Issue No. 9, 2015-16. Editor’s Notes

It’s an incredibly difficult and daunting task to select only several sub- missions for publication out of hundreds, but my time on the board of West 10th has taught me that it’s also an incredibly rewarding one. Bound in these pages are voices I have never heard before—voices that will ring and reverberate in my ears even when the year 2016 seems a distant time and place. Bound in these pages are transporting pieces of art full of energy, attention, and atmosphere. But most importantly for me, bound in these pages are stories—in whatever shapes, sizes, and forms stories can take. The conversation they’ve created here is full of both affirmations and provocations; it strikes not one harmonious chord but many dissonant ones.

Being able to hold these stories in my hands is a thrill and a great privilege. Every time I turn back to these pieces I feel a wonderful sense of recognition and admiration: Ah, yes. This. I hope you will too. We selected the pieces that stirred something within us. Oftentimes, they pleased us; other times they deliberately pushed us out of our comfort zones. I have the pleasure of acknowledging two as our Editors’ Award recipients: Jordana Weiner’s “When Life Gives You Lemons, Find the Grove” in poetry and Kit Zauhar’s “We Are Here 24/7” in prose.

This issue would not be possible without the generosity and sup- port of the Creative Writing Program faculty. Joanna Yas had all of the answers when I came to her with lists of questions and followed up with eight-paragraph emails. Matthew Rohrer and Darin Strauss took on the challenge of recognizing our Editors’ Award recipients. We have Aaron Petrovich to thank for the beautiful layout of these pages. All those involved behind-the-scenes in making this issue come to life deserve much more appreciation than I can give here.

A huge thank you to Kimiko Hahn for allowing us to print two of her incredible poems, and to Mira Jacob for so thoughtfully con- versing with us about the worlds of writing, rewriting, and publishing. My fellow editors are some of the most attentive and talented writers and readers I know; I am indebted to them for having seen things I was blind to. Lastly, thank you to all who attended our workshops and reading events over the past year, to all those who submitted, and to all those reading.

I invite you now to turn the page—read, absorb, and enjoy.

Alyssa Matesic

Masthead

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Alyssa Matesic

MANAGING EDITOR

Anzhe Zhang

POETRY EDITORS

Colin Drohan
Abby Kosisko
Justin Hong

PROSE EDITOR

Allen Fulghum
Su Young Lee

ASSISTANT POETRY EDITORS

Juliette Maigné
Shannagh Rowland

ASSISTANT PROSE EDITOR

Cindy Li