Ten emerging Francophone writers are leaving their first literary marks in On fait des traces, a new anthology. The collective Génération d’encre brings together young adults aged 18 to 35 for writing workshops aimed at perfecting and publishing short stories.

The workshops took place at Café Postal in St. Boniface and were led by writer Anne-Marie Turcotte. Regular visits to the café were a great way to support a local French-speaking business and inspire creativity in the community.

Turcotte chose to focus on the “broad, unifying themes of identity and territory,” encouraging the writers, who come from varied cultural backgrounds, to draw from their own experiences. 

The stories take place across Manitoba, from the rural Prairies to Winnipeg’s streets, and explore topics like immigration, memory, and hope. In one story, a man visits Churchill, where he confronts both the northern cold and his own grief, showing readers how our environment can shape our emotions.

The anthology is defined by the interconnection of characters, places, and themes. For example, two recently immigrated characters from different stories cross paths and bond over adjusting to Canadian life.

Linking narratives are more common in short story collections by a single author; Turcotte notes how rare this approach is in a collective work. She says this was intentional from the beginning, and that “the echo between the different stories further evokes the community aspect of the project.”

Project coordinator Katrine Deniset oversaw the project and played a key role in the editorial stages. She led a workshop with the new authors to determine the project’s title: On fait des traces. 

In addition to the literal meaning of “making tracks” or “leaving traces,” which speaks to the idea of new writers leaving a mark on Francophone literature, the phrase has an additional local meaning. She explains that Francophones in the Prairies use this expression to say “Okay, I’m leaving” or “I’m going for a bit.” 

“It’s very appropriate,” she says, “especially when you think about the project’s concept of place and belonging.”

Turcotte describes On fait des traces as a varied reading experience that is “sometimes deeper, sometimes lighter, highlighting the variety of human experiences found in the region.” She hopes that readers will find a sense of familiarity with the settings and themes. 

Deniset hopes the project will “add new voices to our repertoire.”

She says, “The authors of the collective are, so to speak, making their ‘first marks,’ but I have a feeling they won’t be their last.”