What We’re Talking About in Issue 0502 (December 2020)
The complete table of contents
as it appears in the December 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.
from the editor—The Curse of the Cursor
flash fiction — Paper Mite Revolution by James Dick is a comedic piece that will delight literary lovers, featuring a little bug with a big idea to change his whole society.
Life in Coffee, by Karen Walker is the story of a caffeinated relationship, inspired by a visit to a snooty city coffee shop.
Insulin by Michael R. Sullivan explores the making of a recluse in a heart wrenching tale of introverts, bullies, and survival.
The Drop by Fraser Sager is a short story about man versus nature, highlighting the beauty and majesty of the great outdoors, as well as the surprising viciousness waiting to swallow a person whole.
red solo cup — Through poems like A Canadian National, Eulogy Eulogy, and Preface, Noah Farberman gives a little glimpse of how he views the world, with humour and a touch of sarcasm.
Chad Norman shares three poems — Women Sitting on a Chair Wearing a White Poppy, The Mother of Nature, and Cling — revealing the lens through which the views the world: one of searching and reaching and stretching for understanding.
shameless — Pulled from Jen Jones’ memoir-in-progress, The Barrenlands, Grit is a childhood snapshot set in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories in 1970.
different strokes —Tammy Shane is Finding Quiet Among the Chaos as she escapes into natural landscapes and storied animal portraits for respite from the turmoil in the world.
fiction feature(s) — In her short story, Letters From Dead Artists, Joanne Morrison explores unrequited love through a series of letters written through the lens of historic cultural figures during cross country travels.
Daily Bread by Terence Young invites us to spy on the inner thoughts of a man navigating the world alone as he goes about his daily tasks, reflecting on his place in the world.
make art not war — sharai mustatia finds recovery and dealing through the lens of a Pentax SP 500. Through 35mm film they capture Messages that speak to them, proving that they are not alone in their sentiments and that everything is a reflection of the human condition.
more than words — In her photo essay, Field Notes: Ice Fishing on Nottawasaga Bay, Anne McGouran offers up a frosty glimpse of the Canadian winter on a frozen lake in Collingwood, Ontario.
between the lines — Gail M. Murray brings us a review of Lightfoot by Nicolas Jennings, the masterful biography of Canadian songwriting legend, Gordon Lightfoot.
write prompt challenge winner — Desiree Kendrick rose to the top with her contest entry, Priceless, a story that the judges deemed “clever and imaginative” and “a simple, crisp narrative with identifiable characters.”
final word — From Antonia, With Love and Fury, by Nicoline Antonovitch is a raw and unapologetic response to the actions of a lost friend, ripe with emotion and blurring the lines between affection and anger until it flirts with forgiveness.
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