https://gingerayla.medium.com/about
My Substack, Effing the Ineffable, explores all things poetry from the perspective of a writer trying to DIY her MFA. I’m a naturally curious person who learns best discursively. How do you write a cento? How do you order a poetry manuscript? How do you teach a good workshop? How do you give good feedback? How do you build community as a writer outside of academia? I’ll be exploring all of this and more. From deep dives into different forms & genres to revision advice, prompts, and publishing opportunities. Most importantly, Effing the Ineffable is a love letter to poetry, in its endless well of opportunities to connect us to each other, to help us eff the most ineffable facets of our lives.
“Effing the Ineffable” encapsulates the central paradox in being a writer: we’re driven to the page to create something that will overtake it, that expands beyond the sum of words in front of us. We meticulously arrange sounds and meanings and subtext to describe what is ultimately indescribable. To touch on some greater truth—that actual experience of life—which language is only ever circling, never able to fully capture. This Substack will be a love letter to that practice, and poetry in particular, in its endless well of opportunities to connect us to each other—to help us eff the most ineffable facets of our lives. I’m especially interested in writing about: All things craft Exploring form and genre in poetry Poetry I love and why What makes a good workshop The publishing/literary world Sharing opportunities for emerging writers The journey of becoming a teaching poet without an MFA The path to finishing my first book of poems Not only do I love poetry to the point of obsession, I also love compiling and sharing opportunities and resources with other writers. I’m not a fancy poet with a bestselling book, an MFA, and The Paris Review in my bio. I’m not here to sell you on My Great Wisdom. I’m on a self-learning journey, and I’m excited to share the lessons I find along the way with a readership that loves this shit like I do. I hope you’ll join me!