The other day I interviewed Reg Bibby, one of Canada’s leading sociologists. It was for a story on why youth leave the Church and why they sometimes stay. What made the interview so remarkable to me wasn’t what Bibby knew, which was a lot, but what he didn’t know, which was only a little.
The power of not knowing Read More »
A funny thing happened to me on the way to this website. When I left for my assignment in South Sudan, this site was well on its way to being complete. When I returned, after six days of touring refugee camps and interviewing the people whose lives have been torn apart by a conflict they didn’t make or choose, I lost the ability to write pithy descriptions of the work I do as a writer.
A funny thing happened Read More »
This week, I am off on a writing assignment like I have never had before.
I have accepted an invitation to travel to two refugee camps in South Sudan with Samaritan’s Purse, a charity probably best known for encouraging ordinary Canadians to fill shoe-boxes at Christmas for children in need around the world.
My Big Writing Challenge Read More »
I’m certain that it is unprofessional to break down and start crying during an interview for a magazine story — especially when you’re the one doing the interviewing. But that’s what I did near the end of a gruelling hour-and a-half long conversation with Katarina MacLeod.
The Crying Interview Read More »
Recently, an Indigo flyer caught my eye, and then my scissors.
It came for Mother’s Day and was an advertisement for the books Mom would love.
But what I loved was its collection of quotes about books and writers. Quotes that I cut out and taped around my writing desk, to make things just that much messier — and that much more inspiring.
The Mess on my Desk Read More »
