Diaspora Dialogues

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Dante Mottillo

Puzzling Diction

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For The Ages: Arthur Conan Doyle: Author, Patriot and Historian

The creative works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have long been requisites in many literary collections. Best known for creating the super sleuth Sherlock Holmes, the famed Scottish writer lived a story worthy of his own creative hand. Doug Wrigglesworth, the Chair Emeritus of the Friends of the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, will be discussing the life and times of the author, from the political to the social impacts of his writing. Following the lecture there will be a tour of the “Adventures with Sherlock Holmes” exhibition. Whether a fan of the keenly observant detective or his mellifluous creator, this is an opportunity for the ages.

When: February 12; from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library: Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium; 789 Yonge Street

Colourful Collaborations: Double Your Pleasure Poetry Contest

Grab a partner, because the Ontario Poetry Society has begun accepting entries for their Double Your Pleasure Poetry Contest. The rules are that you and a fellow poet must write a minimum of two poems collaboratively, with no limit to the amount of submissions. However, each poem has a maximum of 36 lines and must be co-authored by only 2 poets, alternating either by line or by stanza. All themes and genres are welcome, so be relentless.

Submission deadline: February 27, 2013

Entry fee: $10 for two poems (each additional poem at $5 each)
More info (including prizes) can be found here

Creative Flow

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These exercises aren’t that complex, but I have spun a number of short stories/poems from them. I’ll do one each for short story writers, and then one for all you poets.

Exercise 1

Try to recall the first ten things you did from the moment you woke up this morning. Try to exclude the more minor engagements that run together as a larger action. For instance, opening your eyes, lifting your covers, swinging your feet off your bed, can all be summarized as simply “awaking,” or “getting out of bed.” After you’ve compiled your list, you should be able to see a decent enough timeline, and probably start seeing a small movie running in your head. Your next task is to pick one or two of those events and delete them. Now replace them with the most bizarre, irrelevant thing you can think of. This allows you to be able to continue your story straight from what you did last, or what you haven’t done. Essentially though, you are twisting reality into a rather humorous, more personal narrative, or you may just stumble upon a murderous swarm of rats that infested your sock drawer through a dimensional rift. Just have fun with it.

Exercise 2

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that all important topics are covered by the 5 W’s and the singular H. This exercise is just as bound to them, and just as intriguing. Start off by selecting either Who, What, When, Where, Why, or How. Next, compile a list of approximately 15-25 different questions beginning with the same starter. Talking from experience, depending on how philosophical your questions are, this process could take anywhere from 7-30 minutes. They could be metaphysical ontological questions. You could ponder the existence of a second universe, or even question the validity of the one we know as reality. But once you have your list of however many questions you could come up with, the fun begins. Read it over a couple of times, and hopefully one or two of the questions will really strike you as intriguing. Whichever one you end up choosing will be the basis of your next poem. Remember, the questions that you are genuinely curious about, are the ones that will provide you with the most curious inspiration. You just have to write it all down and tweak it to perfection.

Similar Feelings of Similar Days

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I would like to start off by saying, “Happy New Year!” to all readers. I hope that whether your transition into 2013 was calm or exciting, your minds are fresh and open to the writing opportunities that I will be finding over the course of the year.

Golden Groups: Toronto Writers Co-operative

The Toronto Public Library brings together its writing elite to offer you a series of free workshops, guest authors, open-mic sessions, and publication opportunities. The Toronto Writers Co-operative is just as its tag suggests. This writing group provides you with a splendid opportunity to either listen to others’ work or share your own and be blessed with the typical writer’s first-aid kit of feedback and peer-critique. For more information visit here

When: On recurring dates; from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Upcoming dates: January 20, January 27, February 3, February 10
Where: Toronto Reference Library: B1-Lower Level; 789 Yonge Street

Writers Showcase: Boneshaker Reading Series

Don’t be intimidated by the title, for the only bones to be shaken—although your own—will be from the creativity of this astounding series. BookThug, for all of you readers that don’t know, is an editorial organisation with the vision to deepen the well of experimental literature of modern day, and broadcast literature for its artistic ingenuity and innovation. For this upcoming reading series only a select few will be presenting their works at the library stage. Mark Goldstein, Beatriz Hausner, Michael Boughn, and Bill Bissett are coming to the St. Clair/ Silverstone library to present their works.

When: January 22; from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Where: St. Clair/Silverstone TPL branch; 1748 St. Clair Avenue West

Compounding Classifications

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A Musical Dialect: Make Some Noise: Misha Bower & EONS

Everyone is going to be twisting in their seat as Misha Bower, musician and author will be reading the debut of her short story collection, Music for Uninvited Guests. Misha Bower is one of the current frontrunners for the artful collision of literature and music, which she will bring to the library stage. Performing with her bandmate, Matt Cully, they are EONS and will be raising awareness of Toronto-based music to Lillian H. Smith library.

When: December 14, 2012; from 8:00 pm-9:00 pm
Where: Lillian H. Smith TPL branch; 239 College Street

Scripts & Scribbles: Play Reading

Just as you may have thought, it’s going to be all about play reading, and what could be better? How about play reading in a group? No longer do you have to worry about trying to re-enact all the voices yourself. Take part in the collaborative joy of reading a variety of plays, and entering a zealous wardrobe of new stories and identities.

When: Every Tuesday; from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Upcoming dates: December 11, December 18
Where: Yorkville Art Gallery
For more information: Call 416-393-7660

Learning How to Colour Eggs

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There truly is no specific location for inspiration to strike the creative writer. It could come while riding the subway, when you’re about to fall asleep, or even while taking a shower. If it was as easy as walking to the local shrine and paying tribute to the God of Creativity and then you have your prizewinning story, then there would be many more bestsellers bludgeoning bookstore shelves.

I only bring this up because I find that many young writers can be set on how and where they write. Unfortunately, inspiration may come from the busiest street market, or under the heaviest rainfall, leaving writers isolated from the comfort of their common locale.

It’s easier to take a reminder from one of the most creative writer’s most interesting tales: Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. If you haven’t read this magnificent story, then please do. Although spun in rhymes, and seemingly only to discuss the postulation of where is the best place to eat green food, I believe that it shows that there is not a specific setting for certain tasks.

The common writer should not try to press their brain into the ground to fertilize their thoughts, for if there isn’t anything there at the time, nothing is going to come out. Creativity is as natural a thing as a chicken laying an egg. Whether that egg is green or not, is another story, since we can always learn how to colour our food.

Descriptive Inspiration

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Booktalking: Kristyn Dunnion—Write it Like You Mean it

The extraordinarily talented Kristyn Dunnion offers a unique writing workshop that connects an author reading to an entertaining set of writing exercises. For all of you that don’t know Kristyn, she has broadcasted her talent over time as a writer, musician and performance artist. Currently having published three novels and a short story collection, she has much to offer to any aspiring young writers. Don’t miss this triple-threat opportunity!!!

When: December 4, 2012; from 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Where: Kennedy/Eglinton TPL branch; 2380 Eglinton Avenue East

Author’s Spotlight: Boneshaker Reading Series

Poetry is everywhere. It’s in the damp asphalt we walk on; in the glimmers of light we see through the decaying boughs of trees. It’s even within the subtle undertones of your most recent dialogue. More importantly though, poetry is making its way to the St. Clair/Silverthorn library.

Sonia Di Placido and Guy Ewing will be reading from their own works, to show you that poetry can truly be found in the grandest of things, or maybe the most seemingly insignificant of places.

When: December11; from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Where: St. Clair/ Silverthorn TPL branch; 1748 St. Clair Avenue West

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