2024 BESIDE THE POINT

Editors’ Statement
For most people, the word “husk” brings up thoughts of death and decay.
We considered this year’s submissions not only through this lens, but also
that of rebirth and life, as one cannot exist without the other. The husk is not
just a representation of what once was, but fertile soil for new beginnings.
Husk was an interesting concept to engage with: an empty shell, a worndown building, the pain of a fresh start, hand-grown grain that has been
peeled to eat. What was most surprising, however, was just how broadly
this theme was interpreted-the variety between light and dark made the
journal what it is now, and not what we thought it would be. Some artists
chose to see the brilliance in the gloom. They subverted expectations and
explored the theme in nuanced ways. By doing so, they enriched our reading
experience, and we expect that readers will find their works as insightful as
we did.
The diversity of tone in this journal promises to take readers across the
spectrum of human experience. With something for everyone, everyone can
find themselves in this anthology of transformation and regeneration. Light
and dark interweave, often within the same piece, offering a complexity
which can help take you new places, or bring you home. In this body of
submissions, explore an unsent love letter, the fantastical adventure of a troll
chef, the complexities of navigating trauma, and the joy of re-emergence.
Beside the Point receives creative submissions (prose, poetry, artwork,
screenplays, and more) from current and former Camosun students and is
edited by current creative writing students.
Our theme for 2025 is Growing Pains, and we are excited to see how
you interpret it...

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