Archive

Feature Stories

• The Roots and Perils of Eduspeak—The Language of Pretense and Evasion
  Writer Cynthia Rurak explores the infiltration of educational jargon in Canadian classrooms and ponders the potential implications for learning.
• The Sum of Its Letters: Scrabble Isn’t Just a Game about Words
  Writer Cynthia Rurak lets us in on the secret to successful Scrabble playing. It turns out a good vocabulary is the last thing you need.
• On Wine Bottles and Web Sites:
  How the Nation’s First Poet Laureate Is Managing the “Strange Situation” of Poetry in Canada
  Ceaseless WB supporter and writer Tracy Pomerinke returns with a look at how the nation’s first Poet Laureate is managing the “strange situation” of poetry in Canada.
• “Waaaaasssssuuup” with Advertising?
  Writer Tracy Pomerinke looks at ad copy that breaks the rules — of grammar, that is.
• Dropped Threads: Canada’s Alternative Writing and Culture Magazines
  Writer Nichole McGill takes us into the perilous world of Canadian independent literary magazines.
• Under Attack: An Update on Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Canada
  Writer Sarah R. Evans examines the intermingling of obscenity legislation, the constitutional rights of individuals, and "community standards" and its effect on freedom of expression in Canada.
• You Said "Beaver": The Rise of Canadian Erotica
  Contributing Editor Lorie Boucher casts an interested eye on a new body of writing that is emerging in Canada — erotica — and considers whether it can shatter preconceptions of our collective frigidity.
• Deconstructing the Author Photo
  In her subtle writing style, Lorie Boucher explains why the author photo is the seemingly innocuous launch pad from which all evil is sprung.
• Advertising Alchemy
  Tracy Pomerinke takes a closer look at the new advertising alchemy that is being practised in corporate boardrooms. The new alchemy does not apply elemental magic, but market analysis, and its success depends not on the movement of planets, but on a loyal base of consumers.
• Character Assassination
  The written language of China has the potential to create new international dialogue — writer Tracy Pomerinke examines whether the endangered script will survive long enough to do it.
• Fitting a Story on the Head of a Pin
  Flash fiction purists contend the art of the story lies in its brevity — the shorter the better. What flash fiction vignettes lack in length, they more than make up for in content. Robbi Hess highlights the keys to writing effective flash fiction and encourages all writers to practise it.
• Can Our Teens Read and Write?
  Deborah Smyth investigates why 37 percent of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 25 possess limited literacy skills.
• The Podiatrists of the Writing World — In Defence of Non-literary Writing
  Lorie Boucher disputes the notion that creativity is the mysterious, unattainable claim of the writing world’s gifted elite, and that its application in literary pursuits is worthy of higher praise than its expression in any other writing field.
• Soup Nazi — Exploitation or Preservation
  Writer’s Block Managing Editor Dalya Goldberger asks whether the acceptance — and prevalence — of the term "soup nazi" reflects our underlying awareness of the horrific events that gave birth to the metaphor.
• Lost in the Translation — When Oral Myths Are Written Down
  What is lost and/or gained when storytelling becomes a literary experience?
• The Evolving Canadiana
  What makes a text Canadian — the citizenship of its author or the culture-specific insight of its prose? Writer’s Block Contributing Editor Lorie Boucher struggles with traditional notions of what makes a text truly Canadian.
• Who Writes that Stuff?
  In interviews with four writers, Dalya Goldberger explores the nature of two of the more offbeat writing jobs — the type of person behind them, how they came to be such a writer, and the creative writing process behind their work.
• Writing Your Way to Travel Adventure
  John Nihmey, author of Canada’s most widely syndicated travel feature, gives a candid view of how he accidentally became a travel writer and what made his column so successful.
• How to Write the Best Comedy Sketches
  Planet Comedy’s Brian Luff describes how to write comedy sketches that work.
• Angels and Copy Editors Defend Us!
  Long-time editor Ann Fothergill-Brown shares her expertise on editorial discretion and how to wield it.
• The Internet and the English Language
  Writer and computer technician Terence Carter explores how the use of e-mail and Internet chat rooms is contributing to the deterioration of the English language.
• Who Controls Electronic Rights — The Publisher or the Writer?
  Publishing and intellectual property law attorney Lloyd Rich explains how writers and publishers can protect their electronic rights.
• English: A Global Language?
  English is one of the most powerful tools in the world today. Why English and not another language? Writer Jeff Leiper offers some answers.
• A Book in Sheep's Clothing — Adapting Books to the Canadian Market
  S. D. Liddiard explains why many Canadians in the 1960s sometimes did not feel quite at home with childhood books.
• Information Models for Web Structure
  Learn the many ways in which information can be structured on the Web.
• Ivory Tower or Real World?
  A former academic describes his eye-opening transition from a career in academia to the fast-paced world of technical writing.
• You Gotta Have Art
  Dr. Gale Workman teaches you how to successfully incorporate infographics into your next article, enhancing the overall message.
• The Fourth "R"
  A solid grasp of research techniques and tools is a critical asset for writers. Learn the essentials of conducting research and examine some common research tools.
• Interviewing Basics Help You Focus on Content
  Interviewing is an important part of any research project, but don’t get bogged down in the interview process — follow these tips for a smooth interview.
• Illiteracy: Exploring the Personal and Social Costs in Canada
  A writer shares her findings on illiteracy in Canada.
• Technology: a blessing for writers and editors?
  Are we getting the most from new writing and editing tools? Insight on how computers impact the work of writers and editors.
• Learn the techniques of writing before you write
  Before you venture into a writing project, read this advice on how to plan your work and what to expect of yourself as you write each draft.
• The Art of Selling
  A successful marketing representative shares her secrets on proven ways to sell writing consulting services.
• Do You Have the Brain to Be a Writer?
  Are some people born to be great writers, or can they learn their way to greatness? An insightful survey of current thought on this age-old debate.
• Peer to Peer: Creative Writing Workshops
  Every writer needs a second opinion to critique his or her work. Find out how writing workshops can help improve your writing and enable you to grow as a writer.
• Ten Steps to Getting a Writing Job
  What to do — and what not to do — when trying to land a job as a writer.
• Talent vs. Skill in the Modern Writer
  While talent moves a writer forward, skill is what distinguishes writers among themselves. An insightful look at the importance of skill and talent.
• Teamwork Creates a Positive Working Environment
  A commentary on the value of teamwork in a professional working environment.