Blue Marble Review

Literary Journal for Young Writers

Editor Note

Editor’s Note

By

December 2018

Writing—the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.   Mary Heaton Vorse

 

In the study of numerology (no experts here) —12 is thought to be the perfect number, one that signifies harmony, motivation, achievement, and independence. Twelve months of the year, twelve hours on the clock, — the same goes for eggs in a dozen, number of jurors and even ribs (!)—It’s a number suggesting wholeness and completion.

This issue marks our twelfth full edition, and while there’s been mostly harmony and plenty of motivation to finally arrive at the point of completion, we’ve reached number 12 with a sense of gratitude but also an urgency to continue to push forward, collect more stories, and continue to amplify voices that illustrate not only how much we have in common, but how our differences enrich and link us together.

More young writers and artists are finding us and in this issue sharing their stories about resilience, dreams, loss, immigration, family, social action, and what happens when things go awry with an X-acto knife—among other things.

Here’s wishing you all a happy solstice and a hopeful twelfth month of the year. Read on!

Molly Hill
Editor

 

Editor’s Note

By

Dear Readers and Writers,

We learned early on to surround ourselves with the very best people, and once again— it worked! Here we are already at Issue Ten. As the school year winds down we insist on extending enormous gratitude to The Writing Center at Minnetonka High School, Krista Hitchcock, Writing Center teacher and coordinator extraordinaire, and the many (check the MASTHEAD) students who diligently appeared at school well before sunrise to talk writing and help critique submissions. A generous perfectly timed grant (windfall) appeared in the spring enabling us to continue our streak of paying all contributors as well as our high school editorial team.

We’re feeling pretty lucky.

Our young writers keep the inbox filled, our editors remain attentive and thorough and (wow) our grant donor —! We’re surrounded by the very best people.

Read on!

Molly Hill
Editor

 

 

Editor’s Note

By

 

Write down what I think I know. The knowing will come.
Just keep listening…
Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming

 

From the editor:

Although we’re a bit later than last year, we’re happy (relieved) to bring you the spring issue. Now if only we could bring on spring as well… This issue features creative work from both coasts, the Midwest, the UK, the Middle East, and many places in between. Our contributors continue to make our job delightfully difficult by sending us their best prose, poetry, and art and leaving us awash in creativity, trying to decide what lands in each issue.

Luckily we have help. Check out our MASTHEAD in this issue for a list of faithful editors who continue to help us through the large volume of submissions. All writers themselves, their careful reading and insightful comments reflect their own understanding of the frustrations and small victories of the creative process.

Our other big news, is that as of this month we have officially acquired non-profit status! We’re excited about the opportunities (paperwork) for grant seeking as well as further involvement in our community and beyond.

Time to get reading! We hope you enjoy the issue, continue your own writing, and in the words of Jacqueline Woodson, —”just keep listening.”

Molly Hill
Editor

 

 

 

 

Editor’s Note

By

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech.

Simonides

 

Here in the Midwest, winter lingers on. It might be true that the hardest thing about January ending is that February is only just beginning. Because our writers send us work no matter the season, we’re able to offer a February poetry respite, good for anyone who’s waiting patiently for the days to get longer.

We’re feeling lucky that so many young writers and artists from all over the world have discovered our journal and trusted us with their work. And we’re particularly grateful for the ongoing collaboration with talented co-editors and Tonka Writers: Meili Gong, Addie Gill, Anne Malloy, Faith Quist, Isabella Milacnik, Kate Schiltz, Rebecca Schumacher, Priscilla Trinh, and Alexa Vos. Their careful reading, insightful comments and all around willingness to help was instrumental in pulling this issue together.

Enjoy the poems!

Molly Hill
Editor

 

Editor’s Note

By

The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.

– Maya Angelou-

 

Dear Writers and Readers,

The December 2017, issue is here! Many thanks to Issue Eight benefactor A.K., whose thoughtful donation adds credence to the saying that sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts. This generous gift enables us to pay all our contributors as well as a small stipend to our editorial board. And speaking of editorial assistance, — a special thanks to the Minnetonka High School writing center, coordinator Krista Hitchcock, and the young writers there who graciously offered to help with this issue. Enormous gratitude to Alex, Isabella, Faith, Meili, Wyatt, Becca, Alexa, Addie, Kate, Anne, Priscilla, and Katie. Thank you all for the insights, emails, smart questions, and unvarnished opinions, and for getting up so early to talk about writing.

As we move into our third year and eighth issue (plus a few poetry supplements thrown in) it’s possible we’re getting the hang of this online publishing thing. Since this is the time of year to look back, be grateful and even a little reflective, —here’s some wisdom we’ve gleaned and a how-to guide of sorts for putting together an online literary magazine:

  • Find a great website guru and techie know-everything business like Sumy Designs. Let them keep your site up and running and glitch free and come to the rescue on a regular basis when you try to do things beyond your knowledge and expertise. (Thank you Amy)
  • Remember those friends of yours that are writers and poets and artists? Be nice to them. Ask them if they’ll let you email them submissions to read and help you find the best stuff. Be glad they have other day jobs and aren’t looking to you for any kind of salary. (Thanks and kudos fellow creatives)
  • Be humbled and grateful when grants come through, when people hand over checks that cover publication, that allow you to pay all your contributors and your tech support people—and postage. (Looking at you A.K, and C.V., and E.P.)
  • Get great submitters. Let them find you from all over the U.S. and then from all over the world. Read everything they send you. Write them back, edit with them, let them tell you stories about Singapore, and Australia, and Delhi, and upstate New York, and rural Arkansas. Print out and highlight their essays about homeschooling, applying to college, breaking the law, losing friends, imagining zombies, and missing people that mean a lot to them.
  • Honor artists, and photographers. Look at all their work; ask them questions about their process, and what they produce. If you don’t happen to be artistic—like at all—learn from them, what they think and how they feel when they’re creating something. Look all over the world, and when a great cover photo comes all the way from New Zealand for your December issue—use it. (Thanks LJ Wolff!)
  • Get local. Figure out there’s a stellar high school writing center really close by and hope that students there love writing, and editing and talking over submissions. Be amazed when these students agree to meet with you early in the morning before sunrise to help with submissions. (Thanks Tonka Writers!)

Here’s to a new year of reading and writing. Enjoy the issue!

Molly Hill
Editor

 

Editor’s Note

By

September 2017: Issue Seven

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Phillip Pullman

 

Dear Readers and Writers,

Welcome to the September issue of Blue Marble Review, and the outstanding creative efforts of our contributors. Our submissions continue to increase which means we have the unpleasant job of turning down great work that we just don’t have space for. We remain committed to paying all our contributors, and indebted to ALL of those who submit work. It’s a privilege to work our way through the poems, stories and essays that reflect young writing voices from many parts of the world.

We think creative expression is pretty important. And that the introspection of the writer * or artist eventually translates to a story or painting that becomes a way to outwardly connect with others in the world.

One of this issues contributors—Canadian writer/artist Almas Khan shares her definition of a writer:

*writ·er

/ˈrīdər/

noun

  1. Merely a person with a biological tendency to be fascinated by everything and a desire to outlive themselves (for a truly glorious kind of immortality can be conjured with nothing but ink and pen).
  2. Somebody who aches unbearably with the force of every person they will never be, every place they will never visit, every fictional thought, emotion, and imaginable spectrum of sound and aroma and colour that is too beautiful not to exist outside of their mind.
  3. An individual who is simultaneously a physicist, philosopher, and street magician; for to be a talented writer you must be everything.  (Almas Khan)

Thanks Almas, —we think this applies to creators of all kinds. Enjoy Issue Seven!

Molly Hill
Editor