by Kevin Spenst | Apr 7, 2010 | slightly skewed from serious, writing advice
No, the title above doesn’t refer to me. I’m stupefyingly optimistic, but that’s another story. L’Optimist Idioteque in question is none other than Alexandro Jodorowski, one of the most unique figures in the contemporary avant-garde scene. In...
by Kevin Spenst | Apr 3, 2010 | poetry
Perhaps T.S.Eliot, employed at Lloyd’s of London for eight years, was lamenting the influx of income tax forms in his famous poem “The Waste Land”. In any case, we now have National Poetry month to turn Eliot’s cruel adage on its head. In...
by Kevin Spenst | Mar 24, 2010 | writing s(c)een(e) in Vancouver
Essayist, editor, critic, and poet Carmine Starnino is reading tonight as part of Locution’s Reading Series at Pulp Fiction Books (2422 Main Street) 7:00 pm.
by Kevin Spenst | Mar 15, 2010 | poetry
Thanks to one of my classmates at the University of British Columbia, I’m currently on a Ken Babstock binge, a poet who’s fast becoming my favorite. On the weekend when I was playing pool in a pub where brawls are just a whiff away, I didn’t hesitate...
by Kevin Spenst | Mar 10, 2010 | just me talking to you, writing s(c)een(e) in Vancouver
Here’s something that’s a little embarrassing. After eight years of writing in various guises online I’ve never once plugged a single bookstore. They’ve provided me with places to meet friends on a rainy day, afternoons of musings through...
by Kevin Spenst | Mar 3, 2010 | creative non-fiction, grad school at UBC
What’s the difference between a blog posting and a personal essay? As I review a series of essays for my creative non-fiction class at UBC, this question comes to mind. I review the points provided in our course pack by our ever-thorough (and enthusiastic)...
by Kevin Spenst | Feb 20, 2010 | writing s(c)een(e) in Vancouver
Here’s something to check out if you should find yourself on Granville Island Sunday afternoon. Below is the blurb on the Thursday’s Writing Collective page. The Thursdays Writing Collective is participating in the Cultural Olympiad at the art installation...
by Kevin Spenst | Feb 12, 2010 | writing s(c)een(e) in Vancouver
Vancouver’s poet laureate, Brad Cran, has stated that he won’t participate in the Olympic celebrations. In case you haven’t heard, here’s what’s behind his decision. Obviously, the whole question of the Olympics is a hugely complicated...
by Kevin Spenst | Feb 10, 2010 | writing s(c)een(e) in Vancouver
If you find yourself in East Vancouver anytime soon and you’re interested in a quiet little place to read or write, I can think of no better place to recommend than Geoffrey Farmer’s Every Letter in the Alphabet. It’s a temporary gallery set up for...
by Kevin Spenst | Feb 9, 2010 | fiction, writing advice
Lit lovers and makers are in for a treat tonight when Entitled Opinions features author Tobias Wolff, who’ll be discussing his fiction, J.D. Salinger and the art of short stories. That’s today from 4pm to 5pm on KZSU 90.1 FM in the SF Bay Area or you can...
