The Broken Plate Is Cool!

The Broken Plate is Ball State's lit mag, it is served up nicely by BSU undergrads, it is always a stellar magazine, both content and design, it is open to anyone who wants to toss submissions that way, I think you should probably toss a submission that way, PLZ.

ANOTHER Q&A ANOTHER QUESTION STUCK IN MY BRAIN

One of the many awesome things Ball State's English Department does, The In Print Festival of First Books, was this past Wednesday and Thursday. The basics: the first night three first-time authors (one from poetry, fiction, and CNF) read from their book and the second night they are joined by an editor for a Panel discussion and Q&A.

This year's writers were Tina May Hall, Paul Killebrew, and Debra Gwartney, while the editor was Tadd Adcox from Artifice Magazine. I had met Tadd at the first Vouched Presents... Reading awhile back, and it was a nice opportunity to see him again, pick up the new Artifice, and discuss lit mags/small press stuff with him. Artifice is one of the best-looking and tightest journals around, NO DOUBT. I read Killebrew's book for a class, a book that I enjoyed quite a bit, and he was full of good stories and interesting insights into poetry (THE DUDE IS A LAWYER). Tina May Hall is a really nice lady. I haven't read all of her book, and I'm not sure it's quite my type of fiction. However, I do respect her for her persistence (she admitted she started writing the collection a decade prior to its publication) and academic success (straight through BA/MFA/PHD to a tenured position). I'd never read Gwartney's book either, but I think it's a disconnect from the type of memoir (story of dealing with her teenage daughters running away). All four offered great answers and perspectives to publishing and the business. ANOTHER SOLID IN PRINT.

Oh yeah, my unasked question: How did/do you decide what pieces/stories/poems to include in your book/issue? Each of you talked about "making a tight collection" or "sticking to your vision," but what is that process like? Also curious about ordering.

I did asked Tina and Paul about it during the meet and greet. They were really helpful in encouraging me to be patient and take time to consider each piece carefully.

One discouraging thing: all of them took more than 6 or 7 years to get their books together and published, for various reasons. I know it's not realistic to expect a book soon, but having and making friends with books makes it feel necessary/soooo wanted, even if they are better, more experienced, and older than me. PATIENCE DUDE.

Also, the festival marked the release of the 2011 Broken Plate. I was Lead Poetry Editor of this issue. It was an honor to work with such good people: my classmates, my professor, and the authors. Some of my favorite BSU undergrads appear in the issue, such as Ryan Rader and Cody Sean Davis, along with some really great poets/writers like Ryan Ridge, J.A. Tyler, and Jasmine Dreame Wagner. I'm also honored to have had my review of Matt Hart's Wolf Face included in the issue. Layne Ransom ruled it with the sweet cover/back cover design. If you want a copy, email brokenplate@bsu.edu or pick one up from the Vouched Table.


Good news: I found out that Matt Hart has a new book, Light-Headed, coming out soon from Blaze Vox books. YES YES.

Here is a Paul Killebrew poem I like lotz:

Eponymous

BY PAUL KILLEBREW

I am unable to jump more than ten feet in the air.
I am blind. I am unable to understand the dark
passages. I begin to speak of being deprived.
I believe that I am being kept in want. Who
governs me? Who is to say what I am,
and what I am not? I wish to be conscious
of myself. My frontiers are long and insecure.
I contract them. I cannot command them.
I determine myself not to desire what is
unattainable. I have a wound in my leg.
I am a schoolboy. A rule does not oppress me
if I impose it on myself. I assimilate it
into my substance. I can never be thwarted.
I cannot want it to be other than it is.

For reasons I'll probably unveil in one form or another, this week has been the most emotional wacky week of my life, but stuff like this keeps me together. THANKS.

THINGS THAT CAN REALLY MAKE ME FEEL BETTER THIS WEEK

The 2011 Issue of the Broken Plate (More on this later.)

WORD WISE WACKY WEEKS WAHEAD

I just realized that this all is happening in my life and I can't handle that much wordz.

Feb. 22- Brian Oliu and four U of Alabama undergrads visiting and reading at BSU as part of a writers exchange.
Feb. 23- Mark Halliday reading at Butler Univ. in Indy.
Feb. 24- Terrence Hays reading at the U of Indy. (WHAT A BUSY AWESOME WORD WEEK; also the 23rd is Sara's birthday)
March 1- Writers Gala Winners Reading with Layne, Lindsey, and Spencer
March 3-5- The East Central Writing Center Association Conference in Kalamazoo; I'm doing a panel discussion on the Reading Aloud Method for Tutoring Sessions
March 7- Bob Hicok reading at Butler in Indy
March 21-22- In Print Fest with Paul Killebrew, Debra Gwartney, Tina May Hall, and the Artifice editors
March 31-Apr. 2- Me, Layne, Elysia, and Jeremy are going with Lovelace and Mullins to U of Alabama for the other end of the exchange to read at the Slash Pine Poetry Fest and visit the school

DANG

The Broken Plate Submissions End Soon And I Likely Haven't Read Your Poem

HEY OPEN SUBMISSIONS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE BROKEN PLATE
END ON HALLOWEEN, THAT IS SUNDAY, AND WE WANT NEED CRAVE MORE
SUBMISSIONS FROM GREAT WRITERS BUT ALSO GREAT PEOPLE.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG POST, I BET YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON.
GO TO BSU.EDU/BROKENPLATE AND CHECK OUT THE GUIDELINES
AND SEND SOMETHING THIS WAY.
MY POETRY PALS AND I WANNA READ YOUR COOL POEM.
I'M SURE ELYSIA AND HER FICTION FRIENDS WANNA READ YOUR STORY.
SO BEFORE YOU DRESS UP LIKE A HAT OR A PEACOCK OR IRONY
SEND US A POEM OR A STORY
I'M SO LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS POST;
MAKE ME EVEN LUCKIER BY LETTING ME READ YOUR STUFF.

Five Dolphins Flippin' Out

1. That is Jumex. It is empty. The box promises it is 100% Nectar, but I'm not sure what all that entails. I know it is empty. I know it was delicious.

2. I just finished reading "Mantodea" from How They Were Found , Matt Bell's fabulous debut story collection. I don't remember ever reading this piece before, but man it is a hard hitter, there's some swallowing of nails, coins, etc., some bathroom sex, and a whole lot of obsession. Matt's stories do a nice job of building, taking odd/crazy/horrifying things and piling them atop each other. Once he lets the steam out at the end, I kind of feel dead, but like a good dead or something. I'll definitely write some kind of big response to this book once I get to it. I'm not sure why you wouldn't own this book, but here is a good place to get it if you don't.

3. I DONT WANNA BEG BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SUBMIT TO THE BROKEN PLATE.

4. Wednesday October 27th Blazers vs. Clippers on ESPN. That's the start of my NBA season right there. I haven't been this stoked for a Clippers game since....uh-oh.

5. Next semester, I'm doing an independent study poetry class with Todd, compiling "an undergraduate thesis/chapbook manuscript." For the class, I'll be studying/reading lots of first books and chapbooks, primarily ones that have won contests/awards, and working on my own manuscript. Probably an extra-ambitious project and super hopeful, but hey, I need another class and how fun does that sound: SUPER FUN. I'm looking for suggestions on books to read/study. THANKS.

WOAH-ETRY Editor

At Ball State, I have the sweet sweet opportunity to put on the editorial gloves and help produce our school's international literary magazine, The Broken Plate. I was also lucky enough to be named Lead Poetry Editor.

Our submissions open tomorrow September 1st and run through October 31st. I encourage you, cool reader, to send that handful of poems or killer piece of prose. More info here.

Congratulations pop out of my skull for Elysia Smith, this year's Lead Fiction Editor. OH YEAH REMEMBER WHEN SHE GOT A STORY IN ELIMAE IM STILL CRYING

I'm super stoked for the people on the poetry staff, especially Layne Ransom, a friend and poet I like a lot a lot. Read her blog here and how about a poem here.

Cool deal: Get the first two issues of the international Broken Plate for 5 bucks. Woah for real. (Just promise not to read my awful poem in the first issue)

SEND AWESOME THINGS TO THE BROKEN PLATE TOMORROW AND FOR THE 60ISH DAYS AFTER THAT. THANKS