5×5 Literary Magazine editors are sad to say farewell to our former poetry editor and co-editor-in-chief extraordinaire, Jory Mickelson. However, we are thrilled to announce that Jeff Pearson is now on the team! Please take some time to read Jeff’s biography below and to join us in officially welcoming him to 5×5 Literary Magazine!
5×5 editors appreciate your patience as we continue to prepare Issue #5. The estimated launch date for the upcoming issue is the end of March. Please stay tuned for additional updates, and thanks for reading!
Dearest Contributors,
We couldn’t be more pleased with the volume of poetry submissions we’ve been receiving, and we are currently in the process of selecting submissions for our Winter, 2016/2017 issue, which will be launched on or near the Winter Solstice (late December/January). Submissions are closed for that issue.
For those of you interested in submitting your work for the Summer, 2017 issue, which will be launched on or near the Summer Solstice, please note that we will not be opening submissions for that issue until around January 15th (stay tuned for an announcement). This will ensure that you receive a timely response to your submissions.
Thanks again for your interest in 5×5! We look forward to reading your work!
5×5 is looking forward to selecting pieces for Issue #5, which will be launched on (or near) the Winter Solstice. There is no theme for the issue. We only ask that you send us your strongest, clearest nonfiction, fiction, and poetry! We are currently in the process of reading submissions and will begin selecting submissions soon. Thanks for supporting our magazine!
Here is the most recent issue of 5×5! Enjoy!
We are entering the season of pumpkin-spiced everything, and Halloween superstores popping up like mushrooms after a week of rain. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have so much gloomy weather this time of year, that Halloween almost feels like a season unto itself. Or maybe I am just a Halloween superfan. The Seattle Seahawks may have their 12th Man (ask a sports fan), but the holiday of Halloween has me.
When I was five years old, my mother had to institute a rule in our home that I could not begin making decorations or decorating the house until October 1st every year. This should give you some idea about the levels of candy anticipating enthusiasm that I approached the end of October. It also happened to be my birthday month, so much the better. October has always meant crisp apples, fall leaves, and prowling the night in a costume.
With this in mind, I can safely say that no matter how gloomy the weather or how dark my interior landscape, there can always be some small light to write from. No matter how scary the material, or fearful I become, I know that once I write toward and through the dark woods, I will emerge on the other side. Yes, maybe a bit scared, but I will emerge like the hero at the end of the horror movie, worse for wear, but still alive as that zombie hand that crawls off in the corner of the screen promising a sequel in the future…
What I want to tell you amid the skeletons, bright autumn leaves, and very skimpy Halloween costumes, is that you have what it takes to keep on writing. No matter how scary the material looms ahead, no matter how lost you become in the dark and gloomy manuscript, you can do it. I believe in you.
Keep writing. No matter what. You will make it out the other side so long as you keep going forward.
I promise. Black cats and all.
Best,
Jory Mickelson, 5×5 Poetry Editor
