Poets & Writers Magazine welcomes feedback from its readers. Please 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
It was a pleasure to read “The Literature of Illness, Healing” by Michelle Wildgen in the January/February 2026 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine. As the editor of the quarterly Journal of Poetry Therapy, now in its thirty-ninth year of publication, I can confirm the therapeutic power of poetry and expressive writing in health care. The Bellevue Literary Review offers a unique literary voice for all those involved with illness, health, and treatment: patient, healer, family, caregiver, educator, student, and the larger community. Rafael Campo is one example of a physician-poet who has proven that poetry writing can be healing for both the physician and patient.
Nicholas Mazza
Tallahassee, Florida
I thoroughly enjoyed the profile of Donika Kelly (“Singing the Sublime” by Brian Gresko) in the November/December 2025 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine. Kelly’s work is replete with qualities sadly absent from much of contemporary poetry, including enthralling rhythm, powerful imagery, and resonant phrasing, all of which make one realize there are a myriad of gems in the English language yet to be discovered by brilliant poets.
Thomas Ukinski
Lincoln, Nebraska
I appreciated the impressionistic photograph of Literary Arts executive director Andrew Proctor that accompanied the story “Literary Arts Thrives in Portland” (November/December 2025) by Alissa Greenberg. The colors and composition, lighting and location, and the decision to take the portrait in the rain—what a fine complement to the article.
Ken Kesegich
Fairport Harbor, Ohio
Trending
Social media ephemera
On a post promoting the Small Presses database, Facebook user Terry Trowbridge wrote: “The database is helpful. Using it boosted my publication rate in journals that people know about. Highly recommend. The Poets & Writers list is almost all journals with staying power, and the editors recognize when they’ve seen you around.” Nicole Phillips added, “I can’t wait to explore all the resources and hope to be joining some of the groups available until I can get my subscription going. Thanks for existing.”
Traffic
Three of the most popular posts from pw.org
1. “A Message From the Executive Director” (January/February 2026)
2. “New Ways of Seeing: Our Twenty-First Annual Look at Debut Poets” (January/February 2026) by India Lena González
3. “Ten Writers on Writing Advice: 2025” (12/16/2025)
[Corrections]
Because of changes to upcoming contests made by the sponsoring organizations after the issues went to press, the Deadlines sections of November/December 2025 and January/February 2026 included inaccuracies. The deadline for the LGBTQIA+ Literary Success Grants, sponsored by Georgia Writers, is March 31, not January 15 as previously stated. The Charles S. Longcope Jr. Writers and Artists Grant, sponsored by the Gay & Lesbian Review, is open to all writers, not only students enrolled in a master’s or PhD program at the time of application. The Judith Siegel Pearson Award, sponsored by Wayne State University, is now open only to current students at the university.