Counterpoint: Why We Should Question (If Not Abolish) the Writing Ritual

By Colorado Review Editorial Assistant Jordan Osborne Since I decided to attempt being a writer, I’ve been told that I need to have a ritual for writing—set aside time and space, develop some habits to get me in the right frame of mind. Honestly, I could go on and on, rattling off tips from other […]

Finding a Home for Your Writing

By Colorado Review Editorial Assistant Yuni Ramos While sending your writing into the world can certainly feel daunting at times, there are several benefits to doing so. Some highlights include reaching a new audience, boosting your confidence, engaging in the literary conversation, and obtaining professional credibility. Now that I’ve got your attention, you may be […]

On Love Poetry

By Colorado Review Associate Editor Daniel Schonning For most of us, the pitfalls associated with writing a modern love poem are nearly too many to count. On one side: the saccharine, the sentimental, the end-rhymed and metrical. On the other: the woe-filled; the creepy; the self-obsessed, erotic magnum opus. Somewhere between exists the razor’s edge […]

Trash on the Rise: Diving into the Dumpster of Contemporary Literature

by Colorado Review Associate Editor Christa Shively I remember a class I took as an undergraduate that focused on the works of postmodernist writer Don DeLillo. I recall the strong themes of trash and decay that ran through his novel Underworld. I was struck by how profound garbage seemed to be within the context of […]

Muriel Rukeyser and the Legacy of Documentary Poetry

Using trial transcripts, witness testimonies, interviews, medical descriptions, and more, Rukeyser documents a nonlinear account of the industrial disaster through voices both real and imagined. Throughout, she never loses sight of the potential problematics of documentary poetry (voyeurism, appropriation, etc.) and this inquiry into her own method is an integral part of the poem.