Andrew Crighton
Life Editor
Black Rock and Sage (BR&S) has existed in some form or another since the ‘70s. It took its current name in 2002 and published all types of writings, solicited and unsolicited, from students and established writers. With the change of faculty advisers, BR&S changed as well. Under Susan Goslee the magazine now prints only student works.
Jeff Howard is a graduate student in the English Department, and is the Editor-in-Chief. Howard has had his work published in the magazine before and explains that he, “Wants to raise awareness about the magazine’s potential impact on students.”
Howard sees all of the submissions, makes them anonymous and then separates them into two piles, prose and poetry. From there, he passes them on to the poetry and prose editors.
Corinna Barrett is the poetry editor. She has never been published in the magazine, but explains the appeal of working on it. All of the editors are graduate students in the English Department, and Goslee approached them to ask if they would work on the magazine.
By working as an editor you get a real sense of what it is like to run a magazine, which is part of professional development.
BR&S accepts all types of creative writing, musical performances and visual art.
Barrett and Howard do not review the musical and art pieces, but rather send them to respective departments for selection.
Musical performances and the like are published on a CD that comes with the magazine when you purchase a print copy.
“I think a lot of times we get so focused on STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] research at a university that we think about the humanities and the creative side of students on campus, ” said Barrett.
Howard explains he believes it is very important to the ISU community because it is a stepping-stone and a source of encouragement. It gives first-timers the confidence to see there is a market for, and people who enjoy their work.
Submissions must be made online, at isu.edu/blackrock by Feb. 14. Barrett and Howard encourage people who plan on submitting to do so early. There is typically a flood of last minute submissions and that puts a lot of strain on the editors.
“Not very many [submissions have come in]. Let me tell you this, creative people are very good at procrastinating,” Barrett said.
The Black Rock and Sage staff will be hosting several events in the upcoming months. On Jan. 28, it will be hosting the editor showcase. The editors do not publish their own work, so at 6 p.m. in the Bengal Café, they will show off the pieces they have done, and hopefully encourage some last minute people to work on something.
On Friday, April 4, they will be holding a write-a-thon. In Rendezvous 213, anyone who has to do any form of writing is welcome to come and work on it around friends. Snacks and prizes for things such as most words written will be provided.
For the first time, BR&S will be hosting a writing contest. The contest is open to all high school students in Bannock, Bonneville, and Bingham Counties. One winner will be selected from each of the two categories, prose and poetry. The winners will be published, and receive a $150 scholarship. It has the same deadline.
May 5 is the BR&S launch party. It will be held at the Bengal Café at 5:30 p.m.
“We really want to encourage everyone at all levels of writing and arts,” Howard said. “If you think it looks good or sounds good, then send it in.”
