My favorite online lit. magazines that publish poetry

by Caitlin Neely

In most cases, I get my weekly poetry fix from the internet (and the occasional book from Steely Library). Below are three of my favorite online literary magazines, and a few suggestions for further reading. Let us know what your favorite online lit. magazines are!

Memorious publishes prose, poetry, and art, about two times a year.

What I love:

The speakers. The styles of poetry they publish may vary, but the speaker's are present and accessible, and leave it all out on the page.

Check out:

"Crossing the Three-Rope Bridge" by Chloe Honum

"Child Holding Potato" by Rick Barot

PANK Magazine publishes prose and poetry in print and online. Their online issues are released every month.

What I love:

The audio. A good portion of the poems published in PANK include a reading by the author. There's nothing better than hearing good poem read out loud, and it adds a little extra to the already fun language contained in each issue.

Check out:

"If I Leave You Then Maybe I Won't Have to Miss You So Much" by Ali Shapiro

"Quarterly Report" by Mary Ann Samyn

Elimae no longer publishes poetry and prose unfortunately, but their website is still up and it's worth taking a look.

What I Love:

The compactness. Even the longer poems are tight and compact; every piece of language used is important, and taken seriously.

Check out:

"a little poem" by Phillipe Shils

"ninenine" by Danielle Lea Buchanan

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Caitlin Neely is the editor of Loch Norse Magazine. She is an undergraduate at Northern Kentucky University.

Best Wishes to New English Majors

Welcome to the first instalment of our new blog program! We are currently looking for submissions from current undergraduate and graduate students at NKU, alumni, and current and past professors. The submissions must be related to either literature, creative writing (cannot submit own creative writing) and/or the English major at NKU. Check out our website for more information.

By Jordan Holden

It is the day before classes begin for the Fall 2013 semester at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and I am slightly jealous of my friends who are returning to campus as I continue to look for a job. In May, when I graduated, I could not have been more excited to move on to the next step. Don’t get me wrong, I am still excited for what the future holds, but I find myself missing that university, particularly the English Department. Those who are involved with the English Department at NKU know how special and wonderful it is, but to the freshmen and new students entering the English program, this is a snippet of some of the opportunities I had as an English major that I hope will encourage you as you begin your journey.

Like many students, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. I always loved English, but many people discouraged me from pursuing that major. During my junior year, I noticed a pattern in the majors I studied (I went through four majors). English kept coming up again and again. After a lot of prayer and talks with family, advisors, and faculty, I decided it was time to ignore the “haters” and study a subject I loved. The professors who really helped me make that decision were Kelly Moffett (creative writing program) and Dr. Jon Cullick (the Department Chair at the time). They helped me open my eyes to how wonderful it is to be an English major and explore my talents, and weaknesses, as a writer.

Later that year, Kelly encouraged me to take advantage of a study abroad program to London. I received several scholarships (which covered half of my trip) and found myself on a plane to the “mother country.” While in London I met several other English majors (and a few non-English majors) as well as Andy Miller and Steve Leigh (creative writing program professors). Not only were they two of the funniest people I have ever met, but they both inspired me to explore other areas of writing. They also took me and my classmates around to some of the most amazing sites in England that I will never forget (Westminster Abbey, Stonehenge, and Bath just to name a few). I honestly don’t know if I would have studied abroad if it wasn’t for the English program.

During the remainder of my time at NKU, I had the opportunity to take courses in literature, writing studies, and literature/film. I had professors who supported me in learning all I could and stretching beyond my abilities. I grew so much as a person because of my professors in the English Department and I am the person I am today because of it.

The final part of the writing community that made being an English major so wonderful were the friends and fellow writers I met at NKU. I had several classes with most of them. We studied together, we wrote together, and we became published writers together. It was so encouraging to have other students around who loved English and were eager to be there for me on my journey. Even though I haven’t seen most of them for months, we still share our writing with each other and try to help each other grow.

I hope this post excites you for your future as an English major. I hope it impacts your life as much as it did mine.

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Jordan Holden is a 2013 graduate of Northern Kentucky University. She studied English with an emphasis in creative writing and an area of concentration in communication studies. She is currently the Youth Director at Sulphur Christian Church and a substitute teacher at Henry County Public Schools.

Loch Norse Magazine: Issue II

Isn't it exciting? Right now, the new work being written by you, the students, is the beginning of the second edition of Loch Norse Magazine.

We had the finest collection of student work I've ever read in our first issue this spring. I'm sure that our next issue will be even stronger!

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Rex Anthony Trogdon and I am serving as the Editor of LNM this scholastic year. I had the privilege to work with Jennifer Katherine Whalen last year as her Assistant Editor and I'm excited to announce that we have a new staff this year of talented writers who are ready to see another productive year begin.

Look for some changes to our blog in the coming weeks, including some introductions to our new staff members and the work from last year's issue. Let's have a great year growing together as writer's; I have no idea what you will create, but I'm sure it will be well worth reading.

Rex

Farewell from Editor Jennifer Whalen

Dear, Writers,

I hope everyone’s finals went smoothly and that you have set some time aside this weekend to relax and celebrate! Also, for those of you graduating: Congratulations and good luck with all your future endeavors!

Since this week has been my last as the Editor of Loch Norse Magazine, I wanted to thank all of you for a beautiful year. It has been nothing short than awe-inspiring to watch this writing community grow and transform. I hope you have had time to sit down with the magazine, the artifact of this multifaceted writing community we have built. If you have not, it is on the third and fifth floors of Landrum and completely free. It will also be on campus all next year, so please read it and share it with others.

This year has taught me the amazing things that can be accomplished with drive and passion by even the smallest group of people. The help I received from my editorial staff is invaluable, but it would all be impossible if it wasn’t for you, the writers, who worked so hard to improve and share your own writing, as well as work to improve and experience others.

I have no doubt in my mind the amazing things this community will continue to do, especially under the vision and leadership of the new Editor, Rex Trogdon. I am blessed to have spent this year growing with such talented writers.

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

Jennifer Whalen

Blog to follow...

Here at LNM we are constantly on the lookout for talented writers. Here is one such. His name is Todd and his blog is here:

http://wearemostaliveindreams.tumblr.com/

He writes a little bit of everything: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction. He is an example of what a writer can do using the Internet as a medium through which to get his or her work out there. I enjoy his work and I hope you will too!

-Elizabeth
Fiction Editor

Loch Norse Magazine's Week of Workshops

Much like last semester, we will be hosting student-run workshops for our undergraduate students. If you would like to participate in our workshops, please inform us the day and time that works best for you with the following survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z83NRWS

We hope this provides a better opportunity to become acquainted with our NKU writing community and to expand your skills with others.

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does."

                          -Allen Ginsberg