the year of shorts

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what a year for the short story. in Canada, Alice Munro wins a Nobel Prize for a lifetime of short story magic, then Lynn Coady wins the Giller Prize for HELL GOING, a book of shorts. further afield in the commonwealth (England), American Claire Vaye Watkins won the Dylan Thomas award with her collection BATTLEBORN, … Read more

writing prompt: 90th birthday

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it’s my 90th birthday and i’m taking myself out for a nice bowl of soup at the restaurant on Shuswap Avenue, the one with the sunscape painted on the wall.  a mural is what they call it.  they serve a nice borscht on Fridays.  and the waitress, Shirley.  what a woman.  comely it what they … Read more

6 writing tips from john steinbeck

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Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page for each day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised. Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the … Read more

the senses, inflamed

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THE GREAT GATSBY. what an iconic piece of writing. i’m re-reading and enjoying the text for the ? time. what i’m noticing? attention to the senses.  here’s a selection: We walked through a high hallway into a bright rosy-colored space, fragilely bound into the house by French windows at either end.  The windows were ajar … Read more

arcade fire

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all i’m listening to: will i see you on the other side?

writing prompt: a favourite location

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the airport has the weirdest carpets. i don’t know where you source a length of carpet with such big graphics. so abstract. the triangles, the edges and misshapen dots. the pattern is so big i cannot focus on it in it’s entirety. i fight the urge to lie down on the carpet of travellers, feel … Read more

leon

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here’s a podcast of a story that published in The Fiddlehead a couple of years ago.

dear alice

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congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. what an accomplishment. when i think of all those stories, all those characters, all those details. it’s mind boggling. you’ve worked so hard, Alice. i don’t know why but i keep thinking about your husband. i wish he was here to celebrate with you. please know that … Read more