by Emily Murphy, Editor
Class of 2011

Welcome to the new Soundings!

The Soundings staff spent the past few months reimagining what the publication should and can be for the Rainier Writing Workshop community. Our hope is that the new format is sleeker and easier to access and share. For instance, the Publications section now contains direct links to work published by our current students, alumni and faculty, and we are working on creating a searchable archive for past issues and articles.

I thought it only appropriate to pair our technological transition with an article that addresses a journey into the electronic era. In this issue, RWW alum Kelli Russell Agodon reveals how blogging has enhanced her own work, helped her connect with other writers, and raised her book sales.

In order to reach back and acknowledge our past, we revisit an article written by RWW Co-Director Judith Kitchen for the Winter 2008 issue, in which she talks about the joys and terrors of walking that road towards publication.

Finally, in this quarter’s Profiles, participant Linda Martin writes about her former mentor, Peggy Shumaker, who was recently named the Alaska State Writer Laureate for 2011-2012.

We’ll be back when the snow melts.

Best,

Emily Murphy