I feel blessed by a constitution that allows me to embrace beauty even in the ugliest situation. Ontario’s lockdown has been extended. Again. And as our government limps along and people rage on social media, I don’t find it hard to swallow a sigh and say, ‘they're just doing their best,’ even if I don’t really believe it.

The complete table of contents for the June 2021 issue of Blank Spaces magazine.

We are so pleased to announce that five writers have made the shortlist for our March 2021 Write Prompt Challenge.

Meet Iris Peña, the newest member of the Blank Spaces team!

As we lean into the promise of spring, the Blank Spaces team is very excited to present a new fiction competition unlike anything we’ve hosted before.

We’re ticking up to the one year mark of living beneath the direct shadow of a global pandemic. We were so naive, back in those early days of 2020, thinking it would pass us over in a week or two. There was a real sense of solidarity: people banging pots for healthcare workers, online concerts, handmade thank you posters. Gas dropped to a price I hadn’t seen since I was a child, everyone made bread, the world slowed down to try and heal itself.

The complete table of contents for the March 2021 issue of Blank Spaces magazine.

We are so pleased to announce that five writers have made the shortlist for our December 2020 Write Prompt Challenge.

We believe in creating opportunity to explore the world of publishing, as well as inviting the contribution of those who believe in our mission of offering a safe and supportive community for creatives.

When Joanne, a contributor to our December issue (Letters from Dead Artists) expressed an interest in editing, we extended an invitation to bring her on board for our next issue.

For the month of January, sign up for a digital subscription and save 10% plus get the December issue FREE!

Has 2020 left you feeling invisible? The heaviness of this year has been a lot to bear, and I’ve sadly seen it bring out the worst in some people. I’ve also seen the way it has called others to rise up and find their own potential. As I’ve navigated this—the good and the bad—I’ve been able to examine my own responses and redirect my path towards the positive. While it’s easy to wallow in the shadows, there’s small victories to be celebrated when you push through the fog and focus on the other side.

I don’t believe it’s accidental that cursor seems to be derived from the root word “curse”. As I sit here, overwhelmed with a to-do list (that includes writing this introduction to the December issue), the cursor blinks at me in witchy fashion, and I am empty.

The complete table of contents for the December 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honoured literary project in America. They welcome up to six nominations (print or online) from little magazine and small book press editors throughout the world, and selected winners will appear in their annual publication.

The midst of a global pandemic is the worst time to try and raise funds, but we are so thankful for those of you who stepped up and gave generously. This means that, as we enter our fifth year of publication, our annual operation costs are close to covered. To say this is a relief is a gross understatement.

When you’re a dreamer, uncertainty can throw a major wrench into your fantasies. In this season of social distancing and hyper awareness, it’s easy to become jaded to anything beyond living in your pyjamas and eating bonbons until your jeans are only good for the donation bin. I’ve had to forcibly practice positive thinking and healthy habits; and though none of us know what tomorrow will bring, I’m making myself rethink old goals and set new ones.

The complete table of contents for the September 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

We are so pleased to announce that four writers have made the shortlist for our June 2020 Write Prompt Challenge.

Welcome to our new website! Learn what has changed and what you can expect in the future.

Blank Spaces strives to uphold the values of acceptance, inclusion, and love. We condemn any act or expression of hate and aim to lead with kindness.