Welcome to the second issue of Quist!
Like dandelion seeds on the wind, word of Quist has spread. This time around, we’re proud to feature the work of young writers from across Quebec—not just Montreal, but Val-d’Or, Gaspé, Gatineau, and beyond. This issue is proof (as if we needed it) that youth throughout the province are writing poems and stories in English—whatever their mother tongue—and doing so with honesty, originality, and craft. With such geographic breadth comes a rich diversity of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences.
But the diversity doesn’t stop there—it extends to genre, style, theme, and even medium, thanks to our featured mixed-media visual artist whose work enhances this issue. Here you’ll find horror and speculative fiction alongside hybrid flash and personal memoir, as well as poetry that ranges from abstract and lyrical to urgent and intimate. These works explore everything from diaspora and displacement to the pressures of school and family, from grief and memory to the harsh realities of growing up in a world where safety and autonomy can never be taken for granted. Several poems address gendered violence and the precarity of being a girl or young woman, but each approaches the subject in its own way. No two pieces are alike, but together they reflect a cohort of writers who are curious, thoughtful, and unafraid to tackle difficult and sometimes dark material.
This issue is also special because it features work by young writers whose talent came to our attention through the Writers in the Community (WIC) program—a longstanding initiative of the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF) that places professional writers in classrooms, youth centres, and community spaces for 10-week workshops. We’re honoured to showcase some exceptional work from participants in this program here, and we hope to continue doing so in future issues. If you’re unfamiliar with WIC and would like to learn more—and read additional work by WIC participants—please visit the WIC website.
Finally, we’re delighted to include a conversation between Issue 1 contributor Jessica Bakar and celebrated author, actor, playwright, and Montrealer Ann-Marie MacDonald. In their exchange, Ann-Marie reflects on how the various strands of her creative life—acting, theatre, and fiction—sustain and inform one another. As she puts it, her practices “cross-pollinate” (there’s that theme of creative diversity again!). We’re thrilled to share their warm, insightful, and deeply engaging discussion with you.
As always, Quist is a team effort. I’m grateful to our editors—Erin Samant, Jessica Bebenek, and Ev Ricky—for their care, insight, and commitment to shaping a publication that makes space for a wide range of voices and visions, and to John Wickham for his generous work managing the content on our website. Lillian Simons provided valuable support on this issue in various capacities. I’m also thankful to the Quebec Writers’ Federation for their continued support, along with Canadian Heritage, the Phyllis Lambert Foundation, and our generous private donors. Most of all, I’m grateful to the teachers, community workers, and mentors who champion young writers and artists—and, of course, to the writers and artists themselves, for trusting us with their work.
Jen DeLeskie
Editor-in-Chief
Quist