Every year, the English department’s Small Press Publishing class, headed by Professor Jo Van Arkle, produces a literary magazine called “Currents.” Each “Currents” issue features writing, art and other creative pieces submitted by Drury students, and it is then assembled and edited by the student staff of the class. The staff also decides the theme for each issue, and this year it is “homebodies.”

“It’s going to be a collection of art, poems, short stories, maybe some creative nonfiction centered around homebodies,” said junior Regan Puckett, an editor in the class.

The call for submissions tagline explains the theme homebodies as “the rediscovery of people’s creative passions during their time spent at home during 2020. This collage of written works, art and creative expressions show how even at home, human beings have a desire to create.”

A literary magazine is a publication that focuses on literature and creative works. Many different institutions around the world produce literary magazines, or lit mags, to showcase the creative writing and art of those who submit. Lit mags could not exist without submissions, and the staff of “Currents” encourages anyone and everyone at Drury to submit something.

“Anyone [can submit]! We are especially encouraging nonwriters or art majors to submit to kind of branch out of their comfort zone,” said Puckett.

There will be posters up across campus with more information about how to submit and what they are looking for, along with social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter.

With the pandemic this year, things look a little different around Drury, and that is no different for “Currents.” The theme being homebodies encourages the creativity that might have emerged when students were working from home and quarantining during the spring semester.

Senior Evan Deckard, another member of the “Currents” staff, said he’s excited for this year’s edition.

“It’s just a great way for individuals to come together and be able to express themselves. [I’m excited] to see what everybody has going on in their own lives that they’re willing to share with other people. It’s just kind of that inwardness that we typically have in ourselves that kind of brings us all together in realizing, yeah, we have different passions, but this is something we can all come together and enjoy.”

The deadline for submissions is set at Nov. 9, and multiple submissions are encouraged. The “Currents” staff will be working through the publication and selection steps, and in the spring semester, the lit mag will be showcased at an annual event hosted by English honor society Sigma Tau Delta. In the past, selections of the works chosen were read, and then copies of that year’s editions were distributed to all involved.

The email for submissions is currents@drury.edu, and any questions can be sent there as well.

Article by Claire Ellerman