I started writing this on October 11th, and then immediately shelved it. The “I” feels too centered. Self consciousness seeping onto the page?
Palestine has been occupied by a genocidal state for years and years and years.1 I learned about this in high school, and practically nowhere else until I got more involved in the leftist side of internet. Of course, I didn’t learn this in class. I learned it from my classmates with the lived experiences and family histories many folks in the US couldn’t fathom. The first place I learned solidarity was my high school. So many of us were disenfranchised in some way or another by this country or other imperial forces. Without consciously realizing it, perhaps, a lot of us leaned on each other, especially when certain racist incidents took the school (or world— IYKYK) by storm, or when 45 began his campaign by making nearly everyone in my community his scapegoats.
I wasn’t sure where I was going with this when I started writing. But I guess what I’m saying is, that solidarity has only grown stronger. Materially, I’m one person, one collective of queer chosen fam in the middle of Texas. I, we, can’t fix all the hurt in the world and that fucking sucks to cope with.
I’m picking this back up on October 25th.
Every day, the US and Israel commit more atrocities and/or cover up said atrocities.
Being complicit in this is maddening.
I’ve been thinking about Billy-Ray Belcourt’s A Minor Chorus for 10 days.
I’ve been wanting to write but my body doesn’t want me to.
When I write this newsletter, the blue background is calming. This is one of few things I make that doesn’t start out on a physical piece of paper.
I’m coming back to this on October 26th.
I’m tired of living in a country with such a constant threat of gun violence. The opening of today’s Today in Tabs reduces me to tears.
It’s the morning of October 27th. I’m leaving for my first writing residency in a couple of days. What does it mean to spend a week on my writing when the world is still…
I assert in every artist statement and application that writing and art are pathways to liberation for myself and others. But what does it mean when my belief (in anything) is wavering.
To be honest, sometimes I wonder if it’s ethical to make you read my personal thoughts just to get to the links at the end. But whenever I’m talking about things that are important, like Palestine’s ongoing fight for liberation, or whatever the latest thing my state’s government is trying to do to trans people is, I feel like that stuff has to go first.
And then I wonder, is it ethical to self promo in these, too? This newsletter is almost a year old and there’s quite a few of you here now. I turn to this space when I want to do something more than just feel my feelings. How much me is too much me? Were I to track my productivity more efficiently, what genre what I file this under? Trans and/or literary is such a conveniently broad tagline. Thanks, past self.
Is that too much of a peek behind the curtain?
Imagine you’re reading a smooth transition to these links.
First and foremost, solidarity with Palestine - action for folks in the US2, essays, books, donations
Call your reps and demand a ceasefire
Join the ongoing boycotts of Disney+, Starbucks, and McDonalds— this is working; the latter two are clearly working on PR
Read & sign in support of Writers in Solidarity with Palestine and Writers Against the War on Gaza
I’m thinking about this 2021 piece from Fady Joudah: “My Palestinian Poem that “The New Yorker” Wouldn’t Publish”
and “No Human Being Can Exist” by Saree Makdisi
and “The First Time I said Free Palestine” by Mordecai Martin
and the opening of Cavar’s latest newsletter
3 free ebooks from Haymarket: Palestine: A Socialist Introduction, Light in Gaza, and Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
Games for Gaza- this bundle is raising funds for the organization Medical Aid For Palestinians.
Anera is taking donations for humanitarian aid
edited to add: Justin Clarel’s newsletter (overall a great resource) has more info on action for Palestine
Opportunities for writers & artists
Gender Reveal trans POC grant closes 10/31
The Light Bill Incubator Microgrant for Black and/or Indigenous writers closes 10/31
this opportunity awards $500, a slot in Sundress’s reading series, and more for writers with a chapbook in progress
fifth wheel press is accepting visual manuscripts until 10/31
Foglifter - queer writing all genres - closes 11/1
Tin House Trans Author Residency closes 11/1
Latinx in Publishing Writers Mentorship application closes 11/6
Penrose Poetry Prize for LGBTQIA+ writers closes 11/12
Transphoria: A Trans and Non-binary Comic Anthology closes 11/22
Abode Press - chapbook submissions for fiction, poetry, & hybrid - closes 11/30
just femme & dandy - a queer fashion art & writing - now closes 1/15.
I especially wanna read pitches from trans people of color for the fat + furious column !
ANMLY - all genres - closes 2/1
my baby, “it’s a good day to be trans!: a folio on trans joy,” lives in the last issue
Things to read
Jasper Joyner’s last post - they are publishing a memoir!!!! Support PANSY here— if you’re unable to contribute financially, check out other ways to support further down the page.
The October issue of Split Lip Magazine is really special3
“Angel” by Brody Parrish Craig - this poem! <3
“I Dreamt They Cast A Trans Girl to Give Birth to the Demon” by Jennessa Hester in HAD - obsessed with the voice in this
“An Erasure of Senate Bill 1698 (2)” by Moncho Alvarado in Poem-a-Day
“On Trans” by Miller Oberman in Poetry - I got to hear him read last week and feel compelled to share this one
What I’ve been up to
Today is… two years of mostly being on HRT. I considered making a Big Thing of it, but being trans and writing and drinking my coffee and breathing feels like enough of a celebration.
Next Saturday marks one year of trans poetica. Yes, this very newsletter that you might still be reading. My sincerest, heartfelt-iest thanks <3 I also thought about making a Big Thing of this, but lucky for you all, I’ll be at my residency. If you wanna help me celebrate either of these birthdays, though, just tell a friend (or enemy idc) about trans poetica. I’m always open to collabs, ARCs, and other lovely things that have come out of this.
I made a zine about my lil baby feral cat who’s now been in my life for over 5 years. Download it for free here, or check out paid options4 for this and my other zine (did someone say limited trans poetica stickers?)
Incomplete list of things I’m looking forward to reading during my residency: Troubling the Line, Heart First into this Ruin: The Complete American Sonnets by Wanda Coleman, Barthes’ Mourning Diary5
I’m hoping to be relatively offline next week. Maybe I’ll write a sonnet! Maybe we’ll all write our way to revolution. One word at a time.
<3
I recently added a paid option for this newsletter. Subscriptions help me continue doing the freelance/poet thing while also being trans and disabled. That said, trans poetica will always always remain free. I do this because I love writing and connecting with others. “From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.” Thanks for reading this far down!
if we disagree on this, you must be new here
I don’t want to pretend my USian lens is anything other than that
I’ve read the whole thing no less than 3 times
these won’t be mailed out til after I’m back
blame Belcourt/A Minor Chorus
Thank you for these thoughtful and heartfelt words, and congratulations on your year anniversary, I'm so glad Trans Poetica exists!
There are so many important resources for solidarity with Palestine in this post, y'all! Also, very much appreciate the shout-out in Things to Read <3