Poets & Writers

“Poets & Writers” is a journal published, as you might guess, for poets and writers. Poets & Writers Inc. is a non for profit organization funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. The regular staff editor is Kevin Larimer, but the journal also claims the editorial services of a number of contemporary voices from across the creative writing genres. The layout and appearance of this journal reflect its professional nature; artful black and white photography decorates the articles, while even the advertisements show evidence of careful selection. This is “The Conference and Residencies” issue.

Each issue is packed with tips for current poets and writers, as well as those who are aiming to break into the published world. The journal includes interviews with currently published writers—this issue has an article with Danzy Senna and Porochista Khakpour on how contemporary issues of race and “other flammable topics” influence their writing. Also featured is an interview article with Alex Lemon, a poet and memoirist who focuses on the interaction between pain and joy. A third writer-featured article talks with Sam Lipsyte on his portrayal of the loser as a hero in his fiction. Regularly, the journal is divided into departments: Editor’s note, Letters, The Literary Life, and The Practical Writer.

The poems published in this issue are contained within Alex Lemon’s article. If you are looking for a journal to which you might submit some of your own poetry, or where you might go to read a wide spread of up and coming poets, this is not it. The poetry and poets included are done so in more of a “featured” way—perhaps only one or two poets are included in most issues. This journal is, however, an excellent resource if you are looking for a listing of current writing competitions, or of other journals soliciting submissions. There is also an extensive list of writing workshops and programs. I personally found the classifieds section, which contained these parts, to be perhaps the most valuable and beneficial section of this journal.

This high-quality journal is clearly geared more towards the current poet or writer, and less towards the student or casual reader. I personally found it interesting, as it serves as a window into the world of professional writers across the creative genres. The layout is diverse, featuring focused articles on several genre-spanning names. For someone looking for a collection of poetry, this is not the right journal. For someone looking to get a foot in the door of the published writing world, this might be an excellent tool.

Poets & Writers 38.2 (2010). Print.