A New Unique Literary Journal: WordSwell
Article by Robin Christine Honigsberg, WordSwell Associate Editor & Social Media Manager
Deep, Heartfelt Honesty.
What WordSwell offers in facing the difficult world we now inhabit…
Creatives, get ready with your poetry, prose and artwork! There’s a new literary journal taking the online world by storm!
The fourth volume of WordSwell was unveiled at the end of 2023, showcasing a diverse selection of extraordinary poetry, prose, and artwork!
“Making the private world public”
—Allen Ginsberg
What is WordSwell?
According to its mission statement, WordSwell is a literary organization and journal created to support, broaden, and invigorate the literary and arts community.
It was initially founded by a consociation of Bay Area poets and writers brought together by Clive Matson, 82, a Beat Generation direct expression lyric poet and writing instructor. The new team of writers and artists running WordSwell aims to continue the work begun by the original founders, including Matson, all of whom laid the foundation for a sanctuary dedicated to the new, growing and emerging literary and arts community.
Wordswell believes a crucial step in disintegrating disparities between people is to increase their abilities to write, think and be aware; these skills interact and amplify each other because as one capability increases, so does the potential of another.
Authentic communication is the act of being true to yourself and others, especially members of your team and the individuals with whom you communicate, and applies to any groups with distinct differences, such as gender, economics, age, race, education, class, politics and geography. Tackling the difficult topics by being honest, open and direct will have a greater impact on making people pay attention, listen, and hear what you have to say.
WordSwell wants to have those difficult conversations. They want to make readers think, ponder, reflect and question the state of the world today.
“In every direction we look, the world is in flames, whether actually or in metaphor. Are we falling into a harrowing season in hell, or are we working our way out, step by step, with our art, with our awareness, and with our compassion?”
— Clive Matson, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
What Makes WordSwell Unique?
Authentic communication among its team members and with its readers, and WordSwell’s aim to showcase diversity in its writers and topics covered.
“I envision WordSwell as a living literary tradition that seeks the heart of the human experience as seen outward through the vast plurality of particular eyes and their individualized viewpoints and experiences.”
—Dawn Bratton, Former Vice-President
Why is Diversity Important in Literature?
Diverse literature provides readers the opportunity to grow and learn through characters who may have different backgrounds, cultures, or identities, aiding in understanding and eliminating stereotypes.
It breaks down stereotypes and offers a new and unique perspective that provides different viewpoints, resulting in authentic communication between writer and reader.
“WordSwell believes that in order to truly embrace diversity in our writing, we must also be mindful of our own biases and stereotypes. We must be willing to learn and listen to the perspectives of others. We must recognize that our own experiences are not universal and that there are many different ways of experiencing the world. And when we embrace diversity, we create a more inclusive world where everyone’s story is valued and heard.”
—Taya Vasilyeva, Director & Managing Editor
Including diversified characters and experiences in writing adds authenticity, reflecting the world’s population being composed of a blend of identities, cultures, experiences and viewpoints, and introduces readers to different cultures, traditions, and ways of life.
“For me, as a creator it’s a space to make something interactive, a place to synthesize artistic and tech skills, and an opportunity to provide something interesting to people, thus strengthening a sense of community.”
—Eroldi Idlore, Director & Website Curator
Diverse writing has the ability to question societal norms and provoke critical thinking, address topics such as social issues, highlight injustices, and invoke conversations about important topics.
As a result, it contributes to positive changes in society’s perceptions and perspectives.
Are you ready to confront and highlight the topics other journals won’t publish? Push the boundaries? Help tear down society’s misperceptions? Celebrate diversity?
If you answered yes, WordSwell is the publication for you!
Now accepting provocative poetry, prose and artwork submissions.
“What is most personal is most universal”
—Carl R. Rogers
Founder & Editor-in-Chief Clive Matson explains the impetus behind the creation of WordSwell. Videography by Victor Owens.
Visit WordSwell: wordswelljournal.org | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | pw.org| Linktr.ee
Article written by Robin Christine Honigsberg in collaboration with Taya Vasilyeva
2022, 2024© All Rights Reserved.
About the Writer:
Robin Christine Honigsberg is a writer who lives in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her writing explores living with mental illness, as well as opinion pieces, personal narratives, poetry, memoirs and short stories. She graduated from Concordia University with a B.A. in Psychology, from McGill University with a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health & Illness, and then from Cegep Marie-Victorin with an Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology, as a Language Intervention Technician. Her writing has been published in the First Fruits Anthology and online at Medium, Vocal, and Substack. She is currently working on preparing her first collection of poems for publication, as well as writing her first novella.
