AfterWork submissions now accepted for publication in April

AfterWork, an annually published art and literary journal run by Concordia students, is now accepting submissions. The editors at AfterWork are looking for student submissions in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art.

The deadline for the 2015 edition of AfterWork is coming up quickly: the final date for submissions is Sunday, December 14.

AfterWork provides an opportunity for Concordia students to publish writing or art, something which is useful for looking to pursue a career in either field.

Dr. Bill Snyder oversees the publication of AfterWorks.

“It’s a student-edited journal at Concordia, which means that it’s a venue for all students at Concordia to be published so that other students can read their work,” Snyder said.

All aspects of AfterWork are student-run, including editing and even choosing where to have the journal printed.

Senior Jonathan Fondell also manages the AfterWorks publication as a student.

“In general, just across everything, we really want a lot of variety,” Fondell said. “We want to show a lot of different ways in which the Concordia community can really shine in these artistic styles. We want to give voice to all the genres.”

While the editors of AfterWork are eager for submissions from the different genres, not just any pieces get published.

“They will be looking for the most mature, the most polished work to put in,” Snyder said. “Writing is revision, so a really raw, unedited piece probably won’t find a place.”

The editors are also looking for pieces that fit the journal. Not in size, but in the feel of the writing or art. The journal each year varies in style based off of the staff and submissions that it receives, and the editors keep that in mind when choosing what to publish.

“At the end of the day it’s not necessarily just the best thing, or the shortest thing, or the most efficient. It’s just ‘what does afterwork feel has the most value in this journal?’” Fondell said.

Fondell said once received, all submissions are chosen anonymously, so no bias taints the decision process.

AfterWork is not limited to English or art majors though – anyone can submit.

“Students should get off their asses and submit, because there’s nothing to lose,” Snyder said.

The pieces that will be published in the 2015 edition should be chosen by late January, Snyder said. There may be an editing process between the AfterWork staff and the writers after that. The journal is expected to be published by mid-April.