Category: Craft

Graditude

As an underclassman creative writer, my knowledge of Élan was very limited. Not because I wasn’t interested, or that the publication was doing a poor job advertising, but rather, it’s hard to understand anything about the magazine until you’ve really experienced it. (I say that like I’ve been through the publication process already… it’s mid-September and I’m just learning where to put the submission folders.)

But, honestly, if someone tried to explain the responsibility and time that Élan requires, or the overall professionalism and sincerity in which everything is planned and executed, I don’t think I would’ve really understood. And even one month into school, I can see how life-changing this group of people, this class, this publication…this slice of my life will be.

Writing is obviously something I am passionate about. The magazine’s collaborative efforts with visual arts is also something I love. From a distance, I guess anyone that appreciates art would love to join our staff. But the thing that drew me in specifically was, as cliché as it sounds, the mission. I remember reading it over and over sophomore year: “to elevate and celebrate teen writers and artists.” Elevate is different from showcase. To give a part of yourself to this magazine as a means of heightening others. And I love this concept of teamwork, as well as the effort we put in all year turning into something I can keep on my bookshelf forever.

As junior editor-in-chief, I’m very excited to work under Lexey (senior editor-in-chief) and learn all that I possibly can. I’m excited about making a calendar and getting organized for this school year, getting the Fall online edition up and rolling, and generally taking on leadership responsibilities…being pushed out of my comfort zone. I feel like Élan will help me develop an entirely new set of communication skills. Over the next two years, this class will give me opportunities to engage within a publication like any other. It’ll honestly be like my dream job in my “adult world” in the years to come, only I get to trial-run within our DA community.

Poetry is something I will never stop talking about. And way before reading the mission statement—way before knowing what Élan was—poetry has been my main (if not, singular) inspiration for attending Douglas Anderson. To be on a magazine with such beautiful and vulnerable pieces, made by students, comes with a sort of gratefulness I can’t express in words. Reading any edition of Élan inspires me beyond belief.

I know when I am fifty years old, no matter what my life has amounted to, I will remember this publication like family. I will learn, I will help others, and I will appreciate writing more than ever before.

– Olivia Meiller, Junior Editor in Chief

Taking the Leap

Over the past year I have gotten the chance to work on Elan Literary magazine as a staff member. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a writer, however being on the Elan staff has given me the ability to be a part of something bigger than just writing. Rather than sitting in my room writing endless poems for class, Elan allows me to be a part of an actual community, where I can hopefully get others more involved in the writing world. As a magazine, we really strive towards giving writers a voice, and for me that has always been an amazing thing to be a part of, because unlike in previous years when it could often feel like my writing was just stuck in an endless void with no purpose, now I can see that change happen in real life.

For instance, I remember hosting and creating Yellow House, our gallery  show that was open to the public and showcased a lot of the student-produced artwork that was in that year’s book. Being able to be a part of that, see the work come to life on the gallery walls, and see others enjoy it was an amazing experience and made me realize that this was something I wanted to continue doing throughout my life.

I’ve always felt a little torn when it came to writing because I knew writing was something I loved but I wasn’t sure what to apply it to. Sure, I could write short stories or novels, but I really felt myself wanting to do something more and going to Yellow House, along with just being a part of the staff, made me realize the other practical applications writing has in the real world. I realized that in the future I would really love to work on a magazine staff for a literary magazine of some sort because putting together a work of art for other people to enjoy is something that truly excites me.

Another very exciting part of Elan, which I hope to learn from, is the mentorship opportunities it gives me. Although I have never had very strong mentorship roles in the past, Elan has given me the chance to help guide someone else to be a part of the staff as well. As the Editor in Chief, my job definitely has a range of tasks tied to it, but for my counterpart, I just hope to share not only the job itself, but the opportunities she has to impact the writing community as a whole.

Overall, this year in Elan I just hope to gain a better understanding of my role, and I hope I can have an even bigger impact on reaching out to writers internationally. I really would love to show others our capabilities as a magazine and as a staff. I cannot wait to begin the year and make a difference for writers everywhere!

– Lexey Wilson,  Editor in Chief

Saying Goodbye

It’s hard to believe that my time as a part of Elan is coming to an end. For the past two years my experience on this staff has built so much of who I am today. Freshman year, before I even really knew what Elan was, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it one day. For two years now, I’ve made so many memories and learned skills that I’ll not only take with me after graduation, but also that I’ll cherish forever.

When I first joined the staff, I had no idea all of the incredible opportunities I’d be introduced to. I didn’t know all the wonderful events I’d be a part of. Listening to the seniors talk about their roles and the things they’d been a part of the previous year, I was struck with wonder. For so long I’d felt like I didn’t play a big enough role in the creative writing department and this was how I could change it; by becoming involved, taking advantage of the opportunities that come with being on the staff. At the time, I wasn’t sure what position I’d take on, I didn’t think it’d be something serious at all. When I took on the role of Submissions Editor, I had no clue what it would lead into, that I’d become Managing Editor this year. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, though, because this position has been one of growth and maturity for me.

I was quiet, invisible almost, for the first years of high school. Joining Elan and taking on those responsibilities was the push I needed to finally open myself up some (now, some of my teachers wish I would stop talking). Being a part of a team pushes you, required a constant input. This year more than anything, I had to step out of my comfort zone to make sure things were getting done when they were needed. I was afraid of making my classmates think I was being controlling that I didn’t really want to do it, but I had to step past that fear and find a way to ask for things within deadline without being demanding. But also, without being soft. In that way, Elan has pushed me in growth.

One of my greatest memories of Elan is last year, once the seniors had gone, and it was just the four juniors with Mrs. Melanson. Having that first chance to open the print book and think, wow, my staff created this. My friends wrote these pieces. This art. In that moment, I stepped back and thought of the voice this book has in the world. Because even though our reach is still growing, we are mighty. And our words have power. That’s when I realized, too, how much my own writing matters. Because even though it hadn’t been published, that book was proof that words and feelings matter. So do my own.

There are so many things Elan has showed me. So many endless memories from the stress of planning homecoming to last year’s excitement of new submissions and web updates. This staff has changed me in ways I’d never imagined possible. Beautiful, crazy ways.

– Kinley Dozier, Senior Managing Editor