Niskayuna man features local writers in new magazine
There is now an easy way to see what some local poets are writing, even if you haven’t made it to the coffeehouse recently.
The first edition of Orin Griffin’s new periodical, The Capital Region Poets Magazine, was released Oct. 10. It aims to provide local poets with greater visibility and to introduce people to what their neighbors are writing. The magazine is scheduled to come out quarterly and will be available for purchase at local stores and online.
I thought it would be interesting if I just focused on the Capital Region, said Griffin of Niskayuna. `I thought it would be interesting to do a magazine so those people not going to coffeehouses and open mics can submit their poetry with the public and share it in a different way.`
While it might be difficult to get poetry selected for a larger publication, said Griffin, the refined focus of the publication allows local poets a better chance to see their words in print. He said he also wants to support open mic nights featuring local poets.
`People will come out of their shells; poetry is something that really genuinely opens people up,` said Griffin. `To send it in and have it written and have it published is a little more private and it is a little more showy.`
Griffin said there is a lot going on in the Capital District and he got the idea to start the magazine back in July. After seeing what other poetry publications had done, he decided he wanted make a publication around what he liked to see in a poetry magazine.
`I’ve written all of my life, and I always wanted to do something along this line,` said Griffin. `I was happy the first magazine came out the way I felt a magazine on poetry would come out.`
Since he was a kid he said he has written poetry, and he looks at it as just something natural that he does. He said he has always enjoyed sharing his poetry and he has been published in magazines and journals. He also has a self-published book.
Publishing others’ work was a new venture for him though, and he is mostly running a one-man operation.
Griffin solicited poetry for the first edition by putting up fliers in Troy, Schenectady and Albany, which resulted in him getting 15 to 20 different submissions from people. Each person submitted three poems for publication. He said he also isn’t looking for any poetry that is `dark, racy or derogatory` and would like to keep a family-friendly standard.
`I believe that what they wrote was very true to heart,` Griffin said about the submissions he received.
He said there hasn’t been any negative response to the first publication and people have enjoyed the local focus.
`The people that have written love the look of the magazine,` said Griffin. `Everyone has told me that they don’t think it has been done before, and it is great for the Capital Region and the community.`
The artwork in the first magazine features photographs he took with his son at Thacher State Park, which provide a local backdrop for the poets. He said he plans to place photos from local scenery in future editions too.
The magazine can be purchased on Amazon.com and for information about local stores to purchase the magazine or for information on submissions visit the magazine’s
website
. Griffin said he also welcomes any feedback on the magazine.
`I think everybody has a poet in them,` said Griffin. `If it doesn’t make you pull out the old stuff, it might make you bring out something new.“