Four men who were collecting Corona bottles on their tabletop were openly staring at me. Not saying anything, just staring and staring, as if I might suddenly pupate or transform in some other abrupt and fascinating way...

Excerpt from Crocodile: Memoirs
From a Mexican Drug-Running Port

David Vann


Telescope

Telescope

Peter Schwartz


...
Back home, no salt lines ribbon across the toes
of my boots and I cannot untangle
where loss resides –
in the ache of the empty kitchen chair,
the calendar page unturned,
the tired linoleum...

Arriving in New York for My Grandfather’s Funeral

Alison Doernberg


You board the train like everyone else, except you're the one carrying everything on your back, shoulders strained by the weight of your adventures. You've passed through a hundred towns whose names you've already forgotten, and you study the landscape as if it contains the explanation for your life...

You Are Here

Elizabeth Rosner



News

Building and Taking Submissions!
Even though it is a beautiful afternoon in San Francisco staff members of Switchback have spent it inside, building Issue 11.  It looks good and we know everyone will love reading it as much as we have.  It's a new year and the first issue of Switchback in 2010 will be a big one, sure to offer something for readers of all tastes!

We are also reading for Issue 12: MINORITY V. MAJORITY!  Check out our submission guidelines and send us something awesome.  Our deadline is St. Patrick's day, the perfect excuse to reward yourself with a green cookie or beer after you've given us your best work.

Issue 11 Submissions
The submission deadline for issue 11, Process vs Product, was yesterday, Halloween. Thanks to everyone who submitted work! We are really excited about the quality and the quantity and we're looking forward to discussing it.

We hope to make final acceptance decisions by Christmas time, and open up submission for issue 12 on New Years. Hopefully everything will run according to schedule...

Thanks again for reading and submitting!

Sincerely,
The Switchback Staff 

Party With Us!
Put us on your calendar!  On October 22 we will have the launch party for issue 10, Figurative vs. Literal.  Our reading will be at 7pm at Cantina, located at 580 Sutter Street (between Mason and Powell).  We'll be in the basement, so make your way past the bar and come down the stairs to join us.

You don't want to miss this line up!  Three great poets as well as David Vann, the newest faculty member in USF's MFA in Writing Program, will be reading:

  • Alison Doernberg
  • David Vann
  • Christina Hutchins
  • Linda Phillimore

See you there!

Now Accepting Issue 11 Submissions!
Submit your work for issue 11!  The theme is Process vs. Product.  Art work submissions should reflect this theme, and all works of poetry, fiction and nonfiction will be considered, regardless of relation to theme.

The deadline is October 31st, so be sure to submit before Halloween candy goes on sale.  More information on submitting can be found here!  We can't wait to see or read your work!

Welcome
Welcome to Switchback!  A new year is starting here at the University of San Francisco, bringing together old and new Switchback staff as we launch issue 10 and begin looking at submissions for issue 11.  As part of this new year, the site itself is getting an updated look!  It has been a lot of hard work and a lot fun making Switchback an even more enjoyable experience for our readers and we hope you enjoy all the new features!

Read all news >>
 
 

Switchback is a publication of the Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program of the University of San Francisco, Aaron Shurin, Director.

Switchback publishes fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and critical essays and displays visual art. An issue's theme presents a platform from which to investigate writing from contrasting points of view. Submissions are not required to address the theme.


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