Category Archives: writing
Wild Writers in Waterloo
On November 2nd and 3rd, Waterloo will cut loose with the Wild Writers Literary Festival. Presented by The New Quarterly, in association with Words Worth Books, hosted at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, with loads of worthy local sponsors, … Continue reading
Posted in general, reading, writing
Leave a comment
Book club discussions
It never ceases to amaze me how discussion of a novel serves to round out your perspective. Last night, the local book club I attend was discussing Room by Emma Donoghue (see my brief review below). The discussion focussed on … Continue reading
Posted in books, craft, writing
Leave a comment
Now adding selected reviews
After a bit of thinking and some useful input, I’ve made a couple of changes to the blog. First, I am now showing a list of all of the books I have read in the current year in the left … Continue reading
Thinking about my LibraryThing reviews
This past year I have been writing reviews on LibraryThing for each book I read. My reviews are between two to five paragraphs in length and, I hope, useful and sometimes fun. A regular visitor to this page can see … Continue reading
Posted in books, general, writing
3 Comments
Market Research – writing contests
The well-meaning and generous-minded colleagues in my writing group sometimes encourage me to submit my short fiction to writing contests. I am reluctant. And not merely because of the disappointment that would ensue should I not be successful. That disappointment … Continue reading
Posted in writing
Leave a comment
Market Research – Canadian literary magazines
All the writing/publishing guides agree on one point: before submitting your work anywhere, always investigate recent issues of the journal or magazine in order to be certain that what you are submitting falls roughly within the range of writing that … Continue reading
Posted in writing
Leave a comment
A month of productive reading, running, and writing
This feels like it will be a good year. At least it has started well. Fed up with the icy conditions, I have taken to using the indoor track at the Waterloo Recreation Complex. I managed to get out three … Continue reading
Posted in books, reading, writing
Leave a comment
Writers reading
Francine Prose wrote a wonderfully useful book called Reading Like a Writer. I read it a few years ago and I think it is time to dip into it again. Recently I have been experiencing the frightful pleasure of having … Continue reading
Posted in writing
Leave a comment
Word choice
This morning I discovered a loss, a word loss, and although it feels like theft it is more likely just erosion. What I have lost is the meaning and sense of a word that I’m sure I used correctly more … Continue reading
Posted in craft, writing
Leave a comment
Writing club demise
Not so long ago I was enthusing about a local writing club. I had been involved in this group for a year and was looking forward to the new year (it’s meetings ran from October to July). Alas, a cloud … Continue reading
