Curious things for August 2013...

1) The Ottawa Poetry Newsletter has seen a surge in activity lately thanks to new feature “On Writing”, in which guest writers share their disciplines, habits and challenges. So far we’ve seen entries from a wide variety of perspectives, courtesy of Anita Dolman, Amanda Earl, rob mclennan, Michael Blouin, Michael Dennis, Faizel Deen and Pearl Pirie, with more talents slated for the coming weeks. Read them all, categorized via this link.

2) The 3^rd annual Ottawa Zine-Off returns this September. Create a small-run of zines, trade them for other zines, make friends over zines and talk about zines! Sounds like great fun and I wish I could be there. More details here.

3) For whatever reason, I’m always sapped in July. Nevertheless a few chapbook reviews have escaped my summer doldrums over the past month. Click here to familiarize yourself with Jason Christie’s Government and Jessica Smith’s Mnemotechnics. Then maybe click here to investigate Aaron Tucker’s punchlines. All of them are available from above/ground press and they’re each lovely pieces of work.

4) Miranda Hill has written a fine piece on “Writing There, From Here” for Open Book Toronto. As I’m currently wrapping up a chapbook manuscript that analyzes the meaning of home through the lens of different cities, Hill’s focus is near to my heart. Read it here!