As the Copy Editor for Things Created By People, I’m in the somewhat unique position of seeing all of the pieces in the final stage of editing. We ask for submissions about six weeks before the date of publication, and the editorial team works closely with each author or artist to refine and polish their piece. By the time they land on my desk, they have either been through several drafts, or — in the case of visual and auditory pieces — the artist has been interviewed. As they sit on the precipice of publication, I read the submissions for spelling, grammar, and clarity, but I’m also afforded a first look at the zine, and how it looks as a cohesive creation.

When I first joined the team at Things Created By People, we would often talk about trying to take advantage of publishing online, since it allows for a range of mediums – written, visual, and auditory — to be showcased. I am so pleased to see this issue reflect that goal. In the absence of a unifying theme, each component of the zine takes on a direction and quality of its own; yet across the board I am struck by the honesty and integrity of each voice.

Sarah Nasra’s piece on feminism weaves her personal experiences in India with a broader conversation on the state of women today, and the roaming format of her essay permits the urgency of her communication to persist in her writing. In a similar vein, Emily Dalmas offers us an eye-opening look into the dynamic between Producers and Directors and highlights the troubling absence of women in television and film, a trend that persists from independent features to Hollywood.

Regular TCBP contributor Michael Doshier treats us to a recorded interview with fellow musician Francis Steakknife. Their collaboration over the years on an array of musical endeavours, combined with a mutual admiration for each other’s work, leads to a wonderfully illuminating conversation which dances between the process and inspiration behind their music. We also hear from Brave The Night — recording name for Matt Bravmann — and the impetus behind his new EP, Mind on Fire. The candidness of this interview sheds light on a deeply personal songwriting process and provides a thought-provoking context for his music.

Rachel Petzinger, another seasoned contributor, delivers again with her review of Grand Theft Auto, proving time and again her ability to marry childhood memories with an irresistible humor. Her essay The Stomach Bump remains one of my all-time favorite submissions to Things Created By People. Finally, visual submissions in this issue come from Ian Farell, who shares a collection of his collages, and Néha Hirve, who designed this issue’s cover. Both pieces give us access to the techniques and approaches used in their work, highlighting the time and attention that they dedicate to their respective art.

I am so excited for you to read this issue of Things Created By People, and I am confident that the breadth of content — and mediums — will provide a little bit of everything to you.

Yours,
Chloe Isacke
Copy Editor