Artist & Writer in London, Ontario.
In this first-person narrative, our nameless protagonist experiences an existential crisis personified in the form of a little fairy. This hydrangea fairy appears each night as our narrator is ready to fall asleep and begins nattering incessantly. This disrupts any chance of a full night’s sleep. The consequences are dire; our narrator is visibly wrecked and disheveled.
Continue reading “A Piece of the Puzzle. Commentary on Mialise Carney’s “The Hydrangea Fairy””
In this post, we’ll be hearing from Alanna Rusnak, Author of The Church in the Wildwood, Owner & Operator of Chicken House Press, and Founder & Managing Editor of Blank Spaces Magazine. Curious in knowing the origins of the beautiful Blank Spaces Magazine? Want some insight into what it takes to branch out on your own in the publishing industry? In this interview, Alanna tells us all about these things plus talks about her current work-in-progress and more!
So, you wear a lot of hats, Alanna. Tell us a bit about your average day or work week.
Continue reading “Interview with Alanna Rusnak”
If you’ve gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelette, then what do you get if you spend your entire life side-stepping eggshells? In Elissa Matthews’s “A Good Man,” the narrator presents this very scenario. We see a man who is known for being, well… good.
Continue reading “When Your Default Mode is Appeasement. Commentary on Elissa Matthews’s “A Good Man””
In Desiree Nippard’s “An Early Thaw,” the reader witnesses a group of schoolchildren sending lanterns into the sky while playing a send-off tune on recorders. In this ceremony for the deceased, “[y]ou could hear every pause for breath, every off note from the shifting of small fingers as we all allowed the melody to seep into our souls.” (54) This coastal town is grieving, and the narrator reveals the cause with deep sensory descriptions that guide the reader with the right amount of grace and gentleness.
Continue reading “It’s Not About the Guardrail. Commentary on Desiree Nippard’s “An Early Thaw””
Season Summary: Autumn 2023
Updates & Work in Progress: Winter 2023-24
What I’m Reading: Winter 2023-24
And that’s it. Enjoy winter. Please share your comments below. Stay tuned for my next blog post. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.
Cover Image: Photo by Ameruverse Digital Marketing Media on Pexels.com
Writing a story that revolves around an unlikable, nay despicable, protagonist is a bold move. The classic example is Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” However, that protagonist resolves to change by seeing the error of his ways. In Jennifer Milne’s “Gravy Boat Genie,” our protagonist, who serves as narrator, obtains absolution by a different means.
Continue reading “Wretched Creature. Commentary on Jennifer Milne’s “Gravy Boat Genie””
In this post, we’ll be hearing from Garrett Souliere, Editor/Founder of Quibble Literary Journal. Garrett tells us the story behind Quibble’s founding, describes how the journal has and continues to evolve, and shares inspiring words that every budding writer should know.
When you first founded Quibble, what was the main driving factor that motivated you to launch this independent magazine?
Continue reading “Interview with Garrett Souliere”
How do you manage your time as a freelance writer? PART THREE
In PART ONE of this topic, we established that managing activities is only one part of the equation. In PART TWO, I introduced the crucial element of scheduling in a way that feeds motivation rather than increase the likelihood of burnout. In this post, I’ll describe the final three (out of five total) techniques that work for me at the present time. These are:
Continue reading “Time Management – How to PART THREE”
How do you manage your time as a freelance writer? PART TWO
In PART ONE of this topic, we established that managing activities is only one part of the equation. What’s crucial is to schedule them in a way that feeds motivation rather than increase the likelihood of burnout. So in this post, I’ll describe the first two of five total techniques that work for me at the present time. If you see something here that you can emulate, great! I hope it works for you as well.
Five techniques that ensure I stay on track with my freelance career:
Continue reading “Time Management – How to PART TWO”
In this post, we’ll be learning more about Nancy Kay Clark, Toronto-based Writer & Editor, and Editor-in-Chief of CommuterLit.com. Nancy tells us about the beginnings of CommuterLit, gives poignant advice to new writers, and shares resources for writers such as the CommuterLit Writing Circle.
Nancy, you have a lot of editing experience. Can you share your number one tip for budding writers looking to get published?
Continue reading “Interview with Nancy Kay Clark”
Pauline Shen 