Polar Bear Plunging for a Cause

My fellow Editor in Chief, Rob Pockat, is not afraid to do dumb stuff. That often means that I have to take on the role of baby-sitter. I say "no" a lot and spoil the fun. But every once in a while, I loosen up a little and encourage the idiocy. Now would be one of those times.

A Plot is Not Enough

I'm re-reading Vivian Gornick's The Situation and the Story for my writing group. I've only made it to page 26 so far, but already I'm reminded of why this book is so highly regarded in creative nonfiction circles. It's because Gornick is able to explain what essayists do in a way that is both accessible and profound. For example: "the way the narrator -- or the persona -- sees things is, to the largest degree, the thing being seen."

Black Friday Sale

Here at Stoneboat, we're trying something new this year: a Black Friday sale.

Issue 4.1 Launch Reading and Open Mic

If you're in the Sheboygan area on Sunday, November 10, 2013 we will be holding a reading to launch our fall issue.

From one writer to another...

Although most of you know me as an editor at Stoneboat, I think of my editorial work as secondary to my creative work. Editing the journal is something I fell into by accident—and while I love it, it’s not my first love. If I was forced to choose between being an editor and being a writer, I’d choose writing without any hesitation.

T-Shirt Giveaway!

The Stoneboat T-shirt machine has been out of commission for the last few months, but now that Rob is all settled into his new basement and our supply is dwindling, we're ready to fire that baby up again. We went on a mission to find T-shirt making supplies this weekend, and when the local craft store turned out to be a bust, we hopped in the Buick and headed 45 minutes down the Interstate to Grafton.

Writer's Block: Where Did My Words Go?

I have a degree in writing, and I want to be a writer, but I excuse my way out of it all the time: I can't find the notes I'm looking for. My favorite pencil has gone missing. I don't have enough time to immerse myself in writing today. I should make sure I didn't miss anything on Facebook. I'm not going to be able to focus until I trim my nose hair. I've got a million of them. Today I'm just stuck. So I rewrite what somebody else has written--a technique that often works for me.

The Passing of the Spark

There is nothing more life-affirming than the realization of the creative spark. If you are reading this blog  on any sort of regular or semi-regular basis, you are most likely in the camp of the human race that sees there is value in pursuing this spark, in preserving this spark, and in handing it--as it twinkles on the edge of a slender twig--onto another soul who is also looking for the spark. A few days after my dad, the artist Georg Vihos, passed on, I got this email from my "cousin" (not a blood relative, but the Greeks are a close-knit clan), sharing his story of the passing of the spark. He gave me permission to print the email here. I share it with you not so much because it is about my dad (and also about Ernie) but because it is a story about passing on that which is most beautiful, most delicate, most strong. I think you will find it relevant to your own story, somehow:

Hartford Avenue Poets Reading

This weekend Pebblebrook Press, an imprint of Stoneboat Literary Journal, hosted a reading for the recently released Hartford Avenue Poets collection of work "Masquerades & Misdemeanors" at the Frank Juarez Gallery in Sheboygan,Wisconsin.

Georg Vihos, Phone Numbers, and Breaded Cutlets

Lisa here. In the coming days, I am going to be posting some tributes and meditations on my father who left this physical plane on September 26. He was an amazingly prolific artist, and a lover of life. His greatest pleasure, it seemed, was to pass on the spark of creativity to others. I think about him all the time, which I suppose is quite normal right after someone dies. However, I can't imagine how I will ever not think about him. I am not ready to write about him yet, but I know I will soon enough. One day, at the hospital, he said to me: "Write a story about me." I said, "I will, dad." He said, "Make it a good one." Before I get to my own stories about Georg, I will share some from others. Here is the first one, from Stoneboat contributor who happens to be my brother-in-law, Stephan Mazurek:

Evolution Through Mediation

There's a quote I like by John Barton, a Canadian poet: "A literary journal is intended to connect writer with reader; the role of the editor is to mediate." Our goal at Stoneboat has always been to help distribute art, whether written or graphic, to a broader audience, with the intention of subjectively publishing the "best" work using relatively objective parameters. I think we've been steadily improving as editors with each issue we publish, and I look forward to continuing that in the future.

Georg Anthony Vihos

Late last week our dear friend, poetry editor, and co-founder of Stoneboat, Lisa Vihos, experienced the passing of her father, Georg Vihos. While I never had a chance to meet her father, I do feel that I know him intimately, not only through Lisa’s ever-kind words about him, but simply by knowing Lisa—her passion for the arts, her desire to help those in need, her integrity as a human being, and the humble nature she exhibits.

Crappy Endings

As an editor, there are few things that I hate more than reading fifteen pages of an excellent story or essay, only to have the writer blow it in the last page or two with an unsatisfying (or downright awful) ending.

Pebblebrook Presents...

These last few months have been exceptionally busy over at Stoneboat headquarters.  In addition to releasing our spring issue in May (available for purchase here) and seeking work for a special comics section of our fall issue (submit here), we've been putting the finishing touches on a project we've been working on for quite a while now: our first poetry anthology, published by our imprint, Pebblebrook Press.

A Break in the Guest Blogging

Sy Regan reads his work at the inaugural
Stoneboat release reading, 11/2010.

Hey, Stoneboaters.  Signe here.  We're taking a break in our guest blogging series to bring you an update on the spring issue. My co-editors and I are getting really excited about the work we chose, and production is well underway.  The first round of copyediting is complete, the text is on its way into InDesign, and the cover is coming into focus. We've still got a lot of work to do, but Lisa -- the bubbly, social member of our little quartet -- has turned her attention to our issue release reading while Jim works on the layout.  (We won't take our proverbial red pens to the text again until we've got something that looks like a journal.)

Here's the essential info about the reading:
May 11th, 2013
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Paradigm Coffee & Music
1202 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan WI

Guest Blogger, Erik Richardson: Computers As Poets: Could We Build a Better Byron?

Today, Erik Richardson gives us more food for thought as we continue to examine whether poetry can be governed--or created--by rules. What do you think? Right now, I am so wishing I understood the rules of HTML. I am sorry that I cannot for the life of me make this post look more uniform in terms of line spacing and such. I am not a designer. I am a poet. The two are not always mutually exclusive, but in my case, they are...

Guest Blogger, Chuck Rybak: The Beatings Will Continue Until Poetry Improves

(With a Bonus Choose-Your-Own Adventure)

Poet, professor, and Stoneboat friend Chuck Rybak, offers some thoughts today on the concept of rules as applied to poetry. You can even test yourself at the end and see what you are made of. Did I just dangle a participle? I sure hope so.

Guest Post by Christine Deitte, our Stoneboat Intern

Christine Deitte is a senior art major at Lakeland College with a graphic design emphasis. She is serving as Stoneboat's intern during the Spring 2013 semester, and she previously held an internship with Lakeland College's Career Development office. Christine chose to intern with Stoneboat to strengthen her writing skills, and she felt that it was a particularly good fit when she learned that the journal publishes creative nonfiction, which is an interest of hers. We've loved having Christine on board as a member of the Stoneboat team and are grateful for all the work she has done in the last few months.  

Guest Blogger, Ed Werstein: Scaling War and Peace

In the weeks ahead, Stoneboat will continue its new endeavor of giving this forum over to various guest bloggers. Today, we are pleased to welcome poet Ed Werstein as he attempts to make his way through one very long tome:

Guest Blogger, Sarah Busse: A Was an Apple Pie

Take some time this morning to ponder with poet and Verse Wisconsin co-editor, Sarah Busse, the value of the gift, of giving. Then, today, make it a point to give something to someone. It is all about moving the gift, readers. Try it, you'll like it.

Guest Blogger, Margaret Swedish: Writing at the End of the World

Today, we hear from Stoneboat guest blogger, Margaret Swedish, sharing thoughts on what it means to come to the end of a world.

Guest Blogger, Jennifer Morales: In Favor of the MFA

Today's guest blogger, Jennifer Morales, shares her thoughts on the benefits of an MFA program. Read on...

Guest Blogger, Peggy Rozga: Journaling Toward the Poem

This week, Stoneboat floats a new project, that is, hosting guest bloggers. As described in my last post, four women poets were in conversation throughout the month of January on the topic of blogging. This conversation, orchestrated by poet and Verse Wisconsin co-editor, Sarah Busse, has been written up by her and will appear soon in VW. Meanwhile, those of us that were part of the discussion determined we would try intermingling in the cyber-world by posting in each other's blogs. Let the experiment begin. This first post comes from Margaret (Peggy) Rozga. In it, she shares her suggestion for developing one's writing practice. I know I am going to try her method of focused "seeing." 

New Year, New Enterprise

Happy new year to all our friends and relations here in Stoneboatland. I hope 2013 is getting off to a good start for everyone and that your creative juices continue to flow even in our sub-zero Wisconsinwinterweather. Yes, that is one long word…