2024 Writing Winners
Mark Wagstaff
Apricot
Erika Ruth Witt
Plain Happiness
Valarie Walker
Making of a March
Elmer Guevara
Poker Face. 2020. Mixed media on paper. Courtesy of Charlies James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
FEATURED WRITERS
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Lynn Lieu
Eyebrows
Born of parents who immigrated to America in the late ’70s, Lynn is one of three children. With her first language being Vietnamese, she quickly realized she wasn’t much of a talker, so journaling and writing became her medium. When words weren’t enough, Lieu began taking and editing photos, drafting cartoons on Paint and even coding “cool” colored scroll bars. In 2007, Lieu began focusing on print journalism gigs and now works in the world of advertising and performance marketing to creatively define and market their identities and tell their stories.
Richard Villegas, Jr.
Not Everything is Flat in Kansas
One of the leading lights of contemporary queer Chicano literary and cultural production, Richard is a raw and provocative writer whose fiction includes the short story collection I (Heart) Babylon and La Música Romántica. He has written for The Los Angeles Times, Playboy, and New American Media. The half hour drama series Vida on Starz (2017-2020) is based on his original source material and consulting. He is a former LAUSD teacher.
Genaro Trejo
Megacity Review Editor
The editor and visionary of Megacity Review and lifelong advocate for social justice, Genaro’s activism began in parochial school and deepened during his time as a first-generation student at UCLA, where he majored in political science and specialized in Chicano Studies. He later earned a master’s degree in public policy from The University of Chicago, blending his passion for social justice with academic rigor.
With a global perspective honed through years of living and working in Japan, China, and Latin America as a private investor for prominent family offices, Genaro brings an international sensibility to the literary world. His commitment to social equity and dedication to empowering marginalized communities extends beyond publishing with his work as COO at Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), a transformative non-profit in one of L.A.’s most underserved communities, where his leadership led to partnerships with philanthropic giants like the Eisner Foundation, Weingart Foundation, Ralph Parsons Foundation, and the Jordan Wings Foundation.
WHO IS MEGACITY?
Megacity is an independent publisher and cultural platform creating zines, a literary and arts journal, and live literary and arts programming. We sit at the intersection of storytelling, cultural critique, and visual art—grounded in Los Angeles, in conversation with the world.
We publish essays, reportage, fiction, and mixed-media work that explores city life from LA to the world—how people live, build community, navigate change, and create meaning in the places they call home.
Inspired by the spirit of Baldwin, Didion, and Roberto Bolaño, we believe storytelling is a form of truth-telling and cultural disruption. Through our publications and our salons, readings, and public programs, we bring together artists, thinkers, and audiences across cities and cultures—building a community of people who care about art, ideas, and the future of our cities. Megacity is a meeting point where LA’s point of view connects with the global arts and literary landscape to reshape how we see our cities, ourselves, and one another.
Local stories. Global reach. Megacity Review explores the human experience in cities through literature, art, and cultural critique.
Yvonne Jacquette
Flatiron Intersection. 1979. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York, NY.
John Humble
349 Rose Avenue, Venice July 7, 1990. 1990. Photograph. Courtesy of the artist.
Chronicling the Urban Condition / No. 1
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IN STOCK
No. 1
Chronicling the Urban Condition
A unique literary journal curated from a wide range of perspectives and ideas to highlight underrepresented voices.
Writers from around the world brought their own unique interpretations to the theme of “connection.” The prompt was intentionally left open-ended, and the resulting submissions did not disappoint. Reading the many thoughtful entries helped me navigate my lowest points; their words anchored me and offered insights on how to maneuver through my own situation.
CHRONICLING THE URBAN CONDITION
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Featured Art
Megacity Review | No. 1 | Chronicling the Urban Condition.