Adventures in MFA Land

This post is a compilation of reflections and information gathered during my 2025 spring sabbatical. My goal with the interviews (posted previously) was to gain insights about how journals are run and how the journals fit into other 2-yr writing programs. I compared what I read to my interview findings. In addition to the readings from my sabbatical, at AWP in March, I attended the sessions below about literary journals at four-year colleges. This document contains a blend of all those experiences.    Literary Journals Literary magazines don't make money. The goal of a literary journal is rarely to turn a profit. They are part of a bigger conversation about what matters in writing. Literary magazines are places for new ideas and changes. Since they don't aim to make money, they can take risks and try new things in writing and publishing.  These innovations can show up in different ways. They might include new content, fresh voices and perspectives, creative styles, new na...

Considering starting a literary journal at a two-year college? Already have one and looking for info or inspiration? You're welcome to check out my  OER: The Two-Year Lit Journal . It contains resources and information for faculty who manage a literary journal at a two-year college.

In February 2025, I interviewed 10 community college faculty. Each is an editor or supervisor of a literary journal published by their community college. Community College Literary Journals The journals are published in two formats: electronic and paper. Seven are available in both formats, one is paper only, and two are electronic only. All journals include fiction, poetry, and essays. Nine also include art. Art includes original art, such as graphic designs, and photographs of other artworks such as ceramics, murals, or paintings. Seven of the journals are given away for free. Three have a price between 4-10$. Three journals originated in the 1970s. Two began in the 1980s. One started in the 1990s. Two journals originated in the early 2000s, and two more began after 2010. All journals publish one issue a year. The smallest total number published by a journal, 15, and the largest total number published, 56.   Eight journals take the full academic year to put together and p...

Absolute  from Oklahoma City Community College Alchemy  from Portland Community College Bare Hill  from Finger Lakes Community College The Bellwether Review  from Portland Community College Breakwall from Cuyahoga Community College Cababi  from Pima Community College Cabbages & Kings  from Monroe Community College Calliope from Northern Virginia Community College Cedar Valley Divide  from Kirkwood Community College  Channel Marker  from Tidewater Community College Citadel  from Los Angeles City College Connections from College of Southern Maryland Facets  from Butler County Community College The Fall Line  from Piedmont Virginia Community College Freshwater  from Asnuntuck Community College Go Anywhere from Ozarks Technical Community College Images  from Monroe County Community College Letter & Line  from Portland Community College Luna  from Nassau Community College The MacGuffin  fr...

The Washington Square Review seeks submissions for the 2023 edition. We publish fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Submissions are open until Feb 21, 2023. Submit on Submittable. Fiction Submissions should not exceed 5,000 words.  One piece per submission and one piece per submission period. Creative Nonfiction Submissions should not exceed 3,000 words. One piece per submission and one piece per submission period. Poetry Submissions should not exceed five poems. Five poems per submission and five poems per submission period. Additional Guidelines & Note All submissions must be primarily written in English and must be the original, unpublished work of the author. Contributors receive one copy of the issue in which they are published.  

A town square is an open, public space, conceptualized to be the heart of a community. Here at the Washington Square Review, we see our name as a signpost that unifies location and purpose: a literary journal to serve as a meeting point for the many different people, ideas and artistic expressions that make up our community. In the Washington Square Review, we come together to explore and understand the words and worlds we can share when we value creative expression as a commons for us all. Last year, Lansing Community College's ENGL department relaunched the Washington Square Review, LCC’s own literary journal. The journal is available on Amazon as both a paperback and an ebook.  We are again accepting submissions and planning the  publication of our second issue.  In the past, the journal was limited to the LCC community. We have expanded submissions to include writers and artists beyond that limited community and are accepting submissions from all writers and artists. ...