I'm the guest editor for issue 49 of Qwerty Magazine,and the theme is NO!
I am VERY excited about this for a number of reasons:
1. Because it's the first time I have guest edited an issue of a lit mag
2. Because I love QWERTY
3. Because I love radical writing & I love it when people say NO!!!
As someone who wears my values on my sleeve and in my writing, I'm feeling really grateful that the first time I get to guest edit an issue is this one. For many months I've felt hopeless in the face of truly monstrous systems (as I know so many of us have), but I've found areas to direct my energy that are doable in a way that's respectful to myself and my energy, and that still make an impact (running a fundraiser for Palestine at The Miramichi Reader was one big way I was able to bring together my community and what platform I have to do some activism). I know in the grand scheme of things this issue won't solve the multiple genocides happening right now, but I do believe that writing and art have a unique power as an avenue for introspection, and as a way to encourage introspection in readers. I hope what I get to help curate this issue to be will open new avenues for empathy and activism in writers and readers. Some might say that's idealistic but I don't care — writing is magic and it does change the world, and that's why I'm here doing what I'm doing with the tools that I have. This world is stamping out protest everywhere and it feels like we're moving closer and closer to fascism everyday so please use this as your space to protest, get angry, and say NO!
Comments