People, Places and Things

Toronto Reads "Consolation"

I 'm going to join in with Keep Toronto Reading One Book campaign.

The last time I participated in a communal effort at reading a novel was with Canada Reads 2003 when the novel was Hubert Aquin's "Next Episode" and to be honest, I didn't make it past page 57 (of only 129 pages).

That slim book now sits in a small stack of books beside my bed with dog-eared bookmarks separating the first half of each book from its second half.

There are about seven half-finished books in that pile. (Because I moved at least three of them to my bookshelf in the livingroom.)

However, I am an optimist at heart, if not in practice, and will read the Toronto Public Library's selection "Consolation" by Michael Redhill.

A few years ago, I read Micheal Redhill's "Martin Sloane," though I don't recall if I enjoyed it or not. Regardless, I will put "Love in the Time of Cholera" on hold to read "Consolation."

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New York City Madness 2

To all my writerly friends who tell me that they are too old:

In a post-win interview, last year's winner Jacqueline Brown of NYC Madness 2008 Short Story Contest had this to say on the "plight of the older writer": Write. Enter contests. Thrive. There’s room and time enough for everyone."

Letters to Another Artist: Email Excerpts

I can't help it. I just finished reading Letters to a Young Artist by Julia Cameron.

Dear Kate,

Great to see you as a member. I was just writing a short article that I will submit for the newsletter. They pay a small stipend, but it's good to have something else published, if for no other reason than it gets me thinking about other pieces.

You found my blog? Oh, right. I'm listed on the site.

Wasn't that a great letter? I contacted the editors and asked for permission. It was just such a nice way to let everyone down easy. I see what's doing. That makes sense. Her stories are inspiration for where/what you will research in the future. Makes sense.

Have you seen Atanarjuat|The Fast Runner? Watch it. I promise that you'll be inspired.

What a tremendous concept for your novel I love the idea of the remote territory (A movie I like called The Big White took place in Alaska, I think, (but looks like it was filmed in Winnipeg) and presented the concept of loneliness and dissatisfaction and how living there can play with the soundness of mind.) Maybe your local library has that, too.

I'm currently working on a novella that I'd like to workshop; it's a real skill to be able to participate properly, I find. I should be ready to share after this next draft.

Not sure who, yet. I may do the editor thing through EAC. I enjoyed two previous experiences -- one with Stuart Ross who was later a writer-on-residence at WCDR and encouraged me to create a chapbook of poetry for a competition, and one with Claire Robson who was just so encouraging and everything she responded to in my writing was right on.

I hope that you, too, find individuals like that with your work. It can make such as difference.

New Artist Alert

I also love meeting up with other writers and artists, especially online. It's always a pleasure to click through an artist's website and look at their work.

Most recently, I found Nic Vandergugten's website via (Toronto) Craigslist (a site I visit regularly as entertainment. So many advertisers want writers to write for them for free. It's as amusing as it is maddening. )

After visiting Nic's site, I asked him a few questions about what inspires him, where he studied, and what he envisions for his career.

As is often the case, illustration - even of words - is best left to the artist:

On inspiration

I suppose life and people around me inspire my artwork. Often I'll be attracted to a subject for unknown reasons and only after I've done the drawings will I understand what it was that brought me to draw them. Hopefully this sense of intrigue finds its was back out when people see my work.

About studying

I haven't studied at any art schools, thought I have had some amazing teachers, as far back as high school I always seemed to be aligned with great mentors that encouraged me at the right times. My parents were always very supportive, and my father is an artist as well and gave me the best lessons a kid could have by putting a pencil in my hand and not saying anything.

Career goals

Well, only recently have I started to see art as a career. Art was always something that I did for myself and to amuse my friends and family. Once I started getting into doing illustrations, I realized how much I love working with other people on projects. My only goal right now is to keep working on interesting projects wherever they appear. Ultimately I would like to have the space and income to work on a larger scale than is possible for me now. Toronto is still new to me and its a very big city filled with amazing artists, I'm still finding my place in it.

To find Nic's place online, click here: Nicholas Vandergugten.

New York City Madness

The NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge completed round one at midnight last night. I'm not sure why any writer would subject herself to a rigourous writing schedule (one week to complete 2,500 short story) in a genre she may, or may not be familiar with, on a subject unknown until provided by the organizers.

It's challenging, daunting, unnerving. Actually, it sounds kinda fun.

Commentary on Commuting Etiquette

I posted a comment on Ming's website NYC Daily Photo because he asked his readers what irritates them about subway and/or commuter etiquette. I have many, but I described just one.

My peeve is when commuters exit/enter through the wrong doors and expect YOU to move. It's exit right, enter right.

Unlike our TTC motto Stand Right, Walk Left for escalators.

Then I discovered something that helped me get over my irritation. Those who tend to enter on left and exit on left are from countries where they also DRIVE on the left.* Is that true?

*If Popular Mechanics for Kids is right, tends to be countries that are also islands.

The Loveliest of Rejections

Now here's a rejection letter to hang on the wall. I found the email so lovely in its rejection of my manuscript that I had to reprint it here. [The boldface, bullet points, and some paragraph breaks are mine.] The editors employed a common teaching tool: focus on the good and the bad stuff falls away.

Dear Valerie:

Thank you, once again, for submitting "Theory of Illumination" to the 2007 Caketrain Chapbook Competition. The quality of manuscripts this year was very high and the decision was harder than ever. Were the resources at hand, we could happily have published the top ten manuscripts or more—but for now, this distinction can go to only one. With this in mind, we have chosen to publicly recognize not only Claudia Rankine’s selections for Winner and Runner-Up but three “Also Notable” manuscripts which we the editors herald for their daring originality and prowess. The list is as follows:

• Winner:  "afterpastures," by Claire Hero
• Runner-Up: "scenic fences | houses innumerable," by Aby Kaupang
• Also Notable: "Dear Sound of Footstep," by Jane Ashley; "Terrible Person," by Rebecca Gopoian; and "Lot 16," by Christof Scheele

Claire Hero’s "afterpastures" will see publication in May 2008 as the third title in Caketrain’s ongoing chapbook series, where it follows Tom Whalen’s Dolls (2007) and Elizabeth Skurnick’s Check-In (2005).

With our deepest thanks to all who entered this competition and entrusted us with their fine work, and in the hope that the new year finds your creativity ever-unbound, we remain

Yours Sincerely,

Amanda Raczkowski & Joseph Reed Caketrain Journal and Press

A list of potential blogs; all items double-scratched

Since returning to work after the holiday season, I made notes for possible blogs, briefly they are:

• I was hired by a bank as a technical writer not to write, but to wait. Sans paycheque.
• Our puppy, loves to lasagna. Or at least, when he (somehow) knows I am not looking, he likes to put his paws on the countertop and run his tongue all over my lasagna lunch.
• I have the distinction of being the 400th Facebook friend of a fellow poet.
• My neighbours are great neighbours. Most recently evidenced by a drive-by pick up of my runaway pooch who escaped our backyard through an open gate, presumably thrown open by strong winds during heavy rain.
• Maud Newton is likely the coolest Facebook friend I have.

My old friend Andrea Harms is still as crazy and beautiful as I remember.

So, you wanna be in pictues

Here's are excerpts from past editions of TheatreBooks' The Actor's Organizer, and one advertisement. The information may be of interest to anyone in the Greater Toronto area who needs guidance finding a talent agent, in Toronto.

• Download tb_actors_organizer_200607.pdf
• Download seeking_rep_celebrates_8th_year_at_tb.pdf
• Download seeking_rep_ad_200607_final.pdf

Break a leg!

A young boy's anguish exploited

I've been a Toronto Star subscriber since 1994, or so, and a regular reader since 1986. That's seven paper deliveries, seven days a week for more than 10 years.*

In that time there have been few headlines and/or photos that disturbed me. Increasling, however, I disagree with editorial decisions. This morning's front page photo is one of them.

The photo of Stefanie Rengel's family is too intrusive to be considerate of her family. I have to question the decision to print a photo of a young boy in obvious anguish about the death of his murdered sister. Doesn't he and his family have a right to grieve in a private manner? That is not to say privately, but to expect a respectful distance while they do. The photo is carried online by the Star, so his image is not restricted to the morning edition; it is available online for any/everyone with Internet access to see.

Ironically, the Toronto Sun illustrates a respectful distance.

I use the term "ironic" because I clearly recall a front-page photo in the Sun several years ago, of a young man standing in his underwear shivering in the night having escaped from a house fire.

There are several ways in which a photographer can capture an image while honouring the subject's dignity.

This photo illustrates one of the most invasive photos the paper's editors could have run.

They'll argue, it's news, or the public has a right to know, or the family was in a public place ... but I'm not buying this rationale. And if I'm truly serious in my indignation, I should probably reconsider my decade-old subscription.

P.S.

P.S.  I never thought I'd say this ... I miss Rita Zekas' take on Entertainment news.

*That's approximately 4,000 newspapers. How many trees? Something to consider for 2008.

Bryant Park, NYC

As I slink back into a regular work day, I stopped by one of my favourite blogs for a little inspiration and found this.

Bryant Park, was the first park I stopped to rest at during my trip to the city in October 2006. I posted the following comments on the NYDP blog:

I remember being impressed and by the park's beauty and surprised to find such a wonderful, relaxing green space surrounded by traffic and the busyness of city life. As long-time resident of Toronto, I was delighted by the many green spaces throughout Manhattan, in part, because it was so unexpected.

The New York Daily Photo blog provides historical context of the park, which for me, adds to its appeal.