About

Since 1972, the Worcester County Poetry Association (WCPA), the publisher of this journal, has also published The Worcester Review (TWR). What began as a journal celebrating the rich literary history of Central Massachusetts has broadened its scope to include works from beyond our region and serves as a conduit to promote that richness to a national audience. It’s become a renowned annual publication that draws in and celebrates writers and poets from all over the country.

But what of that focus on local poets and writers? There is so much happening with the local writing and arts scene in Worcester County that we thought it was time to do more to capture this moment, when so much is happening in and around the city and so much more is happening around the country in support of the arts.

There’s even more inspiration to draw from our own history in the WCPA. Twenty-five years ago, the WCPA publishedThe Issue, our own small literary magazine. An “occasional publication,” as two-time former editor and local poet Paul Szlosek called it. More about the process and his approach from the Winter 2000 issue of The Issue:

It’s been almost two years since Andy Hacanis first conceived of The Issue, this younger sister publication to The Worcester Review, with its primary focus on the poets and poetry of the Worcester County area. When Andy proposed his idea to the board of the Worcester County Poetry Association, it was heartily approved by every board member. Yet since all committees are made up of individuals, I’m sure each member had a separate vision of what The Issue should be. Some wanted it to exclusively publish the members of the W.C.P.A., while others thought it should be a forum open to anyone with the vaguest connection to the county and environs. Some held that the editorial standards should be high and strict as The Review’s, publishing only well crafted, polished work. Others liked the idea of a more informal, even lax journal, allowing everyone a voice no matter how accomplished or not. I confess I backed the latter concept, envisioning a printed version of an open stage poetry venue, sort of a paper coffeehouse.

In that same spirit, we wanted to relaunch Three Decker for just our local poets and writers of Worcester County. We’ve enjoyed reading everything submitted thus far and look forward to many more issues that celebrate this inspiring community.