Roxane Gay on George Zimmerman Verdict, Reading a Poem Backward, and More

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories:

With the news from Florida of George Zimmerman’s acquittal of all charges in killing teenager Trayvon Martin, novelist Roxane Gay weighs in on the verdict. (Salon)

Robert Galbraith—author of the crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling—is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling. (New York Daily News)

In light of J. K. Rowling’s news, the Guardian offers a history of the pseudonym.

Brad Leithauser details the advantages of reading a poem backward. (New Yorker)

LitReactor features five literary magazines that will “restore your faith” in publishing.

Meanwhile, the Airship showcases the history of a long-defunct magazine, the legendary Lingua Franca.

If you missed the television movie Sharknado this weekend, Jason Diamond tells you about the Mia Farrow/Philip Roth Sharknado hoax. (Flavorwire)

Nicholas Rombes revisits Shirley Jackson’s 1951 novel Hangsaman. (Rumpus)