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March 29, 2022The challenges (and joys) of receiving feedback
I am not proud of it, but my initial response to feedback on my writing is an instant NOPE. No way! ABSOLUTELY NOT. “What if you switched the point of view to third person?”NOPE. No way! ABSOLUTELY ...
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November 15, 2022Laurence Beaudoin-Masse's YA Debut Thoughtfully Explores the Toxic Pressures of the Influencer Lifestyle
Instagram influencers and thoughtful conversations don't necessarily sound like they'd go hand in hand. But debut young adult writer Laurence Beaudoin-Masse uses the strange, surreal backdrop of the ...
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October 05, 2017"Our Culture Depends on our Literature" - Governor General's Literary Award Shortlists Released
Canada Council Director and CEO Simon Brault had strong and encouraging words for writers and publishers in Canada upon the release of the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award shortlists yesterday, ...
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October 25, 2017St. Catharines Festival of Readers Ramps Up Literary Engagement in Niagara Region
From November 3rd to 5th, The Festival of Readers: St. Catharines will bring acclaimed Canadian authors to the vibrant Niagara region. With guest authors including Tomson Highway, Kevin Sylvester, and ...
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July 04, 2014Our Lives of No Interest: the Compulsion to Confess
In middle age there is a mystery, there is mystification. The most I can make out of this hour is a kind of loneliness. Even the beauty of the visible world seems to crumble, yes even love. I feel that ...
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August 09, 2018Claudia Dey's Triumphant Return to the Novel with Heartbreaker
Claudia Dey's Stunt was an innovative, genre-pushing, wonderfully strange gem of a novel. After a few years spent on other endeavours, including acclaimed non-fiction, playwriting, and her successful ...
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January 10, 2019Daylighting Chedoke Author John Terpstra on Scattering Seeds for a Great Title
Hamilton is well known for its natural beauty, from waterfalls to parks. However, one natural feature in the city is more hidden than the rest: Chedoke Creek runs through Hamilton but is mostly covered ...
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August 31, 2018On the future of Canlit
You guys, this is my last Open Book column.I have been writing this column for a year now and I’ll admit I didn’t know what I was going to write about when Holly Kent and Kevin Hardcastle asked me ...
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March 12, 2020On Family Secrets
Why does my writing tend to focus on family secrets? In particular, on children trying to unearth secrets tied to their parents’ pasts? I’m often asked these questions during interviews. The first ...
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May 27, 20175 Tips to Stand Out in the Slush Pile
You’ve finished your manuscript. It’s been edited by a critique partner. You’ve assembled a pitch. Now what? The next step is securing literary representation to pitch your project to prospective ...
