Dear So to Speak readers,

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to our Summer 2022 online issue. We have a stacked line-up this time, including writers and artists from a wide variety of perspectives. I’m glad to say that with this issue, we’ve furthered our mission to present art through an intersectional lens.

Despite the continued challenges of the pandemic, it’s been a big year for So to Speak. In the past year, we hosted our first hybrid reading with phoebe, and we joined forces with Peatsmoke for a virtual reading during AWP. We also launched our Young Writers Initiative, which publishes work from emerging writers ages 13-18 (Check it out on our blog!). We’ve also continued to offer fee-free submissions for Black and indigenous writers, which we believe is a key part of making the literary world more accessible for everyone. Overall, we’ve continued to weather this challenging period while connecting with an ever-broadening community of writers and artists from around the world.

This issue is a testament to our intersectional mission, but it’s more than that: What strikes me about these pieces is that through the political and personal, the topical and the timeless, it all works as art. It can be very challenging to balance meaningful messages with strong craft, but our writers, artists, and editors have pulled it off. These works take on difficult topics, including abortion, gendered violence, and racism, yet they also inspire with their clarity and creativity. It’s often said that the best art is simultaneously singular and universal, and I feel that these writers and artists are great examples of that principle. I’m grateful that they’ve chosen to share their work with us, and that we have the opportunity to share it with you.

I’m also immensely grateful to our editorial team, who’ve proven again and again to be reliable, knowledgeable, and overall brilliant. I was so impressed by the enthusiasm they brought to launching the Young Writers Initiative, attending AWP, and reading submissions. Selecting our final pieces is one of the most challenging parts of creating an issue; it’s a time-intensive and surprisingly emotional process. With that in mind, I’m so thankful for our team’s passion, vision, and good taste. They’ve put together something truly wonderful!

I’d also like to thank you, reader. As our journal continues to grow, know that your views and comments–and yes, retweets–help sustain our work and intersectional mission. In addition to reading, we hope you’ll consider attending one of our live readings (virtually or in person!) or even submitting a piece of your own.

I also encourage you to champion equity and inclusion in your own life. This year has presented immense setbacks: the overturning of Roe v. Wade, mass violence, as well as continued backlash against the intersectional feminist and Me Too movements (among others). These developments may make you feel discouraged and exhausted—that’s natural—but remember that we see you, we appreciate you, and we’re fighting with you. Remember that while human minds can be easily lead astray, especially in troubled times, human hearts are overall good. I think this issue is a testament to that principle, too.

Warmth,

Ivan Moore, Editor-in-Chief