chris johnson
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
he/him : white settler : managing editor, @arcpoetry.bsky.social : editorial assistant, @nightwoodeditions.bsky.social : opinions are my own : profile photo by Curtis Perry
i like soup and share recipes with friends. need a soup recipe? hmu!
Made soup tonight because I haven’t had kitchen zen in ages (thanks work).
Butternut squash soup with hot Italian sausage, kale, and cheese tortellini. Recipe from @ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Butternut squash soup with hot Italian sausage, kale, and cheese tortellini. Recipe from @ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 1:19 PM
i like soup and share recipes with friends. need a soup recipe? hmu!
rob remembered I had a new poem published recently! (note: rob was the one who published the poem)
some above/ground press author activity: Frances Boyle @francesboyle19.bsky.social , Julie Carr @juliecarr.bsky.social , Chris Johnson @ceeeejohnson.bsky.social , Conor Mc Donnell + rob mclennan,
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/10/some...
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/10/some...
some author activity: Boyle, Carr, Johnson, Mc Donnell + mclennan,
Frances Boyle has new work up at talking about strawberries all of the time ; Julie Carr is interviewed over at Tupelo Quarterly ; Chris Joh...
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com
October 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
rob remembered I had a new poem published recently! (note: rob was the one who published the poem)
WOO-HOO for @manahil.bsky.social!! 🥳
We are pleased to share that Manahil Bandukwala's Heliotropia has been named the 2025 Archibald Lampman Award winner! This year's jury says, "With form and language that surprises and delights, Manahil Bandukwala has crafted a perfect set of love poems for our current moment." Congrats, Manahil!
October 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
WOO-HOO for @manahil.bsky.social!! 🥳
the last title of Nightwood Editions' Fall 2025 season! it's still very cool to have a small role in the release of novels and poetry collections after working for a magazine for years. I'm looking forward to the Spring 2026 books now... which feels far away and right around the corner!
"How do you break the cycle of intergenerational trauma when you've never seen it done?"
Meg Todd's MOST GRIEVOUS FAULT is officially in the world now and we couldn't be more excited. Find it at your local indies or through online retailers!
Meg Todd's MOST GRIEVOUS FAULT is officially in the world now and we couldn't be more excited. Find it at your local indies or through online retailers!
October 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
the last title of Nightwood Editions' Fall 2025 season! it's still very cool to have a small role in the release of novels and poetry collections after working for a magazine for years. I'm looking forward to the Spring 2026 books now... which feels far away and right around the corner!
I've got a new poem on DUSIE thanks to the tireless @robmclennan.bsky.social! in this poem, "Someone has bastardized the best lines, / and I have taken all the credit" as per usual. (the "someone" is me 🤫) please give it a read!
Tuesday poem #653 : Chris Johnson @ceeeejohnson.bsky.social : screaming kids / @arcpoetry.bsky.social @nightwoodeditions.bsky.social ;
dusie.blogspot.com/2025/10/tues...
dusie.blogspot.com/2025/10/tues...
Tuesday poem #653 : Chris Johnson : screaming kids
after John Thompson’s “IX” from Stilt Jack Milton Acorn. Earle Birney. Louis Dudek. Irving Layton. Al Purdy. Too many men have been pu...
dusie.blogspot.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I've got a new poem on DUSIE thanks to the tireless @robmclennan.bsky.social! in this poem, "Someone has bastardized the best lines, / and I have taken all the credit" as per usual. (the "someone" is me 🤫) please give it a read!
Reposted by chris johnson
Today's the day! We are looking forward to hosting our three Lampman Award finalists this evening at Perfect Books on Elgin Street. Come on out to hear Emily Austin, Manahil Bandukwala, and AJ Dolman read from their recent books of poetry. Readings start at 7pm, so don't miss it!
Join us at Perfect Books on Tuesday, Sept 23, for a special reading with the 2025 Lampman Award Finalists: Emily Austin, Manahil Bandukwala, and AJ Dolman. Don’t miss the chance to hear these incredible poets share their work before the Lampman Award winner is revealed later this fall!
September 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Today's the day! We are looking forward to hosting our three Lampman Award finalists this evening at Perfect Books on Elgin Street. Come on out to hear Emily Austin, Manahil Bandukwala, and AJ Dolman read from their recent books of poetry. Readings start at 7pm, so don't miss it!
TOMORROW! Join me at Perfect Books at 7pm to hear from Arc's three Lampman Award finalists. If you're looking for some great poetry in Ottawa on a Tuesday, this is the place to be!
We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2025 Lampman Award, recognizing outstanding poetry from brilliant Ottawa-based poets: Emily Austin's “Gay Girl Prayers,” Manahil Bandukwala's “Heliotropia,” and AJ Dolman's “Crazy/Mad.” Stay tuned for details about the winner announcement this fall!
September 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
TOMORROW! Join me at Perfect Books at 7pm to hear from Arc's three Lampman Award finalists. If you're looking for some great poetry in Ottawa on a Tuesday, this is the place to be!
Reposted by chris johnson
Don’t miss an incredible panel at Word Vancouver this Saturday, Sept. 20! Join Isabella Wang (November, November), Joseph Dandurand (I Would Like to Thank You), Arleen Paré, and Junie Désil for a powerful conversation hosted by Renée Sarojini Saklikar.
🗓 Saturday, Sept. 20
🕧 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
🗓 Saturday, Sept. 20
🕧 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Tending the Unspoken — WV
From encrypted histories and systemic weight to ancestral echoes and quiet acts of gratitude, this poetry reading brings together four distinct yet intertwined voices in Canadian literature. Join us f...
www.wordvancouver.ca
September 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Don’t miss an incredible panel at Word Vancouver this Saturday, Sept. 20! Join Isabella Wang (November, November), Joseph Dandurand (I Would Like to Thank You), Arleen Paré, and Junie Désil for a powerful conversation hosted by Renée Sarojini Saklikar.
🗓 Saturday, Sept. 20
🕧 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
🗓 Saturday, Sept. 20
🕧 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Yesterday I got the notification that my first ever Canada Council grant was rejected. I was hoping for at least something to help with my upcoming residency at the Al Purdy A-frame. Alternating between anger and sadness, my only solace is learning that others have felt this same feeling.
September 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Yesterday I got the notification that my first ever Canada Council grant was rejected. I was hoping for at least something to help with my upcoming residency at the Al Purdy A-frame. Alternating between anger and sadness, my only solace is learning that others have felt this same feeling.
Reposted by chris johnson
We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2025 Lampman Award, recognizing outstanding poetry from brilliant Ottawa-based poets: Emily Austin's “Gay Girl Prayers,” Manahil Bandukwala's “Heliotropia,” and AJ Dolman's “Crazy/Mad.” Stay tuned for details about the winner announcement this fall!
August 25, 2025 at 10:49 PM
We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2025 Lampman Award, recognizing outstanding poetry from brilliant Ottawa-based poets: Emily Austin's “Gay Girl Prayers,” Manahil Bandukwala's “Heliotropia,” and AJ Dolman's “Crazy/Mad.” Stay tuned for details about the winner announcement this fall!
come on out to T's Pub in Ottawa tonight, if you're free, and please be kind to me as I read some poems for the first time in a long time!
Queer Indie Authors at T's Pub
Featuring:
Host Eden Moore
@ajdolman.bsky.social
Natalie Hanna
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Yours truly
1/3
Featuring:
Host Eden Moore
@ajdolman.bsky.social
Natalie Hanna
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Yours truly
1/3
August 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
come on out to T's Pub in Ottawa tonight, if you're free, and please be kind to me as I read some poems for the first time in a long time!
Reposted by chris johnson
the ottawa small press book fair, autumn 2025 edition: November 22, 2025 / @ottawasmallpress.bsky.social ;
smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...
smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...
the ottawa small press book fair, autumn 2025 edition: November 22, 2025
span-o (the small press action network - ottawa) presents: the ottawa small press book fair autumn 2025 : will be held on Satur...
smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:23 PM
the ottawa small press book fair, autumn 2025 edition: November 22, 2025 / @ottawasmallpress.bsky.social ;
smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...
smallpressbookfair.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-...
i was just listening to “Not Strong Enough” and got a sudden urge to be in a car with a bunch of friends so i could ask everyone who their favourite boygenius is. for a laugh i think i’d say Jimmy Neutron.
August 15, 2025 at 10:38 PM
i was just listening to “Not Strong Enough” and got a sudden urge to be in a car with a bunch of friends so i could ask everyone who their favourite boygenius is. for a laugh i think i’d say Jimmy Neutron.
oh yeah i’m gonna try to dig up my best bisexual poems for this reading next week! come out and tell me how to make my poems gayer!
Queer Indie Authors at T's Pub in Ottawa
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
August 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM
oh yeah i’m gonna try to dig up my best bisexual poems for this reading next week! come out and tell me how to make my poems gayer!
going through my poetry manuscript and identifying common themes. here’s what i have so far:
- raccoons
- body (i.e. boogers, butts)
- the world sucks
- poems about poems
- love
- raccoons
- body (i.e. boogers, butts)
- the world sucks
- poems about poems
- love
August 9, 2025 at 4:30 PM
going through my poetry manuscript and identifying common themes. here’s what i have so far:
- raccoons
- body (i.e. boogers, butts)
- the world sucks
- poems about poems
- love
- raccoons
- body (i.e. boogers, butts)
- the world sucks
- poems about poems
- love
Reposted by chris johnson
The heat of summer is here, and Arc 107 is full of hot new poems, including winner of our 2025 Poem of the Year contest! Poems in this issue will haunt you, unsettle your ideas of home and family, and ask questions about memory, history and our place in the cosmos.
Order one today: buff.ly/PxduI1T
Order one today: buff.ly/PxduI1T
August 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The heat of summer is here, and Arc 107 is full of hot new poems, including winner of our 2025 Poem of the Year contest! Poems in this issue will haunt you, unsettle your ideas of home and family, and ask questions about memory, history and our place in the cosmos.
Order one today: buff.ly/PxduI1T
Order one today: buff.ly/PxduI1T
Reposted by chris johnson
Queer Indie Authors at T's Pub in Ottawa
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
August 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Queer Indie Authors at T's Pub in Ottawa
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
Featuring fab host Eden Moore &
@ajdolman.bsky.social
@battleaxepress.bsky.social
@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social
Stevie Mikayne
@jamestheballadeer.bsky.social
T's Pub or tspub.ca
Thurs., Aug. 21.
Doors "open", 5:30.
6:00pm start.
Free event.
1/2
very cool call for submissions from Coach House here!
In the tradition of the poem as an act of love, as an act of protest, an act of visionary incantation, of remembrance, of a call to arms, and a much-needed balm—Coach House Books is inviting poetry submissions for an upcoming anthology of occasional poems, ed. @sinaqueyras.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 7:07 PM
very cool call for submissions from Coach House here!
writer friends who are good at marketing, is it wise to rebrand myself to "The Decentest White Male Poet in Canada"?
July 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
writer friends who are good at marketing, is it wise to rebrand myself to "The Decentest White Male Poet in Canada"?
Reposted by chris johnson
Very much looking forward to the return of dear friend Matthew Jones - writer who is hosting another melange of food and writing at his favourite eatery, Bamm's Snack Shack on Saturday, August 9 at 6pm.
July 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Very much looking forward to the return of dear friend Matthew Jones - writer who is hosting another melange of food and writing at his favourite eatery, Bamm's Snack Shack on Saturday, August 9 at 6pm.
Reposted by chris johnson
A fair warning from Dessa Bayrock before reading Rob Taylor's poem “Harrison River Valley, November”: "It is scientifically proven to make anyone who hails from British Columbia homesick, especially if they are as far from home as the salmon are." Check out Rob's visceral poem here: buff.ly/z84Gv1q
July 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A fair warning from Dessa Bayrock before reading Rob Taylor's poem “Harrison River Valley, November”: "It is scientifically proven to make anyone who hails from British Columbia homesick, especially if they are as far from home as the salmon are." Check out Rob's visceral poem here: buff.ly/z84Gv1q
Reposted by chris johnson
Call for Submissions to Arc Poetry's Diana Brebner Prize / @arcpoetry.bsky.social ;
smallpressalmanac.blogspot.com/2025/07/call...
smallpressalmanac.blogspot.com/2025/07/call...
Call for Submissions to Arc Poetry's Diana Brebner Prize
Attention Ottawa writers who are unpublished in book form! Now's the time to get your submissions in to this year's Diana Brebner Prize. T...
smallpressalmanac.blogspot.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Call for Submissions to Arc Poetry's Diana Brebner Prize / @arcpoetry.bsky.social ;
smallpressalmanac.blogspot.com/2025/07/call...
smallpressalmanac.blogspot.com/2025/07/call...
Reposted by chris johnson
Today we are promoting the Summer Lovin' Contests run by our friends at canadianpoets.bsky.social. Among these opportunities is the Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest, named after a late member of our Ottawa poetry community who is still missed by many at Arc. More details are here: buff.ly/oc1mXqV
July 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Today we are promoting the Summer Lovin' Contests run by our friends at canadianpoets.bsky.social. Among these opportunities is the Lesley Strutt Poetry Contest, named after a late member of our Ottawa poetry community who is still missed by many at Arc. More details are here: buff.ly/oc1mXqV
the state of literary magazines in Canada is precarious, and this report from @litmagscan.bsky.social shows it. many publishers will expect and looks for an author's track record of published work, but the lit mags where writers can publish are being run by volunteers or an extremely small staff.
Post #3 summarizing our survey of #literarymagazines in Canada. We found that while litmags contribute significantly to writers & literary publishing, they are working with very limited resources. The large majority in our survey have no full-time paid staff. Read the full report: litmags.ca/survey/
July 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
the state of literary magazines in Canada is precarious, and this report from @litmagscan.bsky.social shows it. many publishers will expect and looks for an author's track record of published work, but the lit mags where writers can publish are being run by volunteers or an extremely small staff.
attn: Ottawa poets! this prize is open for submissions from writers who have not yet published a full-length book of poetry, and it's literally the cheapest way to get a 1-year subscription to Arc Poetry Magazine. so, give it a try, right?!
Calling all Ottawa poets who are unpublished in book form! The Diana Brebner Prize is open for submissions. Enter 1–2 poems by September 4 with only a $35 entry, which includes a 1-year subscription to Arc. Judge: Jessica Bebenek. Don’t miss it! buff.ly/msaCC7i
July 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
attn: Ottawa poets! this prize is open for submissions from writers who have not yet published a full-length book of poetry, and it's literally the cheapest way to get a 1-year subscription to Arc Poetry Magazine. so, give it a try, right?!