Poets & Writers Magazine welcomes feedback from its readers. Please post a comment on select articles at pw.org, e-mail editor@pw.org, or write to Editor, Poets & Writers Magazine, 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10004. Letters accepted for publication may be edited for clarity and length.
Letters
Feedback from readers
Before reading the interview with Random House executive editor and vice president Jamia Wilson (“Agents & Editors,” September/October 2023), I felt her grace emanating from her smiling photograph. Vivian Lee opens the feature by describing Wilson as “a bridge” for her role of connecting with people. As a writer herself, Wilson is moved by the vulnerability of other writers. She compares the art of writing to the art of dance, noting the raw emotion that comes when one courageously puts oneself on center stage. She surprised me by saying that “even if [the writing] is not my style of writing or not my cup of tea, you have my respect because it is a very intimate, brave, impactful, courageous activity to engage in.” I do not yet have experience with the publishing side of writing, but when the time comes, I hope to find someone as pure and generous as Wilson, someone who will unearth the “gems” and “treasures” that connect my work with the greater world.
Amy Pontius
Fort Myers, Florida
I just finished reading Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s article “The Pressure of Young Promise: What Is Success and at What Point Should We Give Up Trying to Attain It?” (September/October 2023). Her words struck a chord with me. Not just the similarities in our stories, but the hope that she gives to keep writing. I too have been writing most of my life. My first publication was in the parish paper in second grade. My writing life has had many ups and downs. Lately it has been a lot of downs, mostly because I have lost faith in myself and my ability to write. Having just turned fifty-one, I feel my inner clock ticking away. I stare at the blank page in despair. Is it worth it? Can I still write? Does anyone besides me care? After reading the article I find someone does care. Lee’s encouragement, as well as her example, gives me hope that I might still be able to do it. So I put pen to paper and try, try again.
Jennifer Griffin
Rapid City, Michigan
It was a joy to read Esmé Weijun Wang’s piece, “The Productivity Equation: Building a Writing Practice While Living With Limitations” (July/August 2023), and then the profile of Kate Zambreno, “Radical Attention” by Brian Gresko, right after. They flowed into each other on similar topics that aren’t immediately apparent upon looking at the two articles. But both talk about grace and nature and caregiving, for others and yourself, in our current world, when it is so difficult to put aside or step off the “hustle” track. Absolutely fantastic reads!
Jillian L. Schweitzer
Beltsville, Maryland
In the first sentence of her fantastic article “World-Building in Arizona” (July/August 2023), Adrienne Raphel writes, “Like the creation narrative in the Bible’s book of Genesis, the Worldbuilding Initiative at Arizona State University (ASU) began with ‘the Word.’” Not exactly. At the beginning of the book of Genesis we get everything: the world, light, darkness, water, the serpent, you name it. But no “Word.” It is in the first chapter of the Book of John that “the Word” is introduced. “In the beginning was the Word: The Word was with God and the Word was God.” I love this! Thank you.
Helen O’Neil
Charlestown, Massachusetts