For student writers, now is the time to have work published at Mesa State. The Literary Review is accepting submissions for the 2011 edition.
“We like to think of it as the yearbook for the artists here at Mesa State,” said senior Jason Franklin “It’s a collection of short stories, poetry, nonfiction, personal essays and fine art.”
Franklin is this year’s editor of the Literary Review.
“I’ve published a handful of short stories and a couple poems [in the Literary Review,]” he explains. He was chosen by faculty to be this year’s editor .
“It’s been a great insight to my own writing because you develop a whole new set of tools,” Franklin said.
Providing an opportunity for student’s work to be printed, bound, and sold in an actual book, the Literary Review has become a creative outlet for Mesa State’s students of different facets. Typically, 500 copies of the book are printed.
“All submissions are open,” Franklin said. “It’s not open to just English students. It is open to all Mesa State students. Whether they have three credits, they are full time, or if they are non-trad students. If you pay student fees you’re eligible for the Literary Review.” Started in 1972, the review is the second oldest publication to Mesa State, next to the Criterion. Since its creation, the Literary Review has been entirely student run. “We are for the students and by the students,” Franklin said. Each year an editor, assistant editor and art editor are delegated to the creation of the cultivated composition of the many gifted student artists.
The review is completed and available for sale each spring at the Mesa State Bookstore.
“They are dirt cheap. They are about two bucks, so they’re not very expensive,” Franklin said. Don’t let the affordability of the publication undermine its quality of student talent it exhibits.
“There has been a couple people that have had some success who are now quasi famous,” he said. One of the students previously published in the Literary Review who has since gained much recognition is Aryn Kyle. Kyle’s debut novel, “The God of Animals” became an international bestseller and earned numerous awards and distinctions such as Amazon’s Number One Fiction Debut of 2007.
Students have an opportunity to gain recognition of their own through the Literary Review. Aside from the opportunity to become a published artist, the first place short fiction winner receives the Roberta E. Peck award, and a $100 cash prize.
This coming publication will be different from past publications with the addition of the personal essay.
“We’re bringing nonfiction back because it is fun and creative,” explains Franklin.
Look for the latest edition of the Literary Review this spring .
“It is fun to support the arts. The Review is our play or football game,” Franklin said, “This is how writers communicate to their readers, there’s just so much talent at Mesa State and its unfortunate that they’ve gone unsung because there are some wonderful writers.”
If you have work to submit, do not hesitate. In order to allow unbiased judging, each artist’s personal information is removed. Franklin asks to look for fliers around campus for further information on the review and the submission process. It is his hope that there will be an abundance of submissions allowing light to be cast upon the brilliant creations of Mesa State Students.