My Aunt Pat introduced me to Nick Bantock’s books many years ago, and I’ve loved his work ever since. I think of her whenever I pick one up. Bantock is a British-born artist who made Canada his home. He studied painting and spent years working as an illustrator, designing hundreds of book covers before creating books of his own. He was, in some ways, an accidental writer.
Above ground, we notice the trunk, the branches, the leaves, the fruit. Below ground, the roots are doing quieter work: growing into darkness, responding to gravity, creating the strength that makes everything visible possible. This article explores that idea through writing: the private work, discarded pages, questions, stream-of-consciousness writing, and all the thoughts that happen before a finished piece ever reaches another reader.
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. The announcement celebrates a writer whose work continues to expand the possibilities of literature, moving between poetry, prose, translation and visual art.
Looking for cabins near Sauble Beach that feel quiet and personal? Discover simple, private stays on the Bruce Peninsula, close to the beach.
Toronto-based author K.J. Aiello brings The Monster and the Mirror to the public, unabashedly announcing K.J.’s status as an award-winning and mentally ill writer who wishes to share a history of mental disturbance, depression, and the ultimate recognition of an inability to hold regular jobs.
For writers and readers, quiet is not only about sound. It’s about space; the kind that lets your thoughts move without interruption.
It’s simple; a set of prompts, a loose structure, and time set aside to move through it at your own pace. You can follow it closely or not at all. There’s no expectation to produce anything finished.
Dreamers Writing Farm is the physical home of the Dreamers community, a quiet, creative space on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. Writers, artists, and travellers stay here throughout the year in simple, literary-themed cabins, tents, and studio suites.
The deadline for the Dreamers Writing Contest on place and home is January 31. Submit a heartfelt story, poem, or essay reflecting on belonging, memory, displacement, or the meaning of home. Open internationally. $250 CAD prize and publication.