Inner Space: Clearing Some Room for Inspiration
by Frank Bures
January/February 2012
Barraged by dozens of gigabytes of information each day, the mind of the contemporary writer can be stimulated to the point of creative shutdown. But writers throughout history have grappled with distraction, and understanding the tendencies of the artistic mind may be the first step to opening space for creativity to flourish.
McSweeney’s Opens Poetry Series
by Tess Taylor
January/February 2012
After making a name for itself in independent-press circles with its stylish, smart books of fiction, children’s literature, and food writing, the fourteen-year-old San Francisco–based outfit McSweeney’s is starting its first poetry imprint.
Poets & Ampersands
by Kevin Nance
January/February 2012
For nearly a century, the ampersand has been a key feature of certain strands of American poetry. To understand its history in the genre—and the role it plays for contemporary poets—one must return to the character’s origins.

