Wordgathering

A Journal of Disability Poetry

Volume 2     Issue 4     December 2008

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Essays in this Issue

• Sheila Black, Prisoner of Discourse—On the Teaching of Disability Literature
• Tracy Koretsky, Seeking Enlightened Portrayals: Judging the Dolly Gray Award
• Michael Northen, Disability Poetry in 2008: A Soil Sample
• Ellen Williams, Masquerade
• Ellen Williams, Waiting Room Blues

Tracy Koretsky's essay on children's literature breaks new ground for Wordgathering. As a judge for contest children's books, she has had a first hand chance to observe some of the less obvious facets of disability representation. At the other end of the book education spectrum, Sheila Black, takes a look at what goes into planning a college class on disability literature when the instructor herself has a disability. One of the themes sounded in both essays is the need to emphasize the "literature" component of disability literature. Ellen Williams is represented by two selections, one an essay on the effect of writing on her Parkinson's disease, the other a light-hearted short story based upon her own experiences in a medical facility. Finally, Wordgathering editor Michael Northen offers some thoughts on disability poetry.

Please send your comments about these essays of queries about writing essays for Wordgathering to comments@wordgathering.com.

This site is maintained by Michael Northen.