Editorial
Kristia Vasiloff
When the external world feels grim, uncertain, and difficult, we find ourselves turning inward. This is what we envisioned when proposing the theme “Boxes in the Attic.” What happens when we unearth what has been blocked out, closed down, boxed off? Introspection can be hard at the best of times, but we felt a lingering (or maybe festering?) thump in our collective throats at what the world was bursting to say.
Perhaps, we would find some collective healing together.
The Missing Slate Magazine could not have predicted how profoundly this would hit into the consciousness of writers, artists, and everyone in between. With a record number of submissions, we cannot express how thankful we are for the vulnerability we were met with. In a nutshell: stories ranging in the broadest spectrum of topics from all over the world.
In this issue you will find poems asking what does it mean to sing with someone who hurts you? to memoirs exploring how we can learn from root vegetables.
We ask that while you read this issue, focus on the voice that has been hidden away and aching to be heard. We ask for compassion for yourself, our other readers, our artists, our writers, for the world. When we fall this far into ourselves, we must be kind to whatever we may find.
This issue could not have been made without our amazing editorial staff, who I must thank individually. Thank you, Jabeen, for your commitment to showing our world through as many lenses as possible, thank you, Saniya, for your steadfast commitment to your writers and their health, thank you, Rameen, for uplifting all those around you and the space of safety you create for everyone, and thank you, Jahan, for your unending kindness and compassion in approaching each issue. Of course, I must extend the largest of hugs to my co-parent, co-conspiritor, Co-Editor in Chief, Nwa, who builds the foundation for this magazine so all thoughts and works have a place to live.
Our largest thank you goes to our contributors, who have pried themselves open through their work, who have shown us beauty during deeply human moments. Thank you to everyone who submitted, please know we dearly hope to see your work in the future. We couldn’t be more astounded by the community that has embraced The Missing Slate Magazine, as we continue to age and shape the spaces around us.
Thank you to all the memories, laughter, crying, consoling, hurting, old and new wounds, and life that we have been able to turn into Issue 21: Boxes in the Attic. We hope you feel the sense of connection reading this Issue that we felt publishing it – when you reach compassionately into the hard corners of yourself and let others carry the hardships with you.
From all over the globe, we are not alone.
May ease find you where it can,
Free occupied land,
Kristia Vasiloff & Nwa Rizvi
The Missing Slate Magazine