Readers write
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I began subscribing to The Sun Magazine a while back, almost by accident. I got one of those “here’s a great deal” cards in the mail, and for some reason I thought this might be a good thing.
It was. The Sun always has thoughtful pieces: profiles, interviews, fiction, poetry, essays, and one of my favorites, the feature Readers Write. The magazine posts upcoming topics and invites their readers to write short personal essays on those topics; the results are always beautiful, touching, sometimes joyous, sometimes heartbreaking.
The only criteria is that it be true and non-libelous. If your piece is confessional and potentially embarrassing, you can withhold your name if you like, and you can change names for privacy purposes.
At the moment, upcoming topics and their deadlines are:
Getting Started, Dec 1
The Woods, Jan 1, 2021
Summer Jobs, Feb 1, 2021
You can submit your writing at the above link.
It is a good discipline to write something for the topic each month even if you don’t submit it. For example, as a Lichtenbergian I have multiple subjects for “Getting Started,” right? I’d have to reach back to my childhood for “The Woods,” I think, and for “Summer Jobs” I have a poignant story from my youth, or I could go full-on “I TAUGHT AT THE GOVERNOR’S HONORS PROGRAM.”
That should keep me busy for the week, yes?
Actually, if you write something, I’d love to read it whether you submit it to The Sun or not. Email it to me!
