This week I unexpectedly lost my best friend, platonic soulmate, and “every day” person. By “every day” person, I mean we had that special relationship where we told each other the little things that don’t seem important to anyone else. I find myself still wanting to text him every time something small happens. Having my entire world turned upside down in the matter of a day was difficult enough, but I never expected to be so horrified by the … READ MORE…
I have an audio version of this interview, but the sound quality is terrible, so here’s a text version for you all to enjoy. Constance Squires is the author of the novel Along the Watchtower (Riverhead), which won the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction, and a novel and short story collection which are both forthcoming in 2017: Live from Medicine Park (University of Oklahoma Press) and Wounding Radius and Other Stories (Ferry Street). Her short stories have appeared in … READ MORE…
A Letter to My Year as a Student Editor
Dearest Year, You were a challenge. You often lacked oxford commas, which I found annoying, bothersome, and emotionally painful. You presented me with many formatting issues. I will still never understand why anyone chooses to center justify anything. Your crown jewel was the day the internet and, consequentially, Submittable broke. It seemed like you never wanted me to be productive. Between your typos and tight deadlines, I felt like I was going to lose my mind. However, I would not … READ MORE…
Werewolves: Poem by and Interview with David Aristi
by Seth Copeland, Publishing Editor Sydney Vance, Senior Poetry Editor Werewolf Viejo By David Aristi Gold been beaten outta me by Every passing year, lo que queda Funciona despacio — what’s left Works slowly. The beastly things I miss, but in war, South Central, or in Juarez Juárez La Jodida Or think Aleppo, those goat & sheep sins would be laughable Today Confieso porque me he vuelto demasiado viejo para presidió — I confess because I just turned too old … READ MORE…
Featured: “Millionaire” by Mab Jones
When we think of love, we see big, romantic gestures, flowers, and long kisses in the rain, but it’s so much more than that. Mab Jones, poet and writer, reminds us in her poem “Millionaire” that love is a collection of simple moments, quirks, and affectionate interaction.
8 Things That English Majors are Really, REALLY Tired of Hearing
If you’re reading this right now, I’d like to assume that, well, you like to read, but more importantly, you enjoy English to some extent. As a language, a subject, a lifestyle, a muffin, whichever. Some of us here at New Plains are English majors, and some of us, myself included, are Creative Writing Majors. All of us are (probably) tired of hearing the same things. You’ve probably read lists like this at many other places, Buzzfeed included, but it only … READ MORE…
Book Review – Love Me Back by Merritt Tierce
It’s been a few months since I’ve been able to read anything that wasn’t inscribed on the stone-etched commandments we call syllabi. However, one of the perks of being a Creative Writing major is that occasionally, one of these required reads will end up meaning more to me than a defensible essay thesis and a couple of quiz grades. Halfway through the semester, my mind was dragging itself through the pages of several literature books and a list of English … READ MORE…
On Workshopping
Roughly four years ago when I was a freshman in college, I submitted one of my poems to three different journals. This was the very first time I attempted to share my poetry. Armed with the hope that the editorial board would fall desperately in love with my work and immediately, breathlessly, and without pause accept the piece (ah, the naiveté!), I waited. Of course—you can see where this is heading, right?—during the following weeks, the rejection letters came in … READ MORE…
The Alexander Lawrence Posey Speaker Series
“Lo! what a vivid picture here, Of sin and purity, Here where the rivers join their Floods and journey to the sea.” —“Where the Rivers Meet” Writer, philanthropist, and statesman Alexander Lawrence Posey (1873-1908) was one of the first indigenous Americans to gain national acclaim in letters. His series of editorials, later collected as the Fus Fixico Letters, commented satirically and pointedly on contemporary social issues of indigenous people in America at the turn of the century. Posey also … READ MORE…
A Celebration of Hayao Miyazaki
The blank page is a canvas for artists who paint with words, but Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animated film studio, uses the blank page to hand draw most of his movies. According to a past interview, Miyazaki said that his movies only contain 10% CGI work.