The Writer's Journey. Follow Your Dreams

When people follow their dreams, their passion often leads ultimately to the fulfillment of those dreams. Sometimes it takes a long time. At others, the dreams may change and open up other avenues. I always wanted to be a writer and while it took almost a lifetime to get to the published book stage, I do not regret the journey. And here I am to tell you that you never know where you will find the encouragement to continue.

There were many spots on my journey when something happened that suggested it was possible that I would one day publish a book. Then more books. An early such moment was when I opened an envelope to discover that a recommendation had been made on my behalf, unknown to me, by James Polk, then an editor at the House of Anansi Press,  for an Ontario Arts Council grant. I did not know who Polk was except that he had turned down my manuscript. Yet only a month or so later, he was recommending me for a grant.

Another significant event was when a story that was accepted by the University of Windsor Review was accepted for broadcast on the CBC's Anthology. And then not long after came a small Canada Council grant. I corresponded in those days with the Editor, not knowing until many years later who the Fiction Editor, who had actually accepted my work, was (Keep reading!).

When I met Adele Wiseman during her stint as writer in residence at the University of Toronto, I met not only a mentor but a friend who remained both until she died many years later. Bill Kilbourn was another mentor and friend. Sometimes my work wasn't entirely ready to submit and yet these two wonderful writers could see something in it.

And then there was the Humber School for Writers. After years of deciding I would not take this  program because it was where I live, Toronto, so wouldn't provide an opportunity to go somewhere else (as I had done by going to the Banff Centre of the Arts in 1992 and to a summer writing program at the University of New Brunswick in 1997), finally I read their course information.. My express purpose was to move on in my career as a writer. So I applied and was accepted, too nervous to ask for Alistair MacLeod as mentor, thinking that was presumptuous on my part. Lo and behold, Humber decided his small group was the right one for me.            

It was while at Humber that I learned that, ten years apart,  MacLeod had accepted two of my short stories that were subsequently published in The University of Windsor Review. Somehow this drew the strands of my writing life together and gave it all some coherence. And the courage to move on. Not long after, my short story collection was accepted by Inanna. Later, my first novel in 2010. And now in 2014, I look forward to the publication of my second novel in the fall!

The dreams continue as one after another my books emerge.A long, arduous, but satisfying, journey.

Alistair MacLeod. 1936 - 2014. RIP

Farewell to one of Canada's best loved writers.  MacLeod wrote beautifully and he treated people kindly and with good humour. He will be missed. And I, for one, will take out his short stories and his novel and read them again, marvelling at the skill and compassion with which they are written.

Some people leave us far too soon. Although MacLeod was 77, it feels that way, as if the world has lost a gentle soul who made the lives of the rest of us better. Fortunately he leaves behind the books that we can still hold and read, a legacy of value.

Reviews, Brief.

Ron Schafrick's first book, a collection of short stories, The Interpreters, is masterfully written and with many of the stories set in Korea, of interest to those who find other cultures fascinating as well as those who appreciate good literature. Well done characterization as well as revealing dialogue.

Now reading Olivia Laing's The Trip to Echo Spring; On Writers and Drinking. At first, I was curious about the writers she chose...Cheever, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Carver among a couple of others, all writers whose work I admire. I did not know about the drinking history of either Cheever or Carver, but what is more fascinating is how well written this book is. When people want to know what I'm reading, I imagine when they see the title they might think I have a drinking problem!

Life of a Writer. #31. The Art of Revision.

Oh yes, a title to obscure the drudgery of revision. It is art, is it not? Or will produce art. As writers what we know is that it is necessary. Inspiration may be what first drove what we are working on, but once those halcyon days of flashing lights and long hours capturing those images have disappeared into the past, what we are left with is shaping, cutting, adding, redoing. Whatever words fit the 90 percent of the work of creation. It requires persistence, dedication, joy and sorrow. Probably much else as well. Patience. Quiet surroundings usually. An understanding family if one is lucky enough to have one. A supportive spouse/partner, also if one is lucky enough to... These supportive people may help us financially as well as emotionally. Or we may have to do this for ourselves. But one way and another, we find our own way through the morass of figuring out how to find those long hours to put in on writing and revision.

In my case, I have the readers' comments from the publisher about my upcoming novel, Would I Lie To You?, and am working on incorporating the ones I agree with prior to editing further with the actual editor of the small press that will publish my book in the fall. One wonders at times if it never ends and then is grateful that when the time comes, the book that emerges will be a better one!

Cuba. March 2014

Street Scene in Old Havana

Old Havana

Old Havana

Old Havana

Old Havana

Cuban flag

Ernest Hemingway's House near Havana

Restaurant on Water. Most magnificent seafood.

Santa Clara

Che Guavera Memorial

The size!!!

A trip to Cuba that included the interaction with a feminist, activist lawyer and a biologist/environmentalist, lectures from a doctor, a lawyer and an economist. Lots of questions and answers in all contexts. An opportunity to meet people who live in Cuba and for us to benefit from their experience. A visit to an organic farm, to the psycho ballet, to dance demonstrations, to a sculptor and doctor's home. To hear music and tour community and women's centres. To meet the children. To see the happy children in school yards and parks. And on it went. Even enjoying the beach! But primarily learning about the people, their struggles, their courage and creativity. About a system that has health care for everyone and where however poor, a roof over everyone's head. Through all the hardships of the embargo and the collapse of the Berlin wall, later the financial embroglio at the beginning of this century in North America, these people have survived and thrived. When the subject of the U.S. comes up, it is clear they do not want to change anyone else, only to be left alone to continue carrying out with the philosophical insights of their national hero, Jose Marti, which place community at the core of everything. So decisions and policies are made by the community for the community with that care for everyone in mind.  

Mavis Gallant. A prized photo. 1992

With Mavis Gallant at the Banff Centre for the Arts. 1992.

Growing up in Bourlamaque, Quebec. An early northern Quebec mining town.

With my father on the front steps of our house at 103 Champlain. With my mother in front of the beauty salon on the main street.