The Peace of Dark Fantasy

In my free time, when I really need to relax, I find myself drawn to reading and writing darker genres of fantasy because I am an escapist at heart. There is something so addictive about the idea of losing who I am and what my life has been to a world where they have it so much harder on every level. Sure, my life is hard, but I’m not a witch in a constant battle for survival against all odds with a man who may or may not be a villain and the love of my life who probably also shifts into a flesh-eating dragon or something, you know? I love the adrenaline rush that comes with trying to figure out what happens next. I feel everything the main character is feeling, and it brings me to life. As someone who struggles with chronic mental health issues, joining new adventures in different worlds brings me a sense of control and joy, even when I’m fighting for my life alongside the main character. Sometimes suffering is peace, I guess.

However, when I shift my focus to poetry, I tend to gravitate toward existentialism—the big “Why?” I have a lot of family and religious trauma, so anything that makes me want to stab my heart out and then sew it back together with very gentle fingers has my vote. I want to bleed and then feel comforted by others who have bled before me, because it reminds me that I am never truly alone—someone else has felt my pain, and that ability to relate and be related to is something I prefer from the poetry I consume. If I’m going to feel, I want to feel everything as intensely as possible.

I am incredibly hopeful about our mission to create a diverse, dynamic, and well-rounded edition of Tributaries this year, and I can’t wait to get started! Most of all, I wish the best of luck to all who find the courage to believe in themselves and their dreams.