Poiesis Newsletter
2021–08–1
JD Jots
by J.D. Harms
My friends, writers, and lovers of Scrittura. We’re expanding. We’re getting busier, and we could use another good hand on deck.
In light of this, I’d like to open up applications for those who might like to try their skills as an Editor for Scrittura. We are an amazing little publication (or, perhaps “little” doesn’t really describe us anymore…). Our editorial team, as you know, are enthusiastic, dedicated people who want to see the best of you go up on Medium. We strive, always, for quality, for engaging pieces.
What we’re looking for:
If you’re interested in this challenge, here are the qualifications we’re looking for in a new team member: first of all, you must be an active writer on Medium, publishing more than 2 poems/fiction pieces per month. We’re not big on non-fiction, so article-writing ability isn’t a necessary consideration. Poets are preferred, or lyrical fiction writers/essayists. Understanding of how to see/pull out/work with the image in the work is an essential qualification. Second, we have worked really fucking hard to get a positive, active team environment: the five of us work exceptionally well together; you must be able to communicate regularly (by email), open to critical ideas, and engage in our publication’s development (and not offended by my language! Ha!). Thirdly, you must be open to growth. We are constantly trying to improve, our editing process, our image, and our conceptions for what happens next. And, last, though not least, you must have some experience reviewing other’s work and offering comments. We don’t immediately push “Publish,” so we depend on your grammatical awareness and image construction.
What it means to be an editor with us:
We are not a new publication; we’ve been around for a while and have many contributors and readers. I think it’s patently clear that we’ve done a lot (and you’ll see some new programs below we’re very excited to announce!) to sustain ourselves, to present a cohesive publication, to avoid burning out. We are established in our separate roles: I write the prompts and add new writers; Zay is our miracle worker behind the scenes with an expertise in organizing us; Jessica has so much depth, capacity, and a perspicuity to assist us all in preventing issues down the line, and is a compassionate and capable reviewer of your work; Viraji, our resident tech guru, works to improve our appearance and also loves to review your work; Eli is also a font of ideas for improvement, a quality-prose/poem guru, and an absolutely stellar writer. These are the people you get to work with, should you join our team.
Your role will be similarly clearly defined, though, as I mention, we want creative input on all aspects of this publication. If you’re interested in this type of engagement, email why you think you’d be a good fit to me at j.d.harmsworth@gmail.com. I look forward to your applications.
Announcing — Solstice Laureate Program
Yes, we took the month of July off, and we did some thinking.
Scrittura is about writing literature, poetry and prose. Scrittura is also about celebrating that work with an international audience. And we want to create appropriate spots for that audience to be involved with Scrittura. So we are announcing — drum roll —
The Solstice Laureate Program
The editors of Scrittura are pleased — well thrilled — to announce a new writing event.
The Solstice Laureate Program will kick off right now.
We will celebrate our first Laureate on December 20, 2021, “Poet of Saturnalia.”
We will then follow that with a second Laureate on June 20, 2022, “Poet of Beltane.”
And then… well, we’ll do this twice a year for a goodly number of years -we hope! And soon, those Laureates will have a chance to get involved as well.
Here’s the detail.
- The editors of Scrittura, (JD, Zay, Eli, Viraji and Jessica) will choose a poet whose work stands out in significant ways — a laureate. We will celebrate the work of great poets twice a year. The editors of Scrittura will choose laureates for two years, and then turn over the actual choice of subsequent laureates to already existing laureates. After the initial start up period, the editors will nominate persons, and the previous laureates will make the choices. It’s a great way for all our writers to have a voice in Scrittura.
2. We are seeking poetry with the following traits:
a. Coherent, tight imagery
b. Artistic, poetic language
c. Emotive, significant sensibilities
d. Robust, energetic insights
That’s not asking too much, is it? And it’s simple.
So write your hearts out. Write a compelling story. As JD would say, “Rock on.”
Wonderful Words
by the editorial staff
- Lean In, Return. by Madeleine Anne Bognar
- We Should All Fly a Little Higher by Jesse M. Gonzalez
- We The Breeders by Vic Spandrio
- Historical Memory by Caitlin Rebecca
- Forecasts by jenine bsharah baines
- Art Through Angst by Caitlin Rebecca
- Let’s See by Vic Spandrio
- Forget the Twelve Questions by Samantha Lazar
- Between Bitterness and Eternity by MDSHall
- Twinkle, Twinkle Perfect Star by Theodore McDowell
- Melting Moments by Mimi Bordeaux
- Elemenoh by Aaron Quist
- Bunnies by Alan Asnen
- Cape Sounion Dream by Samantha Lazar
- In the Woods of Your Words by Melissa Coffey
- A Sax Solo by Theodore McDowell
- Cemetery Soundtrack by Xandra Winters
- Storm by Vixen Lea
- Coming On Powerful by Kristie Darling
Interview with a Poet
Vittorio Spandrio (Vic) is a fresh, young voice — enthusiastic, experimental, and worth getting to know. He hails from Australia and is currently living in the Netherlands, where he is attending school. To me, he must think in global time zones — living in a time zone almost opposite his home.
And he has some ideas about poetry, calling it an “acquired set of tools.”
Poetry is an acquired set of tools which allow the author to deliberately extract their personal experience from the cerebral cortex; stretch it, shrink it, embellish it or break it and implant it directly into the brain of their reader. If the procedure goes ahead correctly, the major side-effect is empathy.
And Vic was glad to share a unique writing habit — one that can produce both jewels and junk. The idea of free writing has been around, but it’s Vic’s approach that differs a bit.
Ten minute object writing, courtesy of Mr. Pat Pattison. Pick any object, set a timer for ten minutes and write about it using sensory language. Stop on the buzzer. That’s it, sometimes it’s trash and other times there’s gold mixed in with the garbage. In his own words, Mr. Pattison says, “Don’t be afraid to write crap — it makes the best fertilizer”.
Welcome Vic — and, best of luck!
Read the full interview here
Read some of Vic’s work — here
