Sometimes, we need to make ourselves have fun. I have a hard time finding time to read recreationally. It’s a common complaint, especially among English majors: “I can’t remember the last time I read something that wasn’t for a class.” It makes sense; of course we don’t want to read in our free time, because … Continue reading Reading for Pleasure as an English Major

The final episode of your favorite TV show is about to air. You've been waiting years for this— years of speculation about the fates of your favorite characters, of your favorite subplots, of who will live and who will die. You've analyzed every scene, every costuming decision, every bit of dialogue, and you are ready … Continue reading In Someone Else’s Sandbox

This past week our editorial team spent a lot of time discussing the content that seems to be missing or quite scarce in the world of reading and writing. We each considered what we would do if we could change one thing about the literary world as it is now. My choice would be centered … Continue reading Using Books to Bring Attention

Personal taste is hard to define. When I ask friends for book recommendations, I often struggle to articulate what I'm looking for, saying, "I can tell you what I don't like, at least." Even after years of this, I haven't come any closer to narrowing it down; I've only learned who to stop asking because I … Continue reading How Do We Know What We Like?

With the rapid rise of ebooks and digital forms of reading, many are asking questions about the future of literature and storytelling. Will print books continue to exist? Is it possible to create impactful, emotionally-charged narratives in an exclusively digital format? Do we have any idea what that could even look like? Well...we just might. … Continue reading Storytelling for the Digital Age

One of the only good things about middle school was that I always had time to read. In high school, this time decreased significantly and was diminished even further upon entering college. Now I spend my summers desperate to consume every book that has been patiently waiting on my shelves or drifting in the back … Continue reading How to Find the Time to Read

The passing of beloved poet Mary Oliver was a tremendous loss to all factions of our country's writing community. In addition to being beautifully nature-based, her verses were visually-saturated, and had a knack for drawing quiet relationships between humanity and the natural world. Though she was inarguably a romantic poet, I will forever view her … Continue reading Artist Interview: Sensational Imagery With Melissa Spohr Weiss

There's something to be said for simplistic writing. Writing that is accessible, sentences that are sparsely packed. The kind of language that is effortless to read, but engaging all the same. And of course there are times and places for Maggie Nelson's lyric essays, and Anne Valente's purring prose, but more often than not, I'm … Continue reading Artist Interview: For the Love of Simplicity With Allison Boyce

There's something about food images in poetry that make me snap to attention. Certain cooking terms possess a magical musicality that can make a stanza hiss and bounce like a flaming pan of peppers. The names of exotic fish and fruit can be like conjuring spells that make lines livid with energy. Though I have … Continue reading Artist Interview: “Crumby” Poetry With Emily Paquette-Leahy

  In my experience, nonfiction writers today seem to err on the side of being dishonest, if only to strengthen the sincerity of their stories. And as a rule, dishonest nonfiction tends to be more provocative and memorable than its truthful counterpart. That said, when James Braun's submission appeared among the others, myself and the … Continue reading Artist Interview: The Craft of Story-telling With James Braun