HeyJaredMessy, Risky Writing
Stories and musings about this messy life to inspire, provoke, and encourage.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 11
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- Sep 29, 2026
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- Jul 7, 2026
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It took 50 years (opens the original)
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In 1976, I travelled through Europe by train and spent my final two months in Italy. Before I left for my six months, my father said, “When you get to Italy, I’ll rent some rooms and bring the family.” He’d spent the last part of the war leading a mine sweep operation from Sicily, up the Adriatic coast, and into Florence. He spoke little about his four years as a captain in the Three Rivers Regiment, but it was clear that although he’d been in Belgium and France, Italy had found a special place
Manoominike-giizis (Wild Rice Harvesting Moon) (opens the original)
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We’ve passed the point where light equals darkness. Now we tip toward darkness, so we need to remember and focus on what light there is. <img alt="May be an image of grass" class="sizing-normal" height="1941" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!m4g2!
I’m Having an Affair (opens the original)
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This is me talking about taking a break from a long, problematic project and suggesting that if you’re in a muddle, you might want to switch gears and write something fun. (BTW:That’s a cat, not a child, complaining in the background.)And I outline some upcoming opportunities.Here are the links:https://writeyourwayin.ca/retreat-greece-2026/https://writeyourwayin.ca/albania-2027/https://writeyourwayin.ca/retreats/mexic
TENDER FRUIT (opens the original)
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In 2016, my short story, Tender Fruit, won the Writers’ Union of Canada short prose contest for emerging writers. As one does, I imagined this launched my career as a real writer.One of the things the TWOC does for winners is submit their piece to three literary journals for potential publication. To my great disappointment, none accepted it. Some time later, a podcaster with Fresh New Shorts contacted me about including my story in a series of past winners. Friends in one of Lauren O’Malley’s c
What About the Body? (opens the original)
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Several years ago, I had the great honour of spending several days at Loretto Maryholme writing under the guidance of Pat Schneider. It was one of those life-changing experiences where you emerge with a clearer, brighter lens on your own private world.The question, “What about the body?” was one of the prompts she offered.So much is written about the trauma a body endures – assault, injury, disease –experiences that must be shared. The sharing alleviates the sense of isolation, both for the writ
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