Dear Readers,

When we launched Waterwheel Review, we were keen to explain why we were so moved and motivated by the image of the waterwheel. Water stands for language, an ever flowing, renewable source; the waterwheel, an engine of labor, circles through, lifting words and then dropping them back into the running stream. Our magazine is a mill, we said, where the waterwheel powers writing and publishing. “We want—and need—to make things.”

For a couple of years, now, we have known that we can’t make enough of our own things while we give so much energy to the work of others. We have had to cut substantially the time and attention devoted to our own writing, and mostly we have been glad to do it, determined to find a way to repay our own work in the end. We never did find that way.

If we could quit our jobs and earn that income publishing this magazine, we would take that deal in an instant. But that’s not the world we live in. For many, many months we have known this, but we couldn’t accept it until now. And thank goodness for that.

Every single issue of this magazine has been a wonder that transported and enchanted us. We can’t say we gloried in every moment. We read or edited or built the site at times while sick, exhausted, grieving—that’s the nature of any publication. But we damn well gloried in every word, every paired image and sound.

Four years and thirty-six issues: What an honor to publish our contributors. What a privilege to offer stunning work to our readers. We must use the word pleasure, too, always rolled out to accompany “honor and privilege,” but pleasure isn’t strong enough, nor is gratitude nor joy nor blessing. For once we find ourselves at a loss for words to express precisely what it has meant to keep this waterwheel turning.

Maybe this will do it: How many times does anyone ever fully achieve the glittering, half-glimpsed vision floating above; that winking, flirting piece of art we ache to manifest? For the three of us, precisely this once.

We will keep making things and so will you. We started this magazine with the image of the waterwheel and a Jean Rhys quote, and we will end in the same way, as we thank you for reading and submitting, and wish you and yours all the very best:

Listen to me. All of writing is a huge lake. There are great rivers that feed the lake, like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. And there are mere trickles, like Jean Rhys. All that matters is feeding the lake. I don’t matter. The lake matters. You must keep feeding the lake.

—Claire, Suzanne, Cheryl

September 1, 2024: Waterwheel Review will stay online for the foreseeable future. It remains as it looked for the final June 2024 issue.

Archives

May 2022 | Issue #18

Wishes triptych — “Wishes” by Jocelyn Winn

My Friend Stacy Works in the Emergency Room triptych — “My Friend Stacy Works in the Emergency Room” by Cortney Davis

What Is It? triptych — “What Is It?” by James Landwehr

Art is truth setting itself to work. —Martin Heidegger

From the Editors
Makers

April 2022 | Issue # 17

After Uncle Louis Got Me on Some Nights at the Daily News triptych — “After Uncle Louie Got Me on Some Nights at the Daily News” by Joe Benevento

A Brother Is triptych — “A Brother Is” by Nancy Huggett

Bird Say triptych — “Bird Say” by Jeff Schiff

Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. —Frances Hodgson Burnett

From the Editors
Makers

March 2022 | Issue #16

triptych for winter solstice 2021 — “Winter Solstice 2021” by Nate Maxson

triptych for we will not march back — “We Will Not March Back” by Joy Gaines-Friedler

triptych for last responder — “Last Responder” by Kristen Roach

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. —Martin Luther

From the Editors
Makers

February 2022 | Issue #15

image triptych for "Take Me Back" — “Take Me Back” by Ayelet Amittay

image triptych for "Last Chance in 53" — “Last Chance in 53” by Jeanne Julian

image triptych for "Release and Hold Harmless" — “Release and Hold Harmless” by Lucy Wilde

It takes courage to lead a life. Any life. —Erica Jong

From the Editors
Makers

January 2022 | Issue #14

triptych for idiopathic — “idiopathic (my life has been the medieval military exercise of tilting at a quintain)” by Ron Riekki

triptych for movement — “Movement” by Ace Boggess

triptych for greenwich origin story — “Greenwich Origin Story” by Joanna Theiss

Truth comes only infrequently and only in flashes. —Pamelyn Casto

From the Editors
Makers

December 2021 | Issue #13

triptych for "Traveling Through the Vanishing PoInt" — “Traveling through the Vanishing Point” by Christina Hutchins

"breathing Exercises" triptych — “Breathing Exercises” by Carlene Gadapee

"Delicate Periphery of Your Crime" by Deanna benjamin — “Delicate Periphery of Your Crime” by Deanna Benjamin

The best way out is always through. —Robert Frost

From the Editors
Makers

November 2021 | Issue #12

It's Possibile My Number Once Belonged to Your Deceased Loved One triptych — “It’s Possible My Number Once Belonged to Your Deceased Loved One” by Peggy Hammond

Dream Babies triptych — “Dream Babies” by Madeleine Mysko

Nine Simone triptych — “Nine Simone” by Kate Senecal

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. —Maya Angelou

From the Editors
Makers

October 2021 | Issue #11

“City Cancels 4th of July” by Sherre Vernon

“Philosophy of the Dance” by Brooke Middlebrook

“Philippines, 1973” by Laine Harrington

None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives. — Jane Austen

From the Editors
Makers

September 2021 | Issue #10

“Prognosis: Blue” by Heather McClelland

“Surfacing” by Phebe Jewell

“canyon market” by Rex Wilder

What gives light must endure burning. —Viktor Frankl

From the Editors
Makers

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