I’m one little person. That’s partly a pun, because I have dwarfism and am quite short. And partly a play on words because I’m truly only one person in the vastness of the universe. But as a kid, I recognized the power of my voice, of speaking up. I started writing short stories and poems […]
When Jenny Cavallero, a D.C.-based comedian, writer, filmmaker, actor, and disabled person, approached me about being interviewed for DCPL’s Access This podcast, I was excited and in awe. Sometimes, the imposter syndrome voice grows louder in my head. Sometimes, I’m able to shush her and remind myself, hey, Marlena, you’ve published books, you’ve been writing […]
On Wednesday, I moderated the panel “Disability’s Influence on Literature: Realism As A Craft Concept” at AWP 2021. We had an incredible turnout — 194 people joined us! This important conversation was sponsored by AWP and featured Eileen Cronin, James Tate Hill, and T.K. Dalton (you can buy our books on Bookshop). If you missed […]
This essay first appeared in the Entropy Inherited Newsletter Last June, I attended the Capital Pride Parade in Washington, D.C. The rainbows and queers were out in full force. The crowd was celebrating identity, pride, living queerly. Then, a mass of bodies was running towards me. I heard what sounded like gunshots. Someone cried, “I […]
Update: Read my feature on climate change and disability in the January issue of Entropy Inherited. Sneak peek: I have an essay on the intersections of climate change and disability coming out in the January issue of Entropy Inherited, a monthly climate newsletter run by Denali Sai and Natalie Kiley. Entropy Inherited is a monthly climate newsletter […]
Earlier this summer, I attended a zine-making workshop at East City Books, held by The Lily News. The Lily, a product of The Washington Post, is an all-woman run newspaper, based on the first U.S. newspaper edited by and for women, which was published from 1849-1853. The Lily was the first U.S. newspaper by women. We’re […]
So, this little thing called AWP happened. It’s already flown by, and what a whirlwind it was. AWP is jam-packed with so many panels and readings during the day and evening that it’s impossible to attend even a fraction of them! I tried my best, and man, was my body tired from the effort. From […]
Since May, the New York Times has featured a Disability column, with essays, art, and opinion pieces by people living with disabilities. I have hungrily read these personal essays, nodding my head, hmm-ing, appreciating others sharing their world. Earlier this month, I read Molly Mccully Brown and Susannah Nevison’s piece, “Explaining Our Bodies, Finding Ourselves” (a sort of […]
I am so excited to let you all know that I got a second panel into the Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference! It’s a big deal, and an honor. AWP 2018 will only be my second time attending the conference, so I’m thrilled to be back and spreading awareness of disability, writers with disabilities, […]
Last month, I had an article published in The Mighty called “Why I’m Coming Out About My Invisible Disability.” The Mighty is an online site, an online community, that publishes stories by people with disabilities, diseases, mental illnesses, and more. Its Who We Are Page states, “Having a disability or disease doesn’t have to be […]
District Lit, the journal I’m the Poetry Editor for, recently published our Disability Issue. These writers and artists share their raw truths about living with disabilities, chronic pain, invisible illness, and medical treatments. They share intimate medical histories, fears, hopes, pain, and scars. These are important voices, and I’m so excited and honored to share […]
I love summer for countless reasons. There’s more time to lounge and read, the days grow longer, my birthday falls in the summer. My spirits are always higher in this season — something about the warmth of the sun on my skin, the fireflies lighting up the night. When I was a kid, summer vacation […]
I was recently interviewed in Wordgathering’s June issue! Editor Mike Northen asked great, difficult questions, including: how I see my role as an editor, what I look for when reading poems for District Lit, how literary magazines can be more accessible to all writers/readers, disability science poetry as a genre, and more. Read the full interview […]
I’m so excited to have two poems in Daughter’s inaugural issue. Daughter, a new literary magazine focusing on sharing the voices of women or female-identifying people, calls itself a lit mag for all women. The poems included are “This isn’t a poem about motherhood” and “Recipe to reduce pain.” “This isn’t a poem about motherhood” (pg. 22-23) is […]
I’m over the moon about The Deaf Poets Society’s newest issue, called “Crips In Space,” which includes eight of my poems. The journal, its editors, and these writers/artists are bringing disability and the disabled into the final frontier. Make sure to read the editor’s note to see how the idea for a #CripsInSpace issue formed. […]
District Lit is currently accepting poetry and creative nonfiction for our themed issue on Disability, Medicine, and Illness. We have Jen Stein Hauptmann, Assistant Editor at Rogue Agent, as a guest judge reading for this issue. While District Lit is always open to work from writers with disabilities, this themed issue will highlight poetry and nonfiction about living with […]
Wow. AWP is over. I am exhausted, and sick (who gave me this cold?!), and heartened by the writing community I’m a part of. This was my first AWP, and it is just as massive as it sounds. About 15,000 writers, editors, publishers, university professors, etc. attended. It’s like an entire city converging on D.C. […]
I’m so excited for AWP. It’ll be my first time at the enormous conference that brings writers and editors of literary magazines together. The week will be packed with panels, readings, difficult and necessary discussions, and more. I’m looking forward to widening my writing community, making new friends, and meeting writers and editors from all […]
I’m starting off January strong! This month, I’ll be participating in two online writing workshops. I’m so grateful I was included in each, and can’t wait to begin what’s going to be a challenging, writing- and reading-filled month. The first workshop is Lit Mag Love, taught by Rachel Thompson, an online course on how to research, find, […]
Some 2016 accomplishments I’m proud of: Bottlecap Press published my book On that one-way trip to Mars. More of my disability-themed poetry was published. Thanks The Deaf Poets Society, Noble/Gas Quarterly, The Fem, Wordgathering, Words Dance, and others. I got to talk to so many amazing young scientists and women in STEM for stories with Society […]