MFA issue? Give me a fucking break. I don't have a problem with 'teaching' writing. I have a problem with people who think they can workshop their way through a degree and be 'legitimized' without reading their share of non-mainstream literature. Not everything worth studying makes its way into a classroom, folks.

The article about Afaa Michael Weaver is brilliant except for the use of the term 'incest' as a synonym for 'abuse'. It could spawn from my reading too much Kaori Yuki, but last time I checked, incest was not abuse unless inflicted upon on an unwilling party, which can happen between any two people, regardless of relation.

The feature on new poets reaffirmed my determination to buck the usual writing demographic of MFA'd, teacher, thirtysomething.

"What do you write?" people ask. It's a useless question, because genres never get you anywhere.

Say "I write poetry" and you're a flake.

Say "I write short stories" and you're nowhere.

Say "I write novels" and you're a hack.

Nothing can be taken seriously except the actual work. I've published comics, sure, but I don't consider myself a 'writer of graphic novels'. The story is the important thing. Even in a nonfiction article, if you want to go beyond bullshit, nothing is sacred except the story.