Brian Gilmore, Guest Editor
Introduction to the Fall 2001 Issue
(Volume 2, Number 4)
Washington D.C. is a literary city. Though I know I am biased, Washington D.C. is more literary than any other American city I have visited over the years. This is a place where writers don't necessarily get discovered (they rarely publish books here), but a place where the artistic standards have been set high for generations and where the serious writer has no choice but to ignore the cheering crowd they hear and pay serious attention to craft and vision. These fine writers featured in Beltway, Brother Yao, Toni Lightfoot, Yona Harvey, and Christabelle Peters, all support that idea wholeheartedly. What these four writers have in common is their devotion to the solitude of the creative writing process. They are always in "the woodshed" so to speak. They may do performances, and they may do other artistic endeavors available for public consumption, but now, at this time in their lives, all are "sheddin'." They have decided that they will work on their work alone, in the logical place for any writer, where the ideas can flow easy, and where the demands of the world--food, clothing, shelter--at least for the moment, become non-existent. This is what the writer does when he or she comes to live in Washington D.C. It is why this area is such a great place to write.Brian Gilmore
October 2001
To read more by this author:
Brian Gilmore
Gilmore's Tribute to Waring Cuney: The Memorial Issue
Brian Gilmore: DC Places Issue
Brian Gilmore: Evolving City Issue
Brian Gilmore: Split This Rock Issue
Brian Gilmore: Audio Issue
Brian Gilmore: It's Your Mug Anniversary Issue
Brian Gilmore: Tenth Anniversary Issue
Brian Gilmore on Drum & Spear Bookstore: Literary Organizations Issue
Brian Gilmore: Langston Hughes Tribute Issue
Brian Gilmore on May Miller: Poetic Ancestors Issue