Just in from the mailbox – Women”s Studies Quarterly is seeking submissions for their upcoming issue on “activisms”. From their guidelines/call for submissions:

Much of the current creative energy in feminist activism comes from outside of Western Europe and North America, in the vibrant networks of women”s groups, gender institutes, politico-cultural performances, and feminist coalitions in Africa, Asia and South America. While many feel overwhelmed by the immensity and scope of neoliberal economic transformations, capitalist expansion, and the repeated squelching of human rights, women (and sometimes men) in Nigeria, Mexico, Bangladesh, Kenya, Chile, and elsewhere continue to fight the good fight. These kinds of activisms range from traditional forms of political actions like strikes and marches to cultural work like dance groups, art collectives, music, and theater. Some individuals and groups identify themselves as explicitly “feminist,” while others strongly refute the label, yet advocate for social justice, gender equity, legal rights, the end of sexual violence, and other progressive agendas that self-identified feminists would support. In this issue of WSQ, we would like to critically examine, compare, and learn from these varied activisms, without romanticizing them or overstating their achievements.

WSQ”s special issue on activisms seeks to explore and compare the diverse forms, content, representations, and experiences of women”s progressive struggles throughout the world. We invite submissions of critical essays, poetry, fiction, and visual images that engage the question of activisms within the diversity of feminist cultural analyses. We especially encourage comparative essays and submissions from international contributors.

Poetry submissions should go to WSQ”s poetry editor Kathleen Ossip, at ossipk@aol.com by October 15, 2006.

WSQ is also soliciting submissions of essays, short fiction and art. Further details can be found at the Women”s Studies Quarterly web site.

Call to GLBT Authors for Original Submissions to be Included in New Anthology
Source: GayWired.com(GayWired.com)
Monday, 04 September 2006
Call to GLBT Authors for Original Submissions to be Included in New Anthology

If you”re a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer author, Fabulist Flash Publishing wants to include your original works of poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction in its new book: The Queer Collection: Poetry and Prose 2007.

The Queer Collection: Poetry and Prose 2007 is the first of what is anticipated to be an annual anthology featuring the best prose and poetry written by the queer community for the queer community.

What Fabulist Flash Publishing is looking for: Creative original prose and poetry by and for a gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, and queer audience. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be considered. Previously published material will be considered including stories, articles, and book excerpts. Author must hold reprint rights to previously published material.

Each submission will be reviewed and considered based on creativity, originality, concept, and style. Reading will be continuous and submissions will be considered as they arrive. Not all works will be accepted. There is no Entry or Reading Fee. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2007.

Submissions will be selected for publication in The Queer Collection: Prose and Poetry 2007 by Gregory A. Kompes. Kompes holds a degree in English literature from Columbia University, New York, is the bestselling author of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, a monthly contributor to Writers on the Rise, and editor of The Fabulist Flash, a newsletter for writers.

The Queer Collection: Prose and Poetry 2007 will have a publication date of May 2007. For more information, including complete submission guidelines, visit www.QueerCollection.com.

Written (source) by: GayWired.com(GayWired.com)
Photo: GayWired.com

From GotPoetry, another kids and poetry reachout attempt. Carlos Contreras works at RFK High School in New Mexico. This year, he intends to get some poetry out there. He calls his project “Take a Poem – Leave a Poem” – though really, they are two separate projects.

Contreras will be putting up big bins on the walls at two different spots at RFK High. The two bins will be marked with the sign, “Take a Poem – and that”s just what he hopes students will do. He intends to fill the bins to the brim with – poems – poems collected from all types of poets, from all around the world, including city poets of all ages and styles.

“I want there to be poetry that they can relate to at their fingertips. In conjunction with the “take a poem” idea I am going to also create a “leave a poem” bin so that students can turn in work anonymously to be looked at. Anyone interested just email your poems to me as attachments and I”ll make copies of them and get them out. Thanks for your help on this. peace and love,
Carlos”

If you”re interested in participating in this project, email Carlos ( soothxsayer@yahoo.com ) a poem of yours along with a short blurb of who you are and what you are about.

He”d be glad to hear from you. And you can be content in the fact that you are helping to spread the poetry around. Drop one of your poems to Carlos in an email, and think of it as casting manna on the waves.

Back in June, I wrote about Seattle”s election of a Poet Populist. Now the City Council has released their list of finalists for the position. The press release follows. If you”ll be in the neighborhood of Seattle this coming Saturday, you may want to drop by the Bumbershoot Arts Festival and add your voice to the choice of Poet Populist for Seattle.

POET ELECTION WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED AT BUMBERSHOOT
Outgoing Seattle Poet Populist and top contenders to perform

SEATTLE – The votes are in and Seattle has selected the four finalists in the 2006-2007 Poet Populist election. The current Poet Populist, Pesha Joyce Gertler, will perform along with the finalists during the Bumbershoot Arts Festival this Saturday, September 2nd, on Starbuck”s Literary Stage in the Alki Room, at 12:30 p.m. After the readings, Seattle”s next Poet Populist will be announced, awarded a $500 cash honorarium, and begin his or her term immediately.

“The slate of candidates this year represented a variety of styles and personalities.” said Council President Nick Licata, founder of the Seattle Poet Populist program. “Although Pesha will be a hard act to follow, I believe the next Poet Populist will provide the public a real literary treat, whichever finalist wins.”

The finalists, top vote-getters in the election, are in alphabetical order John Burgess, Crysta Casey, Lyn Coffin and Jourdan Keith. One among them will become Seattle”s next Poet Populist. The other three candidates were Anna Maria Hong, Barbara Petite and Joannie Kervran Stangeland.

Local poets were nominated by Seattle literary organizations for election to the post of Seattle Poet Populist for the 2006-2007 term. The Seattle Central Library held a candidate”s “read-off” on July 16th, which attracted an audience of over 100 poetry lovers. The public was invited to vote at the official web site, www.seattlepoetpopulist.org, through August 21st.

In addition to the cash award of $500, the winning poet will write one poem and perform various readings throughout the city during the 2006-2007 term. A Poet Populist is expected to represent and promote the principals of populist poetic expression when performing for the public.

Previous Seattle Poet Populists include Barnard Harris, who served 2 terms, Bart Baxter, Tara Hardy and Pesha Joyce Gertler.

Visit the Seattle Poet Populist web site to learn more about the program and its history at www.seattlepoetpopulist.org.

Exactly one month after I had the pleasure of announcing the birth of the Ballard Street Poetry Journal, I have the double pleasure of sharing the news that submissions for the second issue of the Journal are now being accepted. The announcement showed up in my mailbox this morning, and I”m very very happy to pass it on:

Ballard Street Poetry Journal is accepting submissions for their Winter 2007 issue starting September 1st, 2006 through November 1st, 2006.

Submit 3-6 original, unpublished poems at a time. Include your name, address, phone number and email address in your cover letter and also on the page of each poem. No simultaneous submissions please.
There is no line limit, but shorter poems are preferred. Anything received outside of the reading periods will be returned unopen.

Please note we are accepting email submissions for the Winter 2007 issue only. After publication of that issue only international submissions will be considered via email. Email submissions should be sent in the body of the email; no attachments please. Include a back slash for all line breaks.

If you would like a copy of Ballard Street”s Summer 2006 issue, send $6.00 to the editorial address as well. You can also purchase a copy of Ballard Street at these fine independent booksellers:

Ben Franklin Bookstore, 21 Salem St., Worcester
(508) 845-8665

The Booklover”s Gourmet, 55 E. Main St., Webster
(508) 949-6232
www.er3.com/book/

Wonderland Books, 120 Main St., Putnam, CT
(860) 963-2600

Editorial Address:
Ballard Street Poetry Journal
P.O. Box 3560
Worcester, MA 01613

Email Submissions:
ballard_street @ yahoo.com

The website is coming soon! Please keep checking at
www.ballardstreetpoetryjournal.com