HAPPY 10th ANNIVERSARY, BLANK SPACES!
We reached out to our past contributors and asked them to share how Blank Spaces has influenced their creative journey. So many beautiful responses flooded our way. We are constantly stunned by the warmth of this community and count it a great privilege to be trusted with the work of so many talented Canadians. Flip through the responses below.
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Like many artists, I often struggle to understand my art in the broader cultural landscape. Is art still important in the world of AI generated images? Does art still hold impact in increasingly difficult times? Can art still speak volumes in such a loud world? Seeing my pieces alongside the work of my contemporaries changed my perception of my own craft. It reminded me of how crucial it is to create, no matter the current cultural circumstances. And most importantly, Blank Spaces continually reminds me of how many unique and important voices there are in this vast country of ours.
—Erica Helder | Issue 0504, June 2021, and issue 0703, March 2023
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Blank Spaces was the first place to publish some of my poetry. I’ve been looking for more places to publish, perhaps even a book of my own someday, but that “first time published” feeling will always belong to Blank Spaces. Thank you for supporting even small town writers and opening doors for creativity.
Amy Canne | Issue 0803, March 2024, and issue 0901, September 2024
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Blank Spaces was a warm and welcoming spot to publish "Life in Coffee", one of my first flash fictions. I was nervous about submitting, about seeing my work out in the world even if it was accepted. The story itself came from similar nerves, having been inspired by a snooty Toronto coffeehouse. I felt judged there, but stayed and wrote. So glad I did, and that "Life in Coffee" found a wonderful Canadian home.
Karen Walker | Issue 0502, December 2020
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For over 40 years I have been submitting individual poems to magazines, journals, reviews, anthologies, across Canada, but few have remained stand-outs, and Blank Spaces is certainly one. What do I mean? Well, it is always about daring, support, and respect. The editorial team during my interaction maintained all three. I am very thrilled to have had my work appear in a past issue.
Chad Norman | Issue 0502, December 2020
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Everything about my story, "Rozelle", was Canadian...except her origin. Her story is one of gratitude, to Canada and to the individual Canadians who were instrumental in creating a life for her after her survival of the Holocaust. In publishing "Rozelle", Blank Spaces afforded their readers a unique opportunity to learn about a remarkable event in Canadian history.
E.P. Lande | Issue 1002, December 2025
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Quite simply, I would not be a novelist without Blank Spaces. Alanna and her team took a chance on the opening chapter of a book with an absurd premise and believed in it so much that that issue led to my future-publisher reaching out to me in order to see the rest. A little over a year later, "Broken Water" existed not only as a document among documents but as a book amongst books. I have to thank Blank Spaces because I'm happy to thank Blank Spaces for being exactly what they set out to be. Literary Canada is better for it. Thank you.
Nick Perry | Issue 0803, March 2024
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Artistic skill, courtesy, and professionalism are the starting points and combine as the basis for empathy, equality, and fairness. She works hard for those in her sphere, and the magazine and press reflect her values, imbued with Alanna's funny, honest self-image.
Mitchell Toews | Issue 0204, June 2018; Issue 0404, June 2020; Issue 0501, September 2020
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Alanna has more than accomplished her mission "to celebrate and champion Canadian creatives." She's so encouraging and has published many emerging authors. I was thrilled when Alanna published my “Ken and Beth - a Love Story” as a feature, as well as several of my poems and my author profile on Jennifer Robson. How inspirational to be promoted in a "Coffee Chat" I've been in her stable since that initial issue in 2016. Alanna has given me the confidence to write, edit and submit my work for publication. She was supportive publishing the review Liz Torlee provided on my poetry collection - Reflections and Reveries. I was delighted when she invited me to be her 'regular reviewer' which keeps me on the lookout for new Canadian fiction. This has given purpose to my reading, and kept my writing skills sharp!
Gail M. Murrary | every issue since the beginning as our resident book reviewer
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Blank Spaces was one of the first magazines to publish a story I had written. Blank Spaces gave me the boost of confidence I needed to keep writing, to dream a little bigger, and persist through rejection. Seven years later I have a story collection, "What Happened To Us," coming out Fall 2026. Thank you, Alanna. We all need more Canadian lit mags like Blank Spaces.
Brian Moore | Issue 0401, September 2019
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I’d had some success as a non-fiction writer—two books and some articles—but a poet? Poetry was for real poets, right? Not hacks like me. Still, I’d been writing short lyric poems since high school and squirrelling them away, never showing them to the outside world. Then I read about Blank Spaces, a local literary magazine that was looking for the work of Canadian writers who had not been published before, and I thought, what the heck? So, I sent you a sheaf of poems, not expecting much. Then, six months later, I received a reply: Blank Spaces would like to publish, not one, not two, but ALL the poems I had submitted, over two issues of the magazine. Thank you, Blank Spaces. Now I have a new ambition: to publish a short book of poems before I die.
Ken Haigh | Issue 0902, December 2024; Issue 0903, March 2025
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The boost I received from publication was huge, and is still ongoing. I hit paydirt for the recovery of lost cofidence in my own writing. Thanks to Blank Spaces I feel much better about what I'm doing as a writer.
George Zancola | Issue 1003, March 2026; Issue 1004, June 2026
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Blank Spaces published my short story, "A Tale of Two Tables" in December, 2019. This was the first piece of my writing ever to be published. Alanna graciously worked with me on the final edit. I'll never forget the day the magazine arrived in the mail. The layout, the contents, the cover, glossy in my hand, and there on page 33 was my name in print. It was like winning the Booker prize! This first chance gave me confidence to continue writing. My book, OHANA, Love Grief and Hope is now published and on the shelf at Indigo. The Tale of Two Tables is an integral chapter in this memoir. Thank you Alanna & Blank Spaces for giving me courage and seeing the worth in my words.
Irene Reilly | Issue 0402, December 2019
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Blank Spaces accepted published two of my submissions when I had decided I wanted to start submitting my writing again. The process of submitting one's work can be so discouraging as we writers generally face a lot more rejection than acceptance. I felt that my work was joyfully received by Blank Spaces and I loved how supportive and welcoming their submission process was. I will certainly submit to this wonderful publication again!
Leslie Stark | Issue 1002, December 2025; Issue 1003, March 2026
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I'm a lifelong fan of Canadian literature, and I always aspired to be part of the scene by contributing my own work. Finally, I submitted to Blank Spaces and had a story published--a transformative moment that began a journey of having dozens of works accepted internationally. Thanks, Blank Spaces!
Deborah Blenkhorn | Issue 0801, September 2023; Issue 0903, March 2025
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What comes to mind when reflecting on Blank Spaces? Champion of aspiring writers ✓ Fiercely independent ✓ Unapologetically Canadian ✓ Here’s to many more decades of showcasing the diverse voices across our vast land.
Chris Meyer | Issue 0804, June 2024
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I have been a fan of Blank Spaces for a number of years now and have always regarded it as a top literary magazine, not just in Canada but globally. When I began my writing career, fairly late in life, I submitted to Blank Spaces, never truly believing I would be accepted. After all, this literary journal was for the best of the best. What a dream come true when two of my poems were published. This acceptance gave me the courage to continue writing, to continue my dream. Since then, I have received more acceptances and literary grants thanks to the encouragement I received by this publication. Blank Spaces will always hold a special place for me as a turning point in my career.
Elizabeth Rosell | Issue 1002, December 2025
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I had always loved painting and poetry but had paused that part of my life while raising my kids. After my mom passed away in 2012, and as my kids grew up, I found peace and purpose in art. I stumbled upon Blank Spaces in 2019; I had been looking for a space where I could share my newfound perspective in art. Going through the magazine, it felt like a genuine sense of community that Alanna had created. The barrier to submit felt manageable for someone like me who had never done art professionally, but always loved it deeply. I decided to take a chance and submit my artwork and a few of my poems. I had almost forgotten about it when I received a positive response from Alanna -- I still remember the day I got the email. Her response was so generous and welcoming. I always wanted to have my work shared through a magazine and my dream had come true. The cherry on top was that one of my paintings was going to be the cover of that issue. I was also fortunate to be part of the 2020 Just Words Anthology and September issues (with my art on the cover of the anthology!). This journey with Blank Spaces took me and my art to another level. I've never felt so encouraged before - it gave me the confidence I needed and through the exposure, so many doors were opened. Since then, I have exhibited in Montreal, Toronto and most amazingly, in Tokyo. All of this happened after I was given a chance by Alanna and her team. I'm sure many Canadian artists could say the same thing. Thank you to Alanna, the team and Blank Spaces for giving me the boost I needed to keep going. Happy tenth anniversary -- to at least 100 more!
Anjali Kapoor kohli | Issue 0401, September 2019; Issue 0501, September 2020
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Blank Spaces was the home of my first published piece in a literary magazine, a prose poem that I was very proud of at the time, and with its publication came a sense of accomplishment and confidence that I could take with me and apply to my writing career going forward, for which I'm incredibly grateful, and which is why magazines like it are so important for emerging writers!
Michael Schmidt | Issue 0704, June 2023
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I was so thrilled when Blank Spaces magazine emailed me about publishing one of my non-fiction pieces that I nearly fell backwards out of my chair. Alanna has been very supportive of my work, and has also published two other pieces of mine in the last few years. I have yet to see another magazine so beautifully crafted, sharing the words and colours of Canadian artists and authors!
Dennis Stein | Issue 0803, March 2024; Issue 0904, March 2025, Issue 1002, December 2025