Route 57 seems to have flown a little under the radar for students outside the School of English. How did Route 57 originate?
It was the brainchild of Professor Adam Piette from the School of English. The magazine is an online platform for promoting and encouraging literary creativity in all its various shapes and forms. While the poetry section boasts the most submissions, Route 57 features ghost stories, cutting edge drama and excellent non-fiction work – some of it by former students who have moved on to become serious academics.
So it can become more than just a creative outlet?
One of the poets who published his work in the first-ever issue of the magazine is Ben Wilkinson, recently shortlisted for the Picador Poetry Prize and the author of the pamphlet Sparks (Tall Lighthouse, 2008).
In 2006, Ben worked as a poetry editor alongside Joe Kriss, who now runs World Life Sheffield with its monthly spread in the Now Then magazine and is one of the finest performance poets in town. They published poems of their friend Kayo Chingonyi, a writer and performer with an impressive record of readings in venues such as Shakespeare’s Globe and Tate Modern. Ben, Joe and Kayo maintain a warm relationship with Route 57 and they all headlined last year’s poetry evenings for the published student poets.
Surely it’s difficult to edit and encourage creativity at the same time?
Editing Route 57 really brings home the intricacies -both joys and frustrations- of the creative process. Each genre-specific section of the magazine has a staff editor and a team of student editors who select the submissions for publication. It’s the most exciting, but also the hardest part of the job, because it needs complete engagement and focus. With poetry, we often need to reach to the core of the poem and to bring out all the meanings and nuances of rhythm. Then, we discuss any changes with the author and see if we agree on bringing out the strengths of the poem in the same way. And sometimes, we have to say no – but do so constructively.
How did you initially come across Route 57?
When I first came to Sheffield in 2007, I immediately noticed posters around the William Empson House, inviting students to submit their work to Route 57. It didn’t matter that the deadline was long gone – I read the magazine, and found it really inspiring.
Submitting the work to Professor Neil Roberts, then in charge of the poetry section, felt finite and serious, as before I’d only written for the drawer. Quite frankly, I was prepared for devastating feedback.
To my surprise, the magazine published nearly all the poems I’d sent in, and I was invited to read at an event at the Runaway Girl bar (now Silversmiths on Arundel Gate). There, I met Sarah Thomasin, a performance poet and then a School of English student, who’s introduced me to the Sheffield spoken word scene.
Route 57’s lit a creative fire then?
Definitely! Together with Sarah and John Turner, a Sheffield Hallam lecturer and part of the legendary Circus of Poets performance group, we organise, promote and compere a spoken word night Speak Easy at the Sheffield Hallam Hubs. It’s been running for almost two years now, and the bill is notorious for filling up within hours of announcing the date. Through Speak Easy, we want to create a community event that bridges any gaps between local poetry factions and cuts through rivalry between the two universities.
Besides Speak Easy, I’ve also performed at Vox Sheffield (now Vocal), Word Life fundraiser readings, the Art Soul Kolektif and University events. Looking back, I definitely would’ve found it difficult to discover the Sheffield poetry scene if it hadn’t been for Adam, Neil and Route 57.
Does the anniversary year mean big developments?
Our plan for the five-year anniversary issue was to promote it throughout the student community as a magazine that’s sharp, original and high-quality. The response to the call for submissions was very enthusiastic, and we’re in the process of selecting the pieces for publication.
Because we want to strengthen the student community aspect of Route 57, for the future editions we’ll welcome submissions from outside the School of English. It’s our idea to give creative outlet to Erasmus students, poets whose first language is other than English as well as local artists who have associations with our University.
Another plan is to run a regular spoken word night, or a mini-festival that could become a new event on the Sheffield poetry scene.
As for feedback, this year we’re introducing a Poetry Corner, venue to be announced, where we can chat to our contributors before we publish their work
Sounds like a busy year! Finally, If you could get one message across to students sat on the fence about contributing what would it be?
Route 57 is a magazine to be read and enjoyed. It’s brought to you by the experience of Sheffield: poetry written about the winding streets of Crookes, familiar glimpses of student life, creativity whetted by discussion over coffee in Nether Edge. Feel obliged to explore it…
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