Editor Note

Editor’s Note/Winter Poems 2020

By Molly Hill

Readers and Writers:

In order to bring a little heat into the heart of a cold winter, we present this month’s cover image, a photo taken in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The Joshua tree, depending on whom you ask is thought to represent strength, supplication, and the ability to thrive in difficult conditions. While we hope you’re thriving this winter, we’re providing a poetic oasis of sorts to get you through the days when the sun seems to set way too early. This is our fourth annual winter poetry issue—and we’re honored to present the work of these young writers.

Enjoy the issue!

Molly Hill
Editor

Editor/s Note

By Molly Hill

December 2019

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks. —Samuel Johnson

Dear Readers and Writers:

Just as we were putting the final touches on this issue before it goes live on our site, we received a surprise donation of sufficient funding to cover the costs for our entire December issue, —talk about a bright blaze of gladness. Our deepest heartfelt thanks to our anonymous donor who supports our mission by providing this unexpected financial spark!

And speaking of sparks, if you go to the web site: earthobservatory.nasa.gov you’ll find what are called light maps, satellite images of areas of human habitation around the globe. Per NASA, these images of the earth at night are often called “night lights,” glimmers of light in the blue marble night sky.

We see evidence of these light maps in our submission inbox every single day. Young writers are taking pictures, making art, and ready to share poems, stories, and opinions with us. This issue features points of light from Nigeria, Belgium, Singapore, Canada, and Turkey, as well as work from our many writers here in the U.S. Read on to discover unexpected sparks.

Molly Hill
Editor

Editor’s Note

By Molly Hill

September 2019/ Issue Fifteen

“We who make stories know that we tell lies for a living. But they are good lies that say true things, and we owe it to our readers to build them as best we can. Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will grow up with a different landscape, who without that story will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write.” Neil Gaiman

Dear Readers and Writers,

Summer seems to have left us with alarming speed, and we’re here with a Fall syllabus of sorts to ease the transition. There’s a more extensive personal essay section this time, and we commend our student writers for telling stories that are not only deeply personal, but often difficult to articulate and process.

This issue is an invitation to enter different landscapes. Check out Micaela’s world in the Bronx, Sebastian’s accidental adventure at GameStop, and Esther’s reaction to life in San Francisco. Our Anonymous author explains how a book like Middlesex, can change the way you see yourself, — and things turn darkly comical in the world created by Katherine where people wake up one morning without— hands, which makes restaurant work especially challenging.

We’re nearing the end of our fourth year of online publication, and looking forward to our first print addition, making an appearance in 2020. Watch for some familiar favorites as well as new work coming together in an anthology that will be our five year anniversary edition—details to follow as we move closer to publication.

Blue Marble began out of a love of writing and reading and a desire to evangelize about the written word. When we were building our online platform we hoped writers from everywhere would find us and share their work, and in turn inspire others to do the same. It’s working. Thanks to those who’ve found us from all over the world.

Keep writing!

Molly Hill
Editor

Editor’s Note Summer Poems

By Molly Hill

Summer Issue/July 2019

Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn.
Thomas Gray

Dear Readers and Writers,

Our summer issue is small but mighty, and goes well with a frappuccino, or a DQ Blizzard. It’s a perfect read for the hammock, beach towel or lawn chair and best enjoyed when you’re supposed to be doing something else. (no reading at the red light tho…)

For those who say they don’t “get poetry,” we invite you (don’t turn back now!) to scroll through this issue because we think you’ll change your mind. These young writers reflect on relationships, family, feelings, politics, and identity among other things. Chances of coming across something poignant and relatable are quite good.

Off you go!

Happy summer—

Molly Hill
Editor

Editor’s Note

By Molly Hill

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James

June 2019/Issue 14

Readers and Writers,

In this season of commencement speeches, we’ll keep this short and try to remain cliché free, even though while reading through our many writing submissions we are tempted to tell our talented writers— Oh the places you’ll go!!— the great news being, they are already on their way.

This is one of our largest issues to date curated by students and writers local and far flung who were willing to read thousands of words, respond to late night emails, and meet up to talk about essays, poems and stories. We’re proud to put this collection of summer reading in easy reach of your phone or laptop.

Thank you Arushi, Isabella, Kate, Maya, Priscilla, Alexa, Faith, the Minnetonka Writing Center Staff, Sumy Designs, Fuzion Print, Sandhill Studio LLC, ALL OUR STUDENT SUBMITTERS, and our grant givers for helping us get these words and images out into the world.

Happy Summer!

Molly Hill
Editor

Editor’s Note

By Molly Hill

March 2019

A Thousand Words
Valeria W. March (2019 Blue Marble Review)

When I wrote today I wrote a thousand words
that I wasn’t proud of but I was
proud to have started because
when you run, you lose when you stop
and I didn’t stop, I ran the length of the thousand miles,
and even if they are the words that were written a thousand times before
I wrote.

Welcome to the March 2019 issue including the above poem from a young writer in India, a poem that speaks to our mission here at Blue Marble—write, revise, create, begin again, redo, —just keep going. Our goal from the beginning has been to provide a shared writing space for young writers but also to figure out how to develop and expand what we do. With that in mind we’re honored to feature our first book review from talented Twin Cities writer Oscar Wolfe, and we welcome guest editor Arushi Avachat, grateful for her time and diligence reviewing work for this issue.

We continue to be grant funded, and even though we’d like to tweet and type about our benefactors, they wish to remain anonymous. Thank you generous givers for your continued support of young people’s writing and creativity. And special kudos to those high school and college students listed on our masthead—fine writers themselves. They work behind the scenes juggling coursework and activities, with a continued willingness to meet deadlines, and continue reading and editing for us. Thanks for all you do.

Molly Hill
Editor