Hello everyone,

October is coming and with it the inaugural issue of The Cheat River Review. The CRR is a student-run online literary journal associated with WVU’s MFA program. Although we have drawn inspiration from our namesake, we have taken a more holistic approach to the direction of our journal. This is a delicate balance. We at CRR want to respect and represent the figure of the Cheat River without exclusively functioning as a regional journal. There is so much power in the symbol of the river, and the land around it, that it would be easy to stop at its banks or only go as far as the slopes of its mountains. We have tried hard to collect the best works with only two commonalities: strong voices and compelling writing. These two aspects give respect to this place surrounding the Cheat River and allow for the growth of our journal beyond this region’s borders.

It might be early for making promises of grandeur, but The Cheat River Review has a grand future ahead. While this first year might be somewhat relaxed (in quantity of events not quality of productions) the editors at CRR have great plans for the future. Contests for writing and art are on the horizon, promoting both our prestige and the quality of our magazine. The possibility of special anthologies, perhaps print, are likely to appear. Workshops and readings are almost inevitable (and delightfully so). It is easy for me to type these promises, but with a dedicated staff and generous support from WVU, these are only the edges of our reach.

If any of this sounds interesting, there are many ways you can keep up with our progress. Look forward to seeing an update to our website in the near future. We are hoping to reflect the bold and vibrant nature of the Cheat and the writing you can expect to see. Like our Facebook page and follow our Twitter to keep an eye out for upcoming events, among them our October release party and our AWP coverage. Or, if you would like to contact us more directly at: crreditors@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you in the future!

With many thanks,

Patric A. Nuttall
Editor-in-Chief
Cheat River Review