In times of turmoil, when it feels like our differences create vast chasms between us, we can find solace in something people from every corner of the world can connect over. This is what we call art, and Simpson College strives to promote it through Sequel, the college’s literary journal.
Sequel has been Simpson’s literary journal since 1948, where students, staff and faculty members can submit and showcase their work. Sequel accepts visual art, including paintings, sketches and photography, as well as literature and poetry.
For the past 78 years, Sequel has showcased the talent Simpson students have to offer, and over time, it has remained steadfast in its demonstration. Artwork of any kind is an expression of a person’s thoughts, feelings and views which can bridge us from the present into the minds of those in the past.
English professor Jeremy Griffin oversees Sequel and has some insight into its past through previous volumes.
“Reading back over these issues, it showcases some really exceptional stuff, and that you’re really surprised, you crack open an issue from 1982 and were like, wow, people were writing, really, really great stuff, and not only that, but they are writing about the same concerns we have today,” he said.
While Sequel’s mission remains the same, Griffin has changed how the issue is distributed. Last year, he had it moved online for cost efficiency and to reach wider readership. With this shift from print to digital, Griffin hopes to gain more traction and become more widely known. He said he hopes Sequel will become competitive for awards as well, but his main goal is to show the world just how much creativity Simpson College has to offer.
“Introducing students to the literary landscape and the editorial process is really, really gratifying and helps them not only as writers but as people who think about artwork and creativity and literature.”
Emma Brown, a first-year double-majoring in psychology and English, is the poetry editor for Sequel. Brown stated reading and editing others’ work helps her with both majors by analyzing people’s thoughts and writing poetry.
“I am an extremely firm believer that anybody who is going to submit something to Sequel is going to have a benefit. Even if that is your first time trying to get your work published somewhere or not,” she said.
Brown made it clear Sequel is for anyone who is interested.
“Anybody who can write should submit to Sequel because it doesn’t matter what your major is, like you, maybe going into polysci, but sometimes you’ve got some banger writing skills or some amazing writing skills that you would love to share,” she said.
To view notable work on Sequel, visit the Literary Journal of Simpson College website. To submit a prose, poem, photograph or any visual artwork, send it to [email protected] for the next issue to come.
