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 7/2/22, please read and scroll down for further info and intermediate outside links, activities, updates. More information coming soon with specifics in terms of amended timelines for tech and design accommodations as well as major content innovations, communication schedules for confirmations/directions, details, expectations, new materials with where and what to read, tools, features, contests and more. Please regard social media and links and new postings to come. More soon as we accelerate motion while still working in tender care.] IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: COME BACK AND JOIN US FOR OUR NEW INCARNATION AND OUR DECADE+ MILESTONE ISSUE COMING TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU! CHECK OUR HOME PAGE AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR FRESH UPDATES AND DETAILS.
According to Almanac.com, the online presence of The Old Farmer’s Almanac founded in 1792, an almanac “is defined as a ‘calendar of the heavens.’” The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this piece of our history from the 1700s, was designed to help forecast the weather of the nation and had its audience looking to the stars, sun, and moon to read the times. With the recent, bizarre phenomenon of the five-planet alignment (ultimately joined by the moon), as well as an unexpected solar storm impacting Earth in the wake of the solstice preceding July, what do the skies say of what we are weathering now? The summer piece on Almanac.com included folklore such as the following: “If there are many falling stars during a clear summer evening, expect thunder.” This weekend the literal forecast includes a watch indication, as it portends a “severe thunderstorm” for this historied section of the country as we write. A national site depicts thunder being the result of rapidity regarding “the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt.” Lightning bolts on a path, resulting thunder, fluctuating interstellar anomalies, and folklore around trajectory of stars, reflect something seemingly symbolic in currently reading and interpreting a “calendar” forecasting futures we, like those before us, cannot ever fully know. There are steadying certainties in life, however, in times of the unexpected when navigation by antiquated astronomical charts and concepts, due to shifts and storms, will not do. What was expected from the ancient civilizations and acknowledged by Benjamin Franklin as being integral to life itself, was change—it is this we are reminded of in Franklin’s quote, “When you are finished changing, you are finished.” That is to say, work, life, time moves forward, changing, progressing, and adapting in necessity. Timely, perhaps—when being reminded of the power of words, inherent responsibility and intent in creating something to reach and embrace all, along with provisions for necessary change by design to reflect the times—that we discuss, as we do annually, the founding of this very publication on July 3rd, 2008.
Our beloved readers and contributors... As you know, we here at WPWT have been toiling by the guidance of our own “calendar of the heavens,” what must be a kind of inspired literary almanac with its own sense of time, aspiration for the alignment of influencing factors, unpredictable weather of outside obstacles fluctuating in the most challenging years of our lives, and transformative profundity in the discoveries made reading lines of light in creative journeys (our own and others’) within these times. On the unseen road forward, bits and pieces of conversation and connection with new and known creatives across varied cultures around the world, are gathered as clues leading to possibility of form, fresh notions of emergence on a solid foundation which is that founding premise dedicated “to a humanitarian approach to the arts.” Every shared experience and edition over all these years, each idea for higher purpose, liberation in expression, art, truth—binds us together. The modern technology age and accompanying alterations affecting over a billion, combined with urgent and advancing chronic circumstances and conditions on individual levels, all contributed as continued catalysts for change, and yet, what is drawn from everything learned and wisdom gained, is understanding that excites the creative faculties of the mind and transcends seasons to put things in line with what needs to be nurtured and responded to.
Even in our interim time, we’ve had presence though our blog and social media with activities, series, and resources. We’ve featured prompts, photography, activities, features (including guest posts and articles from editors and celebrated authors), in addition to a raffle with wonderful prizes (consisting of acclaimed memoir, fiction best-sellers, writer resources/book promo, sustainable style, and fine art). We spent the early part of this year transitioning with you in a social media series with book and music suggestions, research on history and tradition, prompts and more, and again this year, donated to Feeding America. The first half of the year brought both good fortune and significant hardship in certain respects, but as the word solstice is derived from Latin terms, one of which means still, we have learned how and when to reset in the stillness and how and when to move in momentum. Traditions of the solstice include releasing the first half of the year and its difficulties while blessing and working toward what you wish for in the second half. Whatever the timing of the “calendar of the heavens,” may we all continue to compassionately, consciously forge, instead of forecast, futures which serve as inspiration and example, worthy of who we are, congruent with the efforts of all who worked and pioneered, suffered, sacrificed and persevered before us. For creators, our work goes on in all we do. Onward.
We will continue tending this stirring garden of creative dreams until its fruition. 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 fulfillment 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 thank you for your continuing interest, patience, and support and encourage you to check our social media (FB page) for updates. 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 has our intended incarnation continuing on its course with care and devotion in timing made 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, striving to obtain more certainties and consistencies in answers we seek. 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 journeys. We have a WPWT Holiday “Bizarre” page on Facebook which will extend 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 the raffle we'd held 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 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 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+ milestone 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
