Sarah Selecky's Blog
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Apr.18.2012
Today I led the third day of my short fiction workshop at The Banff Centre. The Banff Centre, for those of you who don’t know it, is an exquisite artists’ retreat built in the middle of the mountains in Alberta, Canada.
There are several writing workshops happening here right now, but there...
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Apr.06.2012
While studying at the University of British Columbia, I took a writing course from an unconventional teacher named Peter Levitt. It was a translation class, for people who didn’t necessarily know how to read in more than one language.
It was one of the most profound writing classes I’ve ever...
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Mar.21.2012
Today, I am going to give you a piece of writing advice that I’ve kept private for so many years, I’m almost embarrassed to share it with you.
First, know that I live for hot weather. I love sunshine, and my love is unconditional and all-encompassing. Give me summer heat waves, oppressive humidity...
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Mar.07.2012
I have entered (and lost) a lot of writing contests over the years. But there are two that I’ve never forgotten: one was judged by Aimee Bender, and one was judged by Margaret Atwood.
Why were they unforgettable?
Because I’d found a chance to show my work to a writer I loved. In order to...
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Feb.22.2012
I’m writing you from a lovely little rented flat in a magical Mexican mountain town where we’re staying for two weeks. Allegedly, San Miguel is built on top of a bed of quartz crystals – some people here say that is part of its magic. I haven’t actually seen any quartz since I’ve been here, but...
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Feb.13.2012
How are you and writing doing these days?
Do you need a little romantic getaway, just you and your notebook?
I thought so.
Listen, you can make Valentine’s Day be about anything you want.Make it about you and your writing.
Here are three signs that you should be writing right now:
1. You...
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Feb.08.2012
Once in a while, I find someone’s story in a journal, or read it in a workshop, and even though the writer doesn’t have a book out yet, the story makes me think: whoa, this is the real thing.
I met Daniel Griffin in the UBC Creative Writing MFA program, where he was refining his...
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Feb.07.2012
Last week, I flew back to snowy Ontario from Hawaii because I was invited to visit my alma mater with This Cake. What an honour/trip it was to give a reading and lecture to current students at my old college!
It’s been 15 years since I graduated with my BA in Cultural Studies. I...
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Jan.11.2012
It’s almost time to say goodbye to this year. In a few days, it will be 2012.
I liked 2011 (I have a thing for elevens). For me, this year has been busy, pressured and fast. It was also a year of travel, change, and accomplishment.
This year, I wrote when I didn’t have any time to write. I wrote...
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Jan.11.2012
These are 7 of the most illuminating pieces of advice I’ve ever received from writers about writing. This is wisdom that shaped my career and life (probably more than these advice-givers even know).
I remember each of the following conversations with vivid clarity. I can see exactly where I was...
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Jan.11.2012
Time is the substance from which I am made. Time is a river that carries me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger that devours me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire. – Jorge Luis Borges
Your life is busy. More than usual – more than ever.People...
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Jan.11.2012
This week I am answering a letter that I received from Stacy, a writer in Toronto. She asked me such a good question, and I wanted to share it with you.
The question: what do you do with an unfinished story that you started a while ago and put away to rest? What do you do when you come back...
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Dry and funny, exact and exacting, the 10 short stories in This Cake is for the Party elevate economy of expression itself to an art. ”
—Giller Prize Citation
About Sarah
I’m the author of the bestselling collection This Cake Is for the Party and the creator of www.storyisastateofmind.com.
Causes Sarah Selecky Supports
The Farm Sanctuary
Nature Canada Bird Conservation
Best Friends Animal Society