I’m sitting in a tiny art gallery on a cold, grey, rainy day that feels more like November than May. The lights are dimmed to showcase delicate tapestries that cast shadow portraits on the clean, white walls. Six pairs of hands tap away at keyboards while I try to keep my allergic sniffling (the only indication that it actually is spring) to a minimum. It always feels a little like we are part of the exhibit, we small group of almost-strangers who gather here twice a year to spend twelve hours filling blank pages.
Tag Archives: Publishing
My Top 5 Dream Publications
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.
9 MORE Notable Canadian Literary Magazines + 1 Bonus
I’m back again with submission opportunities from more quality Canadian literary magazines (well, nine Canadian and one UK-based). It can be hard to figure out where to send your stories, so I’ve done some of the leg work for you.
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 Keep Writing When You Feel Like Giving Up
I get it. I feel you. The struggle is real. How to persevere as a writer when you feel like giving up? Here are ten suggestions. I hope some combination of these helps.
2023: A Plan
The best way to start any plan is at the end. Where do you want to be? What do you want to have accomplished? Once you know what you’re aiming for, you can chart the path that will lead you there.
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.
Should You Talk About Your Writing?
I soon realized that having a sounding board when I’m trying to work out a sticky plot point is invaluable. Sometimes just the act of saying it out loud can help ideas to congeal into something tangible.
How to Respectfully Write a Critical Book Review
Don’t attack the author. This shouldn’t have to be said, but you’re reviewing a piece of writing, not the human who poured their heart and soul into it. Focus on your experience, make your review fair and honest, but never make it personal or nasty.
What is Your Definition of Success as a Writer?
So write for yourself. Write for the love of words and stories. Write to process your feelings, to entertain, to leave a legacy. Write for any reason but what capitalism calls success, and see if, as a by-product, something you can call success will find you along the way.
Aly Writes 