Three weeks ago, I attended the 2008 AWP (Associated Writer’s Program) Conference in New York City. I saw a panel called Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors where the editors of three universities’ literary magazines – including UT’s Quilt represented by Editor-in-Chief Chris Janus and Faculty Advisor Audrey Colombe-discussed various issues student literary magazines face. Despite minute differences between the groups, three pressing issues recurred.
The first is student apathy, or, as is often the case, simply fostering an awareness of a campus magazine; how to pique the student body’s interest-not just as writers, but as readers as well.
It’s my first year as Fiction Editor, so I’m not in the best position to declare this a low year in regards to submissions; but the general attitude among other members of Quilt is disappointment. Just as the selections are dwindling so too is the staff. Compared to the large staff of the Susquehanna Review – the publication of Susquehanna University, another college represented on the panel- Quilt’s staff is negligible. This crisis is worsened by the number of graduating seniors devoted to the magazine.
Reduced participation fosters the second major problem faced by literary magazines: complaints by students that literary magazines are nepotistic organizations seeking only to publish other members. This grievance is untrue, yet its seeming occurrence is easily explained: For the most part, dedicated staff members of literary magazines are usually writers who in turn submit work to be considered. Since they are so closely associated with the magazine they are more likely to submit- keeping track of deadlines for example -which, combined with minimal contributions by non-affiliated writers, only bolsters their chances of publication.
Most magazines, including Quilt, perform blind readings; staff members don’t know the identity of the writer. I know from experience that Quilt does not like publishing work predominantly from staff. Publishing new talent from a myriad of writers is the goal of a good literary magazine, but that can only occur when students participate.
The final issue is accruing funds – an issue, which, thankfully, Quilt does not have to deal with to the same extent as other colleges. Sitting in the panel’s audience was the staff of a local community college’s literary magazine; an exuberant group devoted to their publication, but suffering trials due to lack of funds and involvement. Even the well-staffed Susquehanna group struggles to accumulate funds.
Quilt may be blessed with excellent financial backing, but without an engaged group of writers and artists then it cannot thrive. Fliers, announcements, and a website (quiltlitmag.com) can only help so much.
As one of the bastions of college creativity, and, to some extent, a gallery of the future’s literary and artistic talents, it’s disheartening that literary magazines are neglected financially and socially. Money can be scrounged, but students, not the staff, create a stellar literary magazine.