The Write Place at the Write Time

IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING RELEASE DATE OF UPCOMING AUTUMN-WINTER ISSUE (10/22)

Our next issue will be released October 22nd. The autumn-winter issue will be the third and final issue of the 2017 calendar year, with our winter-spring issue taking us into 2018 and the decade milestone of the magazine. In this season of the harvest, we're looking at what we've wrought in the last twelve months. In the past year, we've proactively toiled and actively let go, to be able to give you what you've needed in these times. We've listened closely within and beyond the community, heads pressed to the heart of a restless world. As much as we've tried to plan, to responsibly create, to compile all we've received and observed, we've also surrendered to allow the publication to do what it does best—shape itself in answer to a higher, collective call.

We began the year with a winter-spring issue that was both response and reflection, trying to find a way forward together past widespread division. It was an issue created in honor of all you who continually renew our hope for the future. Through you, we've seen humanity at its height—we've see how people around the world, across faiths, cultures, views, orientations, ages, and continents are profoundly connected. For winter-spring, we tenderly explored the issues, and we gathered eight of our past interview subjects, including best-sellers, instructors, award-winners, and scholars to provide inspiration, comfort, compassion, and catharsis. We kept it live longer, receiving feedback of how readers were returning to its pages frequently in days of unprecedented uncertainty. Its Home page proposed that we all forge a new chapter, walking down the pages ahead of us together. To you, we extended our hand. We felt you clasp it, and in loyal friendship, we hold yours still.

Exactly nine years to the day we founded the publication, July 3rd, we released our empowerment-themed anniversary issue (the spring-summer 2017 issue). The altered release date, changed from May, allowed for a story hidden within the numbers. The numinous numerology of this year's date matched that of our debut for the first time in nine years, working out to a two, representing an inherent paradox of the issue, suggesting that a deeper outward union is achieved by attaining alignment of the inner self. Whereas anniversary issues are typically devoted to reflection, this one was an invitation to the personal power of the moment. It encouraged consistently living, evolving, and adapting in the present. When many around the world, coming from different viewpoints, were describing to us how they felt little was in their control, the issue took us on a journey within to examine what we can control. The book that inspired the interview for the issue, found our editor in a shop along the New England coast. Its messages opened gateways to clarity, liberation, and growth, while acknowledging the seeming contradictions and challenges of life. The Home page held a reminder to seize the present as our own, and through positive inner and outer action, make it what we would have it be.

Now, we approach autumn. This issue has been forming for some time, and we knew again, even in the early stages, that it had a distinct identity, as have the other issues this year. It is an exploration of the beguiling beauty and light discovered amidst the shadowy depths of darker emotions, adversity, loss, quests for truth, saving graces, bittersweet memories, and endings prompting new beginnings. This is what we're reading in the submissions, this is what we're seeing and hearing via the correspondence from our long-time readers and contributors who are family to us.

In these past weeks, there has been turmoil and immense heartache over catastrophic natural disasters. We've heard from those directly and indirectly affected. We plan to make the prize for the next writing contest (the autumn-winter edition) be a donation from us in the winner's name to hurricane relief efforts. We plan to create a social media page that serves as a supportive sanctuary where people can express their thoughts and feelings about the tragic devastation, the heroic citizens, those able to be spared, those lost. We will feature writing prompts and examples, providing a freeing space for processing and healing in words. Please see our Facebook page for updates on that as we develop it. Visit Facebook.com and stop by The-Write-Place-at-the-Write-Time-literary-journal page.

From what many of you have had to say, the tempests of past months have not been solely those of skies and sea. We have read of the struggles, formidable illnesses, grief, and the outer chaos of the world that seems to be symbolically reflecting itself in personal realms. We used to introduce some of our autumn-winter issues with images of a fireplace, ushering you in out of the cold to sit and share stories in a cozy, idyllic space of imagination. It's a different kind of embracing shelter of spirit we wish the pages to offer now. Reaching out with open arms, we gather you in to say that you are never alone—we are here with you, here for you. We ache, grieve, and rise alongside you. Honoring everyone's requests, needs, and circumstances, we have chosen to push out the autumn-winter release date (now 10/22). Many have expressed a desire for more time and as this is and will always be a home for you, it will be warm, waiting, and ready when you are. May our individual flames join in a bright blaze that leads us through the night.

You will see that we've left the anniversary issue up so that you can access this most recent issue until the new one goes live on 10/22. Notes at the top of our key pages feature reminders about the release date, and some hints about particular sections, including our interview, sure to transport you to another dimension of mind, our Craft Box with its new contest, and our Fiction ripe with contrast.

With all our love until we meet again,
Editorial Staff         

The Nine Year Anniversary Issue

In this issue we are working from the inside out. It is about writing (righting) and reclaiming our inner individual stories because that's where the constructive action to affect the outer world begins. There is a quote by George Bernard Shaw that reads: "Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." It is an issue that aspires to conscript change as an amiable accomplice in life's adventure, to draw attention to personal awareness and acknowledgment, to introduce flexibility to the seeming solidity of self "story," and to recognize the discovery of simplicity in complexity.

We chose the auspicious date of July 3rd for this anniversary issue's release as it coincides with the magazine's official debut date (July 3rd, 2008). We noticed the numinous (the "divine will" or "nod") in the numbers. Last year there was particular attention paid to the significance of the number eight involving that former anniversary issue. This year, we couldn't help but be sensitized to the fact that the numerology of the new release date matches that of our debut for the first time in nine years, coming out to a two. Let's be together in our solitude, partners in a pact to care more compassionately for ourselves so we may care more compassionately for others. In keeping with an inherent paradox of the issue, a deeper outward union is achieved by attaining alignment of the inner self.

Whereas anniversary issues are typically devoted to reflection, this one is an open invitation to "now," the personal power of the moment. In a time when many around the world, coming from different viewpoints, feel little is in their control, it is an opportune season to look within at what we can control. We are being tried and tested about our values and what affects us close to home, what holds the most meaning for us. What better way to uncover the larger answers than to look at our daily lives and discover what empowers us, what compels us to strive for greatness. The season of self has arrived. It is available to us in this moment and every moment. Handwriting the notes for this paragraph, "here and now" was unintentionally written as "here and new." We don't feel this was a coincidence. We are here and ever-present in the possibility of new.

We are, after all, creative creators. We understand the concept of creating something new, yet we rarely utilize the exhilarating gift of innovation in our personal lives. The story we cultivate doesn't have to be cumulative. Circumstances of an hour ago, a decade ago, don't have to dictate the present. We choose what we keep and how and when we keep it. Let's seize and salvage the best, finding ourselves again at the starting line.

Remember—this is our time. Let's take it. Let's make it.

Welcome to the empowerment issue.

In this issue, we meet Marc Lesser, author, Zen teacher, businessman and professional consultant, in the meditative space where mind and spirit converge. In the pursuit of authenticity, we are called to be awake and aware, taking stock of what is to understand what we want to be or where we wish to go in our lives. We are reminded of the necessity of being present as we travel the path. With pen acting as sword, we cut through to the true heart of storytelling that breathes through us in every word we feel, think, and act. We are prompted to discover the transformative influence of improvisation on life's stage. In being cognizant of the adaptive merits of our survival instinct, we find liberation amongst former limitations. We take comfort in the assertion that we are not alone. Unlearning our learning, we come to realize how not knowing becomes a gateway to openness, love, and confidence. Finally, we find there is comfort, genuineness, and a clarity beyond clarity in the apparent contradictions that surround us. 

Marc Lesser is the author of Know Yourself, Forget Yourself, Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less, and Z.B.A.: Zen of Business Administration—How Zen Practice Can Transform Your Work and Your Life. He has served as an executive coach to business leaders of corporations—including Google, Twitter, Facebook, and Genentech—as well as non-profit organizations across the country and around the world. He is a Zen teacher and cofounder of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute where he is presently a master-level teacher and consultant. His numerous experiences in the roles of founder and CEO inform his coaching, consulting, and writing. Lesser received his MBA from New York University, and from Rutgers University, he received his undergraduate degree in psychology.

Overview: The summer anniversary issue is both question and answer, internal and external. An interview that is deeply accessible and accessibly deep broadens our thinking on fundamental levels. The poetry section is an ode to the second glance, encouraging us to dispel initial impressions and take a look at how we look at things. The fiction section speaks of truth—whether or not one chooses to face it, and the way they can be defined by how they choose to handle it if and when they greet it on their own terms. The Our Stories non-fiction page demonstrates having courage in spite of fear, finding blessings in extreme adversity, growing across generational boundaries, appreciating simple pleasures, and breaking free to pursue one's own destiny.

Our Craft Box page features a Q&A about an empowering women's organization that has contributed a chapter to national culture, an essay about the giving of cathartic credit to self-triumphs, and words on a collective win for the Writers' Challenge. The artwork is plentiful in this issue—with multiple paintings or photos interspersed with the written content of a given page, as well as a video capable of eliciting deep-seated response, this collection of diverse pieces is sure to stir the soul.

Highlights:

1/22, 5/22, and 9/22 will be our publication schedule going forward with reminders and updates 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 a Q&A with Virginia Franklin Campbell, President of the National League of American Pen Women which is "the oldest women’s arts organization in America." As the nation celebrates its independence, we celebrate an organization of independent women. It is the 120th anniversary of this organization whose members have included dynamic figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Pearl S. Buck who was the first woman in the US to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

We have an essay about acceptance of self-accomplishment. Our own Noelle Sterne, PhD was recruited to write a piece exploring where and why we fall short in standing tall about our successes. We have words from the editor on how this Writers' Challenge proved a challenge indeed, speaking to the needs of the issue and the time. 

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 the latest reflections on our nine year anniversary!

Please send in new announcements to appear in the next issue by August 15th for the return of the Announcements page. 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 will be putting up various new features this summer, 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 autumn-winter issue. If you have any questions, please write to: questions (at) thewriteplaceatthewritetime (dot) org.