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Six of Crows: A Powerful Story
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…
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The Complexities of World Building as a Student Writer
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…
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Zines, Food, and Finding Connection in Bite by Bite
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…
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An Interview With Christina Diaz Gonzales: Ball State’s 2025 Writer-in-Residence
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…
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Now Where? From Word Document to Published Piece
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…
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Interview with Hena Khan
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…
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Interview with Ethan Sacks – Pt. 2
(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…
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Interview with Gretchen Stelter
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…
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An Interview With Alysia Sawchyn
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.…
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Interview with Silas Hansen
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…
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Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
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…
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Interview with J.R. Jamison
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…
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Interview with Alexandria Brown
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…
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The Trope-ification of Books is Literary Brain Rot
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…
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My Reasons for Writing: Connection, Security, and Escapism
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…
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Reverberations
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…
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AOL: ASTEROIDS ONLINE and The Complexities of Star-Crossed Space Rocks
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…
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The Priory of the Orange Tree and Inclusive Fantasy
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…
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Skylar Denman & “Forgotten Memories”
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…
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Rebekah Hoffer & “Something Sweeter”
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…
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David Goldstein & “How to Talk to Cops”
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…
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Gladys Justin Carr & “La Immortelle”
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…
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Emily Turner & “All That Glitters”
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…
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Commentary on “A Microsome of Married Life: The Grocery List” by JB Bilbery from TBP 2019
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…
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Commentary on “A Simple Exchange” by Judith Grissmer from TBP 2018, Part Two
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…
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Commentary on “Marlboro” by Hannah Gage from TBP 2020
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…
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Commentary on “A Simple Exchange” by Judith Grissmer from TBP 2018, Part One
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…
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Commentary on “Doughnuts” by Kimmi Beard from TBP 2018
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…
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Commentary on “can ladies kill?” by Kyli Brown from TBP 2020
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…
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Commentary on “Another Boyman Shouts ‘Faggot’ at Me from His Car” by Levi Todd from TBP 2018
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…
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Commentary on “I Don’t Remember the Summer When Michael Jackson Died” from TBP 2020
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…
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Commentary on “Dad’s Hip Fracture,” by Barbara Brooks from TBP 2020
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.…
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An Interview with Eric Obenauf
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…
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An Interview with Hadley Moore
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…
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An Interview with Laura Ruby
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…
