9 May 2012 by Paul Servini

How Does Your Writing Sound?

I’ve just finished one of the most poignant yet captivating books I’ve read in a long time: Sabastian Barry’s On Canaan’s Side. Right at the beginning his narrator asks: “What is the sound of an eighty-nine-year-old heart breaking?” An extended metaphor, dragged up by a childhood memory gives us the answer. For those of you intrigued enough to want to find out,... read more

9 May 2012 by Jodi Cleghorn

Claiming My Space

 That’s me in the corner. That’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion. ~ REM Outside one of my neighbours is ripping something. Really loud. Or perhaps they’re using industrial strength tape to bind something… metre after metre after metre. Whatever it is, it provides the perfect sound track for writing this article. The past month has been the journey of an ogre; the Shrek-type... read more

8 May 2012 by Christopher Chartrand

Get It Out There

I’d like to take a quick, informal poll. How many of you write stories, blog posts, poems, etc. and then decide, because they are especially good, to save them for later? I think many of us tend to think we should save our “good” content for down the road. For instance I’ve written posts and thought, “Gee, This is good. I should save this for when I have more readers.” Do you see the flaw in... read more

8 May 2012 by Jacqui Murray

My 17 Worst Fears as a Writer

Hah! Like it’s that easy to narrow down. Come on, Paul–what are you thinking–that I can isolate one nerve-wracking, nail-biting, stomach-churning item? I think not.  A ‘worst fear’ is not something one wants to think about. It’s better to ignore it, run away if it shows up in one’s peripheral vision, pretend not to recognize it if it sits down next to you at the... read more

7 May 2012 by Zena Shapter

The Voice—Whose Voice? Your Voice!

Yes, it’s true. I’m addicted to The Voice, the reality television show about singing. I missed the first few episodes (don’t worry, I later found them on this interwebby thingy), but then I was hooked. Witnessing raw talent in the flesh can be awe-inspiring and the show certainly delivers on that. I can also identify with the struggle some of the singers have faced during their singing... read more

7 May 2012 by Icy Sedgwick

Feel the Fear

I once got into a discussion with someone about what we each thought was the most powerful human emotion, and some controversy ensued when I stated I thought it was fear. All animals, regardless of species, have a capacity to feel fear, and it keeps them alive in order to prolong the species. Love and hate are powerful, yes, but the atrocities committed by mankind often have their roots in fear –... read more

6 May 2012 by Jodi Cleghorn

Form and Genre Challenge #14

“The 1st Person POV Challenge” For submission the week ending Sunday, 13th May. Challenge: To write in the first person POV Genre: Open Word Count: 1500 words Submission Tips Please ensure your story is clearly labelled ‘FGC’ along with the challenge number and the story name in the title of your blog post. Example: [FGC #14] Turning Inward. Note the word count at the bottom of your... read more

6 May 2012 by Jodi Cleghorn

Form and Genre Challenge #13 Submissions

“The Western Challenge” Challenge: To write in the western genre. Form: Open Word Count: 2500 words Judges: Icy Sedgwick & Jodi Cleghorn Western Challenge Participants   Kate Sherrod (@katesherrod) Annie Evett... read more