The Ink Quill 2012 Release!

This week, The Ink Quill literary and arts magazine began its limited release! The print shop on campus is working hard to keep up with the demand for copies. Many contributors have already picked their copies up in Mrs. James's office.

On Monday, the editors presented and read from the magazine at the library's Annual Poetry Reading. Contributors also came to read their works.

Photo: Jack McDuffie

Mrs. James presented The Ink Quill and read her poem "Book Ends" and Stancey Roshell Brayboy's poem "The World Forgotten: A Villanelle." At a later reading, she read KC Melvin's poem "Papa Rooster Crows."

Photo: Jack McDuffie

Photo: Jack McDuffie

BCC alumna and The Ink Quill Society developer Elizabeth Lennon Diaz read her works "Pete and the Gang" and "Have You Seen My Sanity?"

Photo: Jack McDuffie

At a later reading, Elizabeth also student Antonio Diaz's English and Spanish language poems "The Handkerchief," and "Bewitched," and "Passion of Love."

Photo: Jack McDuffie

BCC Staff Member Ginger King read an excerpt from her short story "The Last Full Measure of Devotion."

 

Photo: Jack McDuffie

On Tuesday, Mrs. James and Jean Butler presented the magazine to faculty, staff, and administration at the all-campus assembly. Several attendees waited for copies, and more have made requests. 

Photo: Karen Cecil

Mrs. James holds a stack of magazine copies as faculty, staff, and administration members line up at the end of the all-campus assembly.

We expect that copies will remain scarce and that the magazine will spark interest in The Ink Quill Society and inspire everyone at BCC to submit work for the Spring 2013 issue of The Ink Quill. Watch for copies in various locations on campus, and start submitting for next year! Submissions are already arriving.

The Ink Quill: A Metaphor for the Writing Life

The names "The Ink Quill" and "The Ink Quill Society" came from the students in BCC's new creative writing class in Fall 2011. Of course, these words bring an image of writing. But I've been thinking about the names of our publication and our new club, and I see that "Ink Quill" also captures two major aspects of the writing life.

First, writers need the ink. The ink fills the pen and makes it write. Metaphorically, the ink could be inspiration. Inspiration isn't just a sudden bolt of brilliance that comes from nothing. By inspiration, I mean everything we experience, read, learn, and observe. It comes from art, books, and travel. It comes from meeting and talking with new people. It also comes from encouragement that other writers (including and maybe especially those we will never know personally) and family members and friends who support our writing.

Next and most importantly, writers need the pen or the quill. Without the quill, the ink simply sits and looks pretty in a bottle. The quill gives the ink shape and life. The quill part is more difficult. It requires action. A writer has to write, and anyone who writes is a writer. Loyalty to the quill may involve writing exercises, keeping a journal, writing a blog, writing poems, writing stories, writing essays, writing letters...writing anything.

The Ink Quill and the society encourage and support both these aspects of the creative life. We hope that our magazine both supports writers and artists who are dedicated to the quill and provides new ink for writers and artists through the amazing work in its pages. I think The Ink Quill is the perfect name.

Mrs. James
Faculty Editor

Submission Guidelines for the Spring 2013 Issue

The Ink Quill is seeking submissions for consideration for its Spring 2013 edition. We encourage submissions from students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administration.

Submission Guidelines

Send all submissions to theinkquillsociety@gmail.com. Include necessary information in the body of the E-mail and attach submissions. If you are unable to scan an art piece, let us know, and we may be able to help you.

Submit any or all of the following:

·         Up to two stories (word limit for each: 1200 words. Condensed versions or excerpts from longer pieces are okay)

·         Up to four poems

·         Up to two essays or creative non-fiction pieces (word limit for each: 1200 words. Condensed versions or excerpts from longer pieces are okay)

·         Up to five art pieces or photos

Include

·         Your name as you would like it to appear in the magazine

·         Your BCC E-mail address

·         Your relationship to BCC (student, alumni, faculty, staff, administration)

·         A title for every piece (including photography and art)

·         The medium (oils, acrylics, pencil, mixed media…) for art pieces

·         Your expected graduation date (month and year) if you are a student

Please submit from your BCC E-mail address. We will use this address to contact you with our decisions regarding your work.

All submissions are subject to basic editing.

Profanity, overt sexual content, and excessive violence will not appear in the magazine.

We are seeking colorful art or photography pieces for consideration for The Ink Quill cover. We will consider all art and photography submissions for the cover art.

Submission Deadline: February 1, 2013

Because we will receive submissions until February 1, we may not inform you about the pieces we have accepted for publication until after this date.