As a writer of creative nonfiction, it’s imperative that I think about my own role in anything I write. Am I a participant or an observer? Or am I writing from the “hazy territory between insider and outsider perspectives,” as Gabe Montesanti describes in her essay “Inside, Outside, In Between” (Creative Nonfiction, issue 72). This … Continue reading How Not To Write About Racism
I committed to myself in 2016 that I would make more of an effort to get my writing out into the world. I submitted my work to publications more often last year than ever before. For the writers among my readers, here’s a breakdown of how that went: I submitted individual pieces (poems, essays, and … Continue reading A Year of No
My pain trumps yours. That's what it feels like when an adoptee hears a birth mother say she can't be honest because it hurts her too much, that she can't talk about it because it hurts her too much, that she can't listen because it hurts her too much. My pain trumps yours. I'm willing to bet … Continue reading When Adoptees and Birth Mothers Clash
When we hear a song on the radio, it's easy to decide whether or not we like it. We do this automatically, without thinking too hard about it. We say beautiful voice maybe, or love that beat, or if they play that song one more time, I'm gonna scream. We don't need anyone to tell … Continue reading Pep Talk To My Writer Self
I'm peaved at a couple of literary magazines right now. Back in March I submitted a poem to several different publications. I've heard back from all but two. These two really piss me off, because their websites give the impression they are functioning entities when I suspect they have, in fact, suspended publication. I suppose I … Continue reading A View from Both Sides
Karen Pickell: Between 