Off the Record

Description

Editor John Metcalf has inspired, challenged, and championed countless writers over his long career. InOff the Record, he encourages six to reveal what one rarely discusses in polite society: how they becamewritersinstead of radio announcers or cabinet makers. The essays collected here, each accompanied by a short story, oer fascinating insight into the relationships between writers, their editors, and their ction.Off the Recordbrings together work by six noted Canadian writers, among them the winners of the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize, the Butler Book Prize, and the Marian Engel Award: Caroline Adderson, Kristyn Dunnion, Cynthia Flood, Shaena Lambert, Elise Levine, and Kathy Page. Their essays are candid, moving, and surprisingly relatableproviding plenty of inspiration for those among us who want to write.Praise forOff the RecordA dazzling collection of memoir and fiction.Robert Wiersema,Toronto Star[Metcalfs] appreciation for the challenges of being a published writer is reflected in the clever approach he takes inOff the Record. . . The authors inOff the Recordchart the course of their careers with stories of rejection, bad publishing decisions, punishing reviews, eventual triumph, and formative experiences. Which is the best kind of education for any wannabe writerand a reminder for readers of the commitment involved in creating the fiction they get to enjoy.Sarah Hampson,Literary Review of CanadaJohn Metcalf deserves a round of applause for bringing together such an excellent variety of voices on the subject of being a writer.Dave Williamson,Winnipeg Free PressMetcalf challenges six decorated Canadian authors to consider and share just how they became writers. Each essay is accompanied by a short story, showcasing each writers literary identity and style, and providing insight into how each writer approaches their work and their editorial relationships.Open BookIf you writeor even just think youd like to writeyou cant go wrong with adding this anthology to the stack on your nightstand.Miramichi ReaderCarefully wrought, tonally diverse, artful, thoughtful, revelatory, and nothing short of enticingBrett Josef Grubisic,The BC ReviewThe authors reflections illustrate the complex interplay between craft and intuition that goes into writing fiction and provide revealing case studies of how stories move from inspiration to published product. Aspiring writers will be enlightened.Publishers WeeklyPraise for John Metcalf[Metcalfs] talent is generous, hectoring, huge, and remarkable.Washington Post[Metcalfs] exacting eye and his ongoing willingness to call out what he considers substandard, inert, or deadening in our literary culture has earned him opprobrium One need not agree with everything [he] says to find much to gnaw on in his analyses of the various ways literary technique and style are too often downgraded or outright ignored. While its amusing to wrestle with the temerity and gall of Metcalfs settled esthetic standards his achievement in translating this approach into practice as mentor and guiding light is invaluable and we are all in his debt.Steven W. Beattie,Toronto Star[Metcalf] deliver[s] a layered and textured narrative highlighting a wide range of writing and writers, one that immerses the reader into the soul of what writing, and thus literature, is supposed to be. And in this, he has succeeded.Ottawa Review of BooksHilarious, touching and delightful brilliant concision and understated humor.Los Angeles TimesJohn Metcalf has written some of the very best stories ever published in this country.Alice MunroIn the past few decades, Canada has won a reputation as a prolific producer of high-quality short stories. Alice Munro, Mavis Gallant and John Metcalf are among those who have proven themselves masters of the difficult form.MacleansA master stylist confidently at work in his favoured form.Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature: Second EditionMasterful Harsh reality, hope, and caricature mingle in this tour de force.Kirkus Reviews(starred review)