Creative teens: see your work published
The Johnson County Library is seeking submissions for elementia XV, its teenage literary magazine. Youths ages 12 to 19 from anywhere may submit unlimited works of original poetry, visual arts and short stories for consideration as individuals or part of a collaborative team. Submissions must address this year’s theme and be made online (https://elementia.submittable.com/submit). The deadline is Feb. 1.
Between Feb. 2 and March 1, the Young Adult Submission Committee made up of 10 teenagers will read, review and select the pieces to be published in elementia XV. The library will notify authors and artists via email by spring break.
“We’ll publish more than one piece by an artist or author,” says Kate McNair, teen services coordinating librarian at the Johnson County Library. “We don’t want to limit them.”
Last year, they received 700 submissions.
Library staff selected the theme for elementia XV. It is: “Whether there’s never enough … You’ve got too much on your hands … Or it’s on your side … Time, the only constant that is constantly changing, rearranging our lives and brains and bodies by the second. Whether it’s daylight savings, time travel or being late to school, we can’t help but watch the minutes tick by.”
Submission categories are poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic stories, photography and illustrations. Full submission guidelines are on the Website.
elementia XV will be published and celebrated with a reception in the spring. The issue
is dedicated to A.S. King, Printz Honor winning author.” King will give the keynote speech at the elementia XV reception on April 26 at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park, Kan. The literary event is open to the public; there’s no admission fee.
Poets and authors published in elementia XV will read from their works. There will be an exhibit of art published in elementia XV, copies of King’s books for sale and book-signing, and refreshments. elementia XV will be available in both print and digital editions. Works selected for publication will influence the rest of the program.
“It will be inspired by something that is submitted. It could be a musical piece,” McNair says. “Last year, we published the lyrics to a song for the first time.”
About 250 guests attended the launch party for elementia XIV.
elementia seeks to share the voices and unique points of view of teens with people who might not hear them, says McNair, and to connect creative teens with creative professionals.
“We really want to hear from as many teens as we can from as many points of view as we can,” she says.
Beginning next year, an editorial team of teenagers will select the theme.
“We’re anxious to hear what they’re inspired by and what they want to hear from their peers,” McNair says.
Despite the expense, high-quality copies of elementia are available at no cost because of generous support from charitable foundations and grants. Last year, the printing cost alone of each copy was $10.
“We’re very fortunate and thankful to have grant funding and great champions,” McNair says.
Since its inception in 2005, elementia has published work by teenage writers and visual artists from all over the world. All 14 previous issues are archived online at https://www.jocolibrary.org/teens/elementia.
Anyone with questions about elementia or submissions can click on “e-mail elementia” at https://www.jocolibrary.org/teens/elementia.
McNair conducts writing workshops in the fall when school starts, and she’s now bringing elementia outreach to area middle and high school educators. Teachers can contact McNair at 913-826-4600.
She says, “They’re our best connection to creative teens.”
