I was reviewing the latest batch of submissions to Cliterature in preparation of the fall issue, NAMING. One in particular has stayed with me several days later and not for a good reason. Before finishing the second page of a short story, I had found three spelling errors that Spellcheck would even have caught. After the third, I sighed, closed the window, and marked rejection in my notes.
If a writer does not do me the courtesy of reading over his or her own work for simple spelling errors before sending it to me for publishing consideration, I withdraw the courtesy of reading the same work.
Some will understand this. Other will call me a bitch. Just make sure to Spellcheck the letter of complaint.
Showing posts with label NAMING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAMING. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Notes on NAMING and It's Importance
The latest edition of Cliterature is out as of Wednesday, and along with it came the announcement of the theme for the fall issue, NAMING. This was a fairly recent idea for a theme, but recent events inspired me to take it and run with it now.
I'm alluding to Lisa Brown, her comments on vagina, and the reaction of Republican men who were in the midst of a conversation about abortion. A Michigan native myself, let's say this news story has hit more than close to home. I was born in Detroit, and my family's ties to that city still run deep. I spent my college years in Kalamazoo, where I studied and performed in a campus production of The Vagina Monologues.
Eve Ensler, the brilliant mind behind the Monologues, has this to say about NAMING. "I believe in the power and mystery of naming things. Language has the capacity to transform our cells, rearrange our learned patterns of behavior, and redirect our thinking. I believe in naming what’s right in front of us because that is often what is most invisible. . . Naming things, breaking through taboos and denial is the most dangerous, terrifying, and crucial work. This has to happen in spite of political climates or coercions, in spite of careers being won or lost, in spite of the fear of being criticized, outcast, or disliked. I believe freedom begins with naming things. Humanity is preserved by it."
With this in mind, let us explore NAMING what is right in front of us when it comes to women's sexuality in writing.
I'm alluding to Lisa Brown, her comments on vagina, and the reaction of Republican men who were in the midst of a conversation about abortion. A Michigan native myself, let's say this news story has hit more than close to home. I was born in Detroit, and my family's ties to that city still run deep. I spent my college years in Kalamazoo, where I studied and performed in a campus production of The Vagina Monologues.
Eve Ensler, the brilliant mind behind the Monologues, has this to say about NAMING. "I believe in the power and mystery of naming things. Language has the capacity to transform our cells, rearrange our learned patterns of behavior, and redirect our thinking. I believe in naming what’s right in front of us because that is often what is most invisible. . . Naming things, breaking through taboos and denial is the most dangerous, terrifying, and crucial work. This has to happen in spite of political climates or coercions, in spite of careers being won or lost, in spite of the fear of being criticized, outcast, or disliked. I believe freedom begins with naming things. Humanity is preserved by it."
With this in mind, let us explore NAMING what is right in front of us when it comes to women's sexuality in writing.
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