Editor’s Notes

Dear Readers,

The three poems in the current issue explore the tensions of opposition, whether it be contentedness and rage, safety and danger, or the small and the big. To apply pressure to a surface of a text is to make the poem move forward. Without tension, a poem can fail to create an intensity that makes it interesting to read or write. I hope you enjoy this month's poems.

We had a fabulous fall launch at Collected Works. Thanks to our readers and musician for entertaining us , our sound guy, Ian, for making us audible, and to Collected Works for providing such a great space. Our next reading will be the annual Bywords Warms the Night fundraiser for the Cornerstone Women's Shelter on January 15, 2012. I hope you will join us and if you can't be present, please send donations of money and needed items to the shelter here.

We had fun at the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair. I particularly enjoyed getting a chance to meet readers and contributors to Bywords.ca and the Bywords Quarterly Journal. It was also a pleasure to be on Susan Johnston's Friday Special Blend on CKCU with readers from the fall launch and to wander through the streets of Ottawa, dropping off copies at Mother Tongue Books on Bank St. in Old Ottawa South, Mags 'n Fags on Elgin and Benjamin Books in Sandy Hill. We also provide a number of copies to students in creative writing poetry workshops. If you don't have your copy of the fall issue yet, you can pick one up at the above stores or by subscribing on line at the Bywords.ca store. As you can see we've been busy.

November continues to be an active month for readings, signings, launches, spoken word showcases, slams, and storytelling events. If you know someone who is new to town or who hasn't heard of the Bywords.ca calendar of literary events, do them a favour and point them to the site. My mission is that no one in the National Capital Region who is interested should miss out on literary events. You can also help by posting information about events on blogs, tweeting and sharing the info on FaceBook and event speaking to your friends and families about what's happening.

Thanks to this month's selection committee:

Janie Beriault
Gwen Guth
Pamela Mosher
Kemisha Newman
Claudia Coutu Radmore
Sarah-Grace Ross
Carol A. Stephen

Thank you to our subscribers, readers, contributors, promoters, event organizers, sales clerks, book store owners, City of Ottawa staff and anyone else I've forgotten who continues to support Bywords. Bywords is a grass roots community effort that is a success because of you. Please spread the word.

If you have comments, questions, suggestions or strong coffee to offer, please e-mail me at amanda@bywords.ca. See you at upcoming readings.

For regular event updates, please follow us on Twitter or join our FaceBook fan page.

Amanda Earl