Copyright 2000 by Edward Willett

If you make a habit, as I do, of reading posters wherever you go in Regina, you may have seen a small but colorful one calling for submissions for a new literary 'zine, called YEN.

YEN is the brainchild of Carrie-May Siggins, who also serves as the magazine's editor. Carrie-May is interested in writing herself; she spent two years studying creative writing at Concordia University, where she earned a degree in English. When she returned to Regina, she saw a need for a publication showcasing the work of new writers who may not be able to get into the more established literary magazines like Grain.

"I lived in Montreal for the past five years," she says. "When I came back to Regina, I noticed there's a lot of really good talent around. I started meeting all these people who said, 'Well I'm doing this, but really I'm working on this novel, or this short story.'"

Among the people she met were the members of the poetry group Fishmole, headed by local poet Josh Strait, who hold open-mike poetry readings at Abstractions every Thursday. "It's really that group that kick-started the whole thing," she said.

If there were all these people writing, she asked herself "why not come up with something where they can publish it?" In Montreal, she notes, "there's so much going on," but here "there just was just not much going on with this kind of scene." While the Prairie Dog focuses on arts and entertainment, it's a newspaper, not a literary publication.

Thus, YEN, the first issue of which should be out by December. It's really trying to focus on writing itself, the craft itself," Carrie-May says.

Oddly enough, that first issue may have more work in it by people from Quebec than from Saskatchewan. "It's still early, and everyone is incredibly busy right now," Carrie-May explains. "And I have more contacts there than I have here."

The first issue will also contain mostly poetry, with very little fiction, but that's simply because more poetry was submitted, not because YEN is restricted to any particular type of writing. "I'd love to get more stories," Carrie-May says--provided they're good stories; although YEN is a place for new writers to submit, she says, "I'm looking for a certain level of quality."

And, yes, the magazine will be an honest-to-God paper publication, not a Webzine. "It's hard copy, you can touch it," Carrie-May says. "We are thinking about an online component, mostly because that's where the grant money is. But for now, I really like books, I really like paper, so it will stay like that for a while."

She expects the first issue to be about 40 pages, in 8 1/2-by-11-inch format. In addition to writing, it will feature artwork, both pieces included for their own sake and, Carrie-May hopes, artwork inspired by the writing; she's approached artists with that idea and found a couple who are interested.

YEN is still open to submissions until November 15, and, although it's intended for new writers and thus it's likely many of those who appear in its pages will be young writers, anyone of any age is welcome to submit.

Contributors won't receive any payment, but "They'll receive a copy of the magazine and the glory that goes along with it," says Carrie-May with a laugh.

She hopes the magazine will be widely available in Regina at places like Buzzword Books on 13th Avenue, and expects it to sell for between three and five dollars.

Carrie-May has enjoyed the experience of trying to get YEN off the ground. "People are really supportiv," she says. "You discover that when you start something like this. There's a really tight community."

And as a result, if you enjoy the first issue of YEN, you can count on one thing, says Carrie-May: "There'll definitely be a second one."

Posted September 22, 2004