William Geoffrey Johnson

Reading Break 2012

2012-02-24T19:36:00.002-08:00

So,

I've returned from the wilderness.

Sean, Maciel, Spence and I spent six days in a remote family cabin six hours north of Vancouver, up on Meadow Lake. It was a greatly appreciated break from this semester's routine, and a good chance to catch up on my reading.

Maciel cooked amazing food for us every day, we went for a few treks through the snow, but for the most part we were lazy and gluttonous. We also may have gotten into a few fights over board games.

(Remind me never to play Monopoly again.)

You know it's been a good vacation when you return feeling bloated, exhausted and happy.

One book I re-read that blew my mind all over again: This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff. It's my second-favorite memoir (after Angela's Ashes) and if you're too lazy to read it, at least go check out the movie with Leonardo Dicaprio and Robert De Niro.

I tried to keep up my jogging, but it was snowing most days. I completed one run in the snow, and ended up semi-hypothermic. But it was worth it.

It was also a good chance to take a break from the Internet. I capitalized on it by finishing six new chapters of Sea to Sky, which brings it up to 23,000 words.

I also got some work done on my thesis, which is currently without a title. (I keep flipping back and forth.)

When we returned, we had a weeks' worth of television to catch up on. I also Skyped my girlfriend Darby, who is making new friends and having a great time in Venice.

I've posted some photos below the jump. For some reason I ended up with a disproportionate number of photos of Maciel and Spencer fighting.

Anyways, back to work.

Will!!

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UBC alum inspired by bathroom grafitti

2012-02-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

Photo by Josh Curran

Meghan Gardiner was hit with inspiration for her upcoming short film in an unlikely place—a bathroom stall at the University of Toronto.

The UBC alumna, who has been working as a writer and actress for the last decade, was touring her one-woman show Dissolve when she came across a particularly interesting bit of graffiti.

“The bathroom was a little skuzzy, a little dingy, and in one of the stalls was this whole crazy debate about abortion,” she said.

“It was amazing that people were so forthcoming with their thoughts on a bathroom wall.

“I read it and of course I have my views, and I was shocked by some of the other views,” she said. “And that’s when I realized, wow, this is more anonymous than Facebook.

“No one can ever find out who you are. You just write something on the wall and then it’s there forever.”
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Stopping for Strangers

2012-02-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

Daniel Griffin is reading from his recently released short story collection Stopping for Strangers at the Robson Reading series on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7:00. The Ubyssey sat down with the UBC grad to find out more about his work.

The Ubyssey: Tell me about the stories in Stopping for Strangers. How do they fit together thematically as a collection?

Daniel Griffin: I wrote the stories in Stopping for Strangers over the past ten years or so. For about six of those years I was taking my sweet time doing an MFA at UBC. I'd say about half the stories in the book were work-shopped in UBC's optional residency program.

A lot of the stories are about family—fathers, brothers, husbands and wives etc. In fact at one point I thought of having the book in sections–one group of stories about fathers, one about brothers, but ultimately I think the stories are about much more than that and grouping them in that way was somehow false. They're also stories about people struggling to connect with the people around them, struggling to do the right thing in difficult circumstances, essentially dealing with the challenges of living that we all face every day. They're simple stories simply written and I like to think they get to the heart of what it means to be human.

U: On your website, David Bergen compares you to Raymond Carver. Do you think your writing is similar? What is your relationship to Carver's work?

DG: I'm flattered by the comparison for sure. Carver was really an influence when I first started writing, but as I grew there were many other influences too. I'm a big believer in influence. When I wrote “Mercedes Buyers Guide”, I was trying to write an Ann Beattie story. I'd read “Distortions” and was blown away and I had her voice in my mind as I sat down at my desk one Saturday morning.

What David said about the book I think was mostly comparing the voice, but I also think there's similarities in the kind of stories we write. I call what I do domestic realism and I certainly think both he and I were often looking at family life from the male perspective—and in family life I'm including the husband and wife relationship too.

I feel strange supposing I can speak for Raymond Carver, but I think I've got it right here.

Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

So,

It's Valentine's Day, and my lady is in Venice.

How am I coping? Well, I spent the morning running ten kilometers for the first time (it nearly killed me) then decided to stay home watching Game of Thrones with my roommate Sean.

I started at my house, then ran all the way down 16th to UBC and back, which was exactly 10K according to Nike Plus. It took me one hour and twenty minutes, and I averaged 8:00 per kilometer.

Considering that only a few months ago, when Darby started running with me, I could only run one city block without almost collapsing from exhaustion, I think I've come pretty far. And I couldn't have done it without her encouragement.

(I've now run 102 kilometeres since the beginning of January.)

I got to Skype with Darby for a bit this morning, and she told me stories about her travels. Like: she traveled to Balzano, where she got to see Ötzi the Iceman in a museum. You can read about him HERE.

This one corpse has apparently changed our perceptions of human history. He's such a big deal that Brad Pitt actually has Ötzi tattooed on his arm.

(Google it.)

Darby also sent me some new pictures of her parading my friend Glen O'Neill's shirt around, as part of the 2012 Glen O'Neill T-shirt tour.

She also sent me some pictures of Carnivale, which I've posted below. I'm glad that she's having these experiences, but in the meantime I have to be lonely and spend my time day-dreaming about our upcoming road trip across the country.

For those of who you somehow missed being subjected to our ridiculous overtures to one another on Facebook or Twitter, let me just say it one more time: I'm desperately, irresponsibly, irreversibly in love with this girl.

It's only six months in, but I plan to spend the rest of my life with this girl. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make her my wife, and then the mother of my children.

I just wish I could get her flowers right now.

Will!!

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South Park Elementary

2012-02-14T17:21:00.000-08:00

So,

My friend Bill was visiting the Mainland, and he stopped by South Park Elementary School to visit his Mom, who works there.

He found this picture of me (in kindegarten) and sent it over. Apparently it's hanging in one of the hallways. I think it's priceless. I'm not sure why I'm covering my eyes, but I do love that Ninja Turtles shirt.

Will!!

Instructions for an Inexperienced Lover

2012-02-13T19:04:00.000-08:00

So,

I can't remember when I started following Amanda Leduc on Twitter.

In general, I'm always looking for new authors, literary magazines and journalists to follow. Twitter has kept me up to date on submission deadlines, introduced me to new publications and put me in contact with a bunch of awesome writers.

Somehow I ended up getting in contact with Amanda. Maybe she Re-Tweeted something, or I commented on something, I don't know. But we figured out we both studied writing at UVic, and then we started swapping stories. She lives in Hamilton.

Anyways, after checking out her blog, I saw she has a book. It's called Instructions for an Inexperienced Lover, and you can buy an e-book version for $3. So that's exactly what I did.

(Weirdly enough, my friend Chelsea Rushton took the cover photo...small world.)

According to my Kindle, I'm about 25% of the way through it. And so far I dig it. It's about a girl in a creative writing program in Victoria who is in love with one of her teachers, and has a flamboyant Irish classmate.

Obviously, a lot of this sounds familiar. I was especially stoked to see English Bay beach, The NAAM, Munro's Bookstore and other West Coast attractions immortalized. But so far, this is my favorite passage. I wanted it to share it because I think every creative writing student can relate:

"Sometimes, being in a writing program is like offering your still-attached hand to a cannibal and watching them eat it. An eloquent cannibal, a la Hannibal Lector, who praises your skin, your bone structure, and then tears the muscle out with his teeth."

Amanda has a new book called The Raptured coming out with ECW Press in 2013. I'll make sure to check that one out too.

Will!!

The Art of being Anti-Social

2012-02-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

Indiana Joel graphic

People go to university for a lot of different reasons.

When I first left to study at UVic, my goal was simple: I wanted to live a student lifestyle.

I had spent a few years lifeguarding part-time while I took random college classes. I was constantly worried about money and never had a real chance to immerse myself in the academic environment. I was busy picking up extra shifts and struggling to get by financially.

Then I saw friends who had completely adopted the student persona—partying every weekend and going to class in pyjama bottoms. Their biggest worries were upcoming deadlines and gruelling midterms, and they either lived off student loans or a regular cash influx from their parents.

It was like being in elementary school all over again. It was like an invitation from the universe to take it easy, to take a few more years to figure out my life. So I took out some student loans, packed up my shit and moved to the Island.

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JJ Lee finds his perfect fit

2012-02-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

JJ Lee thinks he would be a pretty good barista.

“I’m experiencing a crisis of career choice,” said the acclaimed non-fiction author of The Measure of a Man: The Story of a Father, A Son and a Suit.

“Working full-time at Starbucks with some overtime will earn you more than most writers unless they have a monster hit. I suspect I could make some awesome coffee with the right training and I’d be pretty happy,” he said.

The Vancouver Sun fashion columnist is on the short-list for the Charles Taylor Prize, which comes with a $25,000 pay-day. Earlier this year, he was short-listed for the Governor General’s Award. But Lee isn’t letting these achievements go to his head.

“Literary award nominations have to be seen with the perspective of the Ancient Greeks. Blame everything on the gods: the good and the bad. I have no control over the process and it feels awesome and scary,” he said.

“This is to say that no sane writer should expect these things. And I didn’t. Except I hoped a little. It’s human nature.”

Lee’s book tracks the evolution of the suit, while weaving in elements of Lee’s backstory and his relationship to his father.

“I did the documentary first for CBC…it was a social history of the suit and during the production I started telling stories about my dad to producer Kathleen Flaherty. We decided early on to use the personal stories as a counterpoint to my interviews with experts in menswear.”

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New fiction by Eliza Robertson

2012-02-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

So,

I got the new issue of Grain Magazine in the mail the other day, and I was excited to see a new story by Eliza Robertson.

Eliza and I went to school together at UVic. I interviewed her a while back, after she won The Fiddlehead, PRISM and Malahat Review fiction prizes all in one year. (Crazy.)

You can read that interview HERE.

Anyways, her new story is about a man who investigates plane crashes. It's called "My Sister Sang", and as with most of her work, it's really formally experimental and innovative. I especially like the way she transcribes the dialogue from the black boxes.

One of my favorite passages from the story is this interaction between the main character and another linguist studying the black boxes after a crash:

"When you replay a voice in evidence for eight hours a day, you can almost know them. And when you catch a glimpse of their life before, you get immersed. In the knowing of them."

I stared at her.

She looked down. "Unprofessional, I know."

When she raised her eyes, I was still staring. She held the eye contact. In that moment, I understood that she understood that I understood everything she said."

If you get a chance, you should check out this story.

Will!!

Why you should skip The Help

2012-02-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Television legend George Takei posted an alternate poster for the Academy-Award nominated movie The Help on Facebook recently. Rather than the title, the poster read White People Solve Racism.

And then, as a kicker: You’re welcome, black people.

I should state right away that I haven’t seen this movie, nor do I plan to. And it’s not because I’m not interested. I actually really like Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard, and I think Viola Davis is one of the most talented actresses working today. She deserves her nomination, and with any luck she can beat reigning queen Meryl Steep.

I also haven’t read the book by Kathryn Stockett, though I understand it does a marginally better job of balancing its depictions of American segregation in the 1960s. A few of my friends have tried to convince me to give it a chance. But the reason I won’t buy a ticket to see The Help is that I don’t want to support institutionalized racism.

For those of you who are new to the controversy, here it is in a nutshell: this movie, no matter how well-intentioned, is revisionist history that casts white people as the saviors of poor, simple black people.

For other examples of this trend in movies, which are often called “White Savior Movies,” see The Blind Side, Gran Torino, Dances with Wolves, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Green Mile and even Avatar.

The Help may only be the latest in a long line of these movies, but now it’s been nominated for an Academy Award for best picture. It stands to make a lot of money. (It’s already made more than $100 million.) And audiences are walking out of theatres feeling sniffly and inspired, though they haven’t stopped to consider the implications of what they’ve seen.

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I love Dr. Seuss

2012-02-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

So,

One of my Booming Ground students sent me this today. Dr. Seuss has always been one of my heroes, and I think these titles are hardly an exaggeration.

Will!!

I Deactivated Facebook

2012-02-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

So,

I deactivated my Facebook today. We'll see how long that lasts.

I won't spend much time proselytizing about it, because people seem to get pretty touchy and self-righteous about it. Let's just say I was sick of it, and I was ready for a change.

Facebook seemed upset about my decision, and responded like a clingy girlfriend who doesn't understand that it's over.

Are you sure? it asked me.

Then it showed me a series of pictures of my friends, and under each one was the same sentiment:

Hilary will miss you.

Todd will miss you.

Theo will miss you.

I thought to myself, I get why you chose Hilary and Todd. But Theo? He's this dude I traveled with in Thailand, and haven't talked to since. He's a good guy, but he lives in the U.K. and chances are we'll never see each other again. I'm sure he's not even going to notice.

Good try, Facebook.

Anyways, I was partially inspired to quit when I read this quote from Jonathan Franzen:

"It's doubtful that anyone with with an internet connection at their workplace is writing good fiction."

Ironically, I read this on Twitter.

I've actually been fairly productive lately, and I want to keep that trend going. I recently hit 13,000 words (53 pages) with my novel-length adaptation of Sea to Sky.

I've also got three Booming Ground students, and reading all their manuscripts and giving them notes takes time.

Then there's my stories for The Ubyssey. Not to mention my class work.

So if I want to actually emerge from my man-cave from time to time, I can't keep wasting time on my variety of social networking sites. Twitter has survived this culling, mostly because I use it for news and it's actually helpful in keeping me up to date with literary deadlines and other authors.

If you don't already, you can follow me @goodwilljohnson

I figure this will save me at least one hour a day. And what else can I do with that time? Well, today I ran 8 kilometers for the first time! When I finished, it looked like someone had dumped a pail of water over my head. I sounded like I was having an asthma attack. But I felt fucking awesome.

Two more kilometers to go...

While I was Googling images and articles about quitting Facebook, I came across THIS. I think you'll get a kick out of it. I also liked this message, which kept popping up:

Quitting Facebook is the new, adult version of running away from home. We all know you're doing it for attention and we know you'll be back!

We'll see.

Will!!

Interview with writer Erin Fisher

2012-02-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Last year, Victoria writer Erin Fisher won first place in PRISM international’s fiction contest for her story “Bridges”. This year, Fisher repeated that success by taking the top spot in The Malahat Review’s fiction contest. PRISM caught up with Erin recently, to discuss her recent successes and her plans for the future.

PRISM: Your piece "Apiculture" just won The Malahat Review's Open Season Awards. Congratulations! You're having quite the year–how does it feel?

ERIN FISHER: Pretty great. It doesn’t change any of the work that must be done, but it provides a boost to energy.

P: Tell us about "Apiculture". What was your process while writing it, and what were you hoping to accomplish with this story?

EF: “Apiculture” underwent many, many rewrites. I wanted a child narrator who was being built by the events that occur in the story, as well as the depth that is added by the retrospective, but I didn’t want the future time/place/situation of the narrator mattering. I knew the layers and plot of the story before I started writing, but it took a lot of tinkering to get it working properly.

P: Your writing is very experimental/edgy. Why do you feel drawn to non-traditional styles of story-telling?

EF: I’m not sure. I enjoy reading all types of stories, and have tried a less ornamental style of writing, but it came off wrong. Every story (so far) has had a different way of forming in rough draft, but in the end each one comes down to me and it and scissors and a lot of floorspace. Being flexible with structure allows the story’s form to help solve problems. On content: it can be more fun to get to the core of the piece through a little weirdness.

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Q & A with Andrew Westoll

2012-02-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

UBC graduate Andrew Westoll is an award-winning writer and primatologist. He recently penned the book The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary. The Ubyssey sat down to chat with him about the book, which was recently nominated for a Charles Taylor non-fiction prize.

The Ubyssey: What originally compelled you to write about the chimpanzees of Fauna Sanctuary? How did you get hooked up with Gloria Grow?

Andrew Westoll: I’d heard about Fauna twelve years before, and had tried to volunteer there, but it fell through when I got the job to study monkeys in Suriname for a year. So I went to the Upper Amazon, and forgot all about Fauna. Then, ten years later and now a freelance writer, I was looking around for my next magazine piece, and Fauna popped up on my radar again. After two phone calls with Gloria Grow, I’d been invited to move into Fauna and write the biography of her chimpanzee family. I think my background in primates was what convinced her I’d do a good job with her story.

U: How did you react when you found out you’d been short-listed for the Charles Taylor Prize? How familiar are you with the work of the other authors on the list?

W: I was amazed. And immediately giddy. That was a fantastic long-list. It could have gone so many different ways. And to be on the same list as Wade Davis, whose first book came out the year I was born and who has been an inspiration for me since I started writing, was a thrill.

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No Hurry

2012-02-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

So,

I had sushi with my friend Dom last week.

We were talking about his solo album, which he's currently working on. The release date has been moved back a few times, and I asked him when it was actually going to come out.

He explained to me that he had ten solid songs, but he was still struggling with the idea of how it works as an album.

He really wants a coherent album, that feels like a solid unit, rather than a collection of songs that don't quite fit together.

"I mean, once it's out there, it's out there," he said. "I just want it to be perfect."

His words resonated with me for a few reasons. Lately I've been writing constantly, but I'm starting to stress out about when I'm finally going to publish a fucking book.

It's like I've set this imaginary timer, and I can hear it constantly ticking down. (To what?)

Anyways, Dom made me realize that whatever I put out there (a novel, a collection of short stories, whatever), I want to make sure it's as close to perfect as I can humanly manage.

I don't want to rush something out, only to realize I hate it years down the road.

So recently I just wrote the words NO HURRY on a Post-It note and taped it beside my computer. Just to remind me that whether it takes me one year, or ten years, I just want to publish something I'm proud of. Because, as Dom said: once it's out there, it's out there.

I also remind myself of Harper Lee, who only ever published one book (To Kill a Mockingbird) and what a visiting author told our class recently, that the average writer releases their first novel when they are 41. That's like 15 years from now.

But hopefully it won't take that long.

I'm currently re-writing my story "Sea to Sky", trying to expand it into a novel. I've also got my thesis (the title is currently in flux) and I've been pitching a short story collection to various small publishers, just to see if there's any interest out there.

This summer, while I'm in Nova Scotia with Darby, I'm going on leave from UBC for four months.

I'm planning on deleting Facebook (we don't even have Internet access in our cottage) and just writing non-stop, as much as I can.

Oh yeah, and I'll do a lot of reading too. Maybe I'll just read A Visit From the Goon Squad over and over again until some of Jennifer Egan's genius rubs off on me.

Seems like a good plan to me.

On a separate note: I'm going to see Dom play at the Backstage Lounge tonight. Show should start around 9:00, but get there early if you want seats. Cover is only $6!

Dom has a beautiful voice, and I think he's an awesome musician. Seriously.

That's it for now.

Will!!

Lit Mag Overload

2012-01-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

So,

The inevitable result of entering pretty much every literary contest out there, is sooner or later you get swamped with lit mag subscriptions.

This morning I got the new issue of Prairie Fire (isn't it pretty?) and I added it to a pile that already included the latest issues of EVENT, PRISM international, The Fiddlehead and The Malahat Review.

What a daunting pile...

In other news: This is the first issue of PRISM that includes me on the masthead! I'm listed as a member of the editorial board. (Moving up in the world.) Thus continues my quest to become the fiction editor next year.

Anyways, I better get reading.

Will!!

Shit UBC Says

2012-01-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

Kaveh Sarhangpour was watching Shit Queens Says on YouTube recently, and he didn’t find it very funny.

“That was the first one I saw, of the collegiate ones,” he said. “ I was watching it and thinking, this is probably just not funny to me because I don’t go to Queens. We know this meme is a bit played out, but we thought UBC at least deserved to have its own.”

Sarhangpour amassed a few of his friends and colleagues, and together they created Shit UBC says, which is currently hovering just below 50,000 views. Compared to videos created for SFU and other schools across Canada, UBC’s is the most popular.
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Say Wha?

2012-01-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

So,

I'm performing in a Say Wha? show at Havana on Commercial Drive tomorrow night.

The event is hosted by Sara Bynoe (pictured above) a friend of mine from Studio 58. The show is a celebration of really bad writing, and I will be reading a selection from Freedom by Jonathan Franzen.

I did this show once before, back in August. It's a great show, and Sara has booked some awesome comics. One of them, Ivan Decker, is actually from Ladner. Small world.

Anyways, the show starts at 7:30. I hope to see you there!

Will!!

Congratulations, Katie Fritz!

2012-01-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

So,

My friend Katie is currently in India right now, but that didn't stop her from getting short-listed for PRISM international's non-fiction contest. You can read the results, which were posted today, on their website.

I feel partially responsible, because I mailed in her entry. (She was in Europe at the time.) But seriously, I'm beyond hyped for her.

Katie and I spent four years in basically every class together at UVic.

She is a fucking awesome writer, and I happen to know her story "Rules of Play" is a great read. So I'm sending all my good vibes as far east as they'll get.

But the congratulations don't end there. My classmate from UVic Jenna Spearing also made the list for her piece "Pick", and so did Tyler Laing for his piece "Home Field".

Not to mention Ayelet Tsabari, who I saw read this week in Vancouver.

She's an awesome writer who recently signed a deal with Harper Collins (JEALOUS!). Her piece is called "Kerosene: A Love Story".

All in all, it's a pretty impressive short-list.

Anyways, good luck to everyone. Winners will be announced next week!

Will!!

My Sensuous Yankee Candle Haul Too 2

2012-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

So,

Darby sent me this video last week. This is what the Internet was invented for. I seriously want to meet this guy. Maybe write a story about him.

You have to watch it all the way through. And then you should watch it again.

(Thanks, Darby!)

Will!!

Thoughts on Alcoholism

2012-01-26T22:01:00.000-08:00

This is dedicated to my friend Brandon Wilbur.

Will!!

Thursday

2012-01-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

So,

January is almost over. Thank God.

I took the picture above a few days ago, while there was still snow on the ground. This alien white substance chased me inside for an entire week, and threw off my exercise regimen. I may have overdone it a tad with the Scotch, too. But in the last few days I've started running and swimming again, and yesterday I went to the gym with Maciel.

My lady

Swimming outdoors at UBC has been pretty cold, but it's nice to be part of a team again.

It's been a long time since I've trained in a 50-meter pool, too.

All things considered, this has been a fairly solid month, despite my hatred for everything wet, dark and cold.

I've been following Darby's meal plan, I started teaching an after-school creative writing class at Winston Churchill Secondary, I've gotten some writing done, I was short-listed for an award at The Malahat Review, and I've picked up a few more Booming Ground students.

Randomly enough, my friend Rachel's Mom is now my student. She read my story "Paint by Numbers" on the Little Fiction website and sent me an email to say she loved it. Now I'm helping her work on a novel.

Darby's been having a good time in Venice, and I Skype with her every day. I'm still keeping a countdown to her return in mid-April, but I'm surviving without her.

One of my New Years Resolutions was to spend more time with my family in Tsawwassen, so I've been going out there once or twice a week. I'm teaching my little brother Tyler to drive, and my Grandma has been reading some of my fiction. It's really interesting to get her perspective on my work, because she obviously grew up in a different world than I did.

And I'm re-reading A Visit From the Goon Squad, which is even better the second time through. I know I've been harping about this, but you really should read it. Seriously.

Well, that's it for now.

Will!!

This is beautiful

2012-01-24T00:51:00.000-08:00

I'm currently re-reading A Visit By the Goon Squad. If you haven't check it out yet, you need to make that a priority. Please.

Will!!

UBC teacher Charlotte Gill short-listed for Charles Taylor Non-Fiction Prize

2012-01-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

Kai Jacobson photo

Charlotte Gill wanted to tell an untold story.

This UBC writing instructor, who spent years as a tree planter, felt a void in contemporary literature. She was waiting for someone to capture the cultural experience of tree-planting in writing, and when nobody did, she wrote the book herself.

“I’d waited for years for someone to come along and write a book about our collective experience,” she said.

“That day never came. As tree planters, we had this life that seemed so inexplicably oddball on the outside, and yet on the inside I knew it meant something profound, not just to me but to thousands of Canadians.”

Her book Eating Dirt, a memoir about her days working as a treeplanter, has now been named a finalist in three major literary competitions—the B.C. National Awards, the Hilary Weston’s Non-Fiction Prize, and most recently the Charles Taylor Non-Fiction Prize.

Gill is nominated alongside four other writers from the West Coast–Madeline Sonik, JJ Lee, Andrew Westoll and Wade Davis.

Gill doesn’t believe this is a coincidence.

“At least three of us on the shortlist attended UBC’s MFA program in Creative Writing. I could even probably narrow it down to one person we have in common. I bet we all enrolled, at one point or another, in Andreas Schroeder’s creative non-fiction class.”

Read more »

Congratulations, Erin Fisher!

2012-01-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

So,

The Malahat Review just announced the winner of the Open Season Awards, and Erin Fisher took the top prize for fiction. Congratulations, Erin!

You can read about the results HERE.

This is the second time Erin has won a big literary contest this year, the first one being PRISM international's fiction prize last summer. When I saw her name on the shortlist, I had a feeling she was going to take it.

This time her story is called "Apiculture", and apparently it's about a disintegrating family and...bees.

I'm curious to see how that works.

The judge, Padma Vishwanathan, called it a "deceptively ambitious story, anchored with details and threaded with the bewildered hope of late childhood".

Cool.

This is the second time in a few months I've been a finalist for one of The Malahat Review's contests.

(My story "Occupational Hazard" was on the shortlist.)

Hopefully if I hassle John Barton, he'll publish my story at some point too. Otherwise, I'll start sending it elsewhere.

It's one of my New Years Resolutions to get a story published in The Malahat Review, and I've got eleven months to make that happen.

And though I'm happy for Erin (a fellow UVic grad), I couldn't help but laugh at this email I got from fellow writer Kris Bertin, who lost to her in the PRISM contest.

He wrote:

Have you thought about taking Erin out of the picture?

Think about it and get back to me.

Will!!

New fiction by Bill Gaston

2012-01-23T15:30:00.000-08:00

So,

I finally got a chance to read the most recent issue of EVENT magazine the other day, and I was stoked to find a new story by Bill Gaston.

I think Gaston is one of the most talented short fiction writers working in Canada today, and his story "Comedian Tire", which originally appeared in PRISM international, is one of my favorites.

His stories pop up a lot in literary journals (he recently had one in The Fiddlehead) and I'm never disappointed by them.

Anyways, this one is called "Four Corners", and it's a funny little story about a dude trying to break up with his girlfriend.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Cheryl is thirty-two, he is thirty-six, a dangerous age for single people, who too often settle for less."

"Cheryl has lived at Four Corners for years, and it may be the worst thing about her. Choosing a location whose main feature, whose only feature, is an intersection."

I think Gaston's writing is always clear, un-pretentious and surprisingly funny. There's not a lot of humor in Canadian short fiction, so it's a nice change of pace.

Gaston teaches at UVic, but somehow I spent four years there and never had a class with him. My friend Katie got to take a novel workshop with him, and I'm pretty sure I'll be eternally jealous of her.

If you're a fan of his work, I really enjoyed his novel The Good Body and his story "Honoring Honey", which appeared in his collection Gargoyles.

Also, he has a new novel called The World scheduled for release by Penguin in 2012. (Exciting!)

This issue of EVENT is pretty good. There are some poems by bill bissett, who is always weird and fun. I also liked the story "I See a Man" by Oscar Marten.

It was the creative non-fiction contest winners' issue. I found the winners pretty disappointing, but I liked this quote from judge Kevin Chong:

"Creative non-fiction is a life decision that one is surprised to adopt, like eating liver or riding a recumbent bicycle...the winning pieces in this year's Non-Fiction Contest show how lives can pivot under inauspicious circumstances and around seemingly unremarkable, albeit strange, people."

I'm planning on entering the non-fiction contest this year. (I haven't missed a year since I went to Douglas College, way back when.)

The deadline is April 15, Zsuzsi Garnter is the judge, and it's a 5,000-word limit.

That's it for now.

Will!!

The Mad Ones

2012-01-23T02:13:00.000-08:00

So,

While I was working as the graphic designer at The Whitehorse Star last summer, I designed this image to practice my skills with Adobe Illustrator.

(I know all my friends who are real graphic designers are thinking to themselves pfft, amateur but come on, I'm a beginner.)

Anyways, I found it recently and taped it to the side of my fridge.

My friend Jono used to walk around reciting this quote. It's one of my favorites of all time. Another Kerouac I like: "I have nothing to offer but my own confusion".

Will!!

Breath

2012-01-23T01:37:00.000-08:00

So,

My story "Breath" has been published in Dragnet, and you can read it HERE. It's a really short piece, less than 250 words, and it's on page 38.

This marks the second story I've had published in e-format, and now that I'm hopelessly addicted to my Kindle I've changed my tune on digital publishing.

(My former opinion was somewhere along the lines that books are a tactile experience and I hate reading on a screen. My current opinion being Reading is Reading and Whatever works for you, right?)

I think this is an awesome magazine, and I'm really happy to be a part of it.

Will!!

I Can't Wait

2012-01-20T17:38:00.000-08:00

So,

By the time they bring Mad Men back into our lives, it will have been off-air for 17 months. That's way too long.

You've got two months to catch up, because this is the best show on TV right now. Period.

Will!!

My Hippo Collection

2012-01-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

So,

Darby bought me a hand-crafted hippo in Venice.

I'm going to add it to my collection–which includes an ivory hippo from Africa given to me by my friends Shaun and Nicki Ross, and a wooden hippo my friend Laura brought me from India.

I also have the hippo tattoo on my shoulder, which I got for my birthday in Victoria in 2008.

And I can't forget to mention my hippo painting, which hangs in my kitchen, which was created by the talented Andrea Zittlau.

For those of who who don't know, the hippo is my power animal.

This was confirmed by the shaman I lived with in the Yukon this summer, an awesome woman named Gaye.

Anyways, I think I've started a pretty respectable collection. (Thanks, Darby!)

Will!!

Why I love Elmore Leonard

2012-01-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

So,

The third season of Justified started yesterday, and though it got off to a relatively weak start, it's still one of the best things on TV right now.

Sean and I are obsessed with this show, even though Maciel has no time for it. She likes Leonard's writing, but doesn't like its television incarnation.

Well, she's in luck, because Leonard just released Raylan, a new book about the main character: Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.

I'm going to download it to my Kindle.

Anyways, Justified has come right on time, because I'm in the middle of a huge Elmore Leonard kick.

Over the break Darby's Dad loaned me Djibouti, which is a Leonard novel about Somali pirates. I was impressed by the killer dialogue, the unique characters and way he incorporated real events into his fiction.

Then Sean gave me When The Women Come Out To Dance, the collection of short fiction that includes "Fire in the Hole", which was the basis of the show.

The collection also has a story about Karen Sisco, the main character of Out of Sight, which is one of the best crime movies of all time.(Trust me, go watch it. Even though J. Lo is in it...)

See, that's the thing about Elmore Leonard. Once you know who he is, you realize he's everywhere. Just a few things he wrote that you might recognize: Get Shorty, 3:10 to Yuma, Jackie Brown, The Big Bounce, Tishomingo Blues, Road Dogs, Be Cool.

If you look at everything he's written on his website, you have to scroll down for about two minutes to see everything. He's written short fiction, novels, non-fiction and every a book on writing. Wow.

This guy is 86 years old, and he's still going strong. I hope he lives to be 100.

Will!!

The Glen O'Neill T-Shirt Tour 2012

2012-01-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

So,

As many of you know, my friend Glen O'Neill has an awesome T-shirt website called The Yetee.

Since his days working as my illustrator at The Martlet, Glen has become a huge online T-shirt tycoon.

It all started when Glen began selling T-shirts through big websites, and then realized they were absorbing a lot of the profit.

So he decided to start his own, and now it's an industry behemoth.

(Get it? Behemoth? Like a yeti? Right?)

I bought one of his first shirts a few years ago, and now I figure I've got a collector's item. (I was there when it all began, man!)

The T-shirt, which features a bearded graphic of Glen's face, is being modeled above by my lovely lady-friend Darby Jack.

(By the way, that's Glen with his daughter Penny, who may be the cutest baby in existence. I was actually there the day she was born.)

Anyways, it's one of my favorite shirts, so of course Darby decided to steal it. (She likes to sleep in it.) I told her, in return, she had to take pictures of herself wearing it around Venice and Europe while she's away.

Today she sent the first round of photos, kicking off the Glen O'Neill T-Shirt Tour 2012.

This is just the beginning.

Will!!

Madeline Sonik short-listed for the Charles Taylor Non-Fiction Prize

2012-01-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

Madeline Sonik didn’t want to write an ordinary memoir.

Her book Afflictions & Departures is intentionally experimental, and marries a journalistic style with fictional techniques. But once it was completed, she found people weren’t sure what do with it.

“What I heard over and over was `this is great, we love it, the writing is beautiful’,” said Sonik. “But then they’d say `what is it?’”

Sonik struggled to find a publisher for her manuscript, though many of the essays contained within had already been published elsewhere and had a won awards. Publishers repeatedly told her that audiences weren’t interested in the essay form. She begged to differ.

Then she hooked up with Anvil Press, and now her book has become one of the most successful non-fiction books this year.

Afflictions & Departures was recently nominated for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize, and has now been short-listed for the Charles Taylor Non-Fiction Prize, which could win her $25,000.

Sonik is competing against four other books, with topics as wide-ranging as Mount Everest, tree planting and chimpanzees.

“I was so pleased because I could tell the jury got it. They saw what I was trying to do,” said Sonik.

Afflictions & Departures marks the first time Sonik has published a book of essays, after a short story collection, a children’s book and some poetry.

Read more »

Occupational Hazard

2012-01-17T22:56:00.000-08:00

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!!

Canadian Books to Look Forward to in 2012

2012-01-12T19:10:00.000-08:00

Last year was big for Canadian literature. Both The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt and Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan made an international splash while picking up nominations for most of the huge literary awards.

Meanwhile, Vancouverite authors Michael Christie and Zsuszi Gartner both received recognition for their collections of short fiction.

As it turns out, 2012 is stacking up to be a solid year for Can-Lit as well. Below, The Ubyssey has compiled a list of ten of the most promising books slated for release in the next 12 months.

Read more »

East Van Comedy moves to Havana

2012-01-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

A new comedy collective is setting up shop on Commercial Drive, and they’re looking to fuck with your expectations.

Cook

“We’re not looking for the Russell Peters, polished comedy for the masses,” said Alistair Cook, the organizer of East Van Comedy collective.

“There’s this term that gets used a lot: alternative comedy scene. But it’s been around a very, very long time.”

Cook said he wanted to capitalize on the unique brand of experimental, East Vancouver comedy that has been thriving recently by bringing a number of acts together.

“This is where we live, and where we perform,” he said. “I looked around, and tried to find acts that had a potential for growth. I wanted to find who was working in the area, who was a vanguard, who was breaking new ground.”
Read more »

I'm moving to Nova Scotia

2012-01-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

So,

I met Darby's parents over Christmas break, and stayed with them for a week in Whitefish, Montana.

One day I walked downstairs and Darby's Dad was reading by the fire and listening to Stan Rogers. I thought to myself well, this is my kind of man.

The Jacks

Her Mom is this sassy retired nurse who loves animals and made me delicious smoothies every day.

They both spoiled me rotten while I was there, and took me out to an amazing sushi dinner. We also bonded over the first season of Justified.

And even though I'm allergic to them, I got along well with Darby's menagerie of pets. Her cat CeCe even has a crush on me.

Anyways, her parents are retiring and bought the house pictured above. It's a 150-year-old historic church that has been restored and converted into a seaside house. Apparently they won a bidding war with some Toronto couple that wanted to gut the inside.

Isn't it fucking awesome?

They invited me n' Darby to live with them for the summer (rent-free!) and I jumped at the chance.They have a small cottage on their property where Darby and I will live.

The house is right on the beach in Kingsburg, which is apparently about an hour away from Halifax. I haven't been to the East Coast since I was a little kid, so I'm excited to live there for a while.

Darby said she'll cook for me every day, we'll swim in the ocean, and we may even work together at a nearby bookstore/bakery/coffee shop. It is, quite literally, a dream come true.

When Darby gets back from Venice, we're going to drive across Canada in her Dad's truck. We're hoping to make stops along the way, maybe in Edmonton to see Gemma, in Peterborough to see Darby's school friends, in Toronto to see some people I know, and in Montreal to see Shaun and Nicki.

Should we stop anywhere else?

I'm hoping to finish my two novel projects. I'm about half-way done my thesis novel, and I'm hoping to adapt my story "Sea to Sky" into a book-length work.

I'm also hoping to drop in on Kris Bertin at some point. According to his blog, he works at a bar somewhere in Halifax. Hopefully he won't be too creeped out by my literary-stalking.

It's still four months away, so I have to fixate on school right now. But I'm going to be day-dreaming about this house for the next four months.

Will!!

Paint By Numbers

2012-01-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

So,

In case you missed it, my story "Paint By Numbers" has now been published by Little Fiction.

This is an awesome little website based out of Toronto. It was started by this guy Troy Palmer. You can download all the stories available on to whatever technological device you have–a Kindle, an iPhone, whatever.

Little Fiction will also be publishing a story by my friend Jay Hosking called "Analogue". It's slated for release in March.

I've read it, and it's awesome. I'll make sure to give you a heads up when it comes out.

My story is about an arts student named Miriam who runs into her ex-boyfriend at a party. On the site they describe it as a story about "learning to swim by refusing to drown".

Let's also say it involves sex, drugs and painting.

I have a second story, "Year of the Dragon", slated to be published in April. It's a part of my thesis novel, and I'll be work-shopping it this semester to fine-tune it.

Anyways, go to that website and check out my story. I'd love to hear what you think.

Will!!

Life Before Darby

2012-01-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

So,

My roommate Sean sent me this card this morning, and said it reminded him of me. The subject line read "Life Before Darby".

My lady

I remarked to him and Maciel recently that I'd lost interest in partying. Over and over it seemed like I was opting to stay home and watch TV rather than go out.

This is partly because I'm broke, but I also had a realization: my main reason for attending parties has always been the however unlikely possibility that I would get to hit on the women in attendance.

Now, since I'm stupidly in love with Darby, I've lost my motivation to venture out of the house.

My social life is starting to flag. But c'est la vie. More time to work on my novel.

A few months ago, when I interviewed Miriam Toews, I asked her if she had any advice for fledgling writers. I liked her response.

"You have to stop going out drinking every night with your friends. Just stop."

See, I'm just listening to my literary idol/crush. That's why you haven't seen me lately.

Will!!

Cultivating television compatibility

2012-01-04T00:07:00.000-08:00


Indiana Joel graphic

I was playing poker with a buddy a while ago, and I inquired how things were progressing with his new girlfriend. They seemed like a perfect pair, and I had been floored for them both when they first got together.

“Well, it’s going okay, I guess,” he said, with a shrug.

He tried to change the subject, and swing the table’s attention back to the poker hand laid out before us. But I could tell something was bothering him. I pestered him for a bit, trying to figure out what was wrong. I could tell he was reluctant to share, but what can I say? I’m nosy.

Finally, he put his cards down on the table and looked me in the eyes.

“There’s one problem,” he said, grimacing like he was about to deliver life-altering news. “She talks during movies.”
Read more »

Vancouver Noir

2012-01-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

Derek von Essen photo

Two local historians are looking to change the way you think about Terminal City. Diane Purvey and John Belshaw have teamed up to write Vancouver Noir, a chronicle of Vancouver’s gritty history from 1930-1960.

The pair released their book, which features bootleggers, brothels, police corruption and murder, over the Christmas break. The Ubyssey recently sat down with the authors to find out more about the project.

#1. How did you two choose this project, and why do you think Vancouver in the 1930s to 1960s will be interesting/relevant to contemporary readers?

Diane Purvey: Both John and I are historians of British Columbia and had previously done some work on the period between 1930 and 1960. About 10 years ago we were in San Francisco and went to an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art on crime photography during the Noir era. We were intrigued and wondered if we could put together book on Vancouver during the Noir period – 1930 to 1960 – using Noir as a lens by which to reframe our understanding of Vancouver. We hunted for photos in various archives, museums and libraries and searched out sources, and realized we had the makings for a great book.
Read more »

My Top 10 Movies of 2011

2012-01-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

So,

This was a terrible year for movies.

According to Wikipedia, this year saw a record-breaking number of sequels and remakes. (As if we didn't have enough of those already.) And some of the movies we expected to be awesome, like Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, ended up being sub-par.

I was a little broke this year, so I didn't see as many of the December releases as I would've liked to. Movies that I didn't see, but would probably make this list: The Artist, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Carnage and The Iron Lady.

I should also note that three of the movies below were released in 2010, but I didn't see them until this year.

Anyways, here are my picks:

Read more »

A Year in Photos, Volume III

2012-01-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

So,

It's 2012, and this is my final installment of my year in photos.

September through December was a little less eventful than the rest of my year, because I settled into my school routine. I did a lot of writing, I was working for The Ubyssey, and I made one trip down to Portland to visit Darby.

I loved living with Sean and Maciel this semester, and I made a lot of new friends at UBC. I didn't leave my Kits bubble often, but I had some awesome times when I did.

Check out more photos after the jump:

Read more »

A Year in Photos, Volume II

2011-12-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

So,

It turns out there is no shortage of photos of me in my boxer shorts this year.

This is the second installment of the best photos from 2011, from April to August. This includes the wrap-up of my undergraduate degree at UVic, and my second summer working at The Whitehorse Star.

Starring in this album will be Gemma Karstens-Smith, Darby, Jono, Britta, Ben Miljure and my UVic crowd. Check them out below the jump.

Will!!

Read more »

A Year in Photos, Volume I

2011-12-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

So,

It's been a good year.

I'm sitting by the fireplace in Montana, going through my old blog entries, and every few posts I go oooh yeah! There's a whole slew of party's at Hilary's house, some literary journal events at UVic, my trips to Montreal, Thetis Island and the Yukon...

Anyways, I've compiled my favorite pictures here for your viewing pleasure. This is by no means exhaustive, but simply my way of celebrating a year well-lived.

As it turns out, there are so many photos I've decided to break it into a few posts. Otherwise it would be pretty endless. Below I've posted photos from January to March. I'll post the rest in the next few days.

Starring in this montage, among others: Katie Fritz, Hilary Smith, Grady Mitchell, Liam Sarsfield, Henkelman and Rachel, Robyn Cadamia, Briony Wright, Rachel Thornton, Cat and Chelsea, Gemma Karstens-Smith, my family and many, many others.

Enjoy!

Read more »

Whitefish, Montana

2011-12-29T23:38:00.000-08:00

So,

I'm in Whitefish, Montana.

I'd never heard of this place until a few months ago. Apparently it's the new Aspen, nestled just south of the Alberta border. It also happens to be where Darby's parents currently live.

That's right: I've met the parents.

Turns out, Darby's mother is even a fan of my blog. (Hi, Lynn!) I've also met their menagerie of pets, which include two dogs and an army of cats.

(Thanks, Allegra!)

Today Darby drove me around and showed me some of the ridiculous mansions nearby. Apparently one lakeside mansion recently went for $45-million.

This is definitely a resort town, with lots of tourists, but the scenery is gorgeous and I like the atmosphere. It's quaint and friendly and slow-paced.

The Jacks have a beautiful house right on the golf course, and this morning Darby and I went for a run in the snow. We ran 2.64 kilometers in 23 minutes.

I recently downloaded this Nike iPhone app, which keeps track of all these stats. It even has little voices that congratulate you on various accomplishments. One of them is Lance Armstrong.

I highly recommend it.

I'm hoping to get into a good jogging routine in 2012, on top of my Master's swimming. My lovely girlfriend also recently made me a meal-plan, which I have taped to my wall.

All of this is working towards one goal: no more Man-Pumpkin.

I'm looking forward to a pretty laid back week here in Whitefish. Apparently we're going for sushi tomorrow. I'm getting a head-start on some writing for next semester. I also hope to get a lot of reading done on my new Kindle.

(I'm a hopeless convert, by the way. My Kindle is light, easy to read, and it fits in my coat pocket. I have a feeling I won't be reading real books anytime soon.)

Speaking of which, I just finished The Antagonist by Lynn Coady. It's a little late to make my list of Top 10 Books I Read This Year, but I flew through it.

It's about these ex-hockey goon named Rank who is writing a book via e-mail to an old friend who published a book about him. The conversational style is really engaging, and makes a great framework for the story.

I really like voice-heavy novels, and Rank's voice is unique and unforgettable. At times it was so purely masculine I had trouble reconciling it with the female byline.

Other news?

The Jacks have invited us to live in Lunenburg with them this summer. They've bought this beautiful church (that's been converted into a house) with a cabin on the property.

They told us Darby and I can live there rent-free once she gets back from Venice in April, and after we drive her Dad Bill's truck across the country. (Which will be cool enough on its own.)

It's going to be a good summer.

I'm currently working on my novel Whatever you're on, I want some (I'm thinking about changing the title, though) and I've decided that I'm going to attempt to adapt my story Sea to Sky into a full-length novel.

A summer in a cabin sounds like the right setting to get that accomplished.

That's it for now.

Will!!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

So,

Went out to Tsawwassen for Christmas. Lots of turkey, lots of presents, lots of dogs. Spent some time with my grandmother, took Cody to see Sherlock Holmes 2, played some Settlers of Katan.

I love my family.

I told you to expect a lot of photos. Check them out after the jump.

Will!!

Read more »

The Definition of Hunger

2011-12-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

So,

My friend Susan Sanford Blades has a story coming out in The New Quarterly.

Last week I saw her status update on Facebook, which had an absurd number of exclamation marks, proclaiming that her story "The Definition of Hunger" had been accepted for publication.

Susan actually shared an early draft of this story with me, then let me take a sneek peek at the new one. I think it's a funny, slightly disturbing and bleak look at infidelity and the competitive nature of female relationships.

I've read Susan's work before, both in Other Voices and Island Writer. This story is my favorite of the three. Anyways, I thought I'd ask her some questions about the story, and the news. You can check out our interview below.
Read more »

subTerrain

2011-12-23T21:28:00.000-08:00

So,

The new issue of subTerrain came in the mail today.

It's a beautiful issue, with 125 poems by various authors to celebrate the 125th birthday of Vancouver. As I scanned through the names, I saw a number of familiar ones. Some of them are teachers and friends, others are literary legends: Calvin Wharton, Ray Hsu, Billeh Nickerson, Nikki Reimer, Elizabeth Bachinsky, Daniel Zomparelli, Dennis E. Bolen, Al Purdy, Earle Birney, Brad Cran, Ryan Knighton...the list goes on. And on.

I think they found a really good mix of old-school and contemporary Vancouver poets, and this is a really amazing collection.

Most poetry makes me feel stupid. Or like I'm being left out of a joke. But there are some exceptional, accesible, beautiful poems in this issue.

I haven't read it very thoroughly yet, but some of my favorite poems were "See My Face" by Bud Osborn, "The Ghosts of Blowjobs past" by Billeh Nickerson and "If Vancouver" by Daniel Zomparelli.

One of the most impressive things about this issue is the gorgeous design and illustrations by an artist named Dave Barnes. I looked up his website, and you can check it out HERE.

I want to buy some prints of his stuff.

I love what subTerrain has been doing in the past few years. They've switched to this coarse, thick paper and the issues are bound like collector's items. I have a bunch of back issues on my shelf. I think it's really distinguished itself in the literary landscape, and I really hope to work with them one day.

Will!!

Darby's first Christmas in Vancouver

2011-12-23T19:52:00.000-08:00

So,

I just dropped off Darby at the airport.

My sadness will be short-lived, however. I'm heading to Whitefish, Montana after Christmas to meet her parents. (Wish me luck!)

We had an awesome three weeks together, which included a trip to the Island, the IMAX, the Aquarium, numerous sushi places and return visits to the Naam and the Sea Wall.

We also burned through season 3 and 4 of Mad Men, jogged or swam every day, and had a few drunken nights with friends.

All in all, the trip was a success.

Anyways, last night we had my parents over for dinner. Maciel cooked us an amazing meal, then afterwards we got into pajamas and opened presents by the tree.

Hopefully this will be the beginning of a long tradition.

Since it's Christmas, you can expect an onslaught of photos in the next few days. The first batch are after the jump.

Will!!

Read more »

Congratulations, Gemma!

2011-12-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

So,

My friend Gemma just got a summer internship with The Edmonton Journal.

I've gotta admit it: I'm a little jealous. But Gemma is an amazing journalist, and a really hard worker. (Not to mention one of my best friends.) Nobody deserves this opportunity more than she does.

Gemma was my boss for a a year at The Martlet. We traveled to the Yukon together this summer, where we both worked at The Whitehorse Star.

We spent a full 100 days in a row together, which is longer than I've spent with a human being in years.

She's out in Ottawa now, doing her Master's at Carleton. She's also dating my friend Jono, who we both fell in love with while we were in the Yukon.

Anyways, I just wanted to be public about how stoked I am for her.

She's going to do a great job, and I'll be keeping a close eye on her writing career.

You can check out Gemma's website HERE.

Will!!

Paint by Numbers

2011-12-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

So,

I found this awesome literary website called Little Fiction about a month ago on Twitter. It publishes short stories as ebooks that can be downloaded to your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Kobo.

I decided to submit some stories, and now two of them will be published in 2012.

The first one is "Paint by Numbers", the story of a young college student grappling with a break-up while trying to focus on her artistic process.

I wrote it a few years ago at UVic, and I'm glad its finally found a home.

It should be online on January 4, and you can download it for free. I'll give everyone a heads up.

Little Fiction was started in October 2011 by a guy named Troy Palmer. I think its a wicked idea, and I'm excited to be a part of it. I especially dig this part of their mandate:

"The short story–packaged and distributed as its own thing–can be the the mp3 of the literary world. It can do for emerging and indie authors what the digital single did for bands of the same kind."

Anyways, Troy sent me a rough draft of the cover of "Paint by Numbers" today, and I think it looks pretty slick. (Check it out above.)

This is all great timing, because my girlfriend Darby just gave me a Kindle as a birthday present. I'm hyped to figure out how to use it.

A friend of mine from UBC, Jay Hosking, just found out today that one of his stories will be published as well. It's called "Analogue".

If you're a writer, I highly recommend submitting your work. And if you like reading short stories, check it out.

Will!!

The Top 10 TV Shows of 2011

2011-12-16T23:50:00.000-08:00

So,

I've been re-watching the third and fourth seasons of Mad Men with Darby, and it's reminded me what we've been missing this year. But even with its absence, television has been sky-rocketing in quality.

All the talent is draining from Hollywood, and it's heading to HBO, STARZ, AMC and NBC.

I've compiled my second annual list of the Top 10 TV Shows of the year below. (I guess the title of this blog post is pretty self-explanatory...) If you want to compare it to last year's list, you can read it HERE.

Agree with me? Disagree? Let me know.

RIP Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-16T19:49:00.000-08:00

So,

Christopher Hitchens died yesterday. Twitter told me so.

This is where I admit that I haven't read nearly enough Hitchens, but promise that I plan to do so. Usually I just read his columns in Vanity Fair. I leafed through god is not great a few years ago and found it a bit obnoxious, but fair.

I really respect his writing, and think he was an impressive person.

Anyways, Darby bought me the most recent issue of Vanity Fair.

Hitchens has a really amazing column in it called "Trial of the Will", and it was written very shortly before he died.

He refutes the wisdom behind the phrase "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger", which is often credited to Nietzche.

I thought I would share these especially moving passages:

"In the brute physical world and the one encompassed by medicine, there are too many things that could kill you, don't kill you, and then leave you considerably weaker."

Also:

"I am typing this having just had an injection to try to reduce the pain in my arms, hands and fingers. The chief side effect of this pain is numbness in the extremities, filling me with the not irrational fear that I shall lose the ability to write. Without that ability, I feel sure in advance, my `will to live' would be hugely attenuated. I often grandly say that writing is not just my living and my livelihood but my very life, and it's true."

Wow.

And if that's not enough to convince you to pick up the issue, there's also a nude photo of Lady Gaga taken by the amazing Annie Leibowitz. (For some reason, Tony Bennet is lurking in the background.) If you're into that sort of thing, I've posted the picture after the jump.

Anyways, Hitchens will be missed. And I'm going to catch up on my reading. And one more thing, read THIS column by him.

That's it for now.

Will!!
Read more »

This is how you talk to strangers

2011-12-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

So,

I got an email from Prairie Fire yesterday, and they want to publish my story "This is how you talk to strangers" in their Fall 2012 issue.

There are countless literary magazines in Canada right now, but in my opinion the best ones are The Malahat Review, The Fiddlehead, EVENT and Prairie Fire.

With this publication, I will now be published in half of them.

"This is how you talk to strangers" was inspired by my friend Jono, who was the sports reporter at The Whitehorse Star this summer. We were prolific river-drinkers whilst in the Yukon, and I kind of fell in love with him.

When I tried to describe Jono to a friend recently, I said he was an "articulate, passionate, beautiful, self-loathing drunk flail case who loves Hemingway and doesn't know how to take care of himself".

"Oh, a journalist?" my friend replied.

You can read about some of our antics from last summer HERE.

Anyways, my story is about a depressed reporter in the Yukon who starts a relationship with a deranged karate enthusiast.

It's definitely my most inter-textual story, because its riddled with quotes and references from Hemingway, Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson, Jack London and even King Solomon. It was a really fun story to play with.

Anyways, I'm really stoked about this news. I work-shopped this piece in October in Steven Galloway's fiction class at UBC, so it was a pretty quick turn-around to getting it published.

Prairie Fire's most recent issue has a great story in it by my friend Jordan Abel called "The Bounty of Locust Jack", and some poems by Rhea Tregebov, who is a teacher in our program. If you get a chance, you should pick up a copy.

I'll let you know when the Fall 2012 issue is on stands.

Will!!

Lunch with Dennis E. Bolen

2011-12-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

So,

I had lunch with Dennis E. Bolen yesterday.

I interviewed him a few months ago, shortly before I left for the Yukon. He had just published a collection of stories called Anticipated Results, which I flew through pretty quickly.

His characters are aging drunks and malcontents, and the stories are all set in and around Vancouver. One of my favorites is called "Kitty" and is about a man who has a strange cat hiding under his bed. You should read it.

You can also check out my interview with Bolen HERE.

Anyways, we kept in touch over the summer through Facebook, and I was hoping that once I moved to Vancouver we would connect. But even though he's really involved in the literary scene, we always seemed to miss each other.

So he invited me to have lunch with him at Marcello's Pizzeria on Commercial Drive (which is awesome) and we spent the afternoon getting drunk on red wine and grappa, and talking about books and authors.

Bolen was once described as the "Norman Mailer of Vancouver", and it makes sense when you meet him. He's a self-deprecating, articulate story-teller with a colorful past.

(His advice? Don't get married until you're 50. He's on Wife #3.)

Turns out we're both obsessed with Alice Munro (who isn't?) and avid fans of Boardwalk Empire. He taught in my program in the 90s, so we gossiped about UBC and the teachers. And he told me lots of fun stories about the Vancouver literary scene,

In the 80s, Bolen co-founded Anvil Press, which is now run by Brian Kaufman. I'm really hoping to get a gig interning there, or helping out with subTerrain Magazine, which is an awesome publication.

We also talked about my thesis novel, which will have a similar form to Anticipated Results, and he gave me tips on how to find an agent. It was really refreshing to talk to a successful author who has been around the industry, and knows how to navigate the business.

And in return, I convinced him to start using Twitter. (He hasn't figured it out yet.) I think it's a great way for authors, writers and publishers to stay up to date on stuff. You should follow him @kaspoitman. He hasn't posted anything yet, but he assured me he will.

Anyways, thanks for lunch Dennis!

Will!!

On Reaching 27

2011-12-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

So,

I am 27 today.

I went out for lunch with my Grandma, dropped in on my family, then spent the day with Darby. We decided to walk around the Stanley Park Sea Wall, and didn't quite make it into the Aquarium.

Instead, we decided to get our portrait drawn. But it was freezing cold, and neither of us thought we had to smile.

The portrait above is what we ended up with. Darby looks like she's glaring at the artist, and I kind of look like a strange old lady.

Regardless, I kind of like it.

When I got home I found out Sean and Maciel bought me Miranda July's new book It Chooses You. (Stoked!) And to cap it all off, Darby bought me a KINDLE!!!

I'm excited to learn how to read on one of those things.

Along with the financial haul from my family and the plane ticket to Montana my parents bought me to visit Darby after Christmas, I'd say I did pretty well this year.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes on Facebook, everyone! I feel really blessed to have so many supportive, thoughtful people around. Life is good.

Will!!

See You Next Tuesday

2011-12-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

Indiana Joel graphic

I love swear words.

While I was growing up, my parents called them “jail” words, a vast category that included such innocuous syllables as “stupid” and “shut up” and “dumb-dumb”. Basically anything I could potentially say when one of my little sisters stole my Ninja Turtles.

When I was eight-years-old I got grounded for two weeks for test-driving a new word I heard on the playground. When my Mom put me to bed early I mumbled “bitch” meekly under my breath as she left the room, barely loud enough for her to hear. She stormed back to my bedside and demanded I repeat the word.
Read more »

Sean and Maciel

2011-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

So,

My roommates enlisted my photographic expertise for some Christmas photos this afternoon.

We went to eat some noodles on Granville Island, an expedition that was sullied by the presence of a dead seagull on the boardwalk. (There was also some controversy surrounding whether or not I'm allowed to call the docks on Granville Island a "boardwalk".)

I decided the seagull situation was an apt metaphor for life in Vancouver, especially considering the wide, uncomfortable berth all the tourists (including us) gave it until a worker came with a pair of gloves and unceremoniously dumped the bird in a garbage can.

But this is all beside the point. The point is, I took photos of my roommates. Who I love. And who love each other.

Watch for Darby to make a surprise appearance. Check out the pictures after the jump.

Will!!
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Interview with Matt Rader

2011-12-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

So,

I read a really amazing piece in the most recent issue of The Malahat Review called "At The Lake", and decided I had to remember the author's name–Matt Rader.

When I interviewed author Michael V. Smith around that time, he mentioned touring recently with a poet from Vancouver Island with the same name.

Turns out, it's the same dude.

Then I found another short story Rader wrote called "Toast" in a back-issue of PRISM international, which I really loved, so I decided to track this guy down and let him know how much I appreciate his work.

I found Rader's website and asked him if he would be willing to do an interview with me.

I'm always a little surprised how easy it is to track down Canadian writers, especially through Twitter these days. And writers are always eager to share their thoughts on writing, and on their work.

I was stoked to find out Rader likes a lot of the same writers I do, like Andre Dubus and Raymond Carver. But he also named some new authors I'll have to read, like Chekhov. (He seems to come up a lot lately...)

Rader was kind enough to answer some questions for me. He's got a lot of interesting insights into the writing process, and some really cool quotes from other writers. I've posted our interview below:

Read more »

Island Writer launch

2011-12-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

So,

Tomorrow is the launch of the new issue of Island Writer, and my story "Doubting Thomas" is published in it.

I won't be able to make the launch (I have class) but if you can make it, the reading starts at 7 p.m. at Oaklands Community Center in Victoria. Otherwise, Island Writer will be sold in Chapters and Munro's Books, and for the first time: as an e-book.

My story is about a man named Spencer holed up in a Kamloops cabin after his wife's death. He strikes up an unusual friendship with a teenage girl that lives nearby.

You can check out their website HERE.

Will!!

The 10 best books I read this year

2011-12-06T00:47:00.000-08:00

So,

It's that time of the year again.

December has become list season on my blog, and before I compile my list of Top 10 TV shows and Top 10 movies, I thought I would start with books. I've made an effort to pick up my book consumption this year.

Not all the books listed below actually came out this year, and there's an unusual number of Canadian novels. But rest assured, I loved every single one of the books below.

Read more »

Somebody's Child launch

2011-12-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

David Springbett photo

So,

I read at the Victoria launch of Somebody's Child launch on Wednesday.

It was a really cool experience, because I got to meet some of my fellow contributors–Christina Brobby, Jane Johnson and Liz Forbes. I had already read their essays about adoption, but hearing them out loud gave them an extra potency.

I was the fourth reader of the night, and as I listened to their heavy, heart-wrenching, beautiful stories, I started to feel nervous.

People in the audience were crying. The mood in the room was sombre. I didn't know if I could compete with their amazing firsthand accounts of giving up children to adoption, being adopted or finding long-lost children.

In other words, these women were a tough act to follow.

But as it turned out, the audience was ready to laugh and they responded really well to my reading. Afterwards I was asked to sign a bunch of books (a first for me).

For those of you who don't know, my essay "My Little Sister" is in the book. It tells the story of my adopted sister Ashley. (I guess the title is pretty self-explanatory, huh?)

It was a great opportunity to reconnect with my teacher Lynne Van Luven, who was the person who originally solicited my essay. She was my closest mentor at UVic, and she had a big influence on my writing and my career.

I also got to meet my editor, Ruth Linka, for the first time. I even took the opportunity to pitch my novel Whatever you're on, I want some to Brindle & Glass.

(More news on that later.)

Thanks for everyone that came out to support me. And if you haven't gotten a chance, check out the book. I'm really passionate about adoption, and I think you'll find the stories in this anthology really poignant and moving.

Will!!

Hunger Games

2011-11-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

So,

I just started The Hunger Games recently. It's not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a fun little book and I think it will be a cool movie.

This movie is being touted as the next Twilight, but don't let that deter you.

What am I most excited about for this movie? Seeing Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role.

Lawrence was the star of Winter's Bone, which was one of my Top 10 movies last year. If you haven't seen it yet, get on it. Also, you should read the book by Daniel Woodrell.

Woodrell is a really interesting author. He writes about back-woods criminal freaks, and he had an awesome story recently in Esquire.

But I digress...

Honestly, I just like being on top of book/movie adaptations. I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo this year too, just so I can judge it against David Fincher's upcoming movie.

(Which, by the way, also looks awesome.)

Anyways, I thought this trailer was worth sharing. The Hunger Games tells the story of a crazy Dystopian future where children are forced to kill each other once a year in this televised battle.

(Have you seen the Japanese movie Battle Royale? Very similar concept.)

Darby is a huge fan of this series, so I want to see it with her. Unfortunately, she'll be in Venice when it comes out. So if anyone wants to buy me a plane ticket, let me know.

Will!!

"Breath" in Dragnet Magazine

2011-11-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

So,

I found out this morning that my micro-fiction piece "Breath" will be published in an upcoming issue of Dragnet Magazine.

"Breath" is a story I wrote last year in my Short Takes class with Lorna Crozier. It was amazing to take class with her (if you haven't heard of her, she's basically CanLit royalty) and she gave me really encouraging, useful feedback.

It was one of my favorite classes in my four years at UVic.

Short Takes was a multi-genre workshop where every assignment was less than a thousand words.

"Breath" is less than 250.

This story originally started as a one-woman show I wrote for a drama workshop, which was nearly 10,000 words.

I then converted it to a short story called "Year of the Dragon" which was about 5000 words.

Finally, I narrowed it down to "Breath", which is my favorite version of the three.

I'm glad this piece has found a home, because I'm pretty proud of it. It's about a young woman who falls in love with her yoga instructor.

I originally discovered Dragnet on Twitter, which is an awesome place to hook up with small lit mags. (If you're into that sort of thing.) They also take online submissions, which is wicked.

They got back to me in 4 days. FOUR DAYS.

When you submit to most literary magazines in Canada, you're lucky if they get back to you in six months. So if you're looking for places to get published, take note.

Anyways, I'll keep everyone updated on when this will be released. In the meantime, you should check out the Dragnet website.

Will!!

Sea to Sky

2011-11-25T01:24:00.000-08:00

So,

I'm posting my story "Sea to Sky", which won this year's Fiddlehead fiction contest.

This was a big deal to me. Not just because they gave me $2000 for it, but because it marked my first appearance in one of the big-deal literary magazines.

Or, as Kris Bertin recently described them, "the gang of girls too pretty to talk to me".

The judge for the contest was this poet Steven Heighton, and in his write-up when it was published he called my story "the opposite of kitsch" and "antiphonal".

I had to look up some of those words...

He also said that I deepen the emotion "by means of specific, sometimes unpleasant, physical details", which sounds a lot more like me.

(Did you ever read my column "Ode to Pooping"?)

Unfortunately, my story came out when they decided to have the ugliest cover of all time. Apparently that atrocity pictured at the right is a mural in the University of New Brunswick, but I thought it was a new low for lit magazines.

And lit magazines quite often have terrible covers.

Weirdly enough, I named my main character Darby. I wrote this almost a year before I ever met my girlfriend, but I told her she can brag that I wrote it about her, if she wants to.

Anyways, I've posted the story after the jump. I won't tell you anything about it, because you can read it yourself. But be warned: It's nearly 6000 words. That's not short.

Will!!
Read more »

It's time to play the music...

2011-11-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

So,

I always get excited for December's movie season.

It's when they roll out all the Academy Award bait, and after the dry months of October and November we finally get some decent movies to watch.

I'm going to try to see as many as I can, so I can compile my annual Top 10 list. And tonight, I watched a strong contender for #1.

That's right. The Muppets.

Honestly, I dare you to watch it and NOT stumble out completely drunk on happiness and nostalgia.

When Darby gets to town I'm definitely going to take her, and I wouldn't rule out seeing it again in theatres.

Yes, it's that good.

"Really?" you might say. "Really, Will? The movie with talking puppets is that good?"

And I'll say "Yes."

Jason Segel was the perfect choice to bring the Muppets back to the big screen. The musical numbers were written by Bret from Flight of the Conchords. It has an onslaught of celebrity cameos, a hilarious (and very meta) script and yeah, just a whole lot of sincerity and happiness.

I honestly don't believe it could have been better.

Last night I watched J. Edgar with my friend Todd, and though it tried its best, I don't think it will land in the Top 10.

(Man, Leonardo really wants that Oscar...)

It's an interesting, competent movie. But it didn't wow me. And Leonardo kind of looks like a giant condom with the old-age makeup.

List of movies I need to see before I complete my list: Young Adult, Shame, The Iron Lady, Carnage, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Also, I can't forget: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

(I'm currently trying to finish the John Le Carre book in time.)

Have I missed any obvious choices? Let me know.

So far this year, the movies that have made the cut are: Blue Valentine, Barney's Version and Martha Marcy May Marlene.

Anyways, the main gist of this post was to convince my readers to get reacquainted with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzy and the crowd.

You're welcome.

Will!!

A Letter from the Czech Republic

2011-11-24T12:37:00.000-08:00

So,

I got a letter from the Czech Republic today.

It's fifteen pages of tiny, barely legible writing on a variety of random scraps of paper–receipts, bar tabs and train tickets. There's even a photo of two strangers.

It's from my friend Katie Fritz, who is currently traveling through Europe. It sounds like she's having some crazy adventures, and I'm so proud of her.

When I went out with Hilary for dinner the other day, she said she couldn't even talk about Katie without getting "violently jealous".

It's a familiar feeling.

But right now I'm glad to be in Canada. I've been getting a lot of good writing done lately, I love living with Sean and Maciel, and I have a wicked girlfriend around.

This week I had a meeting with Steven Galloway about my thesis, and I handed in a bunch of it to my fiction workshop.

I've also been submitting my work everywhere–EVENT, Glimmer Train, The Fiddlehead, The Walrus, subTerrain, Riddle Fence–basically anywhere that publishes fiction.

And on top of all that, television has been awesome lately. Boardwalk Empire and Boss have been incredible, and The Walking Dead has gotten a lot better this season.

I don't have a whole lot to complain about.

The bad news: I didn't get the job at PRISM international. C'est la vie. I'll still be involved, and apparently there's a contest manager position I can apply for in the summer.

The good news: I picked up my first Booming Ground student, and I got a promotion at The Ubyssey. That should help a little in the financial department.

(Shameless self promotion: If you have any writing you're struggling with, or a manuscript you'd like help with, I would love to work with you through the Booming Ground program. Just click the link above!)

It's Thursday, which is usually my day to catch up on work. I went for a jog, picked up a coffee, made a To-Do list and put on a load of laundry.

Now I'm planning to sit at this desk for a few hours.

I also started reading Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan today. I'm only a chapter in, but I really dig the dialect she uses. I feel like I'm going to fly through it.

That's it for now.

Will!!

Happy Hibernation

2011-11-21T00:29:00.000-08:00

Indiana Joel graphic

I was driving through the slush as snow drifted down when I spotted a particularly determined girl hiking to school through the ankle-deep mush.

She was wearing a short skirt, a pea coat and high heels. Her legs were pink, blotchy and bare. She was smoking a cigarette angrily and looked like she wanted to put it out in somebody’s eye.

It’s official: people on the West Coast hate snow.
Read more »

Charades

2011-11-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

So,

This is my story "Charades", that was published in the summer issue of Island Writer.

My roommate Maciel hates it, because there's a character vaguely based on her that I describe as having gained weight. ("You called me fat!" she yells.)

I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Will!!
Read more »

Poet explores childhood depression in 13

2011-11-20T22:44:00.000-08:00

Alexis Kienlen has a number of strategies for battling depression—exercise, keeping busy and talk therapy, just to name a few. But perhaps some of her most profound healing came through writing.

Her latest book of poetry, 13, explores a variety of themes, including her childhood depression.

“I didn’t realize I had childhood depression until years later. I’ve suffered major depressions in my life—one major incidence at 20 and another at 30. One of the strategies I employed was learning as much about depression as possible,” she said.

Kienlen wanted to share her discoveries with readers in a creative way.

“13 was composed over about six months. I started with a few themes and wove them together,” she said. “I wrote sections on monsters, my childhood and another section about a relationship that I’d had while living in Vancouver.”

Kienlen currently makes her living as an agricultural reporter in Edmonton, but she writes both fiction and poetry in her spare time.

Nikki Reimer

She said 13 is much stronger than her debut collection She Dreams in Red, which was published in 2007 by Frontenac Press.

“The book is both dark and funny,” she said. “Many of the poems deal with basic human emotions—love and loss.”

Kienlen said she hopes her work can reach those who have struggled with the same issues as she has.

“I really hope people enjoy the book. I’m hoping they see that there is beauty in darkness and can appreciate some of the themes,” she said.

“I wrote this book because there were topics that I needed to talk about and stories that I needed to tell.”

On Tuesday, November 22, Kienlen will be doing a reading at Project Space gallery in Chinatown along with Vancouver poet Nikki Reimer, the current managing editor of EVENT magazine.

The pair first met at a book launch, and have kept in touch over Twitter.

Reimer will also be promoting her book, which was shortlisted for the 2011 Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Reimer’s book is a feminist narrative-disjunctive tour of Vancouver, illness and capitalism.

“Nikki is a fellow Frontenac poet, and we met at her reading in 2010. The publisher suggested that we team up for the reading, and I liked her and her work, so I was happy and excited to do so,” Kienlen said.

“Her work is very different than [mine]. She does a lot of clever word play,” she said. “But I really admire her work and it’s going to be nice to share the stage with another young, female poet.”

For all you journalists

2011-11-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

So,

Speaking from experience, this is an entirely realistic portrayal of a journalist.

Will!!

With a little help from his friends

2011-11-18T13:07:00.000-08:00

So,

My friend Shane is an awesome Vancouver musician, and he's currently working on a solo project.

Shane has been in a band called The Wintermitts for years now, and they put out some really cool music.

He's going into the studio soon to produce his first-ever full length solo album, "White Blood Cells". He's hoping to have 8-10 songs. But Shane has limited funds at the moment, so he's doing a fundraising project through ROCKET HUB.

Here's Shane, in his own words:

As a struggling musician and small-business owner, I have limited funds to undertake this project... and that's where you (hopefully) and Rockethub.com can help me out!

Rockethub.com is a "crowd-funding" website that allows artists to raise funds for projects through their social network. It works because even a small donation of $5-10, if enough people contribute, can amount to enough money to record an album, which can be really expensive!

My fundraising goal is $2200, and I have 44 days to meet that goal. That will be enough to pay for recording, mixing, and mastering. After that I will be on my own to pay for duplication and distribution.

The Wintermitts

There are also rewards involved for you. Every donation of $10 or more will receive a free copy of the album, and the rewards get better as the contribution gets higher.

I know people who have run successful campaigns before, so I know this company is secure and legit! Contact me if you have any questions at all about how this works, or if you would like to see a reward offered that is not on the list! I can't change existing rewards, but I can add new ones.

I'm excited to see what Shane comes up with. Check out the link above to make a donation.

I vouch for Shane. He's a good dude.

Will!!

Quote of the Day

2011-11-18T10:59:00.000-08:00

"A child-like man is not a man whose development has been arrested; on the contrary, he is a man who has given himself a chance of continuing to develop long after most adults have muffled themselves in the cocoon of middle-aged habit and convention."

-Aldous Huxley

Leisure Reading

2011-11-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

So,

It's my day off today, so I was cleaning up my room. I decided to collect all the books I'm currently reading into one place.

All of sudden, it seems like a daunting task.

(Not to mention I'm reading classmates' stories for workshop, and evaluating slush for PRISM.)

On top of this pile, I want to read the entire Giller Prize shortlist before Christmas. Too ambitious?

You might notice Hunger Games in there. I've decided I want to be on top of all the big publishing trends. So I read The Da Vinci Code, the first Twilight book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and all of the Harry Potters. I like to keep my finger on the pulse.

I also want to finish Hunger Games before the movie comes out. I loved Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone, so I'm interested to see her in the lead role.

Time to start reading.

Will!!

Victoria launch of Somebody's Child

2011-11-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'll be reading from my essay "My Little Sister" at this. Are you coming?

Will!!

A Visit From the Goon Squad

2011-11-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

So,

I was partway through reading A Visit From the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan this summer, when I looked at the cover and realized it wasn't a book of short stories.

Even though the book is comprised of a series of (very) loosely linked stories, the cover clearly calls it a `novel'.

This was something I talked about with Mike Christie when I interviewed him last month. He told me his publishers suggested marketing his book The Beggar's Garden as a novel, because they thought he would sell more copies.

But his stories are so loosely linked he didn't feel right labeling it that way.

I've decided to mimic Egan's narrative form for my thesis at UBC. My working title is Whatever you're on, I want some.

I have about six chapters so far, and each one is a short story that somehow relates to the main character, Neil.

In some stories, like "What I think about when I'm alone", Neil narrates and we get insight into his thoughts.

In other stories, like "If they had music", he's only a minor character that's peripherally involved in the action.

The character is loosely based on my friend Kris, who I wrote a non-fiction piece about that I'm currently trying to get published. (It won runner-up in The Malahat Review's non-fiction contest.)

Tonight I will be reading it at Locution, which is held at Project Space Gallery in Chinatown. The show starts at 7:00, has free admission and drinks for sale. Come out?

(It's on 222 East Georgia, near the corner of Georgia and Main.)

I'm working on these stories in my fiction workshop with Steven Galloway, and so far the feedback has been very helpful.

I'm really stoked about this class, because I'm a fan of Steven's work. I recently read his novels Finnie Walsh and The Cellist of Sarajevo to get a sense of his writing, and then asked him to be my thesis advisor.

He agreed!

Anyways, the point is: Go read Goon Squad. It's seriously amazing. It won the Pulitzer Prize last year, and it's easy to see why. There is one story told completely through Power Point slides.

My friend Shaun Ross wrote a post about it recently, and you can read it HERE.

That's all.

Will!!

Voodoo Donuts

2011-11-17T01:53:00.000-08:00

So,

I'm back in Vancouver now.

But before I left, I patronized a little shop in Portland called Voodoo Donuts. I had never heard of it before, but my editor Ginny Monaco told me about it.

I decided to bring her back some of their goods.

These donuts are ridiculous. I don't even know what to say about them. There's something undeniably American about the extreme excess. But they're delicious.

I think these pictures really tell the whole story.

Darby and I each bought a box that came with a dozen donuts (hers were vegan). Their tagline is: "Good things come in pink boxes".

Anyways, the Ubyssey office appreciated my delivery. Ginny was especially pleased.

I am now officially a suck-up.

As it turned out, the trip back only took one tank of gas and about five hours. Unfortunately, a Highway Patrol didn't appreciate the speed I was choosing to travel. But I listened to some good music, and yeah.

It was a good week away, plus I was inspired to write a new story. Working title? "He has the softest hands".

This story is something a bit new and strange for me. I'm writing a gay love story. Like this could be my Brokeback Mountain.

It's about two dudes who work at a gas station together, going on a weekend road trip from Everett to the Oregon Coast. Not sure how overtly gay it will end up, but I'm pretty sure they're secretly in love with each other.

Let's see if I can make it convincing.

In other news, my story "What I think about when I'm alone" was work-shopped today. It was really encouraging and helpful, and I think I have a good idea of where to go with it. It's eventually going to be a part of my thesis, Whatever you're on, I want some.

As always, if anyone's interested in reading these stories, let me know. I'm always looking for fresh eyes and feedback.

Oh yeah! And I'm reading tomorrow at Locution. 7:00, Project Space. Give me a call or an email if you want more details.

That's it for now.

Will!!

Learning how to be a boyfriend

2011-11-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

Indiana Joel graphic

It’s not as easy as it looks.

For the last decade I’ve been a functionally single guy. I’ve had various entanglements with women, and a number of short-lived and hopelessly misguided romances. But for the most part I’ve been left to my own devices, living my life as a single dude with no real attachments.

I’ve never had anyone monitoring my physical fitness or keeping tabs on my daily routines. I’ve never had to worry if I snore too loud or if I drink too much. In social situations I could flirt with whoever I wanted to, and my closest relationships were with my friends and family.

Really, the only person I had to think about on a regular basis was me.

For whatever reason, in the last ten years I’ve consistently ended up dating girls who weren’t interested in being exclusive. Maybe that says something about our generation. Or maybe that says something about my tendency to romanticize damaged and independent flail cases.

Read more »

The Sound and the Fury

2011-11-14T20:04:00.000-08:00

So,

I read The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner for my American Lit class last year.

I was baffled that this was a huge American classic, because right from the first page, it seemed like indecipherable gibberish.

This is the opening line:

"Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting."

The first quarter of the book is narrated by Benjy, a mentally handicapped character that doesn't have a firm grasp on time. He jumps back and forth at random, and can't properly understand or relate anything he's seeing.

The trouble? This is never explained to the reader. You're just supposed to figure it out for yourself.

Once you put the work in, though, it's strangely beautiful. For instance, the opening scene takes place at the edge of a golf course. (When Benjy says he can see "them hitting", he means they're playing golf.)

He's standing there waiting for them to call out for their caddy, because "Caddy" is the name of his sister that left home.

When he hears them say it, he starts crying.

But there's no way you would understand what he's doing, or why he's crying, unless you've already read the other three sections of the book.

So basically, Faulkner wrote it in such a way that it was IMPOSSIBLE to understand it on the first read-through.

I mean, how did he get away with this?

Anyways, I recently picked up a collection called 50 Great Short Stories, edited by Milton Crane.

Since I've been writing a lot of short fiction (and trying to get it published) I've been meaning to read more.

So far I've read stories by Hemingway, Thomas Wolff, Aldous Huxley and Steinbeck.

But when I got to a short story by Faulkner, I was floored to realize it's a prequel to The Sound and the Fury.

The story is called "That Evening Sun" and depicts the characters from the book when they were small children. It's actually a really cool short story, and luckily much easier to understand.

I always get excited when characters reappear in literature. A few years ago I found out one of my favorite books, Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, had a sequel called Sweet Thursday.

It's just as good as Cannery Row, and maybe better.

Anyways, I thought I'd leave you with this comic strip from Pearls Before Swine about Faulkner. Enjoy!

Will!!

Occupy Portland

2011-11-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

So,

Apparently the Occupy movement is still going strong. Check out these pictures from the Vancouver Sun of the Occupy Portland camp, which police tried to shut down this morning.

Darby and I drove by it yesterday, and it's pretty huge. Way bigger than the one in Vancouver.

I wonder how this will end.

Will!!

PS-Weird timing. Darby and I drove by and Occupy Portland was completely emptied. I counted at least 40 police cars, and cops were standing in gangs on every corner. Some were holding tear gas cannons, but apparently they didn't have to use them. Now I have to go read the news.

Reading Break

2011-11-13T15:44:00.000-08:00

So,

There is something magical about the Oregon Coast.

I first came here for my friend Brock's stag party and I've been meaning to come back since. Darby and I decided to drive out to the ocean from Portland the other day and were met with one of the most intense rainstorms I've ever seen.

But we made the most of it. We found some good Thai food and watched a matinee.

Later we went down to the beach, and because I'm a shameless exhibitionist I stripped down to my boxer shorts and ran around taking pictures.

It's been a really relaxing few days. I was surprised that UBC only has one reading break a year (UVic has two, and I was getting pretty used to that) so I decided I would keep up that tradition.

It's been cool to lavish Darby with attention and to take it easy in this bed n' breakfast.

Darby is loving her vegan cooking workshop, and she's been taking me to a bunch of fancy restaurants.

We've also seen some awesome movies. I highly recommend Martha Marcy May Marlene, which disturbed the shit out of me but was one of the best movies I've seen in a long, long time.

(Who knew the Olsen twins had an amazingly talented sister?)

I expect to see it nominated for a Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year. I've posted the trailer after the jump.

Also, for those of who who care about such things, I've posted some pictures.

Will!!

Read more »

Raymond Carver

2011-11-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

So,

I found a cool bookstore in Portland and picked up a biography on Raymond Carver by Carol Sklenicka for $10.

I recently finished reading What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, and I'm just starting Where I'm Calling From.

Carver was born in Oregon, so it felt appropriate to read his stuff while I'm in Portland.

I like this epigraph Carver chose for one of his books, from The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

"We can never know what to want, because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come."

Beautiful.

One of the things I'm interested to learn about in this biography is Carver's relationship with his editor, Gordon Lish. Since Carver's death, many people have speculated that Lish was the real talent.

Carver is known for his minimalism, but apparently the original manuscripts he handed in were vastly different from what was ultimately published.

Some people hypothesize that Carver wouldn't be worshipped today if Lish hadn't been there to trim down his work and excise all the unnecessary extra stuff.

I was also surprised to find out Carver first published late in life, when he was 38. Since he only died 12 years later, that means all his work was produced in a little over a decade. Crazy.

I was also interested to learn that Carver's first three stories were published in Esquire. Recently, my friend andrea bennett expressed doubt that Esquire was a reputable publication. I think a lot of people lump it in with other men's magazines, like GQ.

But I think it consistently publishes some of the best fiction, and writing in general, that's on newsstands today.

There's a lot I can learn from Carver's work. I'm thinking about experimenting with a similar style. I'm also working on a short story set in Washington and Oregon, and we'll see how that turns out.

Also, if you're interested, one of Carver's short stories was recently adapted into a movie with Will Ferrell. It's called Everything Must Go and is based on the story Why Don't You Dance?

It got pretty good reviews (76% on Rotten Tomatoes) and I've posted a trailer after the jump.

That's it.

Will!!

PS - PRISM says it's going to take a while longer to make hiring decisions, so I appreciate all the crossed fingers etc.
Read more »

Portlandia

2011-11-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

So,

I'm in Portland.

I just dropped Darby off at her vegan cooking workshop, which feels appropriate in this ultra-hipster city. A friend of mine recently showed me some clips from Fred Armisen's show Portlandia, and the humor was lost on me.

Vegan nachos

But now, I get it.

(The picture above was taken on the street right by where we're staying.)

This morning Darby took me out to a vegan restaurant, where I tried vegan nachos and a BBQ Thai wrap.

It was actually really good.

I'm staying in a bed and breakfast, which hopefully means I'll have lots of time to get some reading and writing done this week.

I'm re-reading No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July and a fiction collection called 50 Great Short Stories that I picked up for $9 at the UBC bookstore.

Speaking of the UBC bookstore, I complained on Twitter that they were sold out of Half-Blood Blues and they just tweeted me to offer me a copy.

What a strange technological age we live in.

Bad news: Got a rejection letter from The Walrus today. The upside? They got back to me in less than three weeks.

Trying to get your writing published in most literary journals and magazines in Canada seems to be an interminable, never-ending process. So it's cool to see they're efficient.

The Walrus is probably my favorite Canadian magazine, so I'd love to get something published in there one day.

Other random thoughts: I really enjoyed my friend Shaun Ross' most recent blog post about essay-writing. It's got some cool links too. You can check it out HERE.

Tomorrow Darby and I are driving to the coast, and I may or may not strip naked and run into the ocean.

Fun.

I've posted a clip from Portlandia after the jump.

That's all I've got for now.

Will!!

PS-I went for my PRISM international job interview on Wednesday, and I think it went pretty well. I really, really want that job. I just got an email from andrea bennett, and apparently deliberations are going to take longer than planned. We're supposed to find out their decisions in a week...cross your fingers for me, please.
Read more »

Half-Blood Blues

2011-11-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

So,

I just watched Esi Edugyan accept the 2011 Giller Prize for Half-Blood Blues.

I haven't read her book yet, because last week it was sold out at the UBC bookstore. But I plan to get my hands on it as soon as possible.

The premise of the book sounds pretty cool. Apparently it tells the story of an Afro-German jazz musician named Hieronymus Falk, and details the mystery around his arrest in Nazi-occupied Paris.

I actually interviewed Esi's husband, Steven Price, six months ago. He recently published his debut novel Into That Darkness and you can read that interview HERE.

Back then I had no idea Steven was married to another novelist, nor did I know they were expecting a baby girl.

(Their daughter was born in August.)

Today they co-wrote an article for The National Post about what it's like to be married to a writer.

It's pretty good, and you can read that HERE.

The only nominee I'd read this year was The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt, which I loved.

The other nominees were Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner, The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, The Antagonist by Lynn Coady and The Free World by David Bezmozgis.

I'm planning to read all of them before Christmas, so wish me luck!

Will!!

My Fall

2011-11-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

So,

I realized after I posted my story "Split" last week that it wasn't actually my first publication.

My first story ever published was actually a piece of creative non-fiction, back in 2007, while I was going to Douglas College.

It got selected for that year's collection of student writing, Pearls.

As soon as I got to Douglas, I heard about the collection and made it my personal goal to get a piece in it.

My story was selected by Calvin Wharton, who was the editor of Event about ten years ago. He's a B.C poet and a teacher I took a few classes with.

I've always struggled with titles, and for a while I went through a phase of calling everything "My blank".

I have a published story called "My Little Sister", and my piece "Whatever you're on, I want some" was originally called "My Best Friend".

The Pearls story, which I will post below, is called "My Fall".

It's a pretty straightforward piece, about a family road trip. You can check it out after the jump. I hope you dig it.

Will!!
Read more »

Michael V. Smith makes Progress

2011-11-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of David Ellingsen

Michael V. Smith likes to keep himself busy.

The award-winning author, who recently published his second novel Progress, is also a filmmaker, performance artist and occasional clown.

And as if that doesn’t take up enough of his time, Smith also teaches creative writing at UBC’s Okanagan campus and moonlights as a drag queen named Cookie La Whore.

“I write mostly what comes to me,” said Smith. “Sometimes it’s poetry, sometimes fiction, sometimes it’s making a short video. Mostly, I like being occupied and I like diversity, so I just go anywhere and everywhere.”

But Smith considers Progress to be one of his greatest accomplishments. “I think Progress picks up many ideas from Cumberland [Smith’s first book] and does better by them. It’s a more sophisticated conversation. The characters’ stories are more layered and complex and interwoven.”

Progress tells the story of Helen Massey, a woman whose town is about to be flooded by a government agency. The same day she witnesses a horrific accident, her runaway brother Robert re-enters her life.
Read more »

Lady in Red

2011-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:00

So,

My Aunt Susie turned 50 this week, and she threw a huge party in Victoria.

Naturally, she asked me to show up and take some photos. And being the generous and amazing aunt she is, she financed my upcoming trip to Portland to visit Darby.

We booked a room at Swan's, had an epic five-course meal, delivered a few speeches, opened presents then capped it all off with dancing downstairs.

The highlight of my night was seeing my Grandma bust a move on the dance floor, followed closely by my Aunt Susie taking her first (EVER!) tequila shot.

Aunt Susie and I have an annual sushi date on my birthday, and this year she'll get to meet Darby. I'm looking forward to it.

Check out the photos after the jump.

Will!!
Read more »

The Malahat Review

2011-11-04T15:49:00.000-07:00

So,

I read the new issue of The Malahat Review while I was on the ferry.

It felt appropriate, since it's a literary journal based on Vancouver Island. I was also stoked to see the cover had an arbutus tree on it. I think they're beautiful.

Anyways, this issue has Zoey Peterson's story "Next Year, For Sure", which won the 2011 Far Horizons Award.

I sent in a story to that contest, so I'm always curious to see who beat me. It makes me feel better when the selected story is actually really fucking good.

That was the case here. "Next Year, For Sure" is a fun, quirky and sad little story about a strange relationship.

I'm big on opening sentences, and this one hooked me: "If you put all the religious books on one shelf, it makes God look like a phase you went through".

Interested yet?

And while we're on opening sentences, this one gave me chills: "Billy held the girl's wrists against the black rock and Jonathan shuffled her underwear down her thighs."

That's the opening of Matt Rader's piece "At the Lake" which is a disturbing little shot of micro-fiction. It's rough, and you should read it.

You can also check out an interview with Zoey Peterson on the Malahat's website. Some of his answers are hilarious!

Apparently he has a micro-fiction piece called "Two Monsters" coming out in Grain, and he donated his winnings from this award to Transgender Law Centre. Cool.

You should go check it out.

In other news, I have my job interview with PRISM on Wednesday. Wish me luck!

Will!!

The Fric Show Podcast

2011-11-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

So,

My friend Dom invited me to be a guest on his podcast The Fric Show, and you can listen to it HERE.

Cool.

Will!!

Movember

2011-11-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

So,

My roommate Sean is rocking a mustache for Movember.

It didn't go over very well with Maciel, but he's doing it regardless. Now that's commitment.

I would join him, but the idea of shaving off my beard is a horrifying experience for me. It's second only to castration.

That being said, I think it's a good cause. Here's the gist of it, in Sean's words:

Hi,

It’s Movember, the month formerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches and raising awareness and funds for men’s health. I have joined the movement and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds prostate cancer.

Why am I so passionate about men’s health?
*On average men live 4-5 years less than women
*1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
* 25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year in Canada

I invite you to support me by donating to me http://mobro.co/smileshigh
You can even go old school and write a cheque payable to “Movember Canada”, reference my name and Registration Number 543194 and send it to: Movember Canada, 119 Spadina Avenue, PO Box 65, Toronto, ON M5T 2T2

All donations are tax deductible.

We only have a month to grow Mos and raise awareness and fund, so please come along for the ride.
Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and their men’s health partner, the Prostate Cancer Canada, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:

About Movember
Prostate Cancer Foundation research
Global Action Plan

Please donate here - http://mobro.co/smileshigh

Thank you in advance for helping me change the face of men's health. Go the Mo!

Sean Miles

Thought I'd help spread the word.

Will!!

Split

2011-11-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

So,

I worked at Crystal Pool while I was an undergrad at UVic, and one of my only pleasures in life while I worked there was being in charge of the quote board.

While most people wrote sappy, cliche-riddled bullshit like "follow your dreams" or "all you need is love", I took it upon myself to find really good, meaningful quotes.

Anyways, that's not what this post about. What is it about? Well, I was talking to my friend Leah the other day. She's in my program, but we didn't end up in any classes together this year. We were saying its a shame we don't get a chance to read each other's writing.

(As it turns out, she has some awesome poetry online that you can read if you clink the link above...)

It made me realize that there's nowhere people can go online to read my creative work. All you get is my columns, journalism and random diatribes about the books, TV and movies I like.

The thing is, if you publish anything online, it's considered "previously published" and literary journals won't accept it. Which is why I've never posted any of my stuff on here.

But then it occurred to me that I have several pieces out there in the world now, and that I should re-publish them in the blogosphere.

So in the next few weeks I plan to re-release a few short stories and non-fiction pieces. First up? My debut story "Split", which was published in Island Writer last December. I wrote it while I was working an early-bird shift at Crystal Pool.

(See, it all ties together!)

Anyways, after the jump I've posted the text from my story. I'd love to hear thoughts and comments, if you've got them.
Read more »

The Sisters Brothers

2011-11-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

So,

When I was interviewing Mike Christie about The Beggar's Garden a few weeks ago, he mentioned one of the books he was competing against for the Roger's Writer's Trust Award.

The award comes with a $25,000 pay-day, and Christie figured The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt was the frontrunner.

I decided to check it out, and the next day picked it up from the UBC bookstore.

As it turns out, Christie was right and The Sisters Brothers took the top prize home yesterday.

Apparently that gives Dewitt the edge over the other book that's getting a lot of buzz right now, Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan. They were both nominated for all three of the major Canadian literary awards, plus the Man Booker prize.

You can read The Globe and Mail's coverage of the awards last night HERE.

(Weirdly enough, I just found out Edugyan is married to Steven Price, one of the creative writing teachers at UVic who I interviewed in April about his book Into That Darkness.)

Anyways: Here I am a week later, and I've already finished it and given it to my roommate Sean to read. I've been recommending it to everyone I see.

The Sisters Brothers is a fun, easy read about a pair of sibling hit men in the Wild West. They're making a trip from Oregon to California to kill a gold prospector who stole from their boss.

It's hilarious, violent, disgusting and fun.

To read more about the back-story, check out this story in the National Post. Apparently Dewitt started with the simple note "sensitive cowboy" and based the setting of his book on the descriptions in a small paperback he bought at a garage sale for 25 cents.

Awesome.

Will!!

Oh, Fortune

2011-10-31T19:54:00.000-07:00

So,

Dan Mangan drove me home from the bar when I was drunk a few years ago.

This was probably about 2006, and I guess he was friends with somebody I was hanging out with. They asked if he could give me a ride (since I was a bit of a mess) and he agreed because he lived nearby.

While we were driving across the bridge from downtown Vancouver, I made small-talk with him and his girlfriend. I don't remember much of the conversation, but I remember him telling me he was a musician.

I asked him if he had any shows coming up, and he said he didn't. He said he was just starting out, and trying to focus on music full-time.

A few years later my buddy Brandon was listening to something in his living room and I asked what it was.

"This is Dan Mangan," he said. "He's one of my favorite singers."

At first I didn't believe it was the same guy. As it turns out, it was. I thought hey, cool. I know a famous person.

Then this week I saw him on the cover of The West Ender. I Googled him, and apparently this dude has really blown up in the last few years.

Recently I found his album Nice, Nice Very Nice. Maciel had it in her collection. I uploaded it to my computer for a casual listen, and loved it so much I started playing it in my car non-stop.

Now I am obsessed.

Seriously, this guy's voice is gorgeous. Reminds me of the lead singer of Mumford and Sons.

I know I'm a few years late on this, but I just wanted to declare my fanhood. When I found out he recently released a new album (Oh, Fortune) I resolved to go find it.

Check out the video I posted after the jump, of my favorite track "Robots". It's awesome.

Will!!
Read more »

The trip is over, but the tattoo remains

2011-10-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

Indiana Joel graphic

It could have been worse.

I could have a swear word tattooed on my neck or a naked lady on my stomach. I’ve seen misspelled translations and smudged artwork. Google “bad tattoos” and you will be inundated with hundreds of images of horrifying ink work.

So maybe I shouldn’t be too upset about the small tribal dolphin tattooed on my right forearm.
Read more »

The Best Halloween is Gay Halloween

2011-10-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

So,

I'm unclear on the details of how I ended up at this Halloween party, but I have Freddy Mercury and Richard Simmons (pictured above) to thank for it.

A job well done, guys. Thanks for having us over.

Will!!
Read more »

Happy Halloween

2011-10-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

So,

Spence is out for Halloween.

This year he's Butch Cassidy, Sean is the Sundance Kid, Maciel is Rosie the Riveter and I'm...I dunno, some biker.

Basically I ran out of time, couldn't figure out how to make a Ron Swanson costume, so I just bought a wig and busted out my denim biker vest.

The weekend's just begun, and I'm sure there will be more photos tonight.

Will!!
Read more »

Boss

2011-10-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

So,

I just watched the second episode of Boss with Spencer and Sean. Is it weird I just want to start it over and watch it again?

Last week Sean and I watched the pilot episode three times. Three.

I told myself I was going to focus more exclusively on literary stuff on this blog, but this show is just too fucking good. This may sound like hyperbole, but I believe this show could be the next Wire.

If you only listen to one recommendation I give on this blog, listen to this: watch this show. PLEASE.

I'm surprised as anyone that this show is actually good. I thought Kelsey Grammer was never going to live down Frasier, but his portrayal of corrupt Chicago Mayor Tom Kane is going to win him an Emmy. Watch it happen.

This is as close as TV has ever come to Shakespeare. Every cast member is amazing. (I especially like Connie Nielsen as the mayor's wife.) The cinematography, the music, everything is top-notch. I mean, Gus Van Sant is the show-runner. Gus. Van. SANT.

But don't take my word for it. Watch it yourself.

Will!!

Gatsby

2011-10-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

So,

That's my boss at The Ubyssey, Ginny Monaco. She's intimidating, huh?

Ginny just adopted a kitten from a shelter and we named it Gatsby. I typically don't really like cats, but me n' Gatsby understand each other.

He fell asleep in my arms, and we bonded.

Darby said if I'm going to continue to date her, I have to wrap my head around felines. I've always been kind of put off by animals, and I'm allergic to them.

But things started to turn around when my family bought Lucy, a little shih tzu who I am now hopelessly in love with.

Maybe cats are next?

The weird thing is, I usually get along well with small animals and babies. I'm kind of a cuddly dude. So maybe this hang-up is all in my mind, and I just need to stock up on Allegra.

So I'm working on it, I'm working on it...

Will!!

Prairie Fire

2011-10-27T23:50:00.000-07:00

So,

I got the new issue of Prairie Fire in the mail today, and I was stoked to see my friend Jordan has a short story published in it.

Jordan was the first person I met in my program. He took me out for beers a few days before classes, and he's generally just a super laid back, friendly dude.

He's also the poetry editor of PRISM, but apparently he can write fiction too!

His story "The Bounty from Locust Jack" is about a man searching for his drug-addicted brother Lee in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.

Part of it takes place in Oppenheimer Park, which reminded me of Mike Christie's "Goodbye Porkpie Hat", but Jordan's writing is a lot more melancholy and dark. I found his story really disturbing and sad.

Check out this description of the view from a North Shore high rise:

"As I stare at the city, removed from everything, I can see no Downtown Eastside, no alleyways or needles or people huddled in the uprotected niches between storefronts. I can see only the million-dollar view and the fray of Turner's beige carpet that cushions my feet. Lee is still down there somewhere."

Weirdly enough, I also got to see Jordan perform for the first time at Locution (the UBC MFA program's reading series) tonight. He did some experimental poetry where he looped his voice over his own voice multiple times. It was confusing and overwhelming and awesome.

Anyways, I think you should check out Jordan's stuff. Here's his WEBSITE and you can follow him on Twitter @jordoisdead

That's all.

Will!!