Artist & Writer in London, Ontario.
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”
It’s that overpowering, unshakable feeling that disrupts any possible elation. Even when you’re in the brightest, most sensory-stimulating, and enriching place, homesickness sets in. Oh, summer camp. How we hate to love you. But we all do.
Continue reading “Home is Where the Heart is. Commentary on Abigail Oswald’s “Camp for Sad Girls””
How do you manage your time as a freelance writer? PART ONE
When I was young, I used to fantasize about having a remote control that could pause time and freeze everyone (except me) in place. I’d imagine all the things I could do while the passage of time was on hold. Of course, an added advantage was having everyone else paused along with it. There’d be quiet and stillness as well as solitude. Think of all the books I could finish. Imagine all the projects I could get done. Oh, and all the sleeping-in and loafing about I could do instead of rushing around.
Continue reading “Time Management – How to PART ONE”
Seen, heard, and known. It’s all anyone wants. Meet Stacey. Or, rather, come see the world through her eyes. She’s observing human nature unfold before her whilst working a fast food cashier job. Isn’t that the most likely place to see the very best and worst of humanity—on the front lines? In this case, it’s a Taco Bell.
Continue reading “And Then There Were Three. Commentary on Miranda Manzano’s “Four Things””
Pauline Shen 