Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories.
Numerous members of the publishing industry participated in a day of action on June 8 in solidarity with the ongoing protests for Black lives across the country. Participants took the day off from work to devote time to support the Black community through protesting, organizing, and fund-raising. Organizers also suggested donating one day’s pay to a relevant fund-raiser and considering making the contribution a monthly commitment. (Publishers Weekly)
A recent statement by the owners of Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver was widely criticized by the literary community. Writing in response to the ongoing protests, the owners began the letter by stating, “Black Lives Matter,” but then went on to explain their policy of “not engaging in public debate” and described taking a position on any particular idea as a “slippery slope.” The owners have since issued an apology. (Jezebel)
“How can an artist so original, so thrillingly indifferent to convention and the tyranny of good taste—let alone one so prescient—remain untranslated and unread?” Parul Sehgal writes in praise of French writer Hervé Guibert. (New York Times)
“We cannot risk the commodification of anti-racism, because when anti-racism is commodified it’s no longer anti-racism.” Rebekah Frumkin seeks a form of activism that refuses commodification, and is instead “questing and daring and growing.” She imagines artmaking as one possible mode for resistance. (Guernica)
Elaine Kahn, the founder of the Poetry Field School, talks to NPR about teaching and building literary community during the pandemic.
“This has always really been a book about the stories we tell ourselves about who we are or who we think we are.” Sam Lansky discusses what he learned from writing autobiographical fiction. (Entertainment Weekly)
Kazim Ali, the poet, writer, and cofounder of Nightboat Books, has signed a three-book deal with Chooseco, which publishes choose your own adventure books for young readers.
O, the Oprah Magazine asks 101 queer writers to share a book that changed their lives.
And the Daily Shout-Out goes to Maris Kreizman for her support of authors via her virtual event series, Sheltering, hosted on Literary Hub’s Virtual Book Channel. Her most recent guest was Ilana Masad, author of All My Mother’s Lovers.
