Canada Writes Blog
This year’s contestants tell us about their experiences with the game so far.
East
- Margaret Beach (East York, ON)
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Eastern Finalist 09
(April 27, 2009) Before Canada Writes, the only thing I excelled at was having babies. Number 1 arrived in only five hours. I didn’t even break a sweat. I had the knack. Right down to the last one. I squoze her out in two hours while painting a watercolour with the rest of my family watching and eating the homemade bread I baked myself before walking to the hospital.
- Kaveh Mohebbi (Toronto, ON)
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Eastern Finalist 09
(April 27, 2009) I've learned now, that life is what happens to a writer between writing contests and drafts. Alas, as the sun sets on Canada Writes, I bid adieu to the cast and crew of GO! and feel an array of emotions: happiness and bliss for making it to the final round, yet humble sadness for not being crowned Mr. Canada Writes (ha ha ha). But I feel an overall sense of pride and accomplishment for having made it as far as I did, and the endless support from friends and family doesn't hurt either.
- Charles Mancini (Dartmouth, NS)
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Eastern semi-finalist 09
(March 6, 2009) In a vain attempt to disguise my all-too-evident hangover one Saturday morning, I found myself up and at it, cleaning my room as I listened to the echoes of CBC Radio as it traveled down the hallway from my parents' room. Normally I'd have my own AM/FM radio tuned in, but I went out west last summer for work and returned to find my room ransacked and my alarm clock/radio (among many other things) in the possession of my youngest sister.
- Sarah Mian (Halifax, NS)
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Eastern semi-finalist 09
(March 16, 2009) First contestant to get the trap door? ME?? Well, it happened. Was it my superfluous nod to hallucinogenic drugs or my lack of references to winter, Tim Hortons, Stephen Harper, Molson Canadian, the recession and/or Rex Murphy, all of which my fellow contestants managed to slide in the net like hockey pucks? Kidding aside, I do wonder how I'd have fared in the pressure pot of the lightning rounds. From the lonely oubliette, I played along with the micro-story challenge and in sixty seconds of real time came up with:
- Laurie Schwartz (Banff, AB)
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Western Finalist 09
(April 27, 2009) Toronto. A far cry from the crisp mountain air of Banff. A thrumming mass of humanity fuelled by caffeine and street meat. The final showdown of Canada Writes 2009.
The main thing that I will take home from this experience (aside from a swell prize) is pride. Not so much for myself, but for the amazing talent that we have all across this country. It was thrilling to meet all of the other finalists. In true Canuck fashion, we were all genuinely supportive of each other, and commiserated about the crazy thing we were putting ourselves through.
- Katie Sanders (Nelson, BC)
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Winner Canada Writes 09
(April 27, 2009) Canada Writes Finals! …It’s hard to know how to wrap this up. I’m having trouble remembering what it feels like to live without the constant stress and excitement of the Canada Writes competition. To be truthful, I know I’m going to miss it. I’m going to miss the random practice challenges from friends and family. I’m certainly going to miss the king size bed in my hotel room in Toronto…
- Kevin Flesher (Drumheller, AB)
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Western semi-finalist 09
(April 6, 2009) The Canada writes trip and show was epic. Amazing, everyone was very sweet and it was a great experience.
I don't think I have ever been so nervous as when I was waiting to see if I would go down that trap door, Katie can attest to the fact that my hands were as cold and clammy as a freshly shucked oyster. David was quite content to leave the show first, like Obi Wan Kenobi being struck down to become more powerful than ever. I was pretty happy with how my song went, I thought it could be the theme song to a Canadian sci fi series with props made out of old cardboard boxes.
- David Tracey (Vancouver, BC)
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Western semi-finalist 09
(April 6, 2009) It takes a big man to admit his mistakes. That's why I’m blaming my loss on someone else: ABBA.
I was fine until we reached the music challenge. I had to rewrite the lyrics to “Waterloo.” How many times did I listen to that profoundly annoying tune, trying to replace, “Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way.”
