2021 Issue – The New Normal: A Letter to Readers
What does “the new normal” mean to us?
“The conventional definition of reality,
and the idea of ‘normal life’, mean nothing.”
-Sigmar Polke
Dear Reader,
The theme of Working Draft’s second issue, “the new normal,” seemed to have fallen in our laps.
In a year filled with unknowns and limitations, we’ve all struggled to find our way through a world without instructions.
The pandemic has forced us to grapple with a hard truth: “normal” is not stationary.
So while the “new normal” to some has become a buzzword and cliché, the theme inspired stories and sparked conversations that are anything but. Just as diamonds are created under intense pressure, so too are strong, resilient, and beautiful things forged from trial and difficulty.
The 43 articles in this issue explore how people overcome change in unexpected and profound ways.
Join our 2021 Creative Communications graduating class as we unearth the diamonds in our lives and in those around us.
Thank you for reading.
— 2021 Working Draft contributors and editorial board
Don’t know where to start? Try these reads:
Creative Nonfiction
Two Vines Tangled in a Greening Wood: seeking healing through psychedelics by Cody Sellar
Memoirs of a Clay Person by Brett Kelly
Remembering Tamourine Rain by Ginaya Jesmer
Pair of Genes by Ethan Ani
Moving On
by Keanna Kennington
Features
Driving EVolution: Navigating Myths & Facts of Owning an Electric Vehicle by Casey Challes
Intangible: Staying Connected with Loved Ones in Care Homes Amid the Pandemic
by Katlyn Streilein
Beneath the Sleeves
by Nicole Brownlee
Insert Token Here
by Sheen Chan
A Case for Adaptation: Preparing for Climate Disasters in Manitoba
by Rosanna Hempel
