Every writer has a few: those legendary lit mags we dream about when hitting “submit” on Submittable. The ones we read and reread when imposter syndrome sets in. The ones that feel just out of reach, but we can’t help but try anyway.
Tag Archives: Literature
Better the Wolf You Don’t than the Devil You Know
“Are we in the forest, Mammy?” she said. “Why yes, we are, love.” “Aren’t there wolves in the forest?” she said. “None so fierce as the one we left behind, pet.” “Can I hold your hand, though, Mammy?” she said. “Of course you can, sweetie.” “Are we lost?” she said. “Not lost enough, my dear.”Continue reading “Better the Wolf You Don’t than the Devil You Know”
The Secret History (Donna Tartt)
It is a murder mystery beneath it all, although we know both the victim and the perpetrators from the very first page. The story is driven by character rather than plot, with a fascinating examination of human morality, the descent into madness, and the underlying motive of each of the characters.
10 More (More) Notable Canadian Literary Magazines
As many of my fellow writers can attest, finding a home for your work can be challenging (read: feels impossible sometimes). Here are 10 Canadian journals I’ve encountered in my hunt for suitable places to submit my stories.
How to Revise Flash Fiction
With so much packed into so few words, every word has to earn its place. Somehow the piece has to move, needs to have conflict and shape and feeling.
The botched pursuit of a mate by adult males of the order Lepidoptera
It’s 2:00 am, and I’m bent over the sink, sucking mango off the stone, juice running down my forearms and dripping onto yesterday’s dirty dishes. Seventy-two moth carcasses fill the garbage can in their crumpled Kleenex shrouds.
2022: A Retrospective
Distraction abounded this year, and I feel the need to remind myself of some of the things I can be proud of, hiding amongst the weeds.
All the Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)
All the Light We Cannot See is meticulously researched and imaginatively written, a novel that is both thought-provoking and profound. Anthony Doerr manages to address the horrors of war while choosing to highlight the inherent goodness of his main characters. It’s well worth a read.
A Gentleman In Moscow (Amor Towles)
He rarely says things simply. If you are someone who enjoys erudite words and elegant prose, a reader who savours a book, unrushed, this is a novel for you.
10 (More) Notable Canadian Literary Magazines
I’m back again with ten more quality literary publications that are based in Canada. Most of these magazines accept submissions from all over the world, but for all my fellow Canadian writers, it’s a little bit special to find a home for your work that is close to home.
Aly Writes 