The tenth edition of the SAGA Literary Journal was released on May 28th and a celebration was held in Building P’s quad.
The SAGA Literary Journal was created and is actively overseen by LBCC’s English department. It contains stories from both the department and public submissions in the creative non-fiction, fiction, and poetry genres, respectively.
Fiction editor Ron Bryan commented on the submission process for the Literary Journal.
“Everyone submitted from this year. I believe this is the first time we had a non-fiction submission because that course wasn’t offered. Other than that, we didn’t do much different. We For had four editors, as well as Professor Casem, rank each story by how much we enjoyed it.”
Bryan recommends people read “Older Brother” by Marie Evangeline Lao, located on page 63. He chose this story because he feels as though, despite the cultural differences, everyone who reads it can relate in some way.
In the quad were members of the editors’ team, as well as writers, readers, and faculty members. Editor-in-Chief Nandini Reddy opened the gathering and was the main spokesperson for the journal.
Following open remarks, attendees spoke amongst each other about stories that made it, the upcoming eleventh edition, and potential mistakes to be corrected.
EIC Nandini Reddy recommends that more people look into the department, especially those who enjoy English.
“I think there’s a joy people experience from being able to read others’ submissions, as well as have full creative control. You can make something meaningful to not only you, but the community as a whole.”
Professors Jeff Epley and Jason Casem are the two faculty advisors who help with the journal. Besides them, SAGA is 100% student-run and governed.
“We’re student-run; students publish all of the works, and faculty members are there simply as advisors. Essentially, students publish works from students in our creative writing program,” said Reddy.
Among the many talkative people were those who spent the event’s duration reading the journal. Student Alex Wilson mentioned how the Literary Journal was introduced to him in his English course.
”It was very early on in the class that the Literacy Journal came up. To me, it’s an organ for the publication of creative works submitted by the students actively taking creative writing at LBCC,” said Willson.
He also mentions the significance of the journal, stating, “It makes me feel that there’s a legitimate place for these ideas to end up; it makes the experience that much richer and real. Like Professor Epley said, ‘it’s something you can hold onto.’
Submissions for the Literary Journal can be made on their website; the Journal(s) can also be read in the form of an ebook.
