🎪 Whimsical pitches for a Bohemian circus summer 🎪

If I had a nickel for every time my job overlapped with covering something that had to do with the Bohemian circus aesthetic this summer, I’d have exactly two nickels — which isn’t much, but it’s weird that it happened twice. If anyone wants to engage in a deep conversation about why I’m witnessing a resurgence of this style, please don’t hesitate to contact me over Tumblr.

A quick announcement: I’m hosting a social next Friday July 26 at 7pm at Wreck Beach. Bring yourself, something to sit on, a fun drink or snack and we’ll catch the sunset and chat. I’ve had a lot of fun working with everyone this summer so far and I’d love to actually meet you!

Pitches below. Have a lovely afternoon!

Some things to keep in mind:

• To secure a pitch, respond to this email. I’m accepting writers on a first come first serve basis for all pieces, not including creative writing works.

• Are you a first-time writer? Please let me know in your email response.

  Once I confirm your pitch request, you can expect a follow-up email from me within 24 hours with more details on the piece.

• Consider conflict of interest implications when picking up a piece and ask me about this if you’re unsure.

• I LOVE COMMUNICATION! I will check in with you throughout the writing process but it’s also on YOU to tell ME if you’re feeling stressed about deadlines or unsure about how to proceed with anything. I gotcha <3

Our Campus: Antoine Bourges:

Antoine Bourges is an assistant professor in film production at the department of theatre and film. He’s also a filmmaker whose work is defined by the blur between fiction and reality. His films (like Fail to Appear) often explore the mundane elements of human behaviour as a way to foster connection between his characters and audiences. You’ll often see him employing amateur actors to capture more realistic scenes, for example. Talk to Bourges about his approach to storytelling and the values he hopes to share with a new generation of filmmakers and film appreciators.

800-1000 words

Due Friday, August 2 by 5pm

Our Campus: Jay Hosking:

Jay Hosking is a professor in the department of psychology. He teaches neurosciences courses and his research revolves around individual differences, cost/benefit decision making, effort, motivation, neurotransmitters and rats — the last of which he also enjoys alluding to in his writing. His genre-bending novel Three Years with the Rat was published in 2016. Hosking also makes music and has research experience in music psychology. So talk to him about this overlap, how having a background in psychology may help his creative process and his approach to lecturing full-time to hundreds of students each term.

800-1000 words

Due Friday, August 9 by 5pm

Our Creative non-fiction corner:

If you’re new here, I pitch out a creative writing theme monthly or bimonthly (depending on engagement). This month’s theme is heat and that can beinterpreted however you want so get creative (ex. hating the heat, loving the heat, climate change etc.).

Instructions about how to respond to this pitch are below:

Please send me a brief email with the following information: 1. your full name and pronouns, 2. the structure of your piece (i.e. poem OR personal essay OR short story), and 3. a brief description of what your piece is about. If you're planning on doing something more fictional, I'd also like an additional brief explanation (50-100 words) about how you came up with the piece and/or what it means to you. I'll likely attach that 50-100 word description to your publication.

Up to 1000 words

Due Friday, July 26 by 5pm