Winnow Literary, a digital journal of poetry and occupation housed in UW–Madison’s Occupational Therapy program in the Department of Kinesiology, is now live.
The journal was created by Dan Rortvedt, a clinical assistant professor in the Occupational Therapy program. It was supported by a 2024 School of Education Staff Innovation Grant, awarded for the project “Poetry & Occupation: A Transdisciplinary Collaboration Initiative.”
The first issue, guest edited by Winnie Dunn, includes poetry by 16 contributors from within and beyond the occupational therapy field. Themes in the issue explore aspects of the human experience including connection, routines, emotions, health, roles, and work.
The journal’s website states: “We are grateful to the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Education Staff Innovation Award fund for their generous support of this initiative. The ideas and opinions expressed or implied in Winnow Literary do not represent or intend to represent the views of the University of Wisconsin–Madison or any particular program or institution.”
Winnow Literary focuses on poetry related to occupation. The journal defines occupations as “everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life,” citing definitions from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Winnow Literary welcomes submissions from a wide range of contributors, including occupational therapy practitioners, students, clients, interprofessional collaborators, and writers more broadly.
Read the first issue at: winnowliterary.org/issue-one