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next issue

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.

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WONK

The wait is over. WONK 4 out.

January 18, 2010. The rumours are true. Every last one of them. Even the ones spelled without a ‘u’. Especially the one about WONK 4 being out. That one’s spot on actually.

It features an amazing cast of contributers, including: David Helwig, Glen Sorestad, Marguerite Pigeon, Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst, Andreas Blixt, Williams Nichols, Malora Kirk, derek beaulieu and Patricia MacQuarrie.

Yes. Indeed.

Remember, there are at least four ways to get WONK. You can:

  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 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 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.

It’s official: WONK is now officially accepting submissions for WONK 5. Send them here.

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next issue

WONK 4 almost ready

January 15, 2010. The draft is finally out to the artists. If all goes well, you’ll be reading WONK 4 next week. And, hopefully, doing a lot of other cool stuff. But we have no control over that. Only the WONK part. And, to be honest, we haven’t done a great job of that. But, if we’re lying, everything’s going according to schedule. I guess it just depends on your perspective.

Either way, WONK 4 is an amazing collection of talent and wonderful people. Even if they weren’t great writers, poets, artists and photographers, I still think you’d want to have a coffee and muffins with them. They include: David Helwig, Glen Sorestad, Marguerite Pigeon, Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst, Andreas Blixt, Williams Nichols, Malora Kirk, derek beaulieu and Patricia MacQuarrie. Wow.

Remember, there are three ways to get WONK:

  1. You can pick them up for free at various places in Wetaskiwin (including the library, and Caelin Artworks) and Camrose (Merchants Tea House)
  2. You can subscribe for free to the electronic version. Which has the same content but not same awesome layout and/or smell.
  3. You can, for a small charge, 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 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 (often rambling and not pertaining to the subject at hand) and c) any back issues that you don’t already have.

So, I guess that means that we are now officially accepting submissions for WONK 5. Send them here.

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next issue

don’t stop believing (in WONK 4)

we’ve just run into some production problems. namely, we haven’t produced it yet. but the content is there. and it’s very exciting content. it’s very good content. and it will be in your beautiful hands soon. promise.

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next issue

helwig confirmed, WONK 4 nears

Huge news today as it was confirmed that a poem (a beautiful, beautiful poem) by Canadian poet and essayist, David Helwig will be included in the ever-approaching WONK 4.

Things are, as they say, looking up. Although, if you have a photo, drawing, doodle or otherwise black and white-type graphic that we could use, we probably won’t turn you down.

Submit here.

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next issue

sorestad added to WONK 4

The exciting times continue as new work from Saskatchewan’s first Poet Laureate (and really nice guy), Glen Sorestad, has been confirmed for the upcoming WONK 4.

WONK 4 will feature an excerpt from his new book Road Apples that is forthcoming from Rubicon Press — purveyor of very fine (yet extraordinary cheap affordable) chapbooks.

Yes, there is still a little room for you in WONK 4 (sight, vision, etc, etc). And if not in 4 then in 5. Or 6. Well, you get the idea.

/ submit your work to wonk

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next issue

things are getting serious for WONK 4

We don’t usually update the site so often but let’s not question it.

Preparations for WONK 4 (sight, vision, seeing, etc, etc) continue whole heartedly. The big news, so far, is that it will feature work from at least one outstanding poet — Marguerite Pigeon, and at least one amazing illustrator — Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst. If you don’t believe me, check out their work for yourself.

There is still room for you in WONK 4. In fact, we encourage it. But we thought you might like to know that you’ll be in very good company.

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next issue

WONK 4 is at the door

It seems like we just sent out WONK 3. In fact, we just did. Or, in some cases, we’re about to. Tomorrow. We promise.

But time keeps on slipping (into the future) and so we need to get WONK 4 ready. The theme this month is something like vision, sight, eyes, seeing, etc. Whatever. Loosely, of course. If that doesn’t turn your crank. Well, send something else.

If you would like to submit to WONK. Email us right now.

Now’s the time. Do it. This time for sure.

You’ll feel better.

Or, at least, we will.

Categories
WONK

under the wire (WONK 3)

"53 minutes" Colleen McGinnis

It was almost late. But it wasn’t. It’s here.

Come and get it.

The rumors were true. WONK 3 has (awesome, awesome) work from Kimmy Beach,Chantelle Olson, Catherine Owen, Paul Saturley, Catherine Graham, Fred D. Hollands and Colleen McGinnis.

It’s all very exciting. Or, maybe it’s not. You tell us.

Onto WONK 4.

Categories
fonts

puritan 2.0

For the headlines and author bios in WONK 3 we went with Puritan 2.0 — a slick san-serif by Ben Weiner. All I can say is that it was a stinking pleasure to work with.

Here’s a bit about the font from Ben along with an awesome quote at the end:

Puritan was my response to these influences; it was also a way (I thought) that I could get hold of an interesting typeface without unofficially borrowing from the Typography department. It might be flawed, but it was mine! Well, I learned a lot from the experience.

I wrote a short essay about Puritan as a project in my final year as an undergraduate. Rather than repeat it all here, I have converted the essay (presented as a booklet) into a PDF file of around 1200K which you can download.

In October 1999, I submitted Puritan to the 3rd International Type Design Contest, where it made absolutely no impact.

— Read the whole thing

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next issue

towards WONK 3 (updated)

yes i know we’re horrible and haven’t sent out the electronic version of, well, anything yet. the paper version of the first two WONKS are out. to mostly positive reviews no less (big thanks to both Alex Boyd and Thomas Trofimuk).

our team is now hard at work on WONK 3 which seems to be theming towards travel. it might features work from Kimmy Beach, Chantelle Olson, Catherine Owen, Paul Saturley, Catherine Graham, Fred D. Hollands and Colleen McGinnis! but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. you know. cats and bags and whatnot.

if you have something for the next issue, it’s true, we want it. if you don’t have anything. make something up.

Categories
WONK

WONK 2: don’t (not) believe the hype

"Untitled" by Michelle Hay (featured in WONK 2)

WONK 2 is out the door.

Issue 2 features contributions of Thomas Trofimuk, Erica Marshall, rob mclennan, Frans Erickson, Ron Asp, Dixie Warren, Michelle Hay and Margot Soltice.

For the fonts we went with Gentium Book Basic for the text because it’s beautiful. We tried to get around that and almost went with Sovereign but couldn’t justify the $300 versus free. We did take advantage of a good deal and selected FF Dagny Thin for the headlines. It felt Scandinavian. It felt right.

You can pick up copies of WONK throughout Wetaskiwin — Pipestone Food Company and the Wetaskiwin Public Library and, if you’re in Camrose (heaven forbid), stop by Merchants Tea & Coffee House.

Or, if you’re lazy and have $13 burning a hole in your pocket, you can get them delivered personally by Canada Post here. Even better, if you’re lazy and don’t have $13 (burning or not), you can get WONK for free to your inbox here. Actually, it’s the same link for both heres, but there are two options on the page.

Electronic copies haven’t been sent out yet. We’re experimenting with the formating a little bit to make them more readable and printable in the end (the WONKs we print are on 12 x 18 paper folded in half; the e-versions will be optimized for letter sized paper).

Some people want to know what we want to feature next month. The best answer so far has something to do with beggar not being choosers. If it’s good, we’ll run it. Unless it’s too good. Then you should probably send it somewhere else.

/ Submit to WONK.