Writing | The Writer Who Reads

Wow. It’s been over 5 years since I’ve written one of these updates!

My poem, “For October” was published in the July-August issue of The Gay & Lesbian Review and I just got my hands on a copy! This is the first poem I’ve ever had published and the first time I’m seeing my work in print. You can buy a print or digital copy here if you’re so inclined.

There’s nothing like finding out your creative work is being published. It’s exciting, affirming, and thrilling. It’s also always a little (read: very) terrifying for me. This time feels even more terrifying because I’m wading into a new genre: poetry.

My poetry writing started in college when I was really into intertwining religious themes from my Catholic upbringing with my queer identity. I left the church but kept the mysticism. Eventually, I moved onto love poems. I’m one of those mushy stereotypical love poets. Even worse, I really catch my stride in poetry when I’m teetering on romantic desperation and longing. Break my heart, don’t give me the attention I want? At least I’ve got some good writing content out of it.

I wrote “For October” in 2018, submitted it to The G&LR in the summer of 2022, and received word it would be published a year later. It’s been a long journey. The momentary love-madness captured in “For October” has gone. The woman who inspired it is gone. The veneration and self-sacrifice is gone. Still, I’m comforted that a significant moment in my past can live somewhere in its full intensity.

Until the next one.

With no hope of playing it cool, I am here to share some serious news! My latest short story, Before Anything, Black, has been published in Deep South Magazine.

From the website:

… her winning story, which takes place on a university campus, addresses the concept of white feminism and black/queer identity set in the South. We loved her fresh take on feminism and her use of humor throughout the story.

This story is special to me for a few reasons:

It’s my first first-place award winning story.
It’s my first published queer story.
It’s an important black/queer story that wades into parable territory.

I wrote the Before Anything, Black in response to Deep South’s “Race in Place” call for submissions. At first I struggled to pinpoint an issue to write about–there were so many. Then, for the first time ever, a title materialized in my head before a story did. The rest is history.

Actually, the rest is located here.

Give it a read and let me know what you think!

Until next time, friends.

Kait