Life as a Writing Student New Sheriff in Town: When Non-Experts Write in a Field of Writing Posted on May 1, 2026 By Natalie Byers For new writers, it can be scary to try writing about subjects outside their own fields of expertise. But what if I told you that you don’t have to be an expert in a field in order to write about it at all? In fact, many writers write about subjects… Read more
Book Reviews Six of Crows: A Powerful Story Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 By Mack Reed Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is a beautifully told story about love and finding a family when you don’t have one of your own. I originally found this book while searching for something new to read – I stumbled onto BookTok, a small sub-community on the app TikTok where authors, writers, and book enjoyers all… Read more
Life as a Writing Student The Complexities of World Building as a Student Writer Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 By Chloe Alexander We, as writers, gods of our own creations, scorch details of our stories into the very pages we touch. Societies, classes, species, animals, culture, politics, history, groups and factions, resources and economies are all part of the worlds we create, and as ink soaks into refurbished trees meant to record… Read more
Book Reviews Zines, Food, and Finding Connection in Bite by Bite Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 By Johanna Zamora When we (The Broken Plate staff) were told that we’d have to come up with a lesson plan and execute it in a little under a month, I was nervous. I’m not an education major, or ever even considered it, but nevertheless it was an opportunity to connect with young writers and inspire them to create something… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Nature Walks and Writer’s Blocks: How to use nature as a fresh start Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 By Ruth Hartje Photo credit: Kevin Malik Fighting Writer’s Block As a creative writer, sometimes it can be exhausting to continue to find things to be creative about. Sometimes, we run out of poems to compose, stories to tell, memories to dig up from the dusty corners of our minds. Many writing guides will… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Stop trying to prove that you are a writer; just be a writer Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 By Taylor Dennis “You do not have to be good / You do not have to walk on your knees” — Mary Oliver Writing has never been an act of perfection, yet we’ve collectively convinced ourselves that in order to call ourselves writers, we must be perfect. We are so afraid to fail that we sabotage ourselves at… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Laura Stanfill (Part Two) Posted on April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 By Ruth Hartje Once upon a time, Laura Stanfill lived in a New Jersey house filled with music boxes, street organs, and books. She grew up to become the publisher of Forest Avenue Press and the author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary. Her short-form work has appeared in Shondaland, The Rumpus,… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Laura Stanfill (Part One) Posted on April 23, 2026April 23, 2026 By Ruth Hartje Once upon a time, Laura Stanfill lived in a New Jersey house filled with music boxes, street organs, and books. She grew up to become the publisher of Forest Avenue Press and the author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary. Her short-form work has appeared in Shondaland, The Rumpus,… Read more
Interviews An Interview With Christina Diaz Gonzales: Ball State’s 2025 Writer-in-Residence Posted on March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 By Daniela Cruz, Johanna Zamora Christina Diaz Gonzalez is the Edgar Award-winning and USA TODAY best-selling author of eight books including The Red Umbrella, Concealed, Invisible: A Graphic Novel, and the upcoming graphic novel, Offside. Her books have been named to over thirty-two state award lists and have reached international acclaim with nominations for Japan’s Sakura Medal… Read more
Literary Commentary In Appreciation of Ravenpaw: Normalizing Queer Characters in Children’s Literature Posted on February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 By Maela Cole In the first arc of Erin Hunter’s Warriors series, Ravenpaw, a young, skittish cat and an apprentice in ThunderClan, is the sole witness to a treasonous murder. He must do whatever it takes to save not only his life, but also his reputation. So, what plan do his buddies come… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community The Wonders of Self-Publishing Posted on February 10, 2026February 12, 2026 By Mack Reed Around four years ago, I began writing my first novel. I read “The Maze Runner” by James Dashner, and I thought that the main characters had chemistry that none of the others did – and that it would have been such a beautiful love story. “We need more queer representation… Read more
Exploring Creativity Regarding Worldbuilding Posted on February 5, 2026February 5, 2026 By Ava Joniec Have you ever become so immersed in a book that you lose track of time? The setting and sensory details are written so well that you can practically taste and smell the food, feel the sun and wind on your face, and feel the squish of the mossy forest floor… Read more
Exploring Creativity Inspiration In the World Around Us Posted on January 20, 2026January 20, 2026 By Emma Carlson When you’re a student and a writer, finding inspiration can be hard. You get caught up in everything that you have to write for class, and when you go to write for yourself, nothing is there; nothing calls to you. It can be even harder to find inspiration when you… Read more
Life as a Writing Student What Inspires Me to Write? Posted on January 13, 2026January 20, 2026 By Jalen Batiste-Waddell Every now and then, I find myself staring blankly at a blank page. Uninspired and stuck. Inspiration plays a significant role in creating anything, so it is crucial when it comes to writing. So, how do we find our inspirations? For me personally, nature really helps inspire tone. I love… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Admired to Inspired: Inspiration as a Student Writer Posted on November 4, 2025 By Chloe Alexander Deep in the depths of your mind lies the creative library of your brain. Strolling around the bookshelves of your dreams, thoughts, and hopes, you will find the withered spines of books you love from authors far and wide, towering spires of history, and a sunlit catalog of your memories… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Now Where? From Word Document to Published Piece Posted on October 28, 2025January 13, 2026 By Ruth Hartje You’ve spent the hours, you’ve revised, you’ve asked opinions, you’ve battled that endless writer’s block and come out on top. Congratulations, dear writer, it’s time to find where to publish. It may seem like there is an infinite abyss of confusing options, and there is, but this guide will help… Read more
Life as a Writing Student How $3.00 Reignited My Writing Passion Posted on October 9, 2025October 28, 2025 By Natalie Byers I’m serious, it was $3.00. There may have been a small sales tax, though. Let’s face it, being a writing student is hard. You decide to go to a university to fuel your passion for writing and probably make it your career. You love to write—maybe that’s the only passion… Read more
Book Reviews The Superior Foes of Spider-Man: An Expertly Crafted Comedy Posted on April 30, 2025May 7, 2025 By Anthony Cates Boomerang. Beetle. Shocker. Overdrive. Speed Demon. Spider-Man’s greatest and most well known foes team up to form the Sinister Six! Except they couldn’t find a sixth person who wanted to work with them. And, chances are, you’ve probably never heard of any of these guys. The most famous of… Read more
Book Reviews None of This is True by Lisa Jewell Posted on April 30, 2025April 29, 2025 By Julie Creech When a person walks into a bookstore, what draws them to their next book? Beautiful cover art, a familiar author? For Lisa Jewell’s None of This is True, it could be its captivating title. The cover is nothing to sneeze at—the font has a dream-like quality and the cover has… Read more
Uncategorized Interview with Hena Khan Posted on April 29, 2025May 7, 2025 By Ro Dongu Hena Khan has been publishing books for children, including many that center Pakistani American and Muslim characters, for over two decades. She writes award-winning books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories often highlight her culture, community, friendship, and… Read more
Book Reviews The Crowns and Gowns: Book Review of The Selection by Kiera Glass Posted on April 28, 2025April 24, 2025 By Kailey Glass Do you like The Hunger Games? What about the classic reality love drama, The Bachelor? If you said yes, buckle up for The Selection, a romance that rivals both! For thirty-five girls, the “Selection” is the chance of a lifetime: “the opportunity to escape the life laid out for them… Read more
Interviews Interview with Ethan Sacks – Pt. 2 Posted on April 25, 2025April 24, 2025 By Jason Holtzman (This is a continuation of Jason Holtzman’s interview with Ethan Sacks) Discussing Archetypes Jason Holtzman (JH): Let’s take a dive into something more fun and speculative based on some of your previous work — the “grizzled old man” archetype. You’ve written fan favorite series such as Old Man Hawkeye and… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community The Broken Plate Collaborates Posted on April 25, 2025April 22, 2025 By Natalee Bohanon “Collaboration – the action of working with someone to produce or create something” – Oxford Languages We at The Broken Plate are working in a way that is defined as collaboration. We collaborate to create a literary magazine, a collective a work that is unique, inclusive, and creative. To… Read more
Interviews Interview with Gretchen Stelter Posted on April 25, 2025April 24, 2025 By Julissa Garcia Julissa Garcia (JG): You have had such an impressive career in editing and publishing, from co-founding your own literary agency, Baker’s Mark, to working on over 800 books for traditional publishing houses (including New York Times, USA Today, and Entertainment Weekly bestsellers), to ghost writing, to freelance work, to working… Read more
Interviews Interview with Ethan Sacks – Pt. 1 Posted on April 24, 2025April 24, 2025 By Jason Holtzman Introduction In late 2024, Ethan Sacks was gracious enough to let me host a small interview with him. He is a prolific writer in the comic book world, penning books for Marvel, Image, AWA Studios, and more. From writing fan favorite blockbusters like Star Wars: Bounty Hunters to more personal… Read more
Interviews An Interview With Alysia Sawchyn Posted on April 24, 2025April 26, 2025 By Victoria Mayeaux Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn is a Senior Features Editor at The Rumpus. Her debut collection, A Fish Growing Lungs, was a finalist for the Believer Awards in nonfiction. She has received fellowships from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Kenyon Writers’ Workshop, and she is an Assistant Professor at Warren Wilson College…. Read more
Interviews Interview with Silas Hansen Posted on April 23, 2025April 26, 2025 By Aleaha Patton Silas Hansen’s essays have appeared or are forthcoming in literary magazines such as The Normal School, Colorado Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Redivider, and Hobart, featured on Slate and Catapult. He is working on a collection of essays. He is also the nonfiction editor of Waxwing. He is currently directing the… Read more
Interviews Interview With Brittany Means Posted on April 23, 2025April 24, 2025 By Kya Twitty Brittany Means was born dead in Indiana, but now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She earned her MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor’s in English from Ball State University prior to that. Her debut memoir, Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways,… Read more
Interviews Interview with Mark Neely Posted on April 23, 2025April 26, 2025 By Jackson Smith Jackson Smith (JS): How did the idea for The Broken Plate come about? Why do you think it’s important for Ball State to offer undergraduates a practicum focused on editing and publishing? How does that impact the students, and the Ball State community as a whole? Mark Neely (MN): Ball… Read more
Book Reviews Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Posted on April 23, 2025April 22, 2025 By Anna Smith A Soaring Fantasy Worth the Hype Few books in the fantasy genre capture the sheer adrenaline rush of Fourth Wing. Rebecca Yarros crafts a thrilling blend of military academy training, high-stakes dragon battles, and a forbidden romance that had me hooked from the first page. Though I rarely give a… Read more
Interviews Interview with J.R. Jamison Posted on April 22, 2025April 24, 2025 By Cole Southerland Interview with J.R. Jamison the award-winning and bestselling author of the memoir Hillbilly Queer, and host of the NPR podcast and radio show The Facing Project (recorded and produced at Indiana Public Radio). He is also a founder of the national Facing Project network, a nonprofit in 20 states and over 100 communities… Read more
Interviews Interview with Brandon Buechley Posted on April 22, 2025April 24, 2025 By Aaron Picklesimer Brandon Buechley graduated from Ball State University with a major in English/CW in 2015. He spent the fall semester of his senior year living in New York and interning at Guerilla Lit Reading Series and at DAW Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. After graduation, he worked at Cardinal… Read more
Interviews Interview with Elysia Smith Posted on April 22, 2025April 24, 2025 By Natalee Bohanon Elysia Smith is the owner of Irvington’s Vinyl and Book’s and is the author of Unruly. Elysia is featured in multiple interviews Wax Poetics, Kristine Esser Slentz in OYEDRUM, and much more. Elysia is also a poet and has many of her works posted to her website, and blog. (Natalee Bohanon):… Read more
Interviews Interview with Alexandria Brown Posted on April 22, 2025April 24, 2025 By Julie Creech Alexandria (Alex) Brown is the co-founder and CEO of Rising Action Publishing Co. Alex has over ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor’s in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts—Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community My Experience in Writers’ Communities Posted on February 4, 2025March 13, 2025 By Julissa Garcia I am a senior at Ball State University and last year I started to attend our student club ‘The Writer’s Community’ along with other writer communities on and off campus. Although I have been writing since middle school, my writing had never been graded, nor had it ever been beneficial… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends The Fear of Knowledge: An Attack on the Act of Book Banning Posted on December 6, 2024March 13, 2025 By Jackson Smith When you ban books for a second, you ban the pursuit of knowledge for a century. Books are the cornerstone of human connection. When people connect with each other’s stories, they learn to empathize, and when they empathize, it is easier for them to accept new knowledge. This is why,… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends The Trope-ification of Books is Literary Brain Rot Posted on November 26, 2024March 13, 2025 By Victoria Mayeaux Book tropes describe a variety of recurring plot devices, character archetypes, and themes that are written consistently enough to become recognizable by readers and warrant their own names. While they are not necessarily a new phenomenon, their influence has certainly grown with the rise of social media. They’ve become a… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community 3 Ways to Build Yourself a Writer’s Community (As an Adult!) Posted on November 19, 2024March 13, 2025 By Aleaha Patton As a child, I never had to worry about purposefully surrounding myself with people my own age. The school system did that for me. Granted, I did have to go out of my way to make friends with those peers. But having common interests, common activities, and common class schedules… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community Feedback is a Give and Take Posted on November 12, 2024March 13, 2025 By Julie Creech One of the biggest benefits to being in a writing community is the amount of feedback you can receive on your projects. Revision on your own is all well and good, but you know your story like the back of your hand. It is easy to glaze over the parts… Read more
How to Build a Writer's Community Writer’s Community Posted on November 8, 2024March 13, 2025 By Blake Murray I don’t know about you, but before I studied writing I had a specific, singular vision of what being a writer was. In my mind’s eye I’d conjure up the image of someone locked in an office, curtains half drawn, lazy dust-motes drifting in shafts of sunlight, clacking away furiously… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Unwritten Dreams, Unshaken Resolve Posted on November 5, 2024March 13, 2025 By Anna Smith Any writer out there can probably identify with this: writing without a finish line in sight is difficult—the kind of difficult that has me wanting to curl up into a little ball, quit school, and just bury myself in retail work for the rest of my life. At least then,… Read more
Life as a Writing Student An Ode to Kevin Owens, or The Reason Why I Just Keep Writing Posted on October 29, 2024March 13, 2025 By Cole Southerland When I decide to write, I have one key phrase that I keep in the back of my head: “Just Keep Writing.” It’s a phrase that I mostly felt inspired by through wrestling, specifically a wrestler named Kevin Owens who is a prizefighter who loves to bet on himself while… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Combating Writer’s Block for New Writers Or, Why Writing Too Much Is Never Enough Posted on October 24, 2024March 13, 2025 By Anthony Cates Everyone who’s ever picked up a pencil, pecked at a keyboard, or attempted to string together a coherent thought knows the unyielding agony associated with writer’s block—traumatic memories of blank pages staring back at you, a white void demanding to be fed new words so as it can grow to… Read more
Life as a Writing Student Confronting Difficult Material Posted on October 22, 2024March 13, 2025 By Kya Twitty Sometimes the most important pieces are the most difficult to write. I learned this in one of my writing classes when I set out to write a personal essay about my father, who was never very present in my life due to his long-term drug abuse. Before I began writing… Read more
About the Broken Plate Welcome to the Broken Plate! Posted on September 24, 2024March 13, 2025 By Jason Holtzman Hello everyone! This academic year marks the official return of The Broken Plate! Our editorial team of Ball State students is hard at work producing the 2025 issue. After nineteen years of publication, The Broken Plate took a hiatus last year to regroup and plan for our next decade. Now… Read more
Exploring Creativity Imposter Syndrome Posted on November 16, 2022March 13, 2025 By Jordyn Johnson Most artists, no matter their medium, fall into imposter syndrome at some point or another. Writers are certainly no exception. For years, I have stumbled over the words, “I am a writer.” The following question to this statement tends to be, “What have you written?” And I stumble over that… Read more
Exploring Creativity Brainy Creative Research Posted on November 11, 2022March 13, 2025 By Kayla Hinckley I began writing when I was fourteen years old and, since then, I have been told many times that outlines are the way to go for writing everything but poetry. However, in the twenty-five years since then I have learned that I am the weird one that doesn’t function well… Read more
Exploring Creativity Just Keep Writing Posted on November 1, 2022March 13, 2025 By Grace Deak People have often asked me how I can write so much. They think there’s some secret – that I’ve found a cure for writer’s block or sold my soul to avoid burnout – but I don’t have a magic potion or anything. The truth is I simply don’t know how… Read more
Exploring Creativity How Fanfiction Made Me Fall in Love with Writing Posted on October 21, 2022March 13, 2025 By Lava Koon I kind of think it’s funny when people ask me how I got into writing because, truthfully, I was inspired by Monster High. Moreover, my first ever written novel was a 20 chapter self-insert fanfiction where the characters at Monster High came to get me so I could join them… Read more
Exploring Creativity Spiraling: A Songwriter’s Guide to Semantics Posted on October 14, 2022March 13, 2025 By Lauren G I used to tell people that I read thesauruses as a kid for fun. Truthfully, I can’t really remember if I did that or not. I mean, it certainly sounds like something I would do; I remember stumbling across an online index for literary devices when I was in middle… Read more
Exploring Creativity My Reasons for Writing: Connection, Security, and Escapism Posted on October 7, 2022March 13, 2025 By Grace Beckham TW: mentions of death and illness My grandma Sue told me stories of fairies, witches, sword-wielding maidens, mischievous pixies, and wise-cracking toads. Her husband Dennis built fairy houses for her. They were sprinkled throughout their flourishing garden, tangled in twisting tree branches, hoisted atop hand-painted toadstools. Their house was a… Read more
Exploring Creativity Reverberations Posted on October 5, 2022March 13, 2025 By Joe Heemstra On March 15th of 2005, Pixar’s The Incredibles released on DVD. I watched it ad nauseum—sometimes several times a day—and yet, it never failed to entertain. I’d propel my little three-year-old frame across the dingy floor of my parent’s first house with clumsy somersaults, clomp around on all fours and… Read more
Exploring Creativity Overcoming Writer’s Block Posted on September 23, 2022March 13, 2025 By Katie Smith When it comes to writing, getting stuck is inevitable. Whether it is creative or formal. Fortunately, there are some tricks you can use and combine to get yourself out of that hole. These are just four of many. Just Keep Writing If you have yet to start writing, then just… Read more
Exploring Creativity My Creative Writing Inspirations Posted on September 16, 2022March 13, 2025 By Angela Doherty A book that I believe created my passion for creative writing and for my distant future as a creative writing major here at Ball State was one of the first books I ever read as a kid. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. As a kid, my dad chose to bring… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Holding Up the Universe Posted on December 15, 2021March 13, 2025 By Brooke Bertram I remember the first time I ever read Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven. I had grown to admire Niven after she released All the Bright Places, and so when I found out that she was releasing a new novel, I was ecstatic. I wasn’t quite sure what I… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends There, There Posted on December 15, 2021March 13, 2025 By Andrea Mohler When we began our work on the 2022 issue of The Broken Plate, we set out with the goal of examining and understanding the fragility and complexity of the human condition. We were allowed the opportunity to glimpse into the stories of others, to walk around in their minds and… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley Ford – an Interview Posted on December 15, 2021March 13, 2025 By Ayah Eid It was a combination of things that led Ashley C Ford to choose Ball State for college. “I chose Ball State partly because I thought it was beautiful, partly because it felt far enough away from my family that I could sort of be whoever I wanted but not so… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Nothing But Blackened Teeth and Inner Demons Posted on December 15, 2021March 13, 2025 By Xavier Searle At The Broken Plate, the strife that accompanies being human is something we value greatly. Often, themes of fragility and the presence of various inner demons appear in ghost stories. There is strife from things like Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House to shows like The Haunting of Bly… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Posted on December 5, 2021March 13, 2025 By Benjamin Alire Saenz & KJ Justice In this week’s blog, I want to discuss one of my favorite novels from my childhood that still continues to be one of my all-time favorites as well! Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz is a novel that discusses two boys growing up in El… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Heavy: an American Memoir Posted on December 5, 2021March 13, 2025 By Hailey Beaty The Broken Plate is a literary magazine that seeks to uplift and talk about voices that often go unrepresented.. We want to draw attention to these voices and the people behind them as well as the lives that have shaped them. In Heavy: an American Memoir, Kiese Laymon talks about… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Song of Solomon Posted on December 5, 2021March 13, 2025 By Sonia Hart The Broken Plate is a literary magazine that looks into the fragility of human lives and how, over time, people grow and pick these pieces up to become stronger than before. This idea of slowly growing and developing over time is a common theme in many novels, and Song of Solomon by Toni… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends AOL: ASTEROIDS ONLINE and The Complexities of Star-Crossed Space Rocks Posted on December 5, 2021March 13, 2025 By Mia Basso It’s safe to say the human condition is a rich source of multi-faceted, in-depth exploration. We’re constantly struggling to make sense of ourselves, those around us and the things that tie us together. Writing is a powerful way to explore these concepts and experiences which shape us and our understanding of the world. The Broken Plate is dedicated to providing a platform for those… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends The Priory of the Orange Tree and Inclusive Fantasy Posted on December 5, 2021March 13, 2025 By Emily Grant When I placed Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree on my Christmas list, I was unaware that its page count surpassed 800, oblivious of its maps and timeline, ignorant of the glossary and character index. I also did not anticipate the companionship and thrilling escapism the novel would… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends The Mists of Avalon and Untold Stories Posted on November 3, 2021March 13, 2025 By Kylie Whipple The Broken Plate is a literary magazine that seeks to provide a platform for individual stories. Each individual has a story, and we live in a society that privileges certain stories over others. This is true, especially in the literary world. However, The Broken Plate seeks to combat this by… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends This Is Where It Ends and Human Fragility Posted on November 3, 2021March 13, 2025 By Tauri Hagemann Here at The Broken Plate, one of our core ideas is that of the fragility of the human condition, but in the ability to put those pieces back together into beauty and art. In my personal reading, a book that many friends were highly recommending to me was Marieke Nijkamp’s… Read more
The Broken Plate Recommends Welcome to The Broken Plate Recommends Posted on November 3, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors Each week, members of The Broken Plate‘s staff will write blog posts recommending books, stories, poems and art that they find arresting and interesting. This can be anything that they find pertains to the mission that we stand for, as long as we feel that it is work of merit that… Read more
Uncategorized Fundamentalism by Aaron Dwyer Posted on April 23, 2021March 13, 2025 By Aaron Dwyer Aaron Dwyer is a writer of both prose and screenplays, including the short film “Home Sweet Home,” which was featured in the 2020 Frog Baby Film Festival. They consider themselves an emerging poet because their last published poem was written for a Celebration of Young Poets volume in the second… Read more
Interviews Skylar Denman & “Forgotten Memories” Posted on April 19, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors Skylar Joseph is a photographer from Fort Wayne, Indiana that specializes in music and family photography. As a full-time guitar technician and studio photographer, their time is heavily occupied by day to day work. In their travels they have found therapy in snapping pictures on the road of various subjects. You… Read more
Interviews Rebekah Hoffer & “Something Sweeter” Posted on April 15, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors Rebekah Hoffer is a double major in creative writing and Spanish who has recently become far too engrossed in crocheting – something to add to the long list of evidence that she’s actually sixty years old, despite appearing twenty-one. Her work has been published in River Teeth Revisited, The Odyssey, and Ball Bearings… Read more
Interviews The Poetry of Bridget Donnellan Posted on April 14, 2021March 13, 2025 By Nicole Thomas Bridget Donnellan graduated Ball State University in December of 2020 with a double major in creative writing and French and a minor in linguistics. This is her first publication, and she plans on pursuing an MFA in creative writing in the future. In her free time, she likes to hang… Read more
Interviews David Goldstein & “How to Talk to Cops” Posted on April 14, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors David Goldstein spent eight years as a criminal defense attorney. He reversed more than 60 felony convictions in appellate courts including the Detroit Black Panther shooting of police officers. In the 60s, he did civil rights work in Mississippi with the Reverend Dick Fernandez and also wrote legal briefs for… Read more
Interviews Gladys Justin Carr & “La Immortelle” Posted on April 13, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors Gladys Justin Carr is an award-winning poet whose work has been published in over 100 literary magazines and journals. She is a recovering publishing executive who dropped out of Korporate Amerika to write full time. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa, she was the Nicolson Trustee Fellow at Smith College and… Read more
Interviews Emily Turner & “All That Glitters” Posted on April 12, 2021March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Editors. Emily Turner is a senior at Ball State University, majoring in English studies and minoring in creative as well as professional writing. From a young age, Emily has used reading and writing to express herself. Through her writing, she hopes to deliver her personal truths to her readers. The following… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “A Microsome of Married Life: The Grocery List” by JB Bilbery from TBP 2019 Posted on January 3, 2021March 13, 2025 By Shelby Good Shelby Good is an Assistant Poetry Editor of The Broken Plate. They are a senior English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. In this post, Shelby provides commentary on JB Bilbrey’s piece “A Microsome of Married Life: The Grocery List,” which was previously published in our 2019 issue of The… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “A Simple Exchange” by Judith Grissmer from TBP 2018, Part Two Posted on December 21, 2020March 13, 2025 By Emily Helmer Emily Helmer is an Assistant Nonfiction Editor of The Broken Plate 2021. She is a senior English major with a Creative Writing concentration at Ball State University. In this post, Emily provides commentary on Judith Grissmer’s poem “A Simple Exchange,” which was previously published in our 2018 issue of The Broken… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “Bottle” by Allison Tunstall from TBP 2017 Posted on December 8, 2020March 13, 2025 By Grace Goze Grace Goze is a Design Editor for The Broken Plate 2021. She is a senior Creative Writing major at Ball State University with minors in French and History. In this post, Grace provides commentary on Allison Tunstall’s prose piece “Bottle,” which was previously published in our 2017 issue of The… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “Marlboro” by Hannah Gage from TBP 2020 Posted on December 6, 2020March 13, 2025 By Nicole Thomas Nicole Thomas is the Associate Nonfiction Editor of The Broken Plate 2021. She is a senior magazine media journalism major with minors in French and creative writing. In this post, Nicole provides commentary on Hannah Gage’s hybrid work “Marlboro,” which was previously published in our most recent 2020 issue of… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “A Simple Exchange” by Judith Grissmer from TBP 2018, Part One Posted on December 2, 2020March 13, 2025 By Tauri Hagemann Tauri Hagemann is an Assistant Poetry Editor for The Broken Plate 2021. She is a junior English major with a concentration in creative writing at Ball State University. She also has a Spanish minor and is a member of the Honors College. In this post, Tauri provides commentary on Judith Grissmer’s… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “Doughnuts” by Kimmi Beard from TBP 2018 Posted on November 15, 2020March 13, 2025 By Molly Goebel Molly Goebel is an Assistant Nonfiction Editor of The Broken Plate 2021. She is a junior Sociology major with a double minor in Creative Writing as well as Professional Writing and Emerging Media. In this post, Molly provides commentary on Kimmi Beard’s nonfiction work “Doughnuts,” which was previously published in our 2018… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “can ladies kill?” by Kyli Brown from TBP 2020 Posted on November 11, 2020March 13, 2025 By Emma Teague Emma Teague is the Associate Fiction Editor of The Broken Plate 2021. She is a senior English Creative Writing major with a minor in Classics at Ball State University. In this post, Emma provides commentary on Kyli Brown’s poem “can ladies kill?” which was previously published in our most recent 2020 issue… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “Another Boyman Shouts ‘Faggot’ at Me from His Car” by Levi Todd from TBP 2018 Posted on November 9, 2020March 13, 2025 By Ashley Burns Ashley Burns is the Assistant Managing Editor of The Broken Plate 2021. She is currently majoring in English Literature and minoring in Marketing and Professional Writing and Emerging Media. In this post, Ashley provides commentary on Levi Todd’s poem “Another Boyman Shouts ‘Faggot’ at Me from His Car,” which was… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “I Don’t Remember the Summer When Michael Jackson Died” from TBP 2020 Posted on November 2, 2020March 13, 2025 By Kelsey Enlow Kelsey Enlow is a Design Editor for The Broken Plate 2021 and a senior Creative Writing Major at Ball State University. In this post, Kelsey provides commentary on Mackenzie Diggs’ poem “I Don’t Remember the Summer When Michael Jackson Died,” which was previously published in our most recent 2020 issue… Read more
Commentary on Published Pieces Commentary on “Dad’s Hip Fracture,” by Barbara Brooks from TBP 2020 Posted on October 20, 2020March 13, 2025 By Vincent Ramos-Niaves Vincent Ramos-Niaves is the current Managing Editor for The Broken Plate 2021. He is a senior English Literature major at Ball State University. In this post, Vinny provides insightful commentary on Barbara Brooks’ poem “Dad’s Hip Fracture,” which was previously published in our most recent 2020 issue of The Broken Plate…. Read more
Interviews An Interview with Eric Obenauf Posted on April 29, 2020March 13, 2025 By Gina Klaff, Hillary Scott Eric Obenauf started Two Dollar Radio in 2005 with his wife, Eliza Wood-Obenauf. Their mission is to reaffirm the cultural and artistic spirit of the publishing industry by publishing bold books that are individually and collectively “too loud to ignore”. They initially ran the press out of their living room before opening… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Jake Skeets Posted on April 22, 2020March 13, 2025 By Taliyah Jarrett, Jacob Garrett Jake Skeets is Black Streak Wood, born for Water’s Edge. He is Diné from Vanderwagen, New Mexico. He is the author of Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers, a National Poetry Series-winning collection of poems. He holds an MFA in poetry from the Institute of American Indian Arts…. Read more
Interviews An Interview with Hadley Moore Posted on April 17, 2020March 13, 2025 By Gina Klaff, Hillary Scott Hadley Moore has had fiction published in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Witness, Amazon’s Day One, The Alaska Quarterly Review, the revived december, The Indiana Review, Anomaly, Quarter After Eight, Confrontation, The Drum, Midwestern Gothic, and elsewhere. She is an alumna of the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College and… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Noam Dorr Posted on April 15, 2020March 13, 2025 By Briana Rooke, Emily Turner Noam Dorr has been published in Gulf Coast, Seneca Review, Passages North, and other places. His essay, “Love Drones,” won the Gulf Coast Essay Prize and was a notable essay in the Best American Essays 2016. Born and raised in Kibbutz Givat Haim, Israel, he is a former Fulbright scholar, and… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Laura Ruby Posted on April 10, 2020March 13, 2025 By Gina Klaff Laura Ruby writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her most recent book, Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All, was named as a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is a faculty member of Hamline University’s Masters in Writing for Children Program, and she… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Allison Joseph Posted on March 19, 2019March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Staff of 2019 Managing Editor Kimmi Beard had a chance to interview poet and editor Allison Joseph, who will be visiting Ball State for the In Print Fesitval on March 20 and 21. Joseph will be answering questions as part of the publishing panel on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30PM in AJ 175,… Read more
Interviews An Interview with Chen Chen Posted on March 18, 2019March 13, 2025 By The Broken Plate Staff of 2019 Assistant Managing Editor Audrey Bowers had a chance to interview poet Chen Chen, who will be visiting Ball State for the In Print Fesitval on March 20 and 21. Come hear Chen Chen read from his debut poetry collection, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of… Read more