Penmarks accepting written and visual submissions

Penmarks, the annually published literature and visual arts journal of MVNU, is accepting submissions.

Each year, students and alumni are encouraged to submit their work to be showcased in the journal.

This unique platform allows students to share their written or visual work with a larger audience than the classroom.

Dr. Dorothea Hawthorne, chair of the English department, encourages all students to get involved.

“This is a way to grow as a writer, meet new people who also love playing with language and to share work with a larger audience,” Hawthorne said. “It provides students with valuable hands-on experience, while also serving as a nexus for our vibrant community of creative writers.”

The journal accepts short stories and poems that are either fiction or non-fiction.

Faith Aleshire, Integrated Language Arts major and English Department assistant, hopes all students get involved and celebrate the talent at MVNU.

“By expanding our variety of submissions, we are able to produce a quality literary journal that reflects the work of our students, faculty and featured writers,” Aleshire said.

Aleshire said her work with Penmarks will be beneficial as she looks toward a teaching career. Reading Penmarks submissions has helped her learn the best way to give feedback to her future students.

Junior Hannah Christopher, an English major and the editor-in-chief of Penmarks, is currently working on several short stories and hopes to one day publish her work in the “paying markets.”

Penmarks has been a great stepping stone toward that goal, she said.

“Being on the editorial panel, and now the editor- in-chief, has provided me with incredibly valuable experience in the publishing eld,” Christopher said. “It’s encouraged me to improve both as a reader and a writer.”

John Ballenger, director of student success and supervisor for the journal, hopes to see campus involvement grow through the integration of the visual arts.

“Although Penmarks is primarily focused on literature, students are also encouraged to submit visual art,” said Ballenger.

The Spring 2017 edition will be the first edition of Penmarks to feature color photos of art pieces.

Penmarks will partner with graphic design students to enhance the layout and format of the journal.

Senior Luke McCusker is serving as the visual arts editor for the publication.

MVNU offers a course each spring entitled Creative Writing Practicum, where students can enhance their writing skills while gaining college credit.

However, students do not have to be enrolled in this course to submit their work.

All MVNU undergraduates, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to submit written and visual pieces for the journal.

Submissions for Penmarks can turned in to penmarks@mvnu.edu. e deadline for all submissions is March 13.