BY EMILY WALLACE
Northwesthern’s student literary magazine submission deadline is Feb. 3. More than 70 entries are expected for this year’s edition of Spectrum. After the deadline, the waiting game for those who submitted literary works will begin.
“We receive the submissions, and then they are sorted through, and we decide what goes into the book,” Spectrum Editor Deborah Admire said.
All four of Spectrum’s editors read through each entry multiple times to evaluate whether it will be in the finished publication.
After the selection process is finished, the pieces are all sent to a final judge, who is typically a published author.
“The (judge) selects their top pick in each category,” Admire said. “Then we get it back and put it all together.”
This year’s judge has not yet been announced.
The final collection of literary works is published and released in late April at a release event. The winners are also announced at the event.
“The winners are not notified in advance,” Admire said. “That is revealed at the release event. It’s all very exciting for everyone who has put so much work into the project.”
However, Spectrum is not like most college literary magazines. There are a few distinctions.
“The point is to showcase the writing from the students at the school,” Admire said. “Some colleges limit the students who can apply by major or only let the English department submit pieces. We allow all different majors to submit.”
This will be the first time the magazine will feature the majors listed next to the students’ names in order to showcase the applicants’ academic diversity.
“For Spectrum you don’t have to be within a program to express yourself,” Admire said. “It’s a really open space; there are a lot of people who are good at writing. It’s an opportunity to really share your personal voice.”
Entries in Spectrum include poems, creative nonfiction and short story writings. Photography, paintings and drawings are also acceptable entries.
“If you like to read, you will like Spectrum,” Admire said. “It’s a good way to get to know and appreciate your fellow students. It might spark an interest for you.”
All students are encouraged to venture out and try their hand at writing for this year’s publication or next year’s.
“Do it. Just do it,” Admire said. “It’s a small, localized publication. Your only qualification for submitting is that you’re a student, so you’re already there. It’s scary, but you should do it.”
