EDITOR'S LETTER

The writing process can be a lonely endeavor full of procrastination, self-doubt, and rejection, so managing to banish distraction and anxiety in order to spend a full day writing can feel like a medal-worthy accomplishment. On October 19, at Gordon Square Review’s first-ever Write-a-Thon, we offered local writers the space (and the caffeine) to write all day—and as you can see above, some of them even posed with a medal to celebrate the accomplishment.
 
Our inaugural Write-a-Thon represents just one way GSR strives to help enrich the literary landscape in Northeast Ohio. While we publish writers from all over the world, Issue 5 includes more Northeast Ohio writers—40 percent—than ever before. This region is bursting with talent, and we’re so glad to highlight amazing writers like Matt Mitchell, Carrie George, Regis Coustillac, M. Bennardo, Valli Jo Porter, and Jackie Krogmeier. Additionally, our Fall 2019 Prose Contest inspired a flood of strong entries. As our guest judge, Mary Grimm selected “Silent Heart” by Meg Thompson as the winner and “The Red Panda Effect” by Elise Demeter as the runner-up. Please read these award-worthy entries right here in Issue 5.
 
This issue also debuts a new special section: YO: Youth Outlet, which will feature young writers from local literary programs. We have to credit Cleveland poet and professor Phil Metres for suggesting this idea, and as a result, our inaugural YO section features three writers from the John Carroll University Young Writers Workshop. This weeklong summer workshop for students in grades 8-12 provides young writers with a rigorous introduction to the art of creative writing. GSR editors anonymously selected the work of Emily Bock, Carlson Jones, and Samantha Kirshman from a pool of truly astounding student work.
 
GSR’s editorial mentorships once again granted emerging writers the chance to work one-on-one with our editors and be published. This mentorship program resulted in the first-ever publication for my mentee, Ariel Martinez, who wrote a truly stunning essay. Meanwhile, Ali Black worked with poet Ben von Jagow for her mentorship, while Prose Editor Matt Weinkam worked with local writer Jackie Krogmeier. Otherwise, the poetry and prose in Issue 5 offer readers delights ranging from apocalypses to politics, paintings, personal histories, and beyond.
 
As always, Gordon Square Review could not exist without Literary Cleveland, the organization that created our journal and supports us on all fronts. Christine Howey has done a stellar job in her first year as the organization’s new Executive Director. This year, we were also thrilled to see our Prose Editor, Matt Weinkam, assume the role of Associate Director of Literary Cleveland. Matt is a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for local writers, and he devotes an incredible amount of time, energy, and care to Gordon Square Review. Poetry Editor Ali Black continues to valiantly serve as our one-woman poetry staff, reading every single poem submitted and making wise and insightful editorial decisions.
 
Thank you to Literary Cleveland intern Austin Lawrence for his help with this issue, and to Jay Rosen for his guidance. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Cleveland Public Library for providing the space for our first Write-a-Thon, along with everyone who attended or donated as part of the Write-a-Thon; to Brewnuts for hosting our Issue 5 launch party; to Bookhouse Brewing and Capitol Theatre for providing raffle donations; and, of course, the staff and board of Literary Cleveland.
 
In the coming months, we hope to offer additional literary opportunities in Northeast Ohio, which may include more Write-a-Thons, special Literary Cleveland classes surrounding the literary journal publication process, and more. So stayed tuned—and in the meantime, please enjoy Issue 5 of Gordon Square Review.
 
​Laura Maylene Walter
Editor-in-Chief

Laura Maylene Walter

Laura Maylene Walter is a writer and editor in Cleveland. Her debut novel, BODY OF STARS, is forthcoming from Dutton. Her writing has appeared in Poets & Writers, The Sun, Kenyon Review, Ninth Letter, Michigan Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. She was a Yaddo Fellow, a Tin House Writers’ Workshop Scholar, the recipient of the Ohioana Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant, and a past Fiction Editor of Mid-American Review. Her debut story collection, Living Arrangements (BkMk Press), won the G.S. Sharat Chandra Prize. Laura holds an MFA from Bowling Green State University, teaches workshops for Literary Cleveland, blogs for the Kenyon Review, and works for Cleveland Public Library. She is no stranger to rejection.