THE CG ROUNDUP OF STANDOUT WRITTEN WORK — Volume 10
January 31 / 2016
Welcome to another Sunday edition of the CG roundup, our tenth to date. Before we get started, a few quick publication updates.
CROSSINGENRES.COM
First off, CG is pleased to announce we are the proud owners of a brand new web domain. That would be crossingenres.com. One “g”! We decided to take advantage of this feature that Medium offers publications and we are excited to have a permanent home on the internet. Be sure to bookmark our new address to use any time you come and visit.
THEME MONTH
Last week in the roundup we indicated something new was coming for February. What we were referring to is the plan, over the next several weeks, to participate in a platform wide, multi publication themed discussion focused on the criminal justice system and criminal justice reform. Essays, interviews, and round table discussions are being drafted, while details around the event are being finalized. You can expect an update with specifics soon.
EXPANDED LAYOUT
A new addition to the CG homepage layout, we added a three frame “featured” section at the top of our page. While there are no obvious visual changes, the way the first three posts are ordered is different, as we now have the option to temporarily showcase certain pieces that, for whatever reason, we feel deserve more prominence than the regular “latest” cycle affords. The section will be updated with new pieces we wish to showcase every couple of days. See a three panel version of our new “featured” section in the image below, the red arrow on the left side of the top frame indicating the “featured” label.
The “latest published” feature can still be seen, and has simply been moved below the new featured section, appearing directly after our Publication News updates, about page and Twitter link section. See the red arrow on the left side of the page indicating “latest” in the image below.
Now, on to …
THE SUNDAY ROUNDUP
CG RECOMMENDATIONS
A large volume of recommendations await you today, no doubt due to the weather as of late in the Great White North — that would be piss poor. I’ve spent most of the weekend indoors, out of the cold, catching up on some great reads.
On the theme of winter blues, I recently discovered this well written piece from Olivia Dolphin, penned last February. It is nothing if not timely …
It was a busy week at CG, highlights include this tenderly reflective piece by Contributing Editor Heather Nann.
Bisi Alimi is a contributing writer to the new collection Black and Gay in the UK — an anthology. CG was lucky to have him share some of his poetic work with us below.
Sense of humor and wit are, in my estimation, two of the most important attributes a writer can possess. New CG writer Anthony Walker has them on full display in his first CG piece below.
I was so pleased to see Tim Barrus address what has, until now, largely been a shameful and dangerous secret, widely known but rarely discussed in the gay male community; the growing epidemic of anal cancer. Tim’s opinion and actions here may shock you, but I urge you to seriously weigh everything he is saying through the lens of his experience, and I hope you will see the strength of compassion that is at the core of his thinking.
Mirah Curzer follows up her recent and very successful piece Battle Hymn Of The Angry Feminist with some great practical suggestions on turning that righteous anger into necessary action.
New CG writer Ezinne Ukoha offers a blistering critique of the recently announced and glaringly white Oscar nominee list, in …
Insert lengthy, pedantic rant here …
It was the next piece that Ezinne published with us which spurred more than a small amount of self reflection on a few serious issues.
Issues like self identified “liberal progressives”, diversity, accountability, and the level of sincerity behind those things. We progressives sure love to spout how inclusive and intentionally diverse we are, often in some self congratulatory back scratch for who makes a better ally. Always quick to offer solidarity through a concerned tone or timely nod, we are oh so generous with those appropriately supportive conversation pauses. Offering glib, tacit support for diversity from behind our concerned faces. But for those of us who are actually serious about the effort it takes to make our lives and spaces more equitable and diverse, we know it is never an easy task; in part because of all that wind bag posturing.
When I began this publication I envisioned a place where the voices of those not often heard would not just speak, but roar. That includes women, GLBTQ people, elderly writers, marginalized youth, and it includes people of color, black and all shades of brown. Myself, my co-editor, and the writers who publish here have worked hard to recruit and maintain a writer compliment who reflect that goal, and to ensure the work we publish shares solidarity with that ideology.
Just under a year later, are we where we want to be on that goal? No, we are not even close. But the goal is not one with an end point. We also understand that no ally gets it right all the time. There will be mistakes. We‘ve made our share. And that’s okay, because mistakes humble, and so we resolve to do better next time and try our damnedest to never make that mistake again. It is not rocket science, but it does take a sincere commitment, expressed through consistently demonstrated action. Most importantly, it takes the courage and willingness to see that ugly thing we are trying hard to rally against, as something none of us are exempt from. When we admit that, there is no option but to deal with it directly. That process is scary and hellishly uncomfortable, but it is also vitally necessary.
I suppose the excessively lengthy point I am attempting to make here is that saying we value and support diversity really means jack shit if we have nothing tangible to back it up with. Which is to say, if you really want to be an ally, don’t talk, just shut up and do it.
Lengthy, pedantic rant over …
Please read Ezinne’s essay below. It really is worth your time.
Timothy J. O’Neill manages to impress me once again, this time with his range in both talent and narrative structure …
That perfect overlap between poetics and narrative prose is a style of writing I personally get the most satisfaction from reading. The following piece by CG author Tonya Malinowski illustrates it beautifully.
Yesterday I cam across the piece below and I immediately requested it from author Zac Chapepa. It is a very honest look at a place most of us, myself included, have at one time or another been stuck at during our Medium experience.
This past week I finally accomplished something I had been planning on doing for months; publishing this editor and writer guide to using tags and sections on Medium publications …
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM AROUND MEDIUM
In a response to the CG Newsletter, Heather and I had a nice surprise this past week when Todd Hannula wrote this very generous piece about the work that we attempt to do at CG.
I responded with the following poem that I felt summed things up best.
The publication which published Todd’s piece is one he created, The Sobremesa; unique in it’s attempt to “continue the conversation”, since it specializes exclusively in publishing responses. Last week The Sobremesa published a response of mine …
The Syrian refugee crisis continues to make news, albeit slowly given how long it’s actually been going on. Yesterday I was riveted over this story by EyeEm, who talks to Hungarian photographer Dávid Balogh about his work documenting the crisis. To read the story click the image below.
When you are a writer or photographer covering stories of human atrocity, things get complicated fast. Blink brings us a piece by Olivier Laban-Mattei on journalism ethics and the importance of taking a few steps back.
I’ve always found the “where were you when” questions interesting in the depth of character they often reveale when allowance is given for someone to tell their story. Thirty years ago I was in a grade twelve sociology class when Mr. Brown tuned the class TV into ABC news, after getting word the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded shortly after takeoff. Luke Kelly brings us back to that day in this great Vantage piece.
In a brilliant and hard hitting must read, Tasha Graff examines how racism is inexplicably tied up with the death penalty, and what we are really doing as human beings when we enact that scenario …
And lifestyles offers up some satirical wit in this piece explaining how to channel the coveted writing skills of hard core conservatives …
In a piece that smoothly covers the full range of human emotion, Kel Campbell brings us a prayer for the times …
Samantha Morris brings us three beautifully simple lines that proved to me it is possible to be knocked on your ass for a brief moment by the weight of a stranger’s world …
Cuepoint Staff bring us a heartbreaking recollection from the mother of Amy Winehouse, Janis Winehouse, detailing what rock bottom looks like up close and personal.
Amazing poetry by Khloë B. …
From a woman we are proud to call a CG writer, Emjay Em, comes this pictorial essay …
MADE UP WORDS
THE place for fiction on Medium, MUW just celebrated a 1000th follow. February will be a busy month at this publication with the theme of “Love Lies Bleeding”. You have until February 7'th to get your submissions in. Editor Veronica Montes gives you the specifics below.
Made Up Words editor Lisa Renee has always been a talented writer with great work on a number topics, but my respect for her authorship increased by leaps and bounds when she published this short story.
Since I brought it up, MUW published another work of fiction this past week. A poetic fiction piece from yours truly.
HEATHER’S PICKS
From Dyana K …
From Folarin Akinmade …
From Anya M. Ferguson …
From maurice blocker …
From Elizabeth Helmich …
From Kevin Pennant …
RESPONSE OF THE WEEK
Veronica Montes takes the prize this week for her instructive example of taking the higher road and offering benefit of the doubt (even if it later appears not warranted) in this response to criticism.
Thanks for stopping by. Please take some time to enjoy and recommend these great pieces penned by some equally great writers.
Until next week.
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