Our World is Changing; Our Mission is Unwavering
Why do we tell stories?
To inform, to inspire, to connect.
The miracle of art is the way it enables us to express things at once inextricable from ourselves and more encompassing than the sum of an individual existence. More, it facilitates an exchange, across language, time, and space. In short, it provides the opportunity for connection.
Of course, the ways and means of creating and sharing content are myriad and ever evolving. As such, we’re proud to commemorate 1455—the year Gutenberg’s press began printing books—not merely as a milestone, but a concept. A free press, and presses that operate freely to publish stories (and opinions, ideas, etc.), ensure that the dissemination of information is controlled by neither an elite class nor censors.
The process of democratizing content continues today. Movable Type, then, offers several connotations, and we recognize this name as symbolic of the continuum between 1455, today, and tomorrow. The need for personal narrative is strong as ever, and the ability to create and share these stories has never been more accessible. At 1455, we believe in the magic of words, the transformative power of creativity, and the collective imperative of building community. Our mission is to provide time and space for writers to create, connect, and share resources to assist writers anywhere and everywhere.
My goal is to publish—and showcase—as many storytellers as possible, and Movable Type is the most obvious and immediate platform. During the last five years we’ve published hundreds of creatives from around the globe, and the archive of amazing content from our Author Series and various in-person and virtual festivals could keep you occupied for months. It’s neither free nor easy work, but anyone involved in story understands the reality—and the stakes. My mantra has been: if we can’t (or won’t) do it, nobody will. In a landscape where book-banning is back and back big; where Humanities departments are under fire (or else being eliminated altogether), and the literary industry increasingly resembles a late-stage capitalist monstrosity (more for the wealthy few; less resources and opportunities for the emerging and undernourished), it’s vital we not only support, but celebrate the human need for story.
As such, I humbly but proudly present our first annual Storytelling Open issue. We could not, alas, publish all the submissions we received (we continue to receive more than we can handle, which speaks to the relative health and appetite of those brave souls hoping to share their work with a wider audience), we’ve accommodated as many as we could, considering our budget and bandwidth. Movable Type is free, and like all of 1455’s programs, always will be. If you are, understandably, concerned about what’s happening in our world right now, and appreciate the efforts we’re making to shine a light in growing darkness, please consider helping support our cause: what we do is transparent, positive, and your contribution is tax deductible.
Be well and stay safe
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At 1455, we believe story connects, heals, and transforms. If you share that belief, we invite you to subscribe to us here on Substack for new interviews, essays, and events celebrating the creative community.
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