The Mosaic submission deadline quickly approaching

Students interested in submitting literary pieces to The Mosaic, the official literary magazine of Nicholls State University, must met their deadline on Nov. 1.

All students of different classifications and majors are welcomed to submit entries. Also, fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, works of dramas and artwork are all accepted entries.

The magazine is completely student operated; the entries are from students, the publication staff is comprised of students and it is student funded. It is published annually in the spring, and free copies of the magazine are on stands throughout campus. Students are free to pick up a copy throughout the year.

The Mosaic has been around since the 1950s. Originally, it was published under the name of Pencil Tracks. Since its foundation, it has been the longest running student magazine in the state of Louisiana.  

“I think it’s extremely important because it gives students an outlet for their creative works,” said chief faculty editor Katherine Conner. “It also gives them a line on their resume.”

Connor also said there will be a release event for students whose works will be published in the next issue. They are welcomed to bring parents and can read their entries aloud.

The Mosaic receives a number of submissions, into the hundreds, that they must sift through and select those that will be published. An editorial board, comprised of students, ranks each individual entry. From those, Connor and chief faculty editor Nicholas Hodnett select the final pieces that will enter the magazine. Connor said it is an honor to be selected.

Upon submission, students should know that they are permitting the editorial staff at The Mosaic to make minor changes to their works. Most of these changes come in the form of correcting grammatical errors or helping the piece flow better.

If any major changes would need to be made, the student will be contacted by The Mosaic first. It will then be up to the student as to whether or not they want the work changed and then published.

Funding of The Mosaic comes from student, self-assessed fees. With a budget increase, they were able to make the magazine full color with a bound cover. Additionally, the funding goes to paying the editors and graphic designer.

“We give out a lot of awards, so we can give those student fees back to the students,” Connor said. Amongst those up for awards are poetry, fiction and artwork, of which the first place prize is $100. There is also a freshman essay contest which will receive a cash prize.

Hodnett said it is important to have the opportunity to pursue creative writing giving that she is a creative writing major.

“It also allows for exposure,” Hodnett said. “Anyone wanting to get their foot in the door of creative writing, this is a great way to do that.”