Cheers to our Second Issue!

the letter from the editor as featured on page 5 of the December 2016 issue of Blank Spaces

The short existence of Blank Spaces has been a whirlwind of discovery, excitement, and fear. From my initial announcement (which was only in May!) to this moment now when I find myself writing a blurb for the second issue, life has been filled to the brim with a blurry ‘is this even real?’ kind of feeling.

I wish I had adequate words to express the moment I actually held the first copy of Blank Spaces in my hands. I was recovering from a dream I’d had in which my shipment arrived printed on tissue paper and bound with staples. It terrified me. I felt the pressure of all those trusting contributors and all the beautiful people who pre-ordered sight-unseen—what could be more devastating than crushing my own dreams as well as theirs with a less-than beautiful product?

When it finally arrived, live and in colour and not in my dream, I was so overcome with relief that my hands shook as I flipped through the pages. It was just so pretty!

I envision a long and lovely future for this magazine but that’s only because of the positive response it’s been rousing. Nothing thrills me more than receiving letters from readers and contributors, thanking me for the opportunities provided by Blank Spaces. There are a lot of literary arts magazines out there, but it’s my hope that Blank Spaces sets itself apart as a publication built on the values of encouragement and empowerment.

There’s room for everyone at our table. Consider pulling up a chair!

Alanna Rusnak, Editor-in-Chief