news | by Karla Cordero
Those of you that catch me on Instagram know that one of my favorite things to share is the garden, the blooming flowers, the bean that sprouted, or my dog Spanky stealing a carrot from the day’s harvest. Recently, as I return to writing, I’ve been thinking a lot about pla...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Last fall I was asked to host the San Diego Poetry Slam, featuring Gigi Bella. I remember meeting Gigi for the first time. Her outfit on point, radiating with joy, smiling like we had known each other for years. It was mid-way through the slam, I invited Gigi to the mic and her a...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Sunday evening, I'm rocking my fuzzy concha slippers, sweats, and a messy bun any bird would be down to nest in. You know, just here, practicing the art of social distancing with the utmost class during the era of COVID-19. The microwave rings and Top Ramen is set for dinner...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
A Conversation with Phil Kaye by Emily Lu Gao Originally published in YLWRNGR Link: https://ylwrngr.com/2019/03/15/phil-kaye/ ...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
The debate over self-publishing versus working with an established press is always in conversation with various writing communities. At times, the final debate around the topic seems to end with a negative stigma regarding self-publishing as a lack of credibility or validatio...
books | by Karla Cordero
The Intimacy of Family, Home, and Identity in Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez Reviewed by Valorie K. Ruiz It takes a focused introspection, awareness, and openness to capture what it’s like to exist within the intersection of multiple identities. José Olivarez’ Cit...
news | by Karla Cordero
Ahhh... summer! My favorite time of the year where writing feels more luxury than the impossible endeavor. But all teachers know all glorious summers must come to an end. We slowly put our notebooks down and hit the ground running with syllabus development, book orders, an...
news | by Karla Cordero
It’s official, 2018 has arrived and when it comes to thinking about New Year’s Resolutions some of us might pinky promise ourselves to, “WRITE MORE, READ MORE, DEDICATE MORE TIME TO MY CRAFT!” However, if you work in the field of education it can be quite the challengi...
news | by Karla Cordero
In Oceanside, California, poetry enters the classroom at MiraCosta College as mentor texts, that perform and empower student readers. Professor Maria Figueroa uses the found poem in particular to encourage students to question and rewrite the oppressive narratives spilled from th...
news | by Karla Cordero
The open mic for most artists is the perfect space to read new work fresh off the pen, as many people in the spoken word scene refer to as NEW SHIT! At times, poems, stories, rants, and jokes birthed recently from the artist aren’t necessarily always memorized, but our bodies a...
news | by Karla Cordero
Saint is a poet whose wordsmithing sheds humor and compassion for humanity when hitting the stage. His numerous accomplishments as an artist has given him the opportunity to open for hip-hop artists such as Common, Lupe Fiasco and gospel sensation Dietrick Haddon. As a perform...
news | by Karla Cordero
As educators we are constantly on the prowl to find new and creative pedagogical strategies to motivate our students to critically engage with literature. Brian Mooney is one of the many educators who utilizes hip-hop and spoken word poetry as a teaching tool. Inside of the cl...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Imagine sitting in your Spanish class where the teacher questions your racial identity by the sound of your name. The teacher pronounces each word slowly, you can tell her tongue is uncomfortable by the time she hears the cadence of your last name escape her mouth, and in hesita...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Everybody meet the wonderful Saroya Marsh, a poet who defends and represents the voices of those who've been silenced. Saroya, placing second at the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam, is an artist that moves mountains with honest words. We had the honor to ask Saroya a.k.a. ...
news | by Karla Cordero
At this years Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) we had the privilege to visit some awesome publishers at their tables. Be sure to check out their work! Organic Weapon Arts http://www.organicweaponarts.com Red Hen Press http:...
news | by Karla Cordero
To be a parent, means to give every ounce of your body, mind, and spirit to the very human being/s you brought into this world. Parents are the providers and sculptors of their children who will one day carry their legacy in all that they do. However, parenting can be a scary thi...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Mahogany L. Browne is a woman who brings her community beauty, courage, and hard work through her own writing and activism. While establishing the publishing company Penmanship Books, Poetry Program Directing the Nuyorican Poets Café, and having published several of her own boo...
news | by Karla Cordero
We know writing a love poem can be quite the challenge. You face the dangers of being too cliche, too sexy, & too boring. So we put together ten of our favorite love poems from the wordsmith experts for your inspiration & enjoyment. Forget Valentine Cards, share a poem! ...
news | by Karla Cordero
Brian "SuperB" Oliva is an accomplished writer and spoken word artist, with a touch of r&b and soul. He has featured at countless venues and was the co-host and one of the founding fathers of the Inland Empire's most successful performance venues, Urbane Culture. He is the 20...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Once your eyes dive into a couple of poetry and fiction books by Small Doggies Press, you'll understand how this small press carries a fearless bite behind every published author. Whether you're a new or fanatic reader of the press, you're immediately invited to explore the human...
news | by Karla Cordero
You can find Neil Hilborn on Youtube and his amazing poem titled "OCD," a story about a man and his struggle between disability and love. Hilborn's poem has reached over eight million views and counting, as poetry fans everywhere can now listen to Hilborn's poetic work on his n...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
Franny Choi is a poet, a performer, a teaching artist, a Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship finalist, and the author of Floating, Brilliant, Gone, published by Write Bloody Publishing (2014). Her accomplishments include being a finalist at several national poetry slams, and her play Ma...
news | by Karla Cordero
Porsha O's voice delivers a sound that can only be described as a kind of "choir-drum beat" so loud you are taken by her words for three minutes at a time. Whether you get to experience her presence live or through your laptop screen, you can't help but nod your head and snap you...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
This past weekend, 72 poets from across the country gathered to compete at the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam. As poets attended orientation, collected their badges, and followed their schedule to the right venue, we began to marvel at the hard work and dedication organiz...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
With just four days away, Phoenix, Arizona will be hosting the 2014 Individual World Poetry Slam and Spit Journal just had to share a few words with the three-time defending champion Ed Mabrey. SPIT JOURNAL: We're all curious, how did you find your way into the realm of perfor...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
The people of D.C. were hungry for poetry this year, bringing heavy metaphor, dynamic group pieces, and imagery focusing on political, cultural and social issues to the National Poetry Slam in Oakland. The D.C. Beltway Slam Team devoured the stage, claiming the 2014 champion ti...
news | by Karla Cordero
Here is the second half of the 2014 Women of the World article, featuring Imani Cezanne and Carrie Rudzinski. We hope you enjoy! What does poetry mean to you as woman? IMANI CEZANNE: As a woman of color, there are countless things I have to fight for that others don...
news | by Karla Cordero
At this years National Poetry Slam in Oakland, we asked twenty poets the question: WHERE DID POETRY FIND YOU? We are blessed to have met so many beautiful people. Check out their responses below! ...
news | by Karla Cordero
Once a year seventy-two of the fiercest female poets from across the country come together to spill their stories and truth at a competition known as Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS). Each poet is a representative from her home venue, sent out to compete for the prestigious...
interviews | by Karla Cordero
At this years Association of Writer’s & Writing Program conference in Seattle, Washington, I witnessed an audience with dropped jaws and speechless reactions at a Douglas Kearney reading. The first poem he read titled “Thank You But Please Don’t Buy My Children Clothes ...
news | by Karla Cordero
In Washington D.C. poetry has become a vehicle to empower today's youth with writing skills, confidence, and socio-political responsibility. Washington D.C. is home to an organization known as Split This Rock. Since 2008, the organization has reached out into their community thr...
