Another First: A Published Essay in Geist Magazine
The seeds I planted three years ago are beginning to sprout
My first ever non-fiction essay about Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood will be published in Issue 129 of the Canadian literary magazine Geist.
Pandemic Vibes Made Me Do It
I wrote the first version of “Strathcona” back in 2022, as part of a creative writing class at my local community centre. I’ll be honest—the class was not as illuminating or exciting as I thought. But I was soon-to-be jobless and very worried about entering the Grey Gardens phase of my life too early.
One handout was a piece our teacher had written. It was about her imagined interview with Fulgencio Batista. I suspected that maybe this was not the most contemporary curriculum, but I forged ahead.
We dropped like flies over the course of the class. Still, I kept doing the assignments. Soon, I had a handful of first drafts, each a different attempt at some kind of creative writing genre.
It was definitely the beginning of me finding my way out of the proverbial gutter, post-pandemic. I had tried online writing courses in the past, but there was just something magical about sitting in a room full of plastic tables and chairs, shuffling papers, and awkwardly reading our assignments out loud. There was no mute button. No camera-off button. We weren’t in little mini-screens, like a psychotic reboot of the Brady Bunch or Hollywood Squares.
I felt accountable and present. It was wonderful.
In this assignment, we were asked to write about a place, and to explore it using the different senses. I chose to write about my husband’s childhood and my adulthood converging in Vancouver’s Chinatown.
The class liked my piece and I was inspired by their positive feedback. I hadn’t written anything for myself since grade school. I relished the self-editing process, revising the piece as well as I could even after the class was over.
My husband read an early draft. He went bananas for it. He seemed so surprised that I could write something like this. I almost took his enthusiasm personally.
He encouraged me to submit it to some places, but I didn’t hear back from anyone. It’s only now, a full three years later that interest had resurfaced again with some hope. I submitted this to Geist more than a year ago. It took almost another year for it to be published. I worry about what other people will think if/when they read it, but I hope they/you will understand my intentions.
PS. The editing process was not at all like His Girl Friday.
I’ve heard it before, and now I know it’s definitely true: publishing is slow. Still, I enjoyed the whole process. I feel an extra boost of encouragement, especially now. It has been a little quiet since I finished up Emerson, and I am trying to keep myself busy.
I’ve been in a bit of a funk, working on a couple of picturebook stories that are taking me into some painful avenues. The concepts aren’t quite working. My craft is not feeling quite polished. Rejections wait at my door like multiple flaming paper bags filled with dog poo.
But when I think about how long “Strathcona” took to get picked up, I’m recharged with patience and hope. I was in such a bad place emotionally when I wrote it. I re-read my words and was grateful that I got out of that hole. I felt optimistic about what else I could accomplish if I kept my head out of my own asshole.
I have to learn how to enjoy these moments. They are the pieces that will keep me motivated during the work and the wait.
Side note, I looked through my old materials from this writing class today and found some sweet gems. Just like my lessons in keeping a sketchbook, I was able to turn back time and find some interesting ideas.
One was to imagine a conversation with a fictional character or famous person. (It was the same week as the Batista handout.) I don’t know why I make these choices in my life, but here is what I found in my notebook:
Interview with FRANKENSTEIN—THE DOCTOR
Q: How does it feel to know that your monster is more famous than you?
Q: What are your thoughts on Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein?
Who would you pick to have an imagined conversation or interview with?
Do keep an eye out for Issue 129 of Geist! Or even better, order a copy for yourself!