While the city houses publishers and specialty printing shops, Georgia State has stepping stones and creative outlets right here on campus.
At these three literary journals, there are opportunities where students can get the chance to see their work in print.
Underground
Underground, Georgia State’s Undergraduate Art and Literary Journal, is our university’s answer to getting the undergrad students’ published work out there.
The deadline for this semester’s submission was unfortunately on Oct.10.
So how does the journal’s staff work?
Raven Neely, the Underground’s Editor-In-Chief gives us first hand insight to the difficult but rewarding world of creative writing.
“The journal is not a machine and therefore has no set process,” said Raven. “In fact, the only machinations involved are the pressing of keys and the printing of paper.”
There are some qualifications to submit entries. Each contributor must be an undergraduate student attending the school. Pieces must also be sent to submissions.underground@gmail.com using the student’s Panthermail account to verify this status.
Neely said anyone interested in being a part of the staff for next semester should be on the lookout for applications over winter break.
While being featured in Underground does not guarantee instant stardom, it is an excellent opportunity to showcase a student’s work and make connections in the literary community.
“Remember, it’s all about networking,” Neely said. “We’ve been able to connect up-and-coming artists with future patrons and blooming authors with editorial firms.”
Having resources such as Underground are assets to have while attending Georgia State. However, the realities of the publishing world don’t escape Underground.
“I’d say we are providing a very accessible platform for emerging artists and authors capable of quality work at the university,” Neely said. “On the other hand, as a writer out in the field, publishing is still terribly difficult. There is a hierarchy that must be acknowledged. First-time writers cannot expect to have their works immediately praised by powerhouse publishers such as Harper or Penguin.”
However, Neely recommends students submit anyway because the reasons to submit outweigh the reasons not to.
“Just like any other business, the writer must work her way up, sometimes needing to dig her fingers deep into the dirt on an uphill climb and sometimes begging for something to float on,” Neely said. “Take a chance. Start the initiative early. Send us your stuff because we crave it.”
New South
New South, Georgia State’s literary journal designed for graduate students, is published twice a year.
The publication is headed by Editor-In-Chief Jenny Mary Brown. Hank Backer and Stephanie Devine work respectively as the Poetry Editor and Fiction Editor.
Like Underground, New South publishes short fiction, non-fiction, and poetry from emerging writers and ones who have reached publishing success before. Quality work can be rewarded with money.
New South sponsors a poetry and prose annual writing contest affiliated with Georgia State’s Creative Writing Program that sponsors the other literary journal, Five Points.
This year’s writing contest has been closed and winners have been awarded their money. However, starting in January, the 2015 New South Writing Contest will begin.
“The judges for the 2015 New South Writing Contest will be Roger Reeves the author of King Me and Rebecca Makkai, the author of The Hundred-Year House,” Brown said.
Once submissions are in and the work has been judged, first place winners in each category will be awarded $1,000 prizes, second place winners are given $250 prizes and third place winners are granted a three-year subscription to New South.
Five Points
Beginning in the mid ’90s, Five Points is one of the country’s top literary magazines. Published three times a year, they also feature poetry, fiction, essays and even interviews with writers.
The publication offers a limited amount of internship opportunities each fall and spring semester. While being a student intern, you can receive credit hours. Graduate students can also apply to be research assistants. They do manuscript review, copy editing and other duties related to Five Points.
Five Points accepts submissions from the time periods of Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 and then later from Jan. 1 to April 1.
Along with David Bottoms, Megan Sexton is the Co Editor-In-Chief at Five Points.
“I am the co-editor of Five Points. The journal has an international profile and is ranked in the top ten literary magazines in the nation. Our contributors have included Joyce Carol Oates, Natasha Trethewey, Alice Hoffman, Billy Collins among others,” Sexton said.
While Five Points and other journals are without a doubt an asset, there is the question of whether being published in them actually makes a difference in a writer’s career besides getting your work out there and reviewed.
“For emerging writers, literary journals help writers build an audience of dedicated readers. We also have literary agents who read Five Points to discover potential clients,” Sexton said. “Both established writers and emerging writers look to journals as their literary labs where they can often publish innovative and works in progress that might not find a place in the commercial sector.”
Tips for publishing success
Market your work.
If you promote your novel, poetry or short story and work hard to get its image as authentic as possible, your work has a chance of reaching success. Also, get creative about which market you’re using.
“The publishing opportunities for writers continue to expand beyond the printed page; many options exist such as Kindle singles and longer forms,” Sexton said. “There is also the blogosphere where writers can create a readership and market their publications. But it is important to remember that print can and is co-existing as a medium for writers and most writers will continue to pursue both paths to publishing.”
Apply yourself.
After the work is completed, the only challenges are not just the marketing and promotion. No publishing house has the power to turn garbage work into gold. The work has to be edited and reviewed and then done all over again.
Have the passion.
Wanting it badly still sometimes doesn’t feel like it’s worth the waiting and the rejection. However, driving to keep it up is a challenge that has it’s rewards.
“My tip for people hoping to be published is to never lose that hope. It may seem like that moment of triumph will never come, but try to keep looking up. Consider each rejection as an opportunity to refine your craft – it can only get better,” Neely said.
Stay realistic.
While getting published and marketing to the best of the writer’s abilities is necessary, a good portion of getting success and notice is all up to chance.
“Once a piece is published in the journal, there is no surety that royalties and fan mail will be flooding in, but it’s a good first step,” Neely said.
Do your own reading.
Keep reading yourself, whether it be famous works or anything you can get your hands on.
“I think the best way to break into any particular publication is to read several issues to familiarize yourself with the aesthetic and editors’ tastes. If you keep sending your best work, there is a good chance you will have good results,” Sexton said.
“Knowledge and persistence generally pay off. I like to tell young writers that editors really do want to discover new writers and champion their work. That’s the best part of the job.”
Pullout quote:
“The writer can expect to be able to wallpaper their apartment with rejection letters, but if they have passion and determination, they will persevere.” Neely said.
