have, as they might be detracting from the authenticity of their writing.

"If it's a habit, you should lose it to get to the essence of you," he said.

But there comes a time when writers move beyond criticisms and comments from peers and superiors, and establish their voice — ticks and all. Alexis used the example of playwright Tennessee Williams whose prose was criticized as being florid — his "tick" — but it was the elaborate colour he added to this work that made it great.

Those who wish to have an audience with Alexis should come prepared, however. He warns he'll be most useful for those who have experience writing and, even better, are published.

"For me, I'm like driving a Cadillac (with) bells and whistles. If you don't know how to drive, you won't get much out of me," he explained. "It helps if you've done a lot of writing and want to go further, then we can talk more or less as equals.

"I'm about the life choice of being an artist."

If you want to set up an appointment with Alexis, please contact the UWO department of English's departmental secretary Vivian Foglton at vlavers@uwo.ca or 519- 661-3403.