writing community – Page 61

‘Lower Strata’ nominated for Spillwords’ Publication of the Month

At the risk of turning this blog into one long series of brag posts, I’m happy to share that my short story “Lower Strata” is in the running for Spillwords‘ Publication of the Month. The story is one of sixteen nominees, each selected, according to the literary magazine, “100% based on the popularity within the last 30 days.”

Now, the decision to decide which publication earns this distinction falls to the readers, who can cast their votes here. (To vote, you’ll need to sign up for Spillwords. But it’s a fine little literary magazine, and unlike other publications, the Spillwords folks don’t pelt you with emails, so signing up won’t burden you much and will help the magazine grow its audience.)

Friday Five: Q&A with poet Sage Ravenwood (and bonus poem)

‘Ghosts of our emotional discordance following us wherever we go.’

Photo of Sage Ravenwood, a deaf Cherokee poet — Sage Ravenwood

I first encountered the writings of Sage Ravenwood via one of her poems, “Lit Cigarette Summer.” It was published in Scavengers, a literary magazine of Querencia Press, and the opening lines — I wanted a clove cigarette so bad/I could taste it like a dying wish — hooked me immediately, like a nicotine habit. I knew right away that I had to read more from this writer.

Recently, her collection of poems, Everything That Hurt Us Becomes A Ghost, celebrated its one-year anniversary. In this week’s Friday Five, Sage discusses that collection, her philosophy on writing, and more. She also shares the poem, in its entirety, that inspired the book’s title.