The beginning of new adventures

Dear CALYX followers,

The end of my internship at CALYX has come, and it feels both strange and exciting to know that a new chapter of my life in the United States has begun. I would like to thank the amazing CALYX staff for the many opportunities they gave me. These women were the first people to introduce me to working in this country, and what a sweet introduction that was! I absolutely loved my time there. I was a bit scared on my first day, but I had no idea what a great experience it was going to be. I’m glad I decided to leave my fears behind and fulfill my dreams.

I’m really happy to have been allowed to stay with CALYX longer than planned, as it enabled me to stay in this country and learn more. During those seven months, I saw some great interns come and go, I saw Margarita and Beverly retire, and I saw Becky and Kelsey take on their new positions as senior editor and director.

I’m glad to realize how much more confident I feel now that I’ve had this experience with CALYX. I also know for sure that I would love to work with a publishing company. Thanks to this internship, I progressively approached different things and defined myself and my passions. It only makes me want to work as much as I will have to in order to reach my goals.

So, yes, CALYX was definitely a stepping stone for me. This internship taught me skills that I will be able to use in many different jobs. I learned about copy editing, proofreading, decision-making, handling manuscripts, and many other things. I now know how small independent presses work, and I have really enjoyed working with both the editors and the writers.

I’m now in Portland, where I started an internship with Hawthorne Books and Literary Arts, which is very exciting. I’m also an associate editor at The Portland Alliance, among other things. I’m still in the process of trying out new things and having fun doing it. Portland is definitely full of possibilities! But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving CALYX behind: I’m very thrilled to be a first reader now! This is great news since one of my favorite things to do is to read submissions. So, come on, amazing women writers, send us your poetry, prose, and art!

Thanks everyone,

Sophie,

CALYX intern: March-September 2011.

Beginning

beginning, n.

3. a. That in which anything has its rise, or in which its origin is embodied; origin, source, fount.

Hello, CALYX readers!

I’m Erica Emerson and I’m very happy to be the new Fall Editorial Intern for CALYX. I am eager to begin my experience with CALYX, to become involved at a small feminist press and combine my two great passions: social justice and literature.

I have hometowns all over the United States — my birthplace in Burlington, Vermont, my early childhood years in cities like Rochester and Buffalo, New York, and my adolescence in small-town Roseburg, Oregon — all the way to my current home right here in Corvallis. I am living here while I study English Literature at Oregon State University. Outside of academia, I am a devoted member of many activist groups, including College Democrats @ OSU and our campus’s chapter of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.

I am incredibly passionate about the study of literature through a lens of intersectionality, oppression, and liberation. The ways that literature, literary criticism, and small publishing can amplify the voices of those who have historically been silenced (by our society and by those who decide what and who is part of the literary “canon”), and grant those voices the true authority of experience which they deserve, have been a particular interest of mine throughout my studies.

I am positively thrilled to have found an organization through which I can express these passions in an active and eminently useful way. I am hopeful that my experiences with CALYX will prove to be a true beginning for me, the origin or fount of a lifetime of working with literature and feminist values.

To the Success of Our Reading at Grass Roots!

Hey there!

Do these look like happy women writers, or what?

We at CALYX are very excited about the way our reading in Corvallis turned out. Many people came, and we listened to some beautiful poetry and prose. CALYX gave me my first opportunity to organize readings and I’m glad that one of these took place here in Corvallis because I was able to attend. It was a real pleasure for me to see the actual event that I had organized. I ended up introducing the readers to the audience, and although I’m not the best at public speaking, I was excited to push myself out of my comfort zone and participate. After all, I am here to try new things, and I love it.

It was really neat to meet the authors themselves and to exchange a few words with them. Actually, part of what I like about small publishers is that they work closely with authors. The atmosphere was friendly, and the editors and the writers were all there to support each other during this event. I learned that it was Dionisia’s first time reading to an audience and I could feel how happy she and the CALYX staff were about it. It was also very nice to hear her read the piece of creative non-fiction that I had been familiar with for a while since I had participated in the copy editing process.

I also enjoyed listening to the authors read because it always gives the writing a new dimension. This is especially true for poetry, I think, as you can feel the power of the words when you actually hear them (since poetry revolves a lot around voice, intonation, and sounds). This is why, although I don’t read much poetry myself, I do enjoy listening to authors share theirs. Last Saturday, our readers were really good at communicating the emotions of their poems. They read with both talent and humor, which made it an interesting and fun experience for everyone.

I’m grateful that everyone was helpful in helping me organize this reading, from the CALYX staff to the authors and the people at Grass Roots. I want to thank them, as well as all the members of the audience for coming and supporting women writers and independent publishers!

Until next time,

Sophie,

CALYX intern.

The changing of seasons

As the weather begins to shift in anticipation of autumn’s arrival, it is time for me to say my goodbyes to the CALYX staff and prepare for my final year of college.  I am very thankful for the time I have spent in this office, and for the people with whom I have had the opportunity to spend it. I’ve learned so much about the intricacies of working for a press — from how to solicit the donations needed to keep a nonprofit publication going to the details (and excitement) involved in publishing a new book.

It’s fitting, I think, that CALYX’s newest publication, Who In This Room by Katherine Malmo, arrived in Corvallis just yesterday. Having the opportunity to be there during the unwrapping of the first box of books — to have the chance to be one of the first to glance through the pristine pages and take in that new book smell — was one of my favorite moments during my time here at CALYX. Although I was only present for the final tasks involved in the editorial process, it was nonetheless amazing to see what was once a chunk of text transformed into a book. As I held a copy in my hands, scanning over its cover and contents, I couldn’t help but conjure up an image of the book suddenly standing straight up to shout, “Look, Geppetto, I’m a real book!” It was a moment of awe for all involved, I think, and gave me a real taste for the beauty and sense of accomplishment involved in publishing.

The upcoming season brings with it new challenges and opportunities, both for myself and for CALYX.  I know that I leave this summer behind having spent many wonderful hours with a group of smart, sassy, sweet, strong, and supportive women whom I only wish the very best for in the future. I feel honored to have been invited into the CALYX circle, to have worked towards greater self-efficacy among women, and to have hopefully helped the CALYX staff further their worthy and beautiful mission.

Women of CALYX – past and present staff, poets, prose writers, and artists – may your work towards seeking equal representation for the creative endeavors of underrepresented women stay as strong and as poignant as ever, for as Ani Difranco once wrote:

“down beneath the impossible pain of our history
beneath unknown bones
beneath the bedrock of the mystery
beneath the sewage systems and the path drain
beneath the cobblestones and the water mains
beneath the traffic of friendships and street deals
beneath the screeching of kamikaze cab wheels
beneath everything I can think of to think about
beneath it all, beneath all get out
beneath the good and the kind and the stupid and the cruel
there’s a fire just waiting for fuel.”

All the best,

Paige O’Rourke | CALYX Intern, Summer 2011

The portrayal of female protagonists

I read a novel recently that once again prompted me to reflect on a common and highly disheartening downfall of far too many awesome female protagonists/focal characters in literature, television, movies, etc.

The composition I delved into began as many other fabulous works do, portraying the shift in social, sexual, ideological, economic, and gendered thinking of a young woman on the cusp of adulthood as she matures into a strong, thoughtful, intelligent, independent individual ready to take on the world and kick some ass. The overarching premise and plot of the novel was excellent as well, with the surrounding characters and descriptions realistic and engaging to read.

‘Yes!’ I excitedly thought as I read through the first segment of the novel. ‘This is a wonderful topic to focus on, and I can’t wait to see what confrontations this character battles as she begins to shake up her self-identity and the world around her.’

But then, out of nowhere, tragedy struck in the form of a male character.

Now, before I go on, I should clarify: I have nothing male characters. Some of my favorite books, shows, and movies focus on male protagonists who I just can’t get enough of. But, what I absolutely dread reading or seeing is the introduction of a focal male character who completely overshadows or degrades the focus or general badassery of a female leading character. And, to the pain of my heart, that’s exactly what I witnessed taking place when I delved into the next segment of such a promising story.

The tragedy,  I’m sure, is familiar to many readers:

First, girl meets boy. (Okay, I’m with you so far, no problems yet. The more the merrier, I say!) Soon after, they fall in love. (A bit predictable perhaps, but I’m a fan of love, so no complaints here!) Then, focus on girl’s accomplishments and goals slowly dwindle as the focus on their romantic life takes over. (Okay, I’m grumbling slightly, but I’m willing to hang on in the hopes that this is more of an interlude to the main plot line focusing on feminism and the growth of female self-identity.) Suddenly, girl stops critically thinking, participating, or otherwise asserting her strength as a female and instead does little but worry over the thoughts and feelings of her male counterpart, who may or may not take over (i.e., dominate) or otherwise overshadow the female character. (“What..? But…? Where…?” Much confusion and anguish for the loss of female character ensues.)

Thank goodness this doesn’t happen in every story with a strong female character, but unfortunately it happens in far too many of them. This is troublesome in twofold, I believe. On the one hand, it painfully undermines the prestige of the female characters and subverts them to a position unequal to their male co-stars/characters. It sends the message to female and male readers alike that while, yes, women can be strong, they are only so when alone and thus with no other option; once a man comes along, he can take care of it (and her).

Needless to say, this type of thinking drives me and I’m sure most other female readers (and I bet plenty of male readers as well) crazy. As if a woman can’t remain strong beside a strong (or weak) male character. Puh-lease.

And that brings me to the second problem: in addition to creating inequality among genders and subjugating women to a position of less power than men, it degrades female/male relationships, insinuating that the only possible outcome for a romance between the two is one where the male plays the hero and the female plays the sidekick.

It still boggles my mind that an author/writer can face this problem in her or his composition, and then simply do nothing about it, or fail to recognize it all together. But time and time again, it happens. Worst of all, perhaps, such portrayals are often found in young adult fiction, giving young adult women a skewed image of 1) what women are capable of, and 2) what equality in a female/male relationship should look like.

There are, or course, so many other problems that stem off of this one (like why it can’t be a woman who saves another woman, or two men who fall in love), as well as many other negative stereotypes and associations that come from this too common story arch for female characters (like why the woman can’t be the stronger of the two halves, or how one combines activism with a love life [whether you're female or male]). However, the two aforementioned problems were ones that really struck me; I feel that these are two of the biggest hurtles still to be overcome and, if successfully dealt with, will undoubtedly aid in properly addressing many of the other associated issues. Or so is my hope.

All the best,

Paige O’Rourke | CALYX Intern

Recognizing women writers

Greetings, friends of CALYX! Intern Marissa writing. With summer soon coming to an end, I am once again reflecting on how fortunate I am to contribute to CALYX, along with gaining invaluable publishing experience and meeting some especially first-rate folks while here. From mini-assembly lines of letter sorting to perusing manuscripts over coffee, we interns have really enjoyed ourselves and learned together.

In the meantime, I just completed summer courses at OSU to obtain my degree in English. What do you do with a B.A. in English, you might ask? Aside from being a responsible, independent adult, I plan to spend much of my newfound free time reading. I love a variety of genres and books, many of which are penned by guys. But it’s just as important to recognize a traditionally underrepresented group in the literary field: women authors, past and present, with creative talent and something to say.

Recently, I read Who in This Room by Katherine Malmo — a CALYX original. It’s a brave, truthful, and thought-provoking account of one woman’s life with breast cancer and subsequent treatment, and I’d recommend it to any woman. But don’t just take my word for it; you can find what some reviewers had to say and purchase your own copy at www.calyxpress.org/whointhisroom.

I also devoured the latest installment in the trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater, Forever, released in July. What’s this, you say — a college grad reading YA fiction? Well, sometimes the most inspiring writing comes in small or unexpected packages. Stiefvater’s novel happens to be that rare hybrid of breezy page-turner and poetic craftsmanship. Her blog is also fantastic resource for aspiring authors, including entries with handy writing tips.

Some other books on my need-to-read list by ladies of literature:

• The Purity Myth, Jessica Valenti
• Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
• Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
• Something Blue, Emily Giffin
• From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
• The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
• The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula Le Guin

I’m always open to new reading recommendations while supporting women writers. Do you have a favorite female author or novel to recommend? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time,

Marissa

One intern’s goodbye to CALYX

Hello one last time, CALYX followers,

Mara speaking! It’s my last day here in the CALYX office, and doesn’t that feel strange and sad to type? I can’t believe the summer has gone by so fast, but already I have to get back to Ohio next week to help put out the first issue of my school’s newspaper for the incoming freshmen.

My time in Corvallis has gone by fast, but I’m always going to remember interning for CALYX. I’ve learned a lot, from what a “blueline” is to the unexpected rewards of alphabetization by surname. I’ve also gotten my first taste of fiction editing, as the other interns and I have slogged through an impressive number of manuscripts during our current open submissions period. Plus just last week we had an office-wide copy-editing meeting for Who in This Room– which comes out October 11!– that was, at least to a geek like me, some of the most fun we’ve had all summer. Almost as good as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

The feeling of spending my days in an office full of smart, supportive, literate women is one that I’ll keep with me long after I’ve gone. I’m so proud that I got to be a part of something as important as CALYX and I know everything I did here, from photocopying hundreds of poems to calling independent bookstores around the U.S., helped out the important cause we’re trying to further.

Thanks for following along with me while I flooded your walls and feeds this summer, everyone– it’s been amazing.

Cheers,

Mara, still a CALYX intern for about four and a half hours longer

The 1,000 Likes Facebook Giveaway Comes to an End!

Hello again, CALYX fans!

Guess what happened last week?

Look! How amazing is that? What’s more, we’ve gotten over a hundred new fans since then. We can’t thank you all enough for pitching in, whether you merely liked our new page or went the extra mile and shared it with your friends as well.

Hitting one thousand means that our journal giveaway contest– for all three copies of the turn of the millenium’s Volume 19 CALYX Journals– has come to a close. Just a few minutes ago, I pulled two names out of a jar.

First, I shook it up.

Then I reached in.

Our first winner was Gloria Attar! But there was one more to go, so I reached in again:

And I picked our second winner: R.a. Rycraft!

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you so much to everyone who participated. Stay tuned– our next goal is 2,000!

Cheers,

Mara, CALYX Intern

Stepping Into the Forest

Dear CALYX followers,

After browsing around CALYX Journals, I decided to take a look at CALYX Books. I grabbed a few titles to bring home with me. I don’t know if I will read them all, but they sure look promising. I was really attracted to what the summaries on the back covers revealed because the books I picked all seem to revolve around ordinary people and the struggles inherent to the human condition. This is what I enjoy reading, and I found that there are many possibilities of identifying with various characters because their hopes, dilemmas and suffering are often shared with readers one way or another. Throughout my readings, I encountered characters whose inner thoughts mirrored mine and others who made me think about what kind of person I would become if I were in their situation. Then there were characters who were so different from me that it made me curious, and that’s when reading enabled me to observe other ways of life, other motivations, other struggles. In the end, it’s always a learning experience.

I just finished reading Jean Hegland’s “Into the Forest” and I loved how the author managed to make it easy for the reader to identify with her characters even though the setting is anything but ordinary (in a post-apocalyptic world and far from the city, two young sisters are trying to survive on their own). When I started reading, I was curious to know what exactly had happened to the world, but I soon realized that it was not the point: the post-apocalyptic setting mainly worked as a tool for Hegland. Since she had removed all the superficiality of life, she was left with a sense of bareness and was free to explore the core of human relationships. Indeed, Eva and Nell, the two sisters, only have each other for most of the book, allowing Hegland to let conflicts arise and depict the different stages of their resolution.

Although the beginning of the novel—with flashbacks and descriptions of what matters to the characters (Eva’s obsession with dancing, for instance)—shows the young women’s need to stick to what their life was like before the world collapsed, the two characters soon mature and discover a deep sense of self-reliance and acceptance. They also understand the importance of having some kind a female community to be part of, even if this community is only composed of two sisters. It is actually thanks to this sense of community that Nell and Eva manage to keep their heads above water. Although they have different ways of dealing with their situation, they do find commonalities and manage to create a balance that makes them a strong duo.

Indeed, after reclaiming her own body and her identity as a free woman thanks to Nell, Eva helps Nell reach self-reliance. To me, one of the main turning points of the novel happens when Eva tells her sister: “Like it or not, our life is here—together” (186). Through these words, Eva expresses her desire to stop waiting for her old lifestyle to miraculously reappear. She voices her need to stop being passive and to start creating her own destiny with whatever tools she has left—which actually are a lot more tools than it seems. Perhaps, instead of being representative of danger, “the blackness framed by the opened door” (189) could become synonymous with both the reassuring presence of Mother Nature and a blank slate full of possibilities. On this slate, the sisters could write their new life and make up their own stories while experiencing a beautiful sense of letting go.

I really enjoyed this novel; it always kept me engaged and curious, and it made me think about all the things I take for granted in my everyday life. It also surprised me and taught me many things. I can only encourage you to read it too!

Until next time,

Sophie

CALYX intern.

My views do not necessarily represent those of CALYX

From Cleaning to Critiquing

While in the midst of undertaking some much needed office cleaning, the other interns and I have had the opportunity to start reading through some of the fiction short stories/novels submitted to CALYX. Having primarily edited news articles in the past, these fiction compositions are a very welcomed change of pace. That being said, sometimes the process of reading through such works can still be a bit taxing. At times, I wish the publishing process corresponded more with the work I conduct at the Writing Center: it would be fabulous if I could sit down with the author and read through the manuscript alongside them, asking them questions for clarification when necessary, and giving them advice on how they might improve their work. Publishing by nature is a much more ruthless, time-constrained business, however, and with so many submissions coming in on a daily basis from all across the nation, working alongside writers isn’t a viable option.

Despite the lack of reader/writer interaction, it has been an intriguing experience to read through the different plot structures and sentence styles from such a wide-ranging group of people, and to see how all of these individuals’ works have been brought together under one desire: to be published by CALYX. From across the country in New York City to across the street in Corvallis, the countless hours of brainstorming, mapping, drafting, and endless revision that these authors have put into their work has resulted in the partial manuscripts that now lay at our fingertips. Some will make it to the next round of the submission process, with letters sent to the authors asking for a completed manuscript. Others will rejected, unfortunately. In either case, however, each author should be proud of that fact that they have dedicated themselves to actualizing their short story/novel and seeking publication, both of which portray a level of writerly self-efficacy to be admired.

- Paige O’Rourke | CALYX Intern

P.S. For those of you who are feeling overwhelmed by your writing endeavors (whatever they may be), take a break to enjoy the witticisms of a fellow writer/blogger, who does a fabulous job of articulating the obstacles and failures we all meet in life in unlimited hilarity: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/apparently-i-am-failure-at-success.html