Idioms that irk me (and I’m not easily irked)
There are two idioms that have been bothering me for weeks, months even. But let’s talk about something more pleasant—cookies.
Idioms that irk me (and I’m not easily irked) Read More »
writing
Words are a writer’s tool box
People who write a lot have different perspectives and relationships with words than those who simply read or say them. If the pen is truly
Words are a writer’s tool box Read More »
As Granny said, mind your ascenders and descenders
“Kehheth” had some problems with his ascenders when learning to write as a child, leaving evidence on the wall. Anyone who has ever worked in
As Granny said, mind your ascenders and descenders Read More »
Consumed by craft
Heather O’Neill is pleased to be returning to the Yukon this year for another engagement during the Yukon Writers’ Festival and Young Author’s Conference. She
Like porcupine courtship, timing is everything
Every now and then, a fella happens to hit the sweet spot, even if it is more by good luck than good management. I rest
Like porcupine courtship, timing is everything Read More »
The Northern Seduction
Sebastian Fricke and Rose Seguin share their journey, their “inner compasses” with us as they travel and write on their way through Alaska and the
The Northern Seduction Read More »
An Old-fashioned public reading at Jack London Square
Of the five writers who have attracted folks to come and visit buildings and gravesites in the Klondike, that are attached to their names, Jack London was the first.
An Old-fashioned public reading at Jack London Square Read More »
Zsuzsi Gartner: Aspiring to the darkly tragi-comic
Zsuzsi Gartner built her early career as a writer in journalism, working as a newspaper reporter, then a TV current affairs producer and then a magazine writer and editor, but has been interested in creative writing from an early age.
Zsuzsi Gartner: Aspiring to the darkly tragi-comic Read More »
Owen Laukkanen: “Keep writing and edit your own work ruthlessly”
Owen Laukkanen is unabashedly a writer of commercial fiction, also known as “genre” fiction, having produced a novel every year since The Professionals came out (and was nominated for four major genre awards) in 2012.
Owen Laukkanen: “Keep writing and edit your own work ruthlessly” Read More »
Tyrell Johnson: ‘Write the story you would want to read’
Lots of writers can point to a specific event or person that sent them in the direction of a career in writing; Tyrell Johnson isn’t one of those people.
Tyrell Johnson: ‘Write the story you would want to read’ Read More »
Michael Winter: Keeping track of things in the world
Newfoundland and Labrador writer Michael Winter will be a mentor at the 2018 Yukon Young Authors’ Conference at F.H. Collins Secondary School May 3, 4
Michael Winter: Keeping track of things in the world Read More »
Jamella Hagen: Part of Writing is Being Ready to Write
The local writer selected to be a mentor at this year’s Young Authors Conference is Jamella Hagen, who teaches creative writing at Yukon College.
Jamella Hagen: Part of Writing is Being Ready to Write Read More »
Gearing up to explore ideas and the written word
PHOTO: Dan Davidson The Yukon Writers’ Festival takes place May 2 through 5, with events throughout the Yukon In 1990, a number of organizations
Gearing up to explore ideas and the written word Read More »
An afternoon of coffee and fresh ideas
On Sunday, December 10, you are invited to come out to the roastery at Bean North Café and listen to readings by several poets and writers.
An afternoon of coffee and fresh ideas Read More »
Hunting in the Yukon – Part 1
An excerpt of Manfred Hoefs’ recently released book Yukon’s Hunting History. Yukon’s history, time scale & events are unique.
Hunting in the Yukon – Part 1 Read More »
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 4 of 4
It occurred to me while watching the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians with my grandchildren – their first World Series
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 4 of 4 Read More »
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 3 of 4
The kids needed “Baseball 101” It was my duty, as a retired sportswriter, to author it, a kiddie book about baseball(work in progress)
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 3 of 4 Read More »
High Adventure
At the age of 82, Peter Steele says he has very little memory of his own parents. That’s partly why he decided a few years
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 2 of 4
These kids needed “Baseball 101” before their 2nd World Series. It was my duty, as a 70-year-old retired sportswriter, to author it for them.
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 2 of 4 Read More »
Fellow retirees: How engaged do you feel?
I’m sitting in my skivvies, contemplating what pearls of wisdom to cram into a 400-word space. As I advise my writing students, when you feel
Fellow retirees: How engaged do you feel? Read More »
North Words
“Exploring the Frontiers of Language” will be the theme of this year’s edition of the North Words Writers Symposium, which will be held in Skagway
Shake Out Those Memories and Shine ’em Up
Until fairly recently, I had no interest whatever in the idea of writing a book of memoirs. Like most people, I assumed nobody would care
Shake Out Those Memories and Shine ’em Up Read More »
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 1 of 4
2016 World Series (Chicago Cubs / Cleveland Indians) – I wasn’t doing a good job of explaining baseball to my grandchildren
Grandpa’s Baseball Book – Part 1 of 4 Read More »
Good Advice
Jamie Bastedo is not new to the Yukon. He first came to the territory 35 years ago as a biology graduate student. “Think Never Cry
Class of 2009: Katie Pope
As I was trying on new glasses a few weeks ago at Northern Lights Optometry, fashion specialist Katie Pope helped me. I liked her instantly
Class of 2009: Katie Pope Read More »
Using Stories to Make People Think
This is the second of a five part series by Dan Davidson about the professional authors participating in the Yukon Writers’ Festival and the Young Authors
Using Stories to Make People Think Read More »
A Mentor for Yukon Young Writers
Born in England, but transplanted to Newfoundland when she was very young, Kathleen Winter credits libraries with kick starting her interest in writing. “We moved
A Mentor for Yukon Young Writers Read More »
History Offers Timeless Perspectives
Stories are invaluable teachers, says B.C. author Caroline Woodward, they have the ability to “give us whole worlds.” Old stories, too, are relevant artefacts that
History Offers Timeless Perspectives Read More »
Looking for the Next Margaret Atwood
Krystal McKenna, a Grade 1 teacher at Jack Hulland Elementary School, sets young authors off on a great writing adventure. At the beginning of the
Looking for the Next Margaret Atwood Read More »
Experiencing creative writing in Namibia
I am sitting in the Lemon Tree Restaurant in Windhoek, Namibia, waiting for my fellow writers to show up. It is raining, and everybody is
Experiencing creative writing in Namibia Read More »
Cedric Wants You
Whoooo the heck is Cedric, anyway? We’ll come back to that later. About a year after Beth Hawkes moved to Salt Spring Island with her
On the Quest For A Good Story
Parents and teachers, do you have a budding Jack London in your midst? Kids in Grades 1-7 are invited to enter the Yukon Quest Short
On the Quest For A Good Story Read More »
Writing Down the Soul
Anyone who has ever put pen to paper knows it can be a daunting experience. To stare at a blank page waiting for the strike
Writing Down the Soul Read More »
Life Lines
Faye Ferguson understands the value of documenting one’s life stories, for both the writer and the eventual reader. Ferguson is a personal historian based in
How to Write a Memorable Christmas Letter
The Christmas and New Year’s letter was a tradition in England that predated the first Christmas card in 1843, according to www.Smithsonian.com. With the expansion
How to Write a Memorable Christmas Letter Read More »
NaNoWriMo Memoirs
It was one of my former writing students who managed to shame me into signing up for NaNoWriMo this year. If you’re not familiar with
Write through the winter
While others hunker down against winter’s wrath, the local literary scene is hotter than ever. The winter Writers’ Roundtable organized by the Friends of the
Write through the winter Read More »
The Magical Fall Wind
Boreas always tires of summer on the same day each year, the same day a very special baby girl was born. After a bite off
The Magical Fall Wind Read More »
You Are What You Wrote When You Were a Child
Ten years ago husband and wife Dan and Jenna Misener were at Jenna’s parents’ house for Christmas. The couple was in Jenna’s room, going through
You Are What You Wrote When You Were a Child Read More »
Chasing Stories in Skagway
My shakedown cruise for our trailer has come to be my annual pilgrimage to the town of Skagway to attend the North Words Writers’ Symposium,
Chasing Stories in Skagway Read More »
The Last Word in Wordsmithing
Most writers would be delighted if something they wrote could survive 10 minutes after they shuffle off this mortal coil. But 400 years? To use
The Last Word in Wordsmithing Read More »
It’s About You’re Grammar: Messages from a Dessert Island
Grammar jokes are all over the internet: How do you console a grammarphile? Pat them gently on the back, saying “there, their, they’re” Let’s eat,
It’s About You’re Grammar: Messages from a Dessert Island Read More »
Nurturing Good Writing
Unlike many a published author, Saskatoon writer Sandy Bonny didn’t study to become one. It just happened. “I haven’t got an English degree,” she says,
Nurturing Good Writing Read More »
Didee & Didoo: DIDOO NEVER HAD THESE THINGS
DIDOO COULDN’T WRITE OR READ SO THESE THINGS SHE DIDN’T NEED. DIDOO NEVER HAD A MEASURING CUP. DIDOO NEVER HAD MEASURING SPOONS. DIDOO NEVER HAD
Didee & Didoo: DIDOO NEVER HAD THESE THINGS Read More »
How’s Retirement Working Out for You?
The other day, I overheard a couple of guys in a coffee shop talking about their impending retirement. One is about to pack it in
How’s Retirement Working Out for You? Read More »
Say it with Snail Mail
When I was a teenager I had a lot of pen pals. I kept all the letters I received, bundled together with a ribbon. Some
Say it with Snail Mail Read More »
Write from the Soul
What’s an English teacher to do once she retires: take a trip through the Northwest Passage? Ruth Armson did that, and wrote about it. Compile
Write from the Soul Read More »
Wild Cards
The 4th Dawson Daily News Print & Publishing Symposium, part of the annual Yukon Riverside Arts Festival, is taking a walk on the wild side.
Off to Skagway to Explore Language
By the time you read this I’ll be “Exploring the Frontiers of Language” in Skagway, attending this year’s edition of the North Words Writers Symposium.
Off to Skagway to Explore Language Read More »
Grief Writing in Dawson
Jacob Scheier wrote his first collection of poems about the loss of his mother; he was 20. She had gotten sick when he was in
Grief Writing in Dawson Read More »
Brave Old Words
Compared to what I did last time (playing my banjo and singing in front of a rowdy bar crowd) the prospect of reading poetry to
Mind Stretching Poetry
What does knitting have in common with writing poetry? Both must be done carefully. One mistake can ruin the whole image. Jamie Sharpe knitted a
Mind Stretching Poetry Read More »
The Play’s the Thing
Any parent knows that watching offspring leave the nest unleashes a jumble of emotions: pride, relief, disbelief, grief, envy, nostalgia, apprehension. Sometimes abject terror. You
The Play’s the Thing Read More »
Turning Her Life Into Stories
As a former English teacher, long time library patron, book reviewer, informal Berton House liaison, and editor of The Klondike Sun, it often falls to
Turning Her Life Into Stories Read More »
Landscape and Solitude
In 1938, when Anik See’s maternal grandparents wanted to get married, they had to satisfy the authorities in their German homeland that neither side had
Landscape and Solitude Read More »
Sasquatch Love
Looking for a book that fits into a backpack for a camping trip? Rachel and Ursula Westfall`s first self-published novella, Estella of Halftree Village, is
Turning fact into non-fiction
At the age of 30, Jerome Stueart met his mother for the first time. It’s an unusual story, but not unique. So here’s the twist:
Turning fact into non-fiction Read More »
Metaphorically speaking, it’s like this …
In the days of LPs, when groovy was used to describe a wonderful feeling, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were also singing about a rare
Metaphorically speaking, it’s like this … Read More »
Turbulence
She unscrewed the cap on her Coke and it “fff’ed” as air escaped. Inflight turbulence, she reckoned. The captain had warned them at takeoff. People
Simon says, Put your writing first
If you asked your spouse if you could take five years off work in order to devote your time to writing, what would they say?
Simon says, Put your writing first Read More »
Thine Art
Sonnet 1 The grace of she who moves like silken water, her feet the slaves to wild demanding beats. The master of motion and most
Coyote Teaches Us About Love in the Time of Collaring
Close to Spider Man: stories, Ivan E. Coyote, Arsenal Pulp Press, 2005 (second printing) 93 pages. What I enjoy about Ivan Coyote’s stories is their
Coyote Teaches Us About Love in the Time of Collaring Read More »
Easy as 1, 2, 3!
At What’s Up Yukon, it’s as easy as one, two, three. That’s right, this one’s about numbers. And … it gets complicated. Again, this is
Believing in the dog
First Prize PSAC Whitehorse Regional Pride Committee Short Story Contest It’s night. A man walks his black lab in the forest — and when the
Believing in the dog Read More »
Nebula of novelists take the NaNoWriMo challenge
What do you call a group of novelists? A narrative of novelists? A nonsense? A nuance? A nebula? A collective name would come in handy,
Nebula of novelists take the NaNoWriMo challenge Read More »
Taking Medicine to New Heights
Cambridge medical students are expected to be well-schooled in the art of social climbing, but Peter Steele, who studied medicine at the University of Cambridge,
Taking Medicine to New Heights Read More »
Unspoken universal language
I released the cold brass doorknob and walked up a half-step into an invisible wall of ammonia, iodine, freezer-burned meat and brown-sauce stench so thick
Unspoken universal language Read More »
A Journey That Began With Press and Politics
Flo Whyard was born in 1917, in London, Ontario, and grew up in a family of newspapermen and political junkies. Her father sat in the
A Journey That Began With Press and Politics Read More »
‘Forward, onward, says the wind.’
For our children: Tashina, Alysia, Aprile and Joshua My eyes are closed, but I can feel the gentle wind blow my hair lightly into my
‘Forward, onward, says the wind.’ Read More »
Journalists should examine themselves
Guest Column by Tammy Beese I agree with some of the points made by Darrell Hookey in his column last week, “It’s worth the paper
Journalists should examine themselves Read More »
It’s worth the paper it’s written on
I remember back in the day when you could buy a great hamburger … a great hamburger as defined as a handful of meat, infused
It’s worth the paper it’s written on Read More »
Blocked But Not Beaten
Right now, a blinking cursor is doing its very best to drive me insane. This cursor, constantly sitting at the very end of my thoughts,
Blocked But Not Beaten Read More »
World of Words: Helping children explore the past in the present
“Yukoners are definitely hitting above their weight,” polar scientist David Hik told Claire Eamer after the Canadian Science Writers’ Association (CSWA) presented her with the
World of Words: Helping children explore the past in the present Read More »
World of Words: Poetry in a Slant Room
Yukon poet Michael Eden Reynolds’ first book, Slant Room, released today by The Porcupine’s Quill, shows us a stark natural world, and us in it.
World of Words: Poetry in a Slant Room Read More »
Launch into winter with local writers
“We’re a productive bunch!” said Claire Eamer when she was asked to attend the Yukon Authors book-signing bash at Mac’s Fireweed Books this Saturday, Dec.
Launch into winter with local writers Read More »
World of Words: Adventures in YA territory
Young Adult (YA) readers love adventure, and a look at work by Northern authors Joanne Bell, Keith Halliday and Anita Daher shows why. YA stories
World of Words: Adventures in YA territory Read More »
World of Words: Graphic novels – no longer restricted reading
When graphic novelist and Grade 7 teacher Rebecca Hicks was in school, reading “comics” under the desk would have earned her a trip to the
World of Words: Graphic novels – no longer restricted reading Read More »
World of Words: Crime writing in a small town
Justine Davidson has been the Whitehorse Star court reporter for three years. Recently I moderated her presentation at the Yukon Mystery Lounge. Below are highlights
World of Words: Crime writing in a small town Read More »
World of Words: Ynklude writes books for all abilities
Writing is a challenge. Raw, chaotic emotions demand to be shaped into a coherent story. It’s even more challenging when the writer has to overcome
World of Words: Ynklude writes books for all abilities Read More »
Yukon Yearbook, Yukon Author showcase 2010
Yukon writers are prolific, offering a new book every month or so. From John Firth to Clea Roberts, a showcase of Yukon books from 2010.
Yukon Yearbook, Yukon Author showcase 2010 Read More »
A Celebration of Northern Words
I’m sitting in my trailer in Whitehorse as I type these words, but I can almost hear Buckwheat Donahue hoowwlliingg with delight all the way
A Celebration of Northern Words Read More »
World of Words: From Auction to Awesome
Whatever happened to that English guy in Australia who sold his life on eBay? He moved to the Yukon and wrote a book about it.
World of Words: From Auction to Awesome Read More »
Writing Circumpolar Space
Temperature and light extremes are similar across circumpolar countries, but comparing the waterfronts of Whitehorse and Reykjavák might reveal interesting contrasts in what “North” means.
Writing Circumpolar Space Read More »
Start a blog
Blogging is “a dangerous medium for personal exposure.” So says Andrew Robulack, a Whitehorse technophile, columnist and long-time blogger. He’s nailed the definition. Broadcasting your
Creativity and Commitment
The common thread that links the stories and columns in What’s Up Yukon each week boils down to two words – creativity and commitment. From
Creativity and Commitment Read More »
World of Words: Home truths About eBooks
The publishing industry is in some kind of spring flurry. In February this year, Amazon announced that, for the first month ever, their eBook sales
World of Words: Home truths About eBooks Read More »
A Literary Study
When Bob Hayes was in grade school, he was nearly accused of plagiarism for his story “The Flickering Flame.” The author Hayes emulated? Jack London.
A Little Off the Top: A Call to Arms
Backpackers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your shame. I’ve been a regular backpack wearer for only a year, since forsaking
A Little Off the Top: A Call to Arms Read More »
CanCon in CanLit
Much attention has been paid recently to the topic of Canadian content and national pride in literature. It seems we’re writing about everywhere except Canada.
Hate to say I told you so
In September of 2008, I was working construction in Edmonton when the bottom fell out of the economy. There were a few workers on my
Hate to say I told you so Read More »
A debut Yukon novel
Enthusiasts of outdoor stories, adventure and romance will find all three at the preview of Roy Ness’s first novel, Rutting Season, at the Parking Lot
A debut Yukon novel Read More »
World of Words: Guerrilla editing: Get what you want
If you sat down to write the Great Canadian Novel, would it come out in a gush of first draft? Or are you one of
World of Words: Guerrilla editing: Get what you want Read More »
Sunshine sketches of a northern town
Ask David Thompson what he’s read, and you’ll get a varied list: George Orwell, J.D. Salinger and the adventures of Antarctic explorers. Doesn’t sound like
Sunshine sketches of a northern town Read More »
World of Words: Readings in parking lot country
With the simple tools of a canopy, lectern and public announcement system, six authors have banded together to create a Friday night reading program where
World of Words: Readings in parking lot country Read More »
Speed bumps 101
Our neighbourhood has speed bumps (and more than a few potholes) that make slow driving an easy choice. As annoying as they may be, at
‘Irreplaceable’ does not mean ‘good’
It was a requirement of administration that required a lot more soul-searching than I thought possible. Our administrator, Monica Garcia, proposed a question to me:
‘Irreplaceable’ does not mean ‘good’ Read More »
; (No, I’m not winking at you.)
The semicolon has three major functions: to link thematically related thoughts, to introduce conjunctions or transitional phrases and to avoid confusion in lists.
; (No, I’m not winking at you.) Read More »