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.

INK QUILL PUBLICATION UPDATE!

The Ink Quill Literary and Art Magazine has been sent to the presses!

I would like to take this time to thank everyone who participated in making our publication possible. We have an unbelievable number of talented artist and writers in the BCC community whose work can be found inside its many pages. I'd also like to thank Ms. James for her countless hours in editing and support, and for putting up with my endless e-mails. I will miss our correspondence–for now.

I am privileged to have participated in such an amazing work of art.

Jeanne B.

Starting on April 16 2012: Students, faculty, staff, and administrators can pick up their free copy at various locations on campus.

For those wanting to participate in the 2013 edition, get your creative juices flowing now. It's never too soon to start submitting your pieces.
*All entries are subject to consideration. All literary pieces may be subject to further editing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Submissions can be sent to theinkquillsociety@gmail.com

The Creative Writing Club and Ink Quill Society are seeking members for Fall 2012. 

• We need students and faculty wanting to lend a hand in development, design, editing, and recruiting.
• We are also seeking students who have some graphic and publishing knowledge. 
• We need Bloggers

You don't have to be a writer or an artist to join! 

Welcome Back Students and Club Members

It's that time of year again where we are finalizing last minute details and getting ready to settle back into our schooling. This week will be a hectic one, but we all know it's well worth it. I'd like to wish everyone a successful spring semester. 


There are a few updates for the Publication. After a much needed break from my computer (during our time off) I finally checked the publication e-mail today and discovered several submissions. I am very excited now. It seems word is finally spreading and I am looking forward to this being a huge success. If anyone knows someone who has a talent for writing or art, please encourage them to submit their work. 


We are pushing the deadline into February. This will give students time to settle in as they adjust to their new routine. I will be posting the new due date shortly.


Also, there are some guest speakers who will be coming to the Learning Resource Center (Library) in January and February. Please mark these dates on your calendar. 

January 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. Gail Thompson
Title: "The Power of One"
Credits: For further information, contact Dr. Joyce Bahhouth at 879-5540.


February 1, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Speaker: Mrs. Emily Herring Wilson
Title: "License to Snoop: The Making of Biography"
Credits: This project is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Genre Fiction - Magical Realism

by Audrey Niffenegger

This week in Creative Writing we are working on our short story pieces. Our theme is genre fiction. Genre fiction is fiction meant to fit into a particular category such as; Horror, romance, crime, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, magical realism, etc. 

I just recently learned the term magical realism. I didn't get a full picture of what this particular genre meant until I researched novels written specifically for that category. I was amazed at how many, of the books or movies listed, fell under my list of favorites. Examples of magical realism that most would recognize are; Practical Magic, Beloved, The Butcher's Wife, The Others, The Time Traveler's Wife and The House of Spirits, to name a few. While some may perceive these to be fantasy, they are not. Magical realism is the blurred line between fantasy and reality. 

Magical realism uses normal or real situations with a flare of mysticism, or magic, towards a particular person or characters. Often it goes along as a subplot to the main story. In Beloved, the main story involves Sethe's life after she escapes slavery and the inner turmoil she suffers over the death of her child, Beloved. At the same time, the reader sees another story unfold with the stranger that Sethe takes into her home. This stranger is where the essence of the magical realism enters the story. 

In Pushing Daises, an ABC television series, Ned the Pie-man has the extraordinary power of bringing the dead back to life. This gift is only shared with a select few. However, Ned's ability to restore people and things to their living state, is what makes his pies the best in town. Ned uses old, discarded fruit and returns them to their most ripest state.  

If you are interested in this genre of writing, below are several publications that deal exclusively with magical realism.

• Serendipty
• ChiZine Publications
• A Cappella Zoo
• Margin -Exploring Modern Magical Realism 
• Weave Magazine
• Zahir

Crunch Time

Well, we're at the halfway point of our fall semester. Aside from crunch time, mid-terms, and preparing for our final papers, it's also the time for early registration, and only two more months until the deadline for The Ink Quill Publication.

At the moment we have a small handful of students interested in submitting artwork to the publication.  Whether it be in art or literature, there are an enormous amount of talented BCC members. I am asking that we spread the word to those on campus who may not have seen the posters or submission forms. There are also faculty members, staff, alumni, and administrators who I am sure dabbled a bit in both categories. So, the goal this month is to RECRUIT...RECRUIT...RECRUIT.

Students can find the neon green submission forms in every building on campus as well as the top right sidebar of this blog. There is a drop off box for literary pieces located in the lobby of Building #1 and the Learning Resource Center.

All artwork can be scanned by the student. I am requesting scanning to be no lower than 300 resolution and 100%. For those who do not have access to a scanner or need larger (over 8.5 x 11) pieces photographed, please contact Jeanne at jbutler0927@mymail.bladencc.edu

Those who wish to email their pieces, please send to theinkquillsociety@gmail.com

For those entering their submission to the gmail account please put your name; whether you are a student, faculty, etc.; your BCC e-mail; and what category you are entering.