Yilin Wang's Blog, page 4
March 22, 2019
Schedule for Norwescon 2019
Here’s my schedule for Norwescon! I’ll be there as an Attending Pro and on several panels. This is my first SFF convention ever in the States and the first time I’m speaking at a con, so I’m really excited. (The only other SFF con I have been to was World Fantasy Con in Brighton in 2013).
Please feel free to leave me a comment or tweet me @yilinwriter if you’re also going and want to meet up. I’m looking forward to seeing old and new friends there.
Friday, April 19, noon–1 p.m.
Worldbuilding: Blue Prints for a Better Planet
Evergreen 3 & 4
Is worldbuilding an extension of plot or something separate altogether? How much time should go into the worldbuilding phase of writing a book/series? Panelists will discuss how they began creating distinctive worlds in their works, what they wish they had done differently, and what they wish they had known before they ever started.
Ren Cummins (M), Yilin Wang, Ian McDonald
Friday, April 19, 4–5 p.m.
Welcome to Slush
Cascade 9
We all hear about the dreaded slush pile, but is it really something to be dreaded? What are some tips and hints to get your story pulled from the slush and sent up the ladder?
Jaime O. Mayer (M), Coral Moore, Cory Skerry, Neil Clarke, Yilin Wang
Saturday, April 20, 6–7 p.m.
Decolonizing Your Fantasy World
Cascade 9
Even when writers are making up worlds from whole cloth, it can be easy to gloss over and/or erase the issues that bring riches to the cultures that we’re creating. There can be ugliness underneath those trade goods and treasures. Narratives in fantasy can carry over remnants of the oppressive structures that began and exist in our contemporary world. What kind of work do we need to do to recognize colonial creep in our fiction, and how do we fight it?
Gabriel de los Angeles (M), Nisi Shawl, Fonda Lee, Yilin Wang
Saturday, April 20, 8–9 p.m.
Soul of the Warrior
Cascade 12
We’ll look at how different cultures perceive the Warrior: Conqueror, Plunderer, Protector, and the evolution of the warrior’s ethos and place in society, their roles, and self-image. We’ll look at how you can apply this self-awareness to deepen your writing and make it more authentic.
Cheryce Clayton (M), Yilin Wang, Clayton Mann
Sunday, April 21, 10–11 a.m.
Genres Without Borders
Cascade 12
Chinese, Korean, and Spanish sf/f writers are cranking out great material, but the work remains unavailable to many eager American fans—until the work is translated into English, of course. How do translators bring new worlds into new languages? The panel will look at the difficulties of successfully translating foreign genre fiction from the points of view of translators, authors, editors, and publishers.
Neil Clarke (M), Gordon Van Gelder, Yilin Wang
The post Schedule for Norwescon 2019 appeared first on Yilin Wang.
December 28, 2018
“Sparrow” (Short Story) – 2018 Awards Eligibility
Hey everyone, here is my awards eligibility post for 2018. I have one short story eligible for nominations. Thank you so much for your consideration!
Short Story: “Sparrow”
“Sparrow,” Clarkesworld, October 2018 . (2359 words)
The rooftop is quiet except for the hum of a plane passing overhead, heading to a faraway elsewhere. The sharp stench of ammonia rises from the bucket hanging from your window-cleaning belt. Running your fingers across the safety harness and clips that encircle your chest and back, you triple check all the safeguards to ensure they are all locked in place. You pull yourself over the icy metal railing and lean back. Safety ropes and the padding of your wooden bosun’s chair hold your weight. Chongqing sprawls out beneath your dangling feet and the hazy pollution. It’s a muted miniature world of glass and steel, encircled by snaking rivers that divide the city center from the satellite cities and the blue mountains beyond.
After three years of drifting down Chongqing’s skylines, this will be your last descent.
This story is listed on the 2018 Nebula Reading List. This story qualifies for nomination for awards such as the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award.This is the first year I’m eligible for the John W. Campbell Award for the Best New Writer.I’m a permanent resident of Canada, so this story also qualifies for Canadian awards like the Aurora.
Thank you for reading and supporting my work over the past year. I have some new work and translations forthcoming soon, which I will share when released. 
December 5, 2018
Statement about my interview about #RacismInCanLit with Discorder Magazine
At the request of Discorder Magazine, I recently invited a friend and fellow Chinese Canadian writer to interview me and two other Asian Canadian writer friends about the context behind why I started the #RacismInCanLit hashtag and about our upcoming literary reading. The resulting interview, “Writerly Asians & Allies Against #RacismInCanLit,” which shares the same name as our event, appears in the winter 2018 issue of Discorder Magazine.
Its final version has been revised and censored, without any input or approval from me, our interviewer, and the two other interviewees. Most significantly, a large portion of my answer to the question “What do you hope will come out of the upcoming reading?” has been cut, with my sentences chopped up and many words omitted. In the censored part of the interview, I share that we will be accepting donations for the Galloway Defense Fund at our reading and express gratitude for defendants I know personally, who have supported the #racismincanlit hashtag, and who I care deeply about. My answer does not discuss anything else about the situation. If Discorder had reached out about their legal concerns behind this part of my answer, I would have been more than happy to revise my answer collaboratively with them.
However, rather than talk to me and those involved, Discorder never informed us about this censorship until the piece has gone to print. This happened despite me requesting from the very beginning that the editor-in-chief handle this interview sensitively and despite multiple rounds of communication/proofreading. In the original email informing me of this censorship, there was no apology and I was not given with a copy of the revision; I had to request a digital copy and have yet to see a hard copy of the magazine. Based on the digital copy I was later given, I see that my answer to that aforementioned question has undergone heavy editing that turns it into an incomplete and insensitive representation of my original answer. None of this is acknowledged in the interview text.
Due to the fact that Discorder and CiTR were at the time event partners with us for the upcoming Writerly Asians reading, I saw this interview as a part of that collaboration. I trusted those at Discorder and invited others to join me in entrusting them with our words, stories, and experiences. It was so disappointing to be let down by the betrayal of that trust. To me, the lack of consultation with any of us involved in the interview suggests a lack of professionalism, editorial consideration, and sensitivity. It was an especially difficult and traumatic experience for me to see how my words have been cut and censored. It has opened up old wounds about how my experience has been gaslit, misrepresented, and appropriated by others throughout this year.
In response to what happened, I have ended our event partnership with Discorder/CiTR, requested that Discorder refrains from posting our interview online, and asked them to issue a public apology in the magazine as well as on all social media platforms. The art director and editor-in-chief have apologized to me about what happened in emails and agreed to issue a public apology. I truly hope that they and Discorder can learn from this experience, so this never happens again. I hope they will commit to working harder to make Discorder a safe and supportive space for Asian Canadian writers and writers of all marginalized backgrounds.
I see this statement not as a call-out, but as a call-in. I understand that we all make mistakes, and I have made them too. I share this statement with three main intentions—to make it clear that the final interview was not approved by me or any of the others involved, to disclose the reason for the ending of our event partnership with Discorder, and to make this a learning experience for all of us, especially editors working with marginalized voices and stories of trauma. Finally, I want to thank everyone who worked on this interview with me, and to express gratitude and support for defendants affected by the SG case.
Our event will still take place in the new year. We are currently searching for a new venue and may have to reschedule the date. You can donate to the Galloway defense fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/galloway-suit-defense-fund
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October 16, 2018
2018 Publications, Events, and Updates
I’m a very irresponsible and infrequent blogger, but I figure I should post this summary to give some updates to friends and readers about what I have been up to this year.
April 24, 2018
Racism in #CanLit: Barriers in Publishing & the Need for Safe Spaces
As a young Chinese Canadian woman, writer, editor, and occasional translator, I was one of the witnesses to a racist incident at a Vancouver book sale in January, which continues to affect me months later. After staying relatively silent about this on public social media, I finally posted a public statement on Facebook and Twitter last week to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Chinese Canadians, people of color, and women in #CanLit and publishing, which has been compiled here. I want to call for everyone to create safe spaces for all marginalized writers and intervene when you witness racism.
The incident:
At a warehouse book sale co-hosted by two local bookstore owners, the wonderful Patricia Massy of Massy Books, and B, I witnessed B, an elderly white man, making racist comments about Chinese poets and the Chinese language in front of a staff member at Massy Books and a local literary series organizer who worked with B.
B complained that at a local multilingual reading series, World Poetry, a Chinese poet read in Chinese for ten minutes. He did a very mocking and offensive imitation of the poetry reading, saying words like “Ching Chang Chong” loudly. B did not stop until finally, Patricia Massy intervened, upon seeing I was upset and leaving the book sale.
I found out later B is an online bookstore owner, a retired library studies professor, a local literary events organizer, and a current and past board or committee member of several literary, publishing, or library organizations. B is a gatekeeper in the literary and publishing community.
His disrespectful words reflect the larger prejudice and barriers faced by Chinese Canadians, writers of color, and women in publishing. His actions came across as mockery and disrespect for the writing and work of all Chinese Canadian and Chinese writers.
The Aftermath:
My editorial team at Ricepaper Magazine had to pull out of a planned event with the local literary organizer who was speaking with B at the book sale. I had to talk with friends at Room Magazine after discovering that B had attended an issue launch that I co-hosted prior to the incident and might attend future events.
In the months since, multiple literary groups and writers have contacted B for a public apology. B offered an apology to World Poetry’s organizer and to me, but denies ever making fun of Chinese poets or the language. It’s clear after 3 months that he won’t take responsibility. I continue to struggle with feeling unsafe at literary events and spaces in Vancouver.
I’m grateful for support from allies at World Poetry, Room, Ricepaper, and the Asian Canadian Writer’s Workshop, as well as the help and advice of writers like Shazia Hafiz from Canadian Women in Literary Arts, Elaine, Jonina Kirton, Nancy Lee, Jen Sookfong Lee, Tom Cho, Jane Eaton Hamilton, and others who spoke to me. Thank you to all my friends who stood beside me while I struggled to deal with the aftermath of this.
I want to call for everyone in the literary community to think about ways to make all spaces safer for Chinese Canadians and all marginalized groups. Please intervene when you witness racism. Stop these types of incidents from ever happening again.
Here are some specific things you can do to support:
1. Have an explicit no-tolerance for discrimination and harassment policy for all events and spaces. Post it clearly at the event and in the programming space.
2.Make space for Chinese Canadian writers, BIPOC writers, and other marginalized groups. Center their voices. Feature them at events. Make sure they are heard.
3. Learn about how to be a good anti-racist bystander. When I witnessed racism, only Patricia from Massy Books stepped in. No one else did.
4. Make sure staff and organizers at events and spaces are aware that they need to intervene if they witness something. Have a plan because things will very likely happen. Consult people about this plan and be a better bystander.
5. There needs to be education, awareness, and recognition that OTHER LITERARY TRADITIONS exist outside of white mainstream #CanLit. Many great Chinese writers live in Canada and write in Chinese and/or English. Their work needs to be recognized.
6. Mocking Chinese poets and the language comes from ignorance and reflects a larger inability to appreciate other literary traditions, languages, and cultures. Go out and read some books by Chinese Canadians and Chinese writers (they are not the same by the way). Support translators.
7. Editors, when you read and choose submissions, consider literary traditions outside of “typical” #CanLit that you may be familiar with. Publish work influenced by a range of literary traditions. Publish translations. Don’t reject work just because it’s not what you are used to.
8. Gatekeepers and members of the Canadian literary community, please don’t only watch out for racism in public, but also behind closed doors. It scares me to think what kind of racist comments might be uttered behind closed doors after witnessing it at a book sale. Systematic changes are needed at every level.
Finally, a pre-edited version of my statement was shared previously on Twitter. You can find it and the resulting conversations here. Thank you for reading.
The post Racism in #CanLit: Barriers in Publishing & the Need for Safe Spaces appeared first on Yilin Wang.
January 21, 2018
Writing Updates: 2017 Year-in-Review & 2018 Plans
Happy 2018 everyone! It’s been so long since I have last blogged so I feel like I should really update my website and start posting more about my writing again. 
April 30, 2016
Welcome to Creative Voyagers! Start Your Visit Here
Hey there! Welcome to Creative Voyagers! I’m so happy that you are visiting, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time reader.
This blog has been running for many years and covered lots of topics, including publishing, writing, creativity, and more recently, travel.
Recently, I decided to officially relaunch it as a blog retitled “Creative Voyagers”.
Creative Voyagers is a blog where creativity meets travel. Taking on a human interest focus, it aims to share anecdotes, stories, and profiles about underrated places, creative people, and innovative projects in Vancouver and beyond. I believe that through connecting with the world and people around us, we can gain new perspectives about people and places, get inspiration, strengthen relationships, and lead fun and meaningful lives.
If you’re visiting for the first time or looking for some of my most popular posts, I recommend starting with the posts below. If you enjoy what you read, please leave a comment, share a post, and subscribe! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Travels
Stories about my trips away from my home city of Vancouver, the places I visit, and the people I meet
London for Literature Lovers and Harry Potter Fans
400th Anniversary of Shakespeare: 10 Shakespearean Destinations & Activities
Visiting Oxford: Exploring, Mourning, and Searching for Hope in Oxford
Vancouver
Vancouver through the eyes of a local
Is Vancouver Really Boring? Greater Vancouver’s Best Summer Festivals and Events
A Local in My Own City: Exploring Vancouver in Four Ways
Creativity
Musings on creativity, art, and innovation
12 Lessons for Writers and Artists from Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Part 1/2)
The Talent Myth: Deliberate Practice for Writers
Sonder
Interviews and profiles with creative professionals about their work, life, or travels
Travel Writing and Photography: A Conversation with Ursula Maxwell-Lewis
Wayson Choy on Writing Craft and Voice
The post Welcome to Creative Voyagers! Start Your Visit Here appeared first on Yilin Wang.
April 28, 2016
4 Ways of Exploring Vancouver: Aquarium, Bus Tour, BC Sports Hall, & BC Place [Giveaway!]
Welcome to Creative Voyagers! I’m officially relaunching this blog as a human interest blog that aims to profile underrated destinations, creative individuals, and unique social projects, in Vancouver and beyond. For an introduction to the blog, click here.
Last week, I had a chance to go explore Vancouver with YVR Bloggers, a local blogging group, and see some destinations around the city from a tourist’s perspective.
I’m very happy to share a highlight reel that I produced for the event, as well as details about the locations visited and photos of the attractions. (Full disclosure: this was a press trip, but as always, opinions are my own.)
Giveaway: I’m partnering with the Vancouver Aquarium and the BC Sports Hall of Fame to run a special giveaway of tickets and a prize pack. Please keep reading to the end for details about the giveaway!
1. Vancouver Aquarium
My day began with a bus picking up my group near Canada Place and then heading to the Vancouver Aquarium. After a quick lunch in the aquarium cafe, we headed inside for the new Discover Rays exhibit.
The highlight was a special touchpool where I could touch cownose and southern stingrays. There were also displays with information about the rays, their habitats, and problems like overfishing. Afterward, I wandered around the aquarium to watch the dolphins, jellyfish, and other marine life.
Recommended for: first-time visitors to Vancouver, nature and animal lovers, families traveling with kids
Tips for visiting:
The aquarium cafeteria can be quite busy around lunch time, so be prepared to wait in a long line or go elsewhere.
Look out for special events and exhibits happening at the aquarium.
Since the aquarium is located in Stanley Park, leave some time for a combined visit.
Discover Rays exhibit at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Fish swimming in the tanks at the Vancouver Aquarium
Jellyfish in the Vancouver Aquarium
2. Bus Tour
My next activity was joining Westcoast Sightseeing on a HopOnHopOff bus tour around the city. I had only taken one HopOnHopOff tour before, when I was visiting the city of Bath, England.
This bus tour was very thorough and took me to all the common tourist locations around the city, such as Stanley Park, Kits Beach, Gastown, Yaletown, and Granville Island. While I was already familiar with these destinations, taking the tour allowed me to see all the sights from a bus and take some nice pictures of city streets.
Recommended for: visitors tight on time or wanting a quick overview of the city
Tips for visiting:
Taking a bus tour is a nice way to fit lots of sights into your sightseeing, providing convenience as you travel to different locations, but do also make time to explore Vancouver by foot or biking.
The bus tour is best taken on sunny days, because you’ll get a better view of the city and also because the bus has an open roof.
There are many bus tours available, so do your research to find the best one for you.
Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour
From the bus tour, a view of the Inukshuk in English Bay
Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver
3. BC Sports Hall of Fame
I had never visited the BC Sports Hall of Fame before the trip, because I didn’t have much interest in sports. However, when I got there, I learned that there was a special Vancouver 2010 gallery showing objects from the Vancouver Olympics, such as the torches (signed by torch bearers), one of the gold medals, and uniforms used in the competition.
In addition to learning about the story behind objects from the Olympics, I also got to visit a special gallery dedicated to female athletes and special displays celebrating Canadian icons like Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.
Recommended for: sports fans, Olympic enthusiasts, museum lovers
Tips for visiting:
Special promotion prices are available for people with ticket stubs for BC Place events/games (valid for 2 weeks after), Hosteling International members, or guests of the Vancouver Lookout and Science World (with receipts).
The sports hall has an area where visitors can take part in hands-on activities, such as playing Ping-Pong or trying a climbing wall.
BC Sports Hall of Fame
A display on Team Canada in the Vancouver 200 Gallery of the BC Sports Hall of Fame
One of the gold medals from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Each medal is engraved with a section from the artwork behind it, and were co-designed by Corrine Hunt and Omer Arbel.
4. BC Place
BC Place is one of those iconic spots in Vancouver that most locals have either heard of or visited for an event, but I wasn’t aware that there are tours of the stadium available.
I get to learn a bit about the stadium’s history and construction, as well as took a walk around the audience areas and a part of the turf. I even ventured behind-the-scenes to visit the changing room of the BC Lions, Vancouver’s professional football team. (Sometimes the White Caps’ changing room is also a part of the tour, but it was closed to visitors that day because it was in use.)
Recommended for: sports fans, visitors to the Sports Hall of Fame, special events
Tips for visiting:
An All Access Tour of BC Place is available through the BC Sports Hall, and only four tours are available each month. Check early for the times and book in advance to save your spot.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame and BC Place share some building space, so it’s convenient to visit both locations together.
A great way to experience the stadium in action is to attend asports game or concert there.
BC Stadium
Down at the turf at BC Place
The complex roof of BC Place takes 20 minutes to open/close.
A Special Giveaway
Now, in partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium and the BC Sports Hall of Fame, I have two special prizes to giveaway to my readers
April 23, 2016
400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s Death: 10 Shakespearean Travel Destinations & Activities
Shakespeare’s Grave in Holy Trinity Church
April 23, 2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakesdspeare’s death. Today, to honor the most famous and celebrated playwright in the English-speaking world, I’m sharing stories of destinations and activities associated with him, drawing on both my personal experiences and contributions from other travel writers/bloggers.
If you enjoy this post, please leave a comment, share, and subscribe! Thank you for visiting! Kudos to Ruth Kozak, Chris & Rick Millikan, Julie Cao, and Carolyn Pullman for their contributions.
1. Vancouver: Watching Plays at the Bard on the Beach Festival
On a hot July morning about three years ago, I went to see Hamlet, one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, at Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park, Vancouver. It was my second time attending Bard, having gone several years ago with my English class. And it was a few months before I was leaving Canada to study literature as an exchange student in the United Kingdom, Shakespeare’s home country.
The play I saw was an adaptation of Hamlet, set in the modern times with television screens, cell phones, and hip music. Although it depicted the same original story, the setting made it seem all the closer to real-life.
Perhaps it’s this universal adaptability that makes Shakespeare still relevant today: the story of Hamlet’s flaws and tragedy continue to permeate contemporary culture by influencing books, film, and especially theatre performances and retellings.
Website: Bard on the Beach
Tips for visiting:
It’s important to book tickets as early as possible, since some shows are already selling out and the best seats get picked quickly.
Discounted previews and youth prices (age 9-22) are available
On the day of your show, arrive early and enjoy a stroll around Vanier Park.
Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park (Photo courtesy of Irene Kehler)
London: The City Where Shakespeare Lived and Worked
2. The Globe Theatre Tour & Exhibit
One of my top things-to-do for my London visit was to “watch a play at the Globe Theatre”. But after I got to the UK, I learned that the plays were only running during warmer seasons, since the Globe was an open-air theatre like its original counterpart and thus affected by the weather.
So instead of watching a play, I joined a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Globe and saw first-hand the layout that I had learned about in English classes. I walked among the different seats, and heard about ways plays used to be performed–by male actors only, with actual canon fire for effect, candles for light, and even real dead bodies for any deaths in plays. I also visited an exhibit showing the theatre’s history, traditional costumes, and props.
We have come a long way since the old days of watching Shakespeare: plays have been reenacted on stages across the world, adapted for the digital screen, and even transformed into manga. I hope to go back to visit the Globe again one day, to watch a play performed in the traditional space.
Website: Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Tips for visiting:
Check early in advance to see where shows are happening and reserve seats.
According to a friend who did watch a play there, you can sometimes buy second-hand tickets from people leaving the theatre during a play (visitors come to watch plays briefly and not necessarily stay for the whole show).
She also recommended buying standing-room tickets (the ones for “groundlings”), which are closest to the stage.
A guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Globe Theatre
Beautifully painted walls and decorations inside the Globe Theatre
In the museum, a woman demonstrates the printing techniques used to make copies of scripts during Shakespeare’s days.
A display showing Shakespeare’s pen nibs and related items
The manuscript of the play-within-a-play written by the character of Prince Hamlet
A clown prop on exhibit at the Globe Theatre
A model of the Globe Theatre on display
3. Finding Shakespeare in London
A walk along the Thames River can shed light on Shakespeare’s life and the history of London’s theatre scene, since the south bank of the river was where theatres, gambling, and other forms of “illicit entertainment” thrived, just beyond the city’s edge.
Any fan of his work can visit the British Library rare books exhibit to see preserved manuscripts of his work, including Shakespeare’s First Folio. The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare, the only painting considered by experts to accurately represent him, is on display at the National Portrait Gallery. There’s also a statue dedicated to him in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey.
Tips for visiting:
London is a giant metropolis and difficult to navigate, so it’s extremely important to have a detailed map, ideally showing landmarks and bus/train lines.
Always be prepared for the travel time to take longer than expected.
If you’re lost and short on time, call a London cab, since the drivers have thorough knowledge of London landmarks.
London Literary Landmarks: check out my blog post for advice on locating the main literary spots and Harry Potter film locations in London.
Thames River, London
The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare in the National Portrait Gallery (Photo courtesy of the National Art Gallery).
Westminster Abbey at Night
Stratford-upon-Avon: Where Shakespeare Lived and Died
4. Visiting Shakespeare’s Birthplace
The first place I headed for in Stratford-upon-Avon was the historic home where Shakespeare was born and grew up. He continued living here for a few years after marrying Anne Hathaway.
The house showed old furniture, clothes, household items, and even children’s cradles from Shakespeare’s time period. There were also actors in costumes demonstrating leather work, since Shakespeare’s father John Shakespeare was a glover and leather tanner.
I was surprised to find a giant poster of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in the top floor of the house; it turned out that he had visited Britain in 2011, and started his trip in the UK with a visit to Shakespeare’s home. The house also entertained visits by literary figures like Charles Dickens, John Keats, and Walter Scott.
Website: Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust
Tips for visiting:
If you dislike crowds, try to avoid visiting the town during peak hours and holidays, since it’s such a popular attraction.
There are options to visit Shakespeare’s family homes in and near Stratford-upon-Avon, associated with his mother (Mary Arden’s Farm), wife (Anne Hathaway’s cottage), and daughter and granddaughter (Hall’s Croft).
Special visitor’s passes are available if you plan to visit multiple places.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
An actress dressed in period costume inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace
Handmade pouches and other leather work fill the bottom floor of the house
Shakespeare’s bedroom
Children clothes on display in the bedroom of Shakespeare’s Birthplace
A large poster of Premier Wen Jiabao in Shakespeare’s Birthplace
5. Explore Stratford-upon-Avon
Many musicians and performers busked on the streets, including a very pale actor who was standing in as Shakespeare’s Ghost. I wondered how Shakespeare would feel about all the people coming to visit him, his town, and even pretending to be him (haha).
To escape the crowds, I headed down to the River Avon for a stroll. Many visitors and families walked there too, but the river water and surrounding greenery were calming and slowed down everyone’s pace.
Tips for visiting:
Stratford-upon-Avon is a small town and very easy to navigate, especially once you locate the main landmarks.
The Shakespeare’s Birthplace passes have a very simple map, but you can find a more detailed one on brochures around tourist sites or the visitor’s centre.
Day Trip from Oxford: Stratford-upon-Avon can be explored in reasonable depth within a day. I visited Stratford-upon-Avon via bus on a day trip from the nearby city of Oxford, which is a must-visit for travelers to the UK.
Shakespeare’s Ghost standing as still as a statue
Houses reflected in the River Avon
The beautiful River Avon during a sunny January afternoon
6. Shakespeare’s Grave at Holy Trinity Church
Lit by the golden late afternoon sunlight, the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was baptised and buried, had a graceful solemnity. I couldn’t help but recall the scene of Hamlet visiting a graveyard and finding out from gravediggers that Ophelia had died. Looking at the skulls of the dead, he came to realize that everyone would eventually die and turn to dust.
Walking in the graveyard and up to Shakespeare’s grave, I too was forced to confront the brevity of life and my own mortality. Death felt as close as the gravestones nearby, especially since I was still in shock about my grandma’s sudden passing (she had just passed away while I was staying in a hostel in Oxford).
To this day, I still get shivers whenever I see my photo of Shakespeare’s grave. He left a great legacy on the world through his plays, inspiring audiences with his words and imagination, and showing that language and literature truly have the power to travel across boundaries of place and time.
Website: Holy Trinity Church
As a working church, the building is open to visitors on most days, but may have sudden schedule changes or closures for special celebrations, funerals, or other services.
Entry to the church is free but a donation (£3 for general visitors, £2 for seniors/students) is requested for visiting Shakespeare’s grave.
The path leading to the entrance of Holy Trinity Church
The altar and graves inside Holy Trinity Church
Shakespeare’s grave and plaque
7. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage: Childhood Home of Shakespeare’s Wife
From Ruth Kozak (Ruth Kozak):
“Visiting Anne Hathaway’s house was something I had always wanted to do. I have had a love for Shakespeare’s plays since I was 14 yrs old, seen many of his plays, and grew up in Stratford, Ontario.
The childhood home of Anne Hathaway was built in early 1460’s. The ‘cottage’ is actually a spacious twelve-room Elizabethan farmhouse surrounded by a typical English country garden. In Shakespeare’s day, it was known as Newlands, a thriving farm (36 hectares). It’s thatch-roofed and built with timber framing, traditional Tudor style architecture.
In the spacious drawing room of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a big carved wooden chair. It’s known as the ‘courting chair’ because it is said this is where the young William Shakespeare sat while visiting and courting his future bride, Anne.
Anne was pregnant at the time of their marriage and reputedly, Shakespeare was involved and had promised to marry another woman. So rumours persisted that he was forced by the Hathaway family to marry Anne. Some historians insist that because of this, Shakespeare loathed his wife and his unhappy marriage spurred his decision to leave Stratford and pursue a career in the theatre.”
Website: Anne Hathaway’s Cottage & Gardens
Tips for visiting:
The house is situated one mile (1.5 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon, so it can be easily combined with the visit to the town.
Some Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust visitor passes cover a visit to the house.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (Photo by Ruth)
Shakespeare’s courting chair (Photo by Ruth)
8. Shakespeare’s Way: Journey Between Stratford-upon-Avon to London
From Chris & Rick Millikan (Chris and Rick Millikan):
“How about celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with a walking holiday along the route he took between Stratford upon Avon and London? After visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, travel deeper into Shakespeare country by walking along Shakespeare’s Way back to London.
Shakespeare’s commutes began about 1585. Visualize him traveling alone, or with strolling players to entertain at Court. Today, way-markers along public pathways and bridle paths guide walkers of all ages along Shakespeare’s Way. Tramp through pastoral English countryside, as Shakespeare would have. Visit villages and hamlets along the way.
We followed the Bard from his hometown to Oxford. Here he often stopped with friends before continuing another 150 kilometers to London’s Globe Theatre, where he spent his most productive years.”
Website: Shakespeare’s Way
Tips for visiting
The long-distance walk spans over 146 miles, and can be taken in separate parts. Be prepared for all weather conditions and dress appropriately.
It links different travel destinations like Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Blenheim Palace, the Cotswolds, and London, offering a different way to explore England.
While there are waymarkers showing the path, be prepared with a good map, such as this one.
One of many thatched cottages along the footpath. (Photo by Chris & Rick)
9. Stratford, Ontario: Stratford on the Other Side of the World
From Julie Cao (Always on the Way Travel, Twitter: @JulieCaoHIAK):
“I have lived in Stratford for a year for my employment since last May. Since Stratford shares the name of Shakespeare’s hometown in England, Stratford-native journalist Tom Patterson founded the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 1952 and dedicated it to the works of William Shakespeare.
The festival runs from April to October annually and takes place in the Avon Theater, the Festival Theatre, the Studio Theater, and the Tom Patterson Theatre. The festival also features Greek tragedy, contemporary plays, dramas, and musicals.
Last year, I had the opportunity to watch The Sound of Music, Carousel, and The Diary of Anne Frank. But my favorite play is Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, which made me realize Shakespeare is a master of characters development. He has the ability to write about the social issues (like gender role) in a witty way.”
Website: Stratford Shakespeare Festival
Tips for visiting:
Book the festival tickets at least a week in advance.
If you’re staying for dinner after the show, make sure to reserve the seats at the restaurant.
River Avon in Stratford, Ontario, Canada (Photo by Julie)
10. Shakespeare Ghost Town, USA: Shakespeare Off-the-Beaten-Path
From Carolyn Pullman (Penguin’s Wanderlust, Instagram: @PenguinsWander):
“Before last year, the name Shakespeare made me think of actors on stages, high school English homework, and thatched cottages in England. Then, when I was having lunch in Lordsburg, New Mexico, I saw a pamphlet advertising the Shakespeare Ghost Town.
I had never been to a ghost town in the Wild West before. Named in 1879, the town of Shakespeare had miners bringing their finds to assayers, and mining companies storing explosives in town. A spring provided water and a stage coach came through regularly. The blacksmith shop made wagon wheels and tools.
The town was close to Tombstone, and various outlaws, including Billy the Kid, passed through town. At the Stratford Inn on Avon Avenue, there was a gun fight over the last egg. This was followed by a hanging in the dining hall. When a railway was built three miles away, creating Lordsburg, Shakespeare became a ghost town.”
Website: Shakespeare Ghost Town
Tips for visiting:
Shakespeare Ghost Town is only open for guided tours one weekend per month. Make sure to do your research and schedule accordingly if you want to visit.
Shakespeare Ghost Town (Photo by Carolyn)
Exploring Shakespeare Ghost Town (Photo by Carolyn)
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The post 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s Death: 10 Shakespearean Travel Destinations & Activities appeared first on Yilin Wang.
March 8, 2016
Why Should Media & Creative Professionals Attend TEDxStanleyPark?
Full Disclosure: I’m partnering with TEDxStanleyPark as a Blog Ambassador, so I’m receiving a complimentary ticket for blogging about the event and a small commission for selling tickets, which helps to support the running this blog. All opinions are my own, and I only accept ambassadorships with organizations/events that I’m excited to support. To buy a ticket with a $20 discount, enter “yilinw” in the promo code box.
I’m super excited to announce that I have recently become a Blog Ambassador for TEDxStanleyPark, which means I’ll be covering and attending the event in May! In this post, I’m going to be sharing some inside scoop on some of the speakers, and why their talks matter, especially for those of us working in the fields of writing/media/the arts.
Event details
Date & Time: Saturday, May 28, 2016, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 649 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Transforming ideas into action
The theme of this year’s event is “Ideas to Action”. I can relate to this greatly because my personal theme and goal for this year is to take more actions towards my goals and to challenge myself through risk-taking. Although careful planning can increase the likelihood of success, it’s easy to make plans, read books, and do research without ever taking concrete actions to apply the knowledge.
How can we find a balance between brainstorming ideas and taking action? How can we transform our thoughts into reality? I’m hoping that I can find out the answers to some of these questions at TedX.
Speakers to watch out for
Jessica Pautsch
Speaker Intro: Jessica is a social entrepreneur, strategist, and co-founder of Social Impact Tech Accelerator (SITA).
Talk: She believes that ownership has become outdated in the world and will be giving a talk on “Crowd Inc.: 5 Ways Technology and Sharing are Changing the World”.
Why I think the talk matters: The Sharing Economy has been expanding rapidly and impacting many new sectors. From crowdfunding to social networks to collaborative media projects, there are many ways the Sharing Economy has been changing the media landscape.
Dr. Gurdeep Parhar
Speaker Intro: Dr. Parhar is a strong advocate for diversity and the Executive Associate Dean – Clinical Partnerships and Professionalism for UBC’s Faculty of Medicine.
Talk: He plans to open up discussion on the issue of subconscious bias and its effect on racial stereotyping. He believes that awareness and acknowledgment of this bias is an important step in fighting racism.
Why I think the talk matters: Racism continues to be prevalent in society, and it’s often indirect rather than blatant. In publishing, people-of-color continue to be underrepresented in publishing, review coverage, award lists, etc., so this is an important issue to discuss. #WeNeedDiverseBooks
Gayla Westler
Speaker Intro: An Israeli immigrant, Gayla is the founder of 2Galvanize Ltd, a company that aims to build social apps to connect people with their communities.
Talk: After noticing people’s growing addiction to social media, which ironically have caused them to feel lonely and isolated, Gayla wants to talk about ways to recover.
Why I think the talk matters: I have a love-hate relationship with social media, and would like to establish a more healthy and balanced approach to using social media tools, and know many people who want to do the same.
Isabelle Mercier
Speaker Intro: A celebrated author, TV show host, and influencer, Isabelle works to super and empower entrepreneurs in their business and personal lives.
Talk: Most people have to deal with a lot of stress in their lives. Isabelle believes that this worry is often caused by people tolerating what they shouldn’t, and she will offer some solutions to help bring more peace of mind.
Why I think the talk matters: Newspapers and magazines seem to be dying. Freelancers are struggling with low rates and getting paid. We creatives have a lot on our plate, and reducing stress can help us focus on what matters — making good art and making a positive impact on those around us.
Interested in attending TEDxStanleyPark?
You can buy a ticket via Picatic. I have a special promo code for you — by entering “yilinw” in the promo code box, you’ll receive a $20 discount on each ticket. Besides receiving the discount, you’ll also help to support this blog and my work.
If you’re planning to attend the event, please drop me a line in the comments or via Twitter (@yilinwriter). I’ll be sharing exclusive updates about the event on social media, and I hope to see you at TEDxStanleyPark!
The post Why Should Media & Creative Professionals Attend TEDxStanleyPark? appeared first on Yilin Wang.
