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
While I drink my iced coffee and walk my dogs in this fine spring weather, the world is shifting around me in unsettling and marvelous ways. With the haphazard flourishing of dandelions comes the equally-haphazard (yet heartening) flourish of ideas to combat climate change. There is the continued bloom of the #MeToo and #BLM movements, … Continue reading The Newest Issue of OAR Has Arrived!
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
Every summer brings a barrage of expensive new swimsuits, patios reeking of sunscreen, and slews of brand new, aesthetically-pleasing books. But seeing as my years as an undergrad are coming to a close, I'm feeling much more nostalgic this sunburn season. It's the end of an era for me, and while I love bingeing new … Continue reading Oldies But Goodies: Summer Reading 2019
Whether you've been writing creatively for a few weeks or a few years, it's always helpful to bounce your plots, writing styles, and characters off other people. But finding individuals who know enough about the craft to effectively praise and critique your work can be tricky. Luckily, events like writer's conferences are held all-year round, … Continue reading Writing Conferences: Ins, Outs, and Upcoming Opportunities
Let’s talk character! Two quotes attributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald are “Character is plot, plot is character” and “Action is character.” Sure, we can’t all create Gatsby in the context of Gatsby, but that’s not the point or the objective. The objective is to create a character that flows within the context of whatever story … Continue reading Characters and Characterization
Writers who don’t read or write aren't uncommon. You find them in the overworked, under- caffeinated college student, in the exhausted stay-at-home mom. You’ll even find one in me, an editor for a college literary magazine. Writers who don’t read or write are perfectly common.
One of the most beautiful features of fiction is that it can speak to experience. A well written piece on terminal illness can positively impact readers.
