2008-2010
An ambitious six-part series returns our writers to
imagining America's past and future . . .
(Above) Stopping to smell the mosses: under the
trees in the Deep South - in this case, Beaufort, South Carolina
About the issues coming from 2008-2010, and the
full focus on American history for the upcoming three years,
Sensations Magazine Publisher David Messineo
offers the following:
"At this stage of our history, I want to encourage poets to write on topics they
may not have touched before. As these poets do so, it
increases the diversity of their own work. As the years roll
forward and these poets do their own feature readings in New Jersey
and elsewhere, it has a beneficial spillover effect, adding to the
diversity of what audiences can hear in coming years.
That is an impact I can help create as a literary
magazine publisher. Greater thematic diversity of work is
something that, in my opinion, the New Jersey poetry scene needs.
Everyone benefits from it.
After 20 years of independent publishing, and only
five more years to go, this goal is more interesting to me than
simply publishing any poem on any theme. Any publisher can do
that. I've done it. It's not enough of a challenge for
me anymore.
Having poets rise to 'the challenge of the theme' raises the
quality bar, and sorts the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
Any poets can say they're good, or deceive themselves into
thinking they're good. If poets
can write sensational poems on these challenging themes, they
are good. And the others who can't are good at one
thing: blowing their own horn.
It's always easier to create puffs of air than to create poetry
of substance and of compelling interest. That's what I want.
That's what I'm encouraging."
In 2008 to 2010, Sensations Magazine challenges its
writers to write sensational poetry--just as it has done for 20
years--and turns its energies
to the following:
 | Issue 43, Spring /Summer 2008 - "16th Century
America" |
| Issue 44, Fall/Winter 2008 - "17th Century
America" |
| Issue 45, Spring/Summer 2009 - "18th Century
America" |
| Issue 46, Fall/Winter 2009 - "19th Century
America" |
| Issue 47, Spring/Summer 2010 - "20th Century
America" |
| Issue 48, Fall/Winter 2010 - "21st Century
America" |
| Poets published in 2008-2010: |
| Fiction writers published in 2008-2010: |
