Monthly Archives: August 2010

Over the past few weeks we’ve been profiling some of the many people who have worked behind the scenes to put together Descant‘s upcoming Fall issue, D150: Writers in Prison. Kathryn, Jason, and Matt have all done amazing work on this issue as guest editors—but every issue needs a production editor in order to physically come together. Today, we give you some insight into Kim Kim, the production editor behind Descant 150. To learn more about Kim, read on…

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DESCANT: What brought you to Descant? What is your role at the magazine?

Kim: My writing teacher at Ryerson actually alerted students in the class to the opening at the magazine, so I decided to throw my hat in the ring for the position of Production Editor. I lucked out, and even better, got assigned to the (hotly anticipated) Prisons Issue.

D: When you’re not helping out on new issues of Descant, how do you fill your time? Tell us a little about yourself.

K: (This sounds like a question that should be on a dating profile or something…) Right now, my time is divided between a couple of part-time jobs, part-time school, volunteering at a radio station and driving myself between all these different things.

D: Tell us about your creative life. Any current or forthcoming projects?

K: I’m always (or at least, should always be) on the hunt for new stories to pitch for publication, but am currently making tweaks to a piece I wrote about a 500km bike trip I took in Japan.

D: Could you share with us a little about your creative process?

K: Not being one prone to divine inspiration, I almost invariably start by building a blueprint. It’s kind of like a puzzle process: with pen and sticky notes, all the points and ideas that seem important are jotted down, and then I commandeer a large table to match, shuffle and discard until there’s a logical flow. After a rough first draft is pounded out, it’s just edit edit edit.

D: What would be your ideal theme for a future issue of Descant?

K: I like the idea of an issue devoted to the concept of aftermath. Red letter events like earthquakes, oil spills, big lottery wins – these naturally get lots of attention. However, they’re so often treated as isolated occurrences and stop being talked about when really, the story’s only getting started. I think it would be interesting to have an in-depth look at the return to ‘normal,’ and how life rearranges itself around the changes, or doesn’t.

D: What kind of submissions would you like to see more of coming in to the journal?

K: I have a personal fondness for essays and memoirs. While we tend to get them for theme issues, we don’t seem to get all that many in general submissions. Oh, and pieces that have been spellchecked.

D: What are you reading/ watching/ listening to at the moment? Tell us about it.

K: I’m partway through a couple of books (I don’t practice literary monogamy) – Priceless by Robert Wittman, Moneyball by Michael Lewis, and rereading Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony. Music-wise, my car cd player is looping Cat Empire’s Cinema and Charles Spearin’s The Happiness Project. The Happiness Project is really interesting; instead of words set to music, it’s music set to words. Spearin sat down his neighbours and recorded them talking about happiness. Afterwards he and his cadre of talented friends layered on accompaniment, playing the ‘notes’ of the spoken words as the talker’s pitch rose and fell. I challenge anyone to listen to the track “Mrs. Morris” without cracking a smile.

D: Which blogs or websites are you faithful to these days? What’s the appeal?

K: I have a deep and profound love for food blogs – Chocolate & Zucchini, Smitten Kitchen, Eating Out Loud, foodpr0n…don’t know if it’s the fun of mentally assembling recipes when you’re reading them, the insights you get into a person’s history and personality through their meals, or just the literally gut-deep reaction to seeing beautiful pictures of food.

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For more on Descant 150: Writers in Prison, check out the sneak preview right here.

In celebration of our fast-approaching Fall issue, D150: Writers in Prison, we would like you to get to know the issue’s creative team. Over the past two weeks you have heard from Kathryn Franklin and Jason Paradiso, two of the three guest editors for this unusually large issue of Descant. Today, we bring you some insight into Matt Carrington, Descant co-editor and the third and final member of the Writers in Prison guest-editing team. Read on to learn more about Matt…

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DESCANT: What brought you to Descant? What is your role at the magazine?

Matt: I started at Descant six years ago as a volunteer/intern after starting in Ryerson’s Book Publishing program, was the production editor for Descant 128 and have been a co-editor on the editorial board for the past few years. This fall’s Writers in Prisons issue is the first issue of Descant that I have guest edited.

D: When you’re not helping out on new issues of Descant, how do you fill your time? Tell us a little about yourself.

M: I am finishing my first year of working toward a PhD in English at York University. My focus is on Canadian Poetry, and my proposed project tackles the role of the small literary magazine in Canadian literary/poetry culture — since after working in publishing I was convinced that it is important to attend to the material context of a text’s production (and circulation/reception). Small magazines have played an important (and under-scrutinized) role in Canadian literary history.

D: Tell us about your creative life. Any current or forthcoming projects?

M: I consider reading of all kinds and critical writing to be part of my creative life. I am working on some essays currently and am also always writing poetry.

D: Could you share with us a little about your creative process?

M: I read a lot and then I think a lot and then I try to write a little, often after having to disconnect myself from the Internet.

D: What would be your ideal theme for a future issue of Descant?

M: I think that a future issue on work/labour would be fantastic, especially with all the precarious work situations that many in the “cultural industries” (including writers, editors) find themselves in, and the interesting relationship between making a living and unpaid labours of love (internships?) — go read Jeff Derksen’s poem “But Could I Make a Living from It.” Mark Kingwell has a great essay in the back of the fall (2010) issue of Descant about work in literature, but there is always room for more writing on this topic, which seems to be discussed constantly among my friends (partly perhaps because my girlfriend studies freelance labour).

Since I am increasingly focused on the poetry that Descant publishes, I would also be interested in an issue that explores the history of poetic forms or specific poetic forms — Descant’s theme issues tend to focus on that paraphrasable half of the utterance, content, but it would be great to go the other way (as Descant did, for example, with the issue on speculative fiction). I am thinking of Poetry magazine’s recent issue on “flarf,” which is a fantastic departure for the magazine and is a terrific look at what’s happening in current poetics even if you hate the idea of flarf poetry.

D: What kind of submissions would you like to see more of coming in to the journal?

M: My friend and colleague Kathryn Franklin noted in her profile the extreme lack of calligrams in Descant. And it’s true: we need calligrams. I would love to publish more visual poetry of any stripe.

I would also like more exchange with the west coast (I’ve been reading the recent Open Letter about the Kootenay School of Writing and noting the absence of any of these poets in Descant). I think that Descant needs to be more open to (or needs even to champion) the experimental/innovative/radical poetries that are being written and published in chapbooks and small presses in Canada. The modernist cry for the “new” hasn’t ended. Let’s expand what we mean when we think poetry.

D: What are you reading/ watching/ listening to at the moment? Tell us about it.

M: Along with spending my summer reading nineteenth-century Canadian fiction, I’ve been loving Jeff Derksen’s book of essays Annihilated Time: Poetry and Other Politics (if you haven’t read his poems you should probably do that now). Everyone loves Susan Holbrook’s hilarious book of poems Joy Is So Exhausting, so I won’t mention that again.

I also watch a lot of horrible television and am thrilled to have a new wire that sends digital video signals to my television from my laptop (also, stereo sound). Is Louie hilarious? It is. Also it seems obvious that Miles is going to win Work of Art — prove me wrong, world.

I am excited about the new show Next Great Poet, in which emerging poets young and old compete to become the next poet laureate of a small city by writing occasional poems.

D: Which blogs or websites are you faithful to these days? What’s the appeal?

M: Too many. The appeal is inundation and excess.

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To get a taste of D150: Writers in Prison, check out the sneak preview on our website — and don’t forget to get on Facebook and RSVP for D150′s celebratory launch on October 6th.

Next week in this space: Our series of interviews with the D150 team comes to its thrilling conclusion!

By now you must be aware that a huge number of interesting and creative individuals operate behind the scenes to bring Descant together. But who are all of these fantastic people? Wouldn’t you like to know more?

To celebrate our fast-approaching Fall issue, we would like you to get to know the creative team behind D150: Writers in Prison, set to launch this October. Today, we bring you some insight into Jason Paradiso, Descant co-editor and one of the guest editors for this exciting issue. Read on to learn more about Jason…

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DESCANT: What brought you to Descant? What is your role at the magazine?

Jason: I answered an ad for a production editor internship for issue 133, Bibliomania. As a production editor I was given the opportunity to write a piece for the issue I was working on, and I was subsequently paid as a contributor. Since I was going to receive a subscription, I decided that I wanted my name to appear in the masthead for at least the duration of that year. I continued to volunteer by copy editing and proofreading upcoming issues, and attending the monthly meetings. Over time and without realizing it, I had developed a number of great friendships, and I was honoured when Karen Mulhallen asked me to become a co-editor.

D: When you’re not helping out on new issues of Descant, how do you fill your time? Tell us a little about yourself.

J: Nearly a year ago, I accepted a package from my former employer, and I have been able to fill my time how ever I’ve wanted to since. I’ve completed a number of writing/art projects (although not as much as I should have), and I have spent time catching up on a lot of other reading. I’ve also done some copy editing for a couple of other publications.

I am a proud supporter of Toronto FC, and I am a card carrying member of the Red Patch Boys (Toronto FC’s largest supporters’ group). I spend a number of afternoons and evenings in section 112 of BMO Field, jumping, singing and waving flags.

D: Tell us about your creative life. Any current or forthcoming projects?

J: I am currently working on a number of projects that are all in different stages of development. I’m most passionate about a poetry manuscript that I’m working on called (p)ages. I am also working on a number of Photoshop art pieces that focus on (literally) framing ideas.

D: Could you share with us a little about your creative process?

J: I still write in notebooks, and rarely, if ever, start any work on the computer. I like to be able to see the changes I’ve made, the lines I’ve crossed out or where they were moved from. I know I could track changes or move sentences to another page/file, but it’s not even close to the same.

D: What would be your ideal theme for a future issue of Descant?

J: This is something that I have been thinking about for a while. I think that the Prison issue (which Matt, Kathryn and I guest edited) was the ideal theme, and now that it has been published I’ve been trying to think of a new topic. I tend to draw a lot of inspiration from my experience editing corporate marketing documents, and would like to think of a way of turning that into a future issue of Descant — almost like a cubicle prison issue.

D: What kind of submissions would you like to see more of coming in to the journal?

J: Descant receives a lot of high quality and engaging works, and I would like that to continue. I would also like to see some more experimental submissions — poetry that plays more with form and stories with less conventional styles.

D: What are you reading/ watching/ listening to at the moment? Tell us about it.

J: I am currently reading Mythology by Edith Hamilton. I’ve wanted to learn about Greek/Roman/Norse mythology for quite some time, and lately I’ve had quite a bit of time. Another great book (especially for the unemployed) is A Working Stiff’s Manifesto by Iain Levison.

The most current album I’m listening to is Crystal Castles II by Crystal Castles. It has been in fairly heavy rotation since being added to my iPod. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Nick Drake and the album Ghosts by Nine Inch Nails.

D: Which blogs or websites are you faithful to these days? What’s the appeal?

J: I’m not very faithful to many sites (the Red Patch Boys forum excluded), but I do enjoy visiting postsecret.com. The basic idea is that people, using a postcard, anonymously send their secrets to the site’s creator, Frank Warren. It’s a very powerful combination of poetry and art.

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For more on Descant 150: Writers in Prison, you can check out a sneak preview of the issue right here.

In commemoration of Prisoners’ Justice Day, please read on for a message written by Matt Carrington — Descant Co-Editor and one of the Guest Editors for our upcoming fall issue, D150: Writers in Prison.

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Today, August 10, 2010, is the 35^th anniversary of Prisoners’ Justice Day in Canada, a useful history of which can be found here.

It is easy to forgot that Canadian prisoners need and have a right to justice; it is easy to forget this because prisoners are marginalized, are made invisible by the fact of their imprisonment. Canadians need to keep asking important questions about the treatment of prisoners in Canada and the roles of prisons in Canadian society. The history of Prisoners’ Justice Day makes clear that prisoners in Canada need to have a voice. The recent announcement by Stockwell Day and the federal Conservative Party that $9 billion has been budgeted for building new prisons when crimes rates are going down suggests that the role of prisons in Canada is not diminishing.

Descant receives submissions of stories and poetry from prisoners every month. We received enough submissions that we decided to devote our 150^th issue (Fall 2010) to writers in prisons, a preview of which can be seen here.

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If you are interested in getting involved in the prisoner justice cause, a number of events have been planned in Toronto throughout the remainder of August — including a Prisoners’ Justice Day vigil, which is being held tonight at the Don Jail. Further details about this and other events related to justice for prisoners can be found here.

As well, in honour of Descant 150: Writers in Prison — an important and fascinating issue, and the first in Descant’s 40th anniversary year — we have already begun planning a celebration for the issue’s launch in October. To learn more about the event (and to RSVP), visit its Facebook page here.

If you take a look behind the scenes at Descant, you’ll find a huge number of interesting and creative individuals. But who are all of these fantastic people? Wouldn’t you like to know more?

To celebrate our fast-approaching Fall issue, we would like you to get to know the creative team behind D150: Writers in Prison, set to launch this October. Today, we bring you some insight into Katie Franklin, Descant co-editor and one of the guest editors for this exciting issue. Read on to learn more about Katie…

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DESCANT: What brought you to Descant? What is your role at the magazine?

Katie: I first came across Descant at the Small Press Book fair. I had just graduated from university and like any English lit undergrad worth her Middlemarch, I wanted to work in publishing and magazines. I started talking to (then managing editor) Mary Newberry who encouraged me to apply for an internship. A few years later Karen Mulhallen asked me to become a co-editor, which was such an honour. It’s a really great team at Descant, I’m so happy to have been able to stay on all these years.

D: When you’re not helping out on new issues of Descant, how do you fill your time? Tell us a little about yourself.

K: I’ve just begun a PhD in Humanities at York University. My area of interest is in Weimar-era Berlin and its influence on the 1970s Glam Rock aesthetic in London. When I’m not reading books on Bowie, I also work part time as a public librarian.

D: Tell us about your creative life. Any current or forthcoming projects?

K: I’m currently working on a conference paper that I will be delivering at Oxford University on Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man and Tom Ford’s film adaptation of the novel focusing on the relationship between fashion and literature.

D: Could you share with us a little about your creative process?

K: Does drinking copious amounts of coffee and catching up on The Wire count as a creative process?

D: What would be your ideal theme for a future issue of Descant?

K: I would love to see an issue on Dandies, Fops and Flâneurs.

D: What kind of submissions would you like to see more of coming in to the journal?

K: I would like to see more calligrams.

D: What are you reading/ watching/ listening to at the moment? Tell us about it.

K: I’m currently reading Lee Miller: A Life by Carolyn Burke. Miller is such an interesting persona who is at once ambiguous yet completely candid. She’s often remembered for being Man Ray’s muse, but only recently have scholars been paying attention to her contributions to the art and history of photography.

I’m also completely obsessed with The Kinks Choral Collection performed by Ray Davies and the Crouch End Festival Chorus. Unfortunately my father came over and discovered the album and stole it from me explaining, “you can’t possibly appreciate this like I would.”

D: Which blogs or websites are you faithful to these days? What’s the appeal?

K: I think I would be lost without Arts & Letters Daily. It’s a compendium of interesting articles, book reviews, and essays/opinions from around the globe. Oh, and the New York Magazine’s Sex Diaries section is a pretty great distraction (well, I’m not made of stone!)

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This look into our Prisons team will continue next week! I hope you’re as excited as I am…