the blueshift journal

Written on August 10, 2015:

 

Somehow, it's been a year and a week since I last wrote to you, the readers of Blueshift. Somehow, it's time for me to determine where we succeeded and where we failed over that last year. And, excitingly, what happens next.

 

Last Monday, I went back and re-read what I wrote on our website's "Founding" page. I remembered the vigor with which I had written those young words, entertaining grandiose hopes of becoming a safe haven for writers around the globe. "Is it contradictory for us to even start such a thing, to add yet another head to the Hydra?" I asked. I remembered the excitement I had felt, knowing in my gut that we were on the verge of something beautiful.

 

Now, what’s happened so far?

 

Our first issue opened with a bang. Sally Oliver, Erin Bertram, Natasha Moni, Shakthi Shrima, Sean Patrick Hill, and many more. Our motley crew of thirty and I dove headfirst into the whirlwind of the publishing world, still swinging at the end with Issue 2 (praise be to Wendy Barker, Alex Currie, Deonte Osayande, CC Russell, AR Canzano and all the others). Our design changed, our look growing more modern. We made room for newcomers to the staff. Interviewed champions (Mallory Ortberg, Nate Marshall, Fatimah Asghar, marry me), featured some rockstars (shout out to Tarfia Faizullah and Franny Choi), and started doing book reviews (hey there Claudia Cortese).

 

But let's not forget what comes next. Where we have come short, we must grow.

 

Last January, we ran Stories of the Invisible, a platform for black writers and essayists to share their stories with the world. Though we tried our best to contribute to this ongoing fight, the series was only the first step. I want to take this opportunity to say that I've taken to heart the message from the editors of Apogee Magazine. We will do better.

 

Now, without further ado, I present to you the culmination of months of hard work, Issue 3. What you hold in your hands is not only our third issue, but our inaugural print issue, and it's overflowing with the incredible talents of emerging and established writers.

 

The opening line of the issue from Julia Stumbaugh: "Your dreams are bright." And you'll believe it as soon as you start reading. From Elisa Karbin ("We had to invent/new names for the seasons--winter/became a bitter stone stuck/in the throat") to Kathryn Merwin ("When was/the last time you caught fire"). Every line we loved, we loved for its yearning. The why, the strange loneliness, the light beyond the tunnel. The reverberations through the empty air of a heart that is not our own.

 

I ask you to take this issue, and when you start reading, allow yourself to question everything.  See if you’ve ever truly asked yourself: "o little one, o holy child, enchant away the question, have you hurt anyone in all/your life" (Lucy Wainger). But most of all, enjoy the ride, read it again, and have a fantastic time.

 

Coming up - our new Queers on Media segment, book reviews, interviews, and much more. This issue was an absolute pleasure. I can't wait to see what you come up with next for us. Thanks always for reading.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tyler Tsay

Editor in Chief

August 10, 2015