ABOUT US
Welcome to Haq Story School — a hybrid classroom for storytellers run by professional writers, artists and multimedia producers.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Haq (the Arabic word for truth) specializes in nonfiction narratives and offers practical and affordable training in memoir, journalism, podcasting, documentaries and other digital media. We teach online, in person and hybrid formats — because good stories shouldn’t depend on your postal code.
Our programs include workshops, masterclasses, boot camps, multi-week courses, mentorships and special programs like PitchFest and creative writing retreats.
We also partner with literary organizations to plan and execute events on their behalf.
How It Started
Haq Story School began life under a different name: Pandemic University School of Writing (a product of its time, obviously).
Founded by author and journalist Omar Mouallem in the early days of COVID-19 lockdowns, the school started as a scrappy response to a bad moment. Writers were losing contracts. Freelancers were scrambling. Creative communities were isolated. Everyone was either doomscrolling or pretending to enjoy sourdough bread.
So we built something useful.
What began as a short-term relief effort quickly became one of the world’s early pioneers in virtual professional development for storytellers. Over five years, we programmed nearly 150 classes and events featuring acclaimed writers, editors, producers and creators. Past instructors and guests have included Omar El Akkad, Waubgeshig Rice, Zahra Noorbakhsh and many more. Peter Mansbridge gave our first convocation speech. That was cool.
More than 4,000 creatives from over 60 countries have taken our classes since 2020.
Some of our graduates became published authors. Others went on to start journalism careers, create acclaimed podcasts and one of them got a job at Disney. A whole lot of them made worldwide friends.
Not bad for a fake university.
How It’s Going
In 2026, we entered our next era by combining resources with Haq Story Studios and Ninth & Peace inside the historic MacCosham Lofts in downtown Edmonton.
Through our partnership with Ninth & Peace — a creative space built for classrooms, workshops, production and collaboration — we’re part of a broader community of writers, artists and creative entrepreneurs who believe that stories are told best when storytellers are sharing space, ideas and coffee.
Our partnership with Haq Story Studios, a multimedia production company led by our founder, allowed us to expand into other forms of nonfiction storytelling. We still love books and longform journalism. But today’s storytellers also work in audio, video, live events, newsletters and platforms that didn’t exist five minutes ago. Our programming reflects that reality.
What hasn’t changed is our dedicated mission to affordable professional development and practical education. We teach not only the art of nonfiction, but the business of it: pitching, editing, freelancing, audience-building, creative entrepreneurship and how to sustain a career without burning out or losing your soul.
That’s what sets us apart. Lots of schools can help you write better sentences. We also help you build a life around them.
FAQ
How does it work?
Programs range from one-night workshops to multi-week courses and intensive boot camps — plus the occasional event you’ll brag about later. Best of all, most of our classes are hybrid so you can join from anywhere in the world or pull up a chair at our school headquarters in Edmonton. Once you register, we’ll send everything you need to know.
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies by program and in close consultation with our instructors — but affordability matters greatly to us.
In our mission to make participation more attainable for students at different income levels and career stages, we price our classes below their comparables, provide sliding scale tuition and the option to pay in installments. If cost is a barrier, reach out and we’ll do our best to help.
What makes Haq Story School different?
It comes down to three things:
1. We teach modern storytelling.
That means books and essays, yes — but also podcasts, documentaries, digital media and whatever nonfiction forms the future throws our way.
2. Working professionals teach here. Our instructors aren’t theorizing from the sidelines. They’re active journalists, authors, editors, filmmakers and producers driven by real-world experience.
3. We teach business, too. Craft matters — so does bidniz. Many of our courses integrate lessons on contracts, networking and other essentials of a sustainable career.
Can I teach at Haq Story School?
I don’t know, can you? (Sorry, old First Grade teacher joke.) We’re always interested in sharp and passionate instructors — bonus points if you’re based in Edmonton and able to run hybrid classes. It helps if you’ve taught workshops before but don’t let inexperience hold you back. If you have a workshop, course or event idea, send us a pitch.
How are instructors paid?
We have compensation models that respect creators’ time, expertise and labour — still a strangely radical idea in some creative industries. Instructors are paid a majority profit share based on student enrollment. We may also be able to cover childcare costs while teaching so long as you’re not hiring Marry Poppins.
Can organizations collaborate with Haq Story School?
We love partnering with publishers, arts organizations, nonprofits, schools and businesses on smart programming for creative communities. Past collaborators include the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, Edmonton Community Foundation, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and others.
If you’ve got an idea, let’s hear it.