Author: Chris Sommerfeldt

By Lucas Tromblee

How many shots at writing a poem does it take be a poet? A long answer short: more than a couple. To go out in the woods with a gun doesn’t make you a hunter. Neither do deer head mounts on your wall. A hunter is what he claims to be in a few short, definitive moments. Those are the analogous moments when the poet is writing a poem. So much discussion around poetry has so little to do with writing it. Writing it is what matters. Whether you’re a poet before or after is just semantics. Continue reading “The Right Kind of Romanticism” →

By Jamison Murcott

This semester, Italics Mine had the opportunity to sit down and interview author Susan Breen, who’s new mystery series, Maggie Dove, will be digitally released on June 14, 2016. Here’s an excerpt of the interview, which will be published in Italics Mine’s upcoming issue.

Continue reading “Talking with Susan Breen” →

By Cody La Vada

In 1979, British novelist Angela Carter forever changed the model of the fairy tale with the publication of her short fiction collection, The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, which contains ten reworkings of classic tales ranging from a novella-length piece inspired by the “Bluebeard” story to a micro-fiction piece that barely adds up to five hundred words based on an obscure variation of the “Snow White” tale. The anthology was revolutionary at the time of its publication because it reimagined traditional and beloved stories through a modern lens. Most notably, the collection remains a pivotal part of English literature because of Carter’s depiction of women; rather than playing into the tired tropes of female heroines in fairy tales as weak, or fragile, Carter creates dynamic young women navigating the complexities of adulthood. By drawing on and subverting the archetypes and motifs of classic fairy tales, Carter manages to both reflect the macabre undertones of the original works that inspired her, and the relevance of the stories in modern times. Continue reading “The Transformation of the Fairy Tale” →

By Molly McNally  

Before the setting, before the characters, before rising action and conflict and resolution, a writer is faced with the question: from what point of view should the story be told? A writer can use the first person (the “I” who speaks), second person (the “you” who the piece addresses), or third person (the “him/her/they”). They can narrate through an omniscient voice that can see everything existing in the world of the story, a limited voice that is contained to the mind of one or a few characters, or an objective voice that never delves into the interiority of characters, but only describes actions and objects. Point of view, however, can affect more than just pronouns. A biography written in second person would make the reader, rather than the historical figure, the subject of the piece. A memoir written in third person would detach the reader from the personal aspect of the writing. How much distance does the reader need from the piece – should they be in the thick of the action or an observer? Point of view may seem like a simple enough choice, but there are so many nuances to that choice, which can change its very meaning. Continue reading “Beyond the Pronouns: Point of View in Prose” →

By Zoe Nathan

When people think of books, they think of bookstores, libraries, and even school textbooks. All of these books went through different publishing houses and had many people working on them, advertising them, making sure everything was just as it should be before the book made it onto a bookstore shelf to be judged by the general public. A lot of people think that this is the only way to get a piece of writing out into the world, but some novels have humbler origins. Continue reading “The Evolution of The Martian” →

By Jonathan Hernandez

The aspiring writer faces many challenges. First, we must slay that fearsome foe – the blank white page. Then, we have to polish our rough work with many vigorous hours of revision, submit it to brutal workshops, and subject it to exhaustive rounds of editing. Now you have a gem that you want to sell, where do you start?

For those of us not up to speed on all the ins and outs of the literary world, this might seem daunting. Many hopeful authors have fallen prey to boogeymen like false agents. But knowledge is our best ally against their best-laid schemes. Luckily, in the age of global communication and information, it’s possible for us to reap the wisdom and experiences of others. And also remember, sometimes your gut is right. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Continue reading “Agents: An Encouraging Word of Advice” →