Call for Adventure, by Cole Pentico
There’s an odd stigma in the literary world that genre fiction holds less merit and is somehow less important, relying too heavily on bells and whistles that literary fiction writers refrain from implementing. I call bullshit through cupped hands through a megaphone....
Having Writer’s Block Does Not Mean You Are a Blockhead! by Shane Orr
Many writers around the world attempt to search everywhere for new material. Many of us are also unfortunately constrained to searching only where we live, but this does not have to be a negative thing. No matter where you live, inspiration is around you. For...
Screens Are a’Changing by Rebecca Drobinski
As a self-proclaimed burgeoning techie, I’m obsessed with things that make me feel like the future is unfurling in front of me. A few months ago, I watched a short documentary by the Verge via YouTube about a company called Wattpad. It’s a platform for writers to post...
Finding Poetry in the Funniest Places, by Daniel Schauer
As a poet I am a bit of a language geek. The structure of language from diction to syntax is fascinating and playing with it makes me feel a bit like a mad scientist. However, examining language I think is key to improving writing in general and is not something...
The Voice of the Undergrad: Why We Are Refreshing, Ready, and Relevant to Today’s Literary Journal, by Tamara Johnson
When a 20-something signs onto their social media accounts, what do they see? What I see is a mixture of things; pictures from a friend’s spring break trip, a horrifying debate about what color a certain dress is, and fairly common rants from my passionate political...
Unity In Collections, by Matt Swenson
Unity in a collection of literature is an often overlooked aspect of putting together a literary magazine. I've seen numerous times in literary magazines, particularly college- and university-run magazines, where the content of the magazine seems to be an amalgam of...
Literary Twin Cities Spotlight: Krueger & The Broiler, by Sarah Basil
Situated on the corner of St. Clair Avenue and Snelling Avenue, the St. Clair Broiler opened its doors in 1956. The display sign boasts classic neon letters and flames, a callback to that decade of monogrammed blouses, stylish eyeglasses, and rock & roll. While...
Five Poets Who Do The Internet Right, by Lukas Hall
#1 Steven Roggenbuck Steven Roggenbuck is the master of combining hilarious-absurd YouTube comedy and inspiring/very serious poetry. Not only can you find the majority of his poetry online, but he truly encourages free poetry for the masses, such as with his...
Tips For Being A Better Writer, by Jody Peters
Do you want to be the best writer around? Well, as the song in The Karate Kid goes, nothing’s gonna ever keep you down if you follow these tips.1. Bring a notebook with you. Put a notebook in your purse/bag to be prepared when inspiration strikes. Also, putting a...
Why Lit Journals are Necessary, by Paul Patane
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a Caribou Coffee and peer editing a friend's fiction short story. During a break to refuel, we started to chat about literary journals and how necessary they are to read, support, and ultimately, submit to. You're widely encouraged to...
How Do I Turn My Idea Into a Story? by Keith Lasser
So, you've got this brilliant idea and you think it will make a great story, do you? Well, where do you go from here? That's a difficult question. You see, everyone's creative process is different. Writing is not a science. There is no one guaranteed way to get a...
Three Reasons Why Writers Should Probably Rule the World, by Allison Nordman
Writers get that look. You know the one with raised eyebrows and pursed lips once you tell them that you want to be a writer? Why not be a businesswoman? How about a doctor? I told them instead I wanted to rule the world. A politician? they said. No. A writer, and...