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In Appreciation of Belletristic Endeavors

Event Magazine's 30-year retrospective ironically coincides with a 50 per cent cut to its budget

 

Literary journals play an integral role
in the culture of Canadian literature
and amplify the profiles of the academic
institutions that they often reside in.
Douglas College is very fortunate to
have the literary quarterly Event magazine

publishing out of the Language,
Literature, and Performing § Arts
Department. however, the fact that

Douglas has recently cut Event’s budget
by 50 per cent suggests that the value
of this affiliation may not be fully
appreciated. Cathy Stonehouse, editor
of Event magazine feels that periodicals
present a consistent forum where any-
body can send in work which makes
Event a tangible link in the chain
between new and established writers—
"In fact many Canadian authors have
launched their careers in literary journals.
And as for our affiliation with the college,
this has far reaching implications as
the Douglas logo is on every copy, and
we distribute internationally."

On Friday May 31 Event magazine
launched volume 31/1 to commemorate
30 years of literary publishing.
Beginning back in 1971 with David
Evanier as editor, Event has proven in
its long history to be a unique and
respected part of the local and national
literary community.

Event is an award winning periodical

that publishes fiction, poetry, and creative
non-fiction three times a year and has
been affiliated with the writing careers
of such celebrated authors as Carol
Shields, Lorna Crozier, Anne Michaels,
and Nino Ricci, to name but a few.
"Event is known for its quality and
broad pallet while maintaining a quiet
consistency throughout the years, and
you cannot replace that." says
Stonehouse, "And that is what this
retrospective reflects."

The evening's readings held in the
Segal Centre at SFU Harbour Centre
were infused with wine, beer, flowers,
and jazz—exquisitely performed by the
Blair Fisher Trio. The well-attended
launch, which included eclectic read-
ings by seven authors who's work
appears in the retrospective, was MC'd
by long time contributor Tom Wayman.
Wayman sincerely, reflected on the
importance of Event magazine in the
Canadian literary cosmology. Wayman
underlined the value of literary journals
from a writer's perspective emphasizing
how important it is to be, not just
published, but rejected—a response
that can act as a barometer of sorts,

prompting the further development and
fine tuning of a story. Canadian literary
journals make for, not only excellent
reading, but as Wayman pointed out, an
honourable challenge for writers to
meet the varied expectations of journal
editors across the country.

Acceptance and rejection is a serious
and thorough affair, as submissions
generally go through a_ rigorous
process. Stonehouse notes in the special
issue's editorial, “litmags represent the
rough-hewn rock face where precious
cultural minerals first come to light...a
forum in which writers engage in nec-
essary dialogue." A dialogue that must
survive a first reader, a genre editor,
and onward to a fiction committee, and
then a final vote. If a short, story for
example, makes it through the many
stages of this critique, then it is proba-
bly a pretty damn good piece of writing.

The publishing process is often run by
a skeletal staff, and the dedicated work
of several volunteers. It is a labour of
love for art, literature and the dazzling
brilliance of words carefully strung
inspire,

together to entertain, and

 

George McWhirter, Calvin Wharton & Carla Elm

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