Common House Magazine

Welcome, dear readers, to Issue 6 of Common House Magazine. 

I am so delighted to be typing these words, because I am so proud of this magazine. This is the third issue that I have had the pleasure to be involved with, and the first one that I have been able to have such a guiding hand in compiling as this year’s EIC. That is not to say that this has been a solo effort; on the contrary, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to rely on the team that rallies around me. Our little group has grown quite a bit—our masthead this year is the largest it has ever been! This Common House has started to feel like a Common Home (sorry, I had to), containing an unlikely group of friends surrounding an unlikely collection of poetry and prose (to quote Leyla Abdolell, our first EIC). 

But I’m getting sappy. Back to Fall 2025: Issue 6 – “The Important Things We Do In Between.” 

Throughout this term, we noticed a few throughlines connecting the pieces we received. The tumultuousness of our present day is reflected in the variety of works, which unexpectedly ties them together with themes of motherhood, growth, disillusionment, human connection, and subjective attempts at hope [as in, the thing with feathers (see: “Nested”)]. I feel very tender towards this collection. There is a lot of hurt within the pages, a vulnerability that these contributors present bravely and poignantly. Gwen King’s piece starts us off with a new growth, and the following pieces take you through the pain that comes with simply living and feeling, and witnessing the world around you. Along with our interview for this issue, with the supremely talented Emily Austin, these works lay bare the reality that cracks of light come in the form of real, human connection. “Spellbound,” the photograph featured on this issue’s cover, shot by Taryn Dutton, visually reflects the strength of this sentiment. 

6 out of our 13 contributors for this issue are current or recently graduated uOttawa students. I feel so lucky to provide a space for my peers' work to be shared, along with pieces from the wider, and international, community. I hope you enjoy what we have put together for you, reader. Pardon my rambling; you may go forth.

Grace Wildman

Editor-in-Chief