In defense of literary journals
Amanda on Aug 10 2010 at 2:36 pm | Filed under: Uncategorized
Not exactly hot off the presses, but close enough. upstreet number six is here, the Berkshire’s very own literary journal. It’s eye-catching over there on the magazine rack, right next to The Bookloft’s door, in its glossy black cover with the simple orange letters standing out. It’s a clean, uncluttered look; there’s no hint of what’s inside.
I love literary journals. I’ve heard people complain–a literature professor in particular–that even with thousands of literary journals now in circulation, the writing one finds in such journals is becoming increasingly similar, perpetuating the belief that university writing programs, which are often tied to literary journals, are producing one kind of writer. As the popularity of literary journals decreases, so does the diversity found within the pages, it might seem. Nobody reads them, the complaint continues, except those who wish to write in this specific style.
Despite all this, the thing I love about lit journals is the diversity I find. Crack into the pages of The Kenyon Review, Tin House, Prairie Schooner, or our very own upstreet; you’ll find a diversity of styles, experience levels, and content. From a writer publishing his first poem to the seasoned author with several novels under her belt; the pages of these journals can be pot luck. I like to think of literary journals as the adolesence of literature–writers coming into their own, finding their voice–promise mixed with professionalism. Who knows, maybe I’m just infatuted with the current trends of contemporary writers; I’m a sucker for what’s coming out of University writing programs, just as I’m equally passionate about the writing of writing degree-less authors like Kurt Vonnegut, Jamaica Kincaid (not including her honorary degree), or contemporary author Tom Bissell …
I recall picking up a copy of Crab Orchard Review a couple of years ago and feeling so lucky to find a short story by Benjamin Percy (author of Refresh, Refresh; The Language of Elk; The Wilding). In a subsequent issue of Crab Orchard one of my grad school colleagues published a poem. What I find equally exciting is finding literary journals from the 1980’s or 1990’s and discovering an early story or essay from a now established writer. Once, I picked up an old issue of Threepenny Review in a used bookstore in Arizona and discovered a short story by the professor of the Women’s Literature class I was taking then. These journals serve as the annals for the works of contemporary writers.
There was a Berkshire’s Week article last summer about upstreet. In it, editor Vivian Dorsel spoke of how the first few issues of upstreet included several Berkshire authors, but in these most recent issues the journal has drawn much more national attention. This year, the issue includes local writers Karen Chase, Courtney Maum, and Daniel Spinella. Three out of nearly forty–at least what I can tell from the Contributor’s Notes at the back of the issue. The issue includes a psychotherapist, several professors of English, students, Pushcart nominees, NEA recipients, landscapers … you know, people.
Come pick up the newest issue of upstreet, or browse our other selections of literary journals (we have Granta, Tin House, The New England Review and several others). You never know what you’re going to find.