Tag: wetaskiwin

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A Night Out in the Wonk with WONK (but feel free to bring another date).

The time to stop talking and to start doing  is finally upon us. Because we recognize this, WONK has been hard at work putting out WONK6, which features great work from a number of writers and illustrators. The theme was loosely based around children’s literature and our contributors blew away our expectations, turning us in directions we never, well, expected. In fact, W6 might be one of the most diverse issues yet, filled with poems by Lyle Weis and Annie Polushin, short fiction by Cindy Dextraze, a graphic novel excerpt from Gail Sidonie Sobat and (illustrated by) Spyder Yardley-Jones, and beautiful cover art from Teresa Sturby. Although themes can sometimes create boundaries, it seems as though none of our contributors noticed  and WONK6 has reaped the benefit. As usual, the new WONK is available (for free) in the Wetaskiwin Library, for free as an online subscription or, for a very small cost, mailed right to your door. To do either of the latter, simply click here.

Also in the spirit of “doing stuff”, and besides getting WONK6 out, we are working on a couple of other things. The first of these might seem rather predictable given that our last effort was called WONK6. You guessed it, our next big thing is… WONK7. But that’s not all; along with the release of W7, WONK is hosting  an evening of poetry with Glen Sorestad and Jenna Butler at Wetaskiwin’s (licensed) Pipestone Food Company. Since we aren’t completely accustomed to doing things, the idea of doing three things (and two at the same time!) is a little frightening. That said, we are going to do our something anyway and we think (based completely on gut feelings and the fact that Glen Sorestad and Jenna Butler are on board) that our something must be pretty cool.

We promise to get more information out soon regarding this event, but, for now, the basic details will have to suffice (thank goodness those same details are on a mighty fine poster). We hope to see you there!

UPDATE: Here’s the link for the official event on Facebook!

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WONK

we’re sorry. we make no apologies

despite what may seem an elaborate literary scheme, we have not embezzled your dollars and gone on a fancy summer vacation. (disclaimer- we did go to bashaw.) we have simply been enjoying our summer and sadly it has been at the expense of your reading pleasure. (we are secretly hoping that you take a summer reading hiatus like we do.)

we are sorry. however, we are back at it and hope to be caught up on all our correspondence soon. we owe issues to contributors and readers alike. we assure you that those who paid for 12 issues will receive 12 issues. it won’t be within the previous 1 year timeline (we realize now that was a bit ambitious for procrastinators like us) but there will be 12.

with that said, we are working on issue 6. our dream is to have it out by the 10th of september. why?

wetaskiwin is having it’s first arts and agriculture festival on the 11th and we at WONK would like to have a new issue to distribute. we are hoping to snag some local readers and writers. in turn, the rest of our loyal followers will finally receive the much anticipated next issue. it’s a win/win situation!

if you don’t want to wait for issue 6 to show up in your mailbox (be it the one on your house or the one in your computer) then we we cordially invite you down to wetaskiwin on september 11th. we will be there with your personal copy and an anxious smile. maybe even a t-shirt… oh the promises… we foresee so many more apologies…

isn’t this fun?!

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WONK5 Seeks Roommate Who Likes to Read

WONK5, after an arduous journey from the contributors’ pens to the eager hands of WONK editors, is now only one step away  from its new home. Some of the WONK5 progeny now sit in the Wetaskiwin library and others are being prepared (with a bonus addition) for mailing to subscribers and contributors. The only remaining step required to completely fulfill WONK5’s destiny is for you to go pick one up (or, for subscribers, to just sit and check the mail every couple of days to see if it’s there yet).

And, while you are sitting either waiting for the mail or basking in the after-glow of having just read WONK5, you might just think about picking up your own pen and finishing off that poem/story/drawing/moustache on your cat – that has been nagging at you – and sending it to us for WONK6. In fact, for this instalment, you don’t even need to type your submission (one less thing, right?). One of the themes that is gaining headway for WONK6 focuses on handwritten originals (scanned and emailed or real-mailed). With that in mind, it might just be time to brush off your pen to see if it still works. Other themes that are trailing, but only slightly, are letters (any type you can think of: correspondence, abcd, etc) and children’s literature. Of course, themes can only take you/us so far, so don’t feel too hemmed in by ours.

WONK

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Wonk-web gaining momentum and Wonk-ink5 nearly-almost ready.

March 28, 2010 – It’s official, wonk-web is going to be featuring an interview with the talented Edmontonian poet, Marita Dachsel.  In addition to the interview, wonkers can look forward to some provocative excerpts from her poetry as well as select previews from Wonk5.

On the analog/print end of things, we have several very talented people confirmed: poetry from Camille Martin, Rachael Sylvia Lee and Marita Dachsel; short prose from Thomas Trofimuk and Emily Rush; and artwork from Andrew Topel and Ian Pierce.  The print version of Wonk5 is shaping up to be released sometime in the next few days or so, with wonkweb coming shortly after – don’t worry though, we will let you know all about it when it happens.

Oh yeah, we also have a theme that is absolutely sure to bring deep meaning to all that you read in Wonk5. Unless, of course, it doesn’t. Then it will probably hinder your reading and make you wonder why we’ve imposed such a horrible thing on you. In case of the latter, or either, actually, feel free to disregard the theme altogether and just read the great stuff inside Wonk5. Here’s the theme:  family / connections / relationships, if it helps.

If you’ve forgotten where you can pick up a copy of wonk5, please see Lucas’ thorough yet non-authoritarian directions below.

  1. Pick them up for free at various places in Wetaskiwin (including the library, and Caelin Artworks) and Camrose (Merchants Tea House);
  2. Get them from a friend who has a copy of WONK who is either not looking or is finished reading, his mind sufficiently blown;
  3. Subscribe for free to the electronic version. Which has the same content but not same awesome layout and/or smell.
  4. Subscribe for a small fee. Have your own personal copy of each WONK (there will be 12) delivered right to your mailbox in all its paper and black and white (and maybe some colour) glory. Included in the envelope will be a) a few extra copies to do whatever it is you kids do with extra WONKS, b) a personal hand written letter from the editors or someone they have met and convinced to write a letter and c) any back issues that you don’t already have.

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WONK

Who, What, Where, When, Wonk.

Why no why? When it comes to Wonk, there is no why – only great submissions and loyal readers. Of course having more of both would never hurt. So, those of you who have yet to read Wonk4 (or W3, W2, or W1), please take the time to do so now. And, those of you who have yet to submit for Wonk5, there is still time and a bit of space left for your original piece, so send it in! (but only if you want to – I don’t want the exclamation point to force you into anything).

The other thing, beside submissions and readers, that we Wonk-ers think we need more of, is online presence. It seems unfair to keep engaging in literary/artistic one-night-stands with so many talented poets, writers, photographers and artists. What can we say? We’re needy, we want to cuddle a little. Actually, forget that metaphor, it’s a bit creepy, but we really do want to take the opportunity to get to know our fantastic contributors a little better and this blog is one of the ways we are going to try to do it. No details now (only because we don’t know what they are yet) but watch for some more activity here at yourwonk.com to coincide with the release of Wonk5 – which, by the way, is getting close to press (but not so close that we won’t seriously consider your submission).

So, the way we see it at the Wonk, is that you only have three choices remaining: 1. read the Wonk (including all back issues) 2. submit your work to the Wonk (it feels really good to do so) 3. Do nothing and completely live up to your 9th grade science teacher’s expectations of you as a procrastinating, underachieving delinquent. It’s up to you and it might be the only way, short of re-learning the unit on eco-systems, of redeeming yourself.