I don’t believe it’s accidental that cursor seems to be derived from the root word “curse”. As I sit here, overwhelmed with a to-do list (that includes writing this introduction to the December issue), the cursor blinks at me in witchy fashion, and I am empty.

The complete table of contents for the December 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses series, published every year since 1976, is the most honoured literary project in America. They welcome up to six nominations (print or online) from little magazine and small book press editors throughout the world, and selected winners will appear in their annual publication.

The midst of a global pandemic is the worst time to try and raise funds, but we are so thankful for those of you who stepped up and gave generously. This means that, as we enter our fifth year of publication, our annual operation costs are close to covered. To say this is a relief is a gross understatement.

When you’re a dreamer, uncertainty can throw a major wrench into your fantasies. In this season of social distancing and hyper awareness, it’s easy to become jaded to anything beyond living in your pyjamas and eating bonbons until your jeans are only good for the donation bin. I’ve had to forcibly practice positive thinking and healthy habits; and though none of us know what tomorrow will bring, I’m making myself rethink old goals and set new ones.

The complete table of contents for the September 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

We are so pleased to announce that four writers have made the shortlist for our June 2020 Write Prompt Challenge.

Welcome to our new website! Learn what has changed and what you can expect in the future.

Blank Spaces strives to uphold the values of acceptance, inclusion, and love. We condemn any act or expression of hate and aim to lead with kindness.

Thankfully, the function of Blank Spaces has been little affected by the restrictions of Covid-19. We exist mostly in an online space and will be able to maintain our regular volunteer positions for the foreseeable future. And though the dreams of a physical location are currently on hold, there are many other ideas stirring in the pot.

The complete table of contents for the June 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

We are so pleased to announce that five writers have made the shortlist for our March 2020 Write Prompt Challenge.

We blinked and the whole world changed. Times are uncertain right now and we're all waiting on the edge of our seat to see if our efforts to flatten the curve are going to pay off. I feel so thankful to be in Canada. Our vast land mass should be working in our favour and it seems the majority of people are heeding recommendations.

Self-funded since its inaugural issue in 2016, Blank Spaces has achieved a great deal without major outside investors. I'm really proud of that. Now it's time to look ahead and talk about what it would take to see some real growth. While we have reached as far as the shores of Vancouver Island and the red sand beaches of P.E.I. we dream of saturating Canada with the words and art of its very talented and underappreciated creatives.

I have dreams. Most of them are much bigger than me, but I’m not afraid of them. By keeping such things to yourself, the chance of them seeing the light of day is slim. By saying what we want out loud, we give the universe a chance to answer.

We are thrilled that the fine folks at The Writers’ Trust/McClelland & Stewart have once again invited Blank Spaces to put forth three emerging writers we were privileged enough to feature in 2019.

The complete table of contents for the March 2020 issue of Blank Spaces.

We are so pleased to announce that four writers have made the shortlist for our December 2019 Write Prompt Challenge.

Nothing shows character like the way you behave in a parking lot close to Christmas. People cram and honk and curse and steal spots and leave shopping carts in inconvenient places. A season that should bring out the best in us seems to do the opposite in most.

It’s cliché to question the passage of time, but I can’t help myself: where does it go? I’m so excited that over the last few years I’ve been able to check off a substantial number of accomplishments from my bucket list. I’m less excited about the grey hair I found in my left eyebrow last week, or that my oldest son will be leaving me for university in the fall, or that, in less than a month, I’ll be turning forty. There is still so much to be done.