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 due out July 3rd. Check here for updates. If you have any questions, please write to: questions (at) thewriteplaceatthewritetime (dot) org.
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