Over the past week, I sat down for a chat with three lovely people who spend their precious spare time running and writing for student publications in Edinburgh: Zoë Nayani from The Edinburgh Student Literary Journal (ESLJ), Sophie Westwood, from The Creator and Malika McKenney, from PublishED (publisher of The Inkwell).
The ESLJ publishes literary essays on an impressive range of topics spanning from Chaucer to Atwood, as well as shorter book reviews. The journal, Zoë describes, is an opportunity to think “deeply about literary texts” – a “way of showing off work and ideas”, rather than them falling into the void that is Turnitin.
Founded by Sophie and fellow editor and president Molly, The Creator is a real passion project. A student-led creative writing and visual arts magazine, but more importantly a “magazine full of love”, The Creator focuses on a new theme each edition. Most recently, “veiled connections”, an exploration of identity.
The Inkwell is a creative writing and arts magazine that accepts poetry, prose, drama, and artwork. Malika, president of PublishED, handles both the “professionalism aspect” of running events, as well as the “organisational” dimension to the actual publishing of The Inkwell.
Creative writing, or any writing at all, can be a daunting prospect. Often, Malika points out, people are working on their own project but have no idea that others are doing the same thing. What’s missing is a “space for people to consistently write” in workshops, a space that PublishED is “tentatively” trying to become. If you’re an aspiring writer with an understandable fear of rejection, it might be comforting to know that Zoë has never herself turned down an essay – almost everything she reads is high quality.
First and foremost, these publications seek to be “communities”. Writing and editing inevitably involves collaboration, so all three magazines have regular socials for writers and editors to meet and share new ideas. Zoë notes that the “competitive element” to writing falls away in a more relaxed environment – it is simply “writing for the joy of writing”. For Sophie, The Creator has been a place both to submit prose and for “amazing, genuine friends”. In her role as president, Malika especially enjoys supporting budding writers.
Having seen the tangible level of excitement and passion each interviewee held for their project, I discovered a disappointing lack of funding for literary magazines. Whilst The Inkwell has some sponsorship from the English Literature department, neither The Creator nor the ESLJ have any university grants. Both don’t charge for submissions, so how can they keep going? Sophie explains this situation as “frustrating” but that The Creator has found a way around it through fundraising and society memberships, hoping for their first in-print edition soon.
There is certainly an audience for literary magazines. The question of spreading the word about their existence is, however, a different matter. The Inkwell is “a little more underground” than Malika would like. For the ESLJ, “most people” haven’t heard of it, though the Freshers’ Fair, social media and posters are useful ways to gain traction. Granted, literary magazines fulfil a specific niche – however, I agree with Sophie that they can “go beyond” just English Literature students. Even if writing isn’t for you, I can highly recommend reading an edition of the brilliant ESLJ, Inkwell and Creator.
Sharing ideas, reading, contacting writers, editing: the behind-the-scenes of publishing is a multi-step, lengthy process. This, balanced with fourth-year degree work can pose itself a challenge. Despite this, Zoë, Sophie, and Malika find time in their busy schedules. As Sophie points out, it is “not the kind of work you can force yourself to do”. Though tasks are sometimes tedious, the reward of a published journal makes it all worth it.
For those who want to give writing a go, I asked each wise interviewee for their greatest tips. “There are so many reasons not to do things”, says Zoë, “don’t think about it” and take the risk! You’re “never going to write a perfect piece in the first draft” advises Sophie, you “can’t force creativity but you can get better at it”. “Try and find a community”, and the rest will come from there, suggests Malika.
Find The Creator @thecreatormagazine_ or https://thecreatormagazine.co.uk/
Find PublishEd @publishedinburgh or https://publishedinburgh.wordpress.com/
Find ESLJ @edinburghslj or https://www.eslj.co.uk/
Illustration courtesy of Lydia Kempton
