2008 Woodie Awards
Central Review hits stands today
By: Joe Nevills
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Lifeline
- Page 1 of 1
Not all the writers are on strike.
Creative writers and poets on campus spent their semester preparing their pieces for this fall's edition of the Central Review, which hit the shelves today.
The student-run literary magazine publishes works of poetry and fiction by Central Michigan University students, awarding a $100 cash prize to a top finisher decided by the editors in each category. The Central Review also publishes creative nonfiction pieces, but does not currently offer a top prize for the genre.
"We do our best to form an eclectic collection of work on campus," said Goodrich junior Betsy Seymour, the magazine's editor-in-chief. "The talent on campus is pretty amazing."
Seymour and the magazine's other editors looked at more than 300 submissions this semester. Narrowing the field down was a challenge at times.
"We all pretty much read everything," said Comstock Park junior Russell Brakefield, the magazine's fiction editor. "We get a lot of good stuff and we don't have room for it all."
One writer who made the cut was Dryden senior Mike Chandler.
His story, "Under a Rotting Sun," took the top prize in the fiction category.
The story focuses on two former banana plantation employees in a Latin American country and the effect of the American dollar.
"I really enjoyed writing this story," he said. "I hope that people enjoy it and I am grateful the editors of the Central Review considered it worthy of first place."
Students who did not make this semester's issue should not get discouraged. The publication welcomes re-submissions and revisions.
"It's almost cliche' to say 'submit again,' but that is really what publishing is all about," said Imlay City junior Kristin Ravel, assistant editor at The Central Review.
Brakefield said there's a trend in this style of writing to push for the avant garde.
But editors are confident that CMU students will 'get it.'
"Central students are a lot smarter than people think they are," Seymour said. "We do our best to encompass everything."
Copies of the Central Review will be available in most major buildings around campus free of charge.
For more information on the Central Review or to submit work for next semester's issue, visit centralreview.org.
lifeline@cm-life.com
Creative writers and poets on campus spent their semester preparing their pieces for this fall's edition of the Central Review, which hit the shelves today.
The student-run literary magazine publishes works of poetry and fiction by Central Michigan University students, awarding a $100 cash prize to a top finisher decided by the editors in each category. The Central Review also publishes creative nonfiction pieces, but does not currently offer a top prize for the genre.
"We do our best to form an eclectic collection of work on campus," said Goodrich junior Betsy Seymour, the magazine's editor-in-chief. "The talent on campus is pretty amazing."
Seymour and the magazine's other editors looked at more than 300 submissions this semester. Narrowing the field down was a challenge at times.
"We all pretty much read everything," said Comstock Park junior Russell Brakefield, the magazine's fiction editor. "We get a lot of good stuff and we don't have room for it all."
One writer who made the cut was Dryden senior Mike Chandler.
His story, "Under a Rotting Sun," took the top prize in the fiction category.
The story focuses on two former banana plantation employees in a Latin American country and the effect of the American dollar.
"I really enjoyed writing this story," he said. "I hope that people enjoy it and I am grateful the editors of the Central Review considered it worthy of first place."
Students who did not make this semester's issue should not get discouraged. The publication welcomes re-submissions and revisions.
"It's almost cliche' to say 'submit again,' but that is really what publishing is all about," said Imlay City junior Kristin Ravel, assistant editor at The Central Review.
Brakefield said there's a trend in this style of writing to push for the avant garde.
But editors are confident that CMU students will 'get it.'
"Central students are a lot smarter than people think they are," Seymour said. "We do our best to encompass everything."
Copies of the Central Review will be available in most major buildings around campus free of charge.
For more information on the Central Review or to submit work for next semester's issue, visit centralreview.org.
lifeline@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Nancy Fierstien
posted 12/05/07 @ 10:04 AM EST
As an alumni member of the Class of 1975 (BA - Journalism), I am especially glad to see this latest development at dear ol' CMU! I live in Texas now. My life is more devoted to poetry than to journalistic styles of writing. (Continued…)
Russell
posted 12/11/07 @ 7:34 AM EST
I will try to send you one.
Thank you so much for your support and interest.
Email me with any further questions.
Russell Brakefield
Assistant Editor
brake1ra@gmail. (Continued…)
Post a Comment