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The Who's Who of Alternative Literature

Up and coming authors of the internet age literary revolution.

Shannon Elizabeth Cawley

Nov 28, 2016

West Virginia University

266

When I began submitting my poems and flash fiction pieces for publication, I knew little to nothing about the "alternative literature" world. I knew of former literary movements, like Realism, Modernism, Romanticism, and Transcendentalism, but what about the current revolution going on now?

Although there isn't a lot of talk about underground writers, something really amazing is happening. A new wave of poets is taking over, and I'm lucky enough to be one of them. Although it is currently a small community, there are a lot of up and coming writers whose work is changing the world as we know it by their large influences of social media and weird, avant-garde humor.

A favorite writer of mine in the alt-lit community, and perhaps one of the most famous, is Mira Gonzalez. Her first collection of poems (or a chapbook, for short) is entitled Iwill never be beautiful enough for us to be beautiful together, and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/will-never-beautiful-enough-together/dp/0988839407.

It details the millennial struggles of relationships, online followings and incredibly dark humor. Her collection updates poetry and brings it into the age of the internet, and she does it well. Her Twitter, @miragonz, is even poetic in itself; her tweets include a lot of yeast infections, weed and hilarious social observations.

There are a lot of other authors worth taking a look at, and here are some of them:

Tao Lin (@tao_lin): Shoplifting from American Apparel (2009) https://www.amazon.com/Shoplifting-American-Appare...

Melissa Broder (@sosadtoday/@melissabroder): So Sad Today: Personal Essays (2016) https://www.amazon.com/So-Sad-Today-Personal-Essay...

Kate Monica (@kate_monica_): Nervous Universe (2015) http://www.electriccereal.com/bookstore/nervous-un...

Katie Foster (@__kfoster): Animal Problems (2015) http://www.electriccereal.com/bookstore/animal-pro...

Erin Taylor (@erinisaway/@erinpoehler): OOOO (2015) http://bottlecap-press.myshopify.com/products/oooo

Joseph Parker Okay (@verysoftlake): My phone is about to die and i hope it takes me with it (2016) http://2fast2house.com/store/my-phone

Shy Watson (@sadsects): Away Status (2016) http://bottlecap-press.myshopify.com/products/away...

Sara Sutterlin (@pissbb): Baveuse (2015) http://www.electriccereal.com/bookstore/baveuse-by...

My own chapbook, Depression is a thunderstorm and I am a scared dog, will be coming out on http://maudlinhouse.net the summer of 2017!

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The Who's Who of Alternative Literature

Up and coming authors of the internet age literary revolution.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

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11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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