Lisa Young

Last weekend I went to a poetry retreat in Haileybury and as I told one of my friends the other day – I had a breakthrough. I don't know what I broke through – or what broke. (As my friend said – the important thing is something broke.) Back home, I'm still riding the Haileybury high. Writing together is such a rich experience. But what about writing when it's just me? No writing friends to inspire you. No mentor to lean on.  The words just don't seem to come as easily. But then it hit me. It's usually near the end of a workshop, when I'm "warmed up," that something more "real" and "fresh" can emerge. I just never noticed this trend before. When writing alone, I need to push past the initial "cold" writing. Writers are, after all, like musicians – we have to warm up our instrument – tune it and be ready to hear some flat notes and squeaks in the process. I've heard this idea before – but you know – it's

River rocks - pick one and tell its story. I was recently away at a poetry retreat in Burnt River. A wonderful getaway that turned out to be the best vacation I've had in a long time  –  thanks to the finest and purest river in Ontario and great poets for company and inspiration.  After so much immersion in poetry, I came home feeling refreshed and oddly gung-ho to switch gears and start writing some fiction. In what ways do poetry and fiction overlap?  Here are some poetry tools and ways to transfer some of these tools into the world of fiction.  Some Poetry Tools Some Fiction Tools  Make sure you include concrete objects.  Concrete objects expand to amount to a setting.  (Some poets say: location, location, location! So the difference here is perhaps a matter of magnitude.) Try to write about an "occasion"  –  however small it might be. Occasion is a tricky word - I don't mean Christmas or

Jerry Schaefer as Holloman & Trent McMullen as Lawrence Lawrence & Holloman Starring Jerry Schaefer & Trent McMullen Written by Morris Panych Directed by Jane Ford A Scrim For Rent Production Morris Panych’s Lawrence & Holloman is a darkly comic tale about the destructive nature of envy. Holloman ( Jerry Schaefer ), a nebbish, awkward, sad-sack pessimist envies his “friend,” the handsome, energetic, self-adoring dimwit, Lawrence ( Trent McMullen ). What makes the play so wickedly funny is the element of “friendship.” Even though Lawrence and Holloman only met two days ago, Lawrence considers Holloman someone he can trust and confide in. If the characters were sworn enemies the play would fall flat. What also makes this show so hilarious is the play of opposites at work between the two characters. Pessimist/Optimist. Extrovert/Introvert. Intellect/Dunce. Blissful/Miserable. Holloman’s pessimism stems from his viewpoint that the world is a place wh

It's Moosemeat time again. I will be reading one of my new stories. I like to begin with a quote that relates to what I'm going to read. Here are the quotes I found...(but I've decided to use a quote from Fight Club ). It is never too late to become what you might have been. ~George Eliot How full of trifles everything is! It is only one's thoughts that fill a room with something more than furniture. ~Wallace Stevens It may have happened, it may not have happened but it could have happened.  ~Mark Twain There are chapters in every life which are seldom read and certainly not aloud. ~Carol Shields There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. ~Nelson Mandela A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. ~Jean de La Fontaine There is a limit to how much you can change to be liked for who you really are. ~Robert Brault, Basically we are all looking

Heart Strings , written by Reynold Nathaniel, is essentially a love story. Love is the prevailing emotion. Love of family, love of friends, romantic love and love of music. Set in Ireland in the summer of 1908, the majority of the cast are called upon to perform with an Irish brogue. The actors do well with the accents and there are plenty of Irish references from whiskey to stew. The costumes create a sense of the period. It is inspiring to see a cast give their all to a new piece of Canadian theatre. The play is directed by David Ludwig, a seasoned actor who has appeared at Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Heart Strings is Ludwig’s first directing job and he directs with skill and ease. The play flows smoothly, the blocking is crisp and the actors are clearly guided by a sure hand. Lead actor Garth Wigle re-located all the way from Cornwall to perform in the show. He did so out of his love for the theatre. Wigle plays Sir William, who orders the prized Phonolistz Vi

I’ve caught the reading bug lately…ferociously consuming books like so many handfuls of candy. I’m glad to get back to this kind of diet. (I’d been depriving myself unnecessarily.) The whole “e-book” versus “real book” discussion has flared up again in the media.  I have to say, for me, books are it! Yes I want an e-reader – but I want my books too. I love the idea of a book almost as much as the story waiting inside. A book is simply a divine thing. It really is and I seriously can’t see the book not being in my future. I mean, aren’t record players coming back? Even if the book went away – it would come back – of course it would. Books are my friends. I remember one summer I went up north to work in Muskoka. Along with packing my fluorescent bathing suit (this was the early 90s when the 80s’ fashions were still kicking around), I brought a huge cardboard box of books. Books were my security blanket. Who knew if I would like my new job? My co-worker was a “he” and we’d