Occupational Hazard

So,

I've been feeling ambivalent about the Internet lately. I know it's a pretty standard complaint, but I feel like it's been stealing all my writing time. And I resent that.

But I have no one to blame but myself.

That being said, I've gotten two rounds of awesome news this week:

#1. I just found out my story "Occupational Hazard" is a finalist for The Malahat Review's Open Season Awards.

I'm up against Erin Fisher, who won PRISM international's contest last year. She also went to UVic, though we've never met in person. She's a really talented writer, so I figure I'm in good company.

This is one of the shortest stories I've ever written. It's about a wedding photographer who runs into an ex while he's working. (Hence the title.)

Whether I win or not, I'm proud of this story and hopefully it can find a home somewhere. One of my New Years Resolutions was to get published in The Malahat Review, so I'm on my way.

#2. The Fiddlehead has nominated my story "Sea to Sky" for a National Magazine Award. Whoo!

Since I'm dead broke, the cash that comes from winning this could help me out significantly. Not to mention I've never been nominated for a NMA before.

In the meantime, I'm still working for The Ubyssey and PRISM. I started teaching a creative writing class at Winston Churchill Secondary, and I've picked up a few students in the Booming Ground Program.

Keeping busy.

I'm also working on my thesis, as well as adapting "Sea to Sky" into a full-length novel. And I've been drinking a lot of the Scotch Sean and I got for Christmas, because I miss my girlfriend. A lot.

(She's in Venice.)

Sorry I haven't been posting more often. I'll work on it.

Will!!