Welcome to the write place at the write time. Imagine that you are seated comfortably in a chic café with the décor of your choice. In the time it takes you to consume the generous warm mug of coffee or tea cradled between your hands, you can step into another world, abandon your senses and delve into another space and time. You do this by allowing a mysterious stranger to pull up a chair across from you and tell you a story. Close your eyes, listen to the words in your mind and be swept away...
"Peace" NMB Copyright 2007
***[UPDATED as of 12/31/2020, please read and scroll down for further info and intermediate outside links, activities, updates] IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: COME BACK AND JOIN US FOR OUR NEW INCARNATION AND OUR DECADE+ MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE DUE OUT SPRING 2021! CHECK OUR HOME PAGE AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR SPECIFICS AND FURTHER DETAILS.
We stand on the threshold of a new year. One can almost hear how the world sighs from deep within tonight. Our world, has largely been you—and it always has been. We founded this publication to be a nurturing and creative presence, force, atmosphere. It grew to be more than we dreamed because of you, because of the fact that we all grew and shared our dreams together to create something which truly became the write (right) place at the write (right) time. Here it is always the hour of heart, of soul, of words, art, and truth. This affixed time is always right whenever we connect. The space between our last issue and the new one on its way has no months, no weeks, no days, no minutes…it is merely the measure of a moment in-between. That is how love is, and this, this is a creation of love unconditional and timeless. This place is forever an open door emanating light with arms of kindred creatives waiting. We have always been right here because never has a day passed since July 3rd, 2008 when we did not think of you and care. Our love has only deepened and matured over the years. Didn’t you know? You are amongst the most important elements of our lives. This place that we created which you contributed magnificent meaning to, will exist ever more, similar to the way a book and its author are immortalized, yet different because there is so large a shared history spanning the globe for over a decade. It is both a bookmark in time and an actively evolving entity of love, empathy, expression, connection. They say we write at a subconscious level. When we were creating, working, envisioning anew in these days, whether or not you were conscious of the fact, no one ever let go of the gentle grasp of your hand.
It’s true we have all had our individual journeys in this past year, in these past few years, few of them easy out there in the world, and yet, the bond remained. It was strong enough to keep from sleep the one who felt herself as friend, sister, mother to hundreds in this family. When your heart’s ached, mine did too. Yet proudly, here I find you shining brilliantly, hearing many of your voices on the phone or through lengthy e-mails after what we’ve all been through. We may have experienced shared or different trials in these times but our feelings are so alike, so aligned. It makes sense when I remember being with you through so many aspects of life over the years we’ve existed together. I had the honor of being there through it all, in triumph and tragedy, in sickness and in health, grieving losses, celebrating births, attaining vibrant successes and sharing your joys, your laughter, and sorrows. That is the personal element here. Knowing you, seeing you, appreciating all that makes the art that is you. Sending care packages to friends of yours in the hospital years back or getting the book your spouse wanted to encourage them or taking time to write or talk out a bad day, a bad break, or a bad dream. These are just some things of the things we’ve experienced in our days in the right place with you, the right sort of souls we could scarcely hope for. So thank you for your sincere spirits, your terrific talents, your fervent faith.
When the world called down such drastic change is so many personal and professional spheres, we prepared. We wanted more and better, a way forward to be there for you in an altered age. We saw the opportunities in not staying the same. We have acquired new, thought new, learned new, and with the new, had our frustrations with delays in obtaining every answer to our standards and goals. We are on our way, coordinating, cultivating. Had we our own choice, the new incarnation would have taken place and been live by now. However, with every pause and continuation, we find something superior—so though we wait, the magazine reminds us as it has many times before, that it knows better. We find it hard to fathom a more dynamic period to return than in the spring of 2021 as rebirth surrounds everything. Yes, as in life, there will be change here too. We hope to make it what we wish and yet leave room for the unexpected extraordinary to enter as it has been known to do.
We will tend this winter garden and guard these dreams until emergence in spring. We will reconfirm materials accepted and determine a revitalized response to reset with some collective replies. Many of you will choose to stay, but for those who may choose to move on, know that it is with love and wishes for your deepest wishes that we tenderly release you—and the door will always remain open should you wish to turn ‘round and come home.
We are putting up this page and limited version of the site until we can take the form of our beautiful new incarnation. We hope to write to you soon via blog and e-mail, and we continue to thank you for your patience and encourage you to check our social media (FB page) for updates. Stay safe, hold your loved ones dear, and never forget how much we love you and that you always have a place here in the write place at the write time.
The latest update (as of 12/31/2020) has our intended rebirth in spring of 2021 to give an extra cushion in time to accommodate how we are adjusting in response to outside and personal circumstances. New tools, new tech, new programs and more. We consult tech experts as we move to shape everything and attend to details. As we get closer, coordinating with contributors and special components, we will be able to give specifics on dates. SO PLEASE check our Facebook page for any updates (updates also via Twitter). We are going to give you new content via the blog soon in the form of two special features about books that shaped our year. We have a WPWT Holiday “Bizarre” 2020 page on Facebook which will extend well into January and is meant to inspire, unite, uplift, and help those in need. It features anecdotes, quotes, interesting facts, photography, writing prompts, WPWT authors and artists, charity links and resources, as well as an exciting raffle with diverse prizes and prize packages from great authors and sites.
Regarding this main magazine website, again, this is a limited version of our site (FICTION, POETRY, NON-FICTION and more are behind-the-scenes to give a sparse, neat workspace during our labors of literary innovation) as we work on our future incarnation. Until then, we will have exciting features, postings, activities, and more through our associated blog (scroll to see side tab) and social media. On Facebook we will be featuring information on these items as well as reminders and links to interim content. We also have the text from the last issue down below. See you soon, my loves.
As a family of creative, empathetic, kindred spirits, we all have much to say and much work to do.
The past winter-spring issue Home page and certain components are left live though we are featuring, as stated above, a limited version of the site temporarily as we work on the new issue. We encourage you, especially as it is our anniversary, to peruse the archives and hunt for gems that will nourish, sustain, and encourage you. With diverse content from hundreds of writers, imagery from 40+ fine artists and photographers, and over fifty interviews with fine, famed minds, you are sure to discover or rediscover something essential, something you needed to find in the write place at the write time.
Current Issue Edition of Home Page
The Winter–Spring Issue
This is the first issue of the year that marks a decade of our being in existence, and yet in it, we are newly born. We're looking back down the road at the many miles we've traversed, and yet we're standing at a beginning. For all we thought we knew, it wasn't until the final touches that we could grasp the mysteries of this issue. Its assembly was like that of no other before it. We've discussed how the magazine thinks and feels and speaks for itself, but even though we would yield to its directions or imparted messages, we thought (foolishly) we somehow had it down, finally worked out after all these years. Well. As an incontrovertible force, it can tender a hard sort of humility—but never without heart.
We thought we had its "magic" more or less figured, though we were continually awed by it. Then, in its milestone year, it suddenly proved elusive—at worst, with many things out of alignment, we feared it absent. Was it what was happening in our worlds, in those of the contributors and readers we cherish most, in the world at large, that was inhibiting the reception or sight of that unearthly, unnamed guiding quality that had always been present? Where was the serendipitous sorting that would take place each time, as certain and dependable as a sunrise? It was time to go on stage, the curtain was rising, and it seemed that in this crucial hour of a momentous year, the lead, the star, the essence had somehow gone missing. Although there was indeed a bit of theater and perhaps more dramatic moments than we might have chosen to write in, the ultimate performance did not disappoint.
Our accumulated knowledge and experience, our beliefs, our understandings, our demands, were not going to deliver this issue. Wiped clean of all that, our faith would be tried, our certainties reshaped—the issue was, in fact, delivering us. We were enlightened about our approach to it, to life, to creating. One constant through these months was our loving dedication to the publication and to all of you. Holding fast to that dedication, we could let this issue move along through us instead of being moved along by us. It not only paved the way for great things to come later in the year, but it turned out to be one of if not the most, unified issues. We don't need an overview addressing its different pages and components because there is incredible synergy.
In speaking of survival, there are three l's that weave their way through the fiction, poetry, and non-fiction—coping with loss, transforming loneliness, and both the strain and salvation of love. Another shared theme? The mention and use of birds as messengers. How fitting when our logo is the dove. The entire magazine grew from the seed of that painting featured on our Home page. So we go back to the beginning this spring. We came to realize that the essence and "magic" of the magazine never departed for a moment. Hidden, it was there working stronger. It was simply taking us from veterans to novices to teach us, forcing us to trudge forward through uncertainty and obstacles with blind faith, harnessing only our dedication, and then, to rebuild and start fresh. Isn't much of that survival?
We're reminded of a photo we'd taken years ago of an iris coming up through the snow and ice. Survival is often talked about as a precursor or a baseline, but what this issue articulates is that survival can be a complete, dynamic, and beautiful thing unto itself.
Welcome to the winter-spring issue.
Highlights:
We will soon be preparing for our decade anniversary this summer and with this very special milestone that carries not only the significance of what's transpired here but all the stories and bonds beyond the pages that we've shared with you, we intend to celebrate in the same way we started—together. We'd love to hear your words about what you've enjoyed about the publication, what you feel makes it unique, what has affected you, and what anecdotes or memories you'd like to share about WPWT. Updates regarding our publication schedule will appear both here and on social media (see below). Community reminders and information will be sent out accordingly.
We have a Writers' Craft Box which is a section dedicated to giving writers tools, essays, features, and contests to enter. Think of it as an arts and crafts box full of colors and inspiration, or an old toy chest discovered in the attic on a rainy day... In this edition of Writers' Craft Box, we have the results of the autumn-winter Writers' Challenge with winner, Adrienne Corey and her poem. The prize was a donation from us in the winner's name to hurricane relief efforts.
We have an Archives page where readers and writers can trace our artistic journey from the beginning and re-read the philosophies of past interview subjects, including Janet Fitch, Alice Hoffman, Erica Bauermeister, Tracy Chevalier, Dennis Lehane, Joanne Harris, Frances Mayes, Arthur Golden, Jodi Picoult, Mona Simpson, and many, many more!
We also have the Scrapbook page which celebrates the magazine community with commentary from our contributors for each year and also has a list of countries we've reached. *Read reflections on last year's anniversary!
Please send in new announcements to appear in the next issue by June 1st for the Announcements page. Please send your announcements separately from submission content and indicate the intention to have your news included on the Announcements page in the subject line. We encourage all contributing writers and artists to tell us of their news. We love to support our WPWT veterans as they accomplish great things on their creative paths. We wish to showcase the amazing diversity of activity that takes place amongst the members of our magazine realm, and we also like to give news of our publication to our readership. Announcements can be sent to our submissions e-address.
We have a presence on Facebook via our fan page which offers insights, quotes, tools, resources and updates. Visit Facebook.com and stop by The-Write-Place-at-the-Write-Time-literary-journal page. Follow our Twitter account through @WriteplcWritetm. ***You can also join our e-mail list by providing your e-mail address along with the words "ADD ME" through our feedback form on the Feedback and Questions page.
Inscribing Industry is our associated blog, featuring exercises, articles, book giveaways, special features, reviews, and interviews. *We have recent special features and will be putting up further content in the coming weeks and months so be sure to stay tuned! Click on the Inscribing Industry tab to go there directly or visit: http://inscribingindustry.blogspot.com and become a follower!
We are a triannual publication (published three times a year), established in July of 2008. We are listed on the Poets & Writers site (www.pw.org) under literary magazines. Clicking on our listing describes our publication, past issues, and our editorial focus. We are also listed on Newpages.com, EWR, Duotrope Digest, Agentquery.com, P&E and The Review Review. To read more about our philosophies and approach, you can read the interview of our Editor-in-Chief in The Review Review: http://www.thereviewreview.net/interviews/there-blending-culturesgenerations-and-countries
Our next issue will be our decade anniversary issue. Check here for updates. If you have any questions, please write to: questions (at) thewriteplaceatthewritetime (dot) org.
"I feel I have a duty to speak the truth as I see it and to share not just my triumphs, not just the things that felt good, but the pain, the intense, often unmitigating pain. It is important to share how I know survival is survival and not just a walk through the rain." —Audre Lorde, Conversations with Audre Lorde
