Students have just over a month to pitch their creativity to “Furnace,” a PNW visual and literary journal.
The journal “Furnace” is published annually by the Department of English. It accepts short stories, creative nonfiction, poetry, academic essays, and visual art. About half of the 200 pieces submitted are published.
“It’s a nice way to showcase work outside of the department,” said Sarah White, professor of English. “You can be a non-English major and submit … It’s a great opportunity for students from any discipline.”
The journal began in 1970 as “Portals”. It became “Furnace” in 2016, after the merging of the Hammond and Westville campuses, and has since been published annually. Last year’s journal is available in both paperback and digital versions via Amazon.
Mark Banaag, a senior Visual Communication major, has submitted work to “Furnace”.
“Publications like these are very important to have around because it allows for proper preservation of the works of PNW students as well as the uplifting of their talents and efforts,” he said.
The publication is produced by students of ENGL 30502 Creative Writing as a Profession. They analyze submissions and participate in the selection of pieces to be featured in the coming edition.
“It gives them a behind-the-curtain view, like the Wizard of Oz,” said White. “We see the wizard and how it works.”
The class collaborates to finalize the edition to help them understand the publication and design process. The student’s goal is to include material that is original and engaging enough to create emotion or thought in the audience.
“As writers, we all want to be novelists and hit it with the right story,” said White. “The writing end is enhanced once you understand the process and become more professionalized, making your writing more marketable.”
Students whose pieces are accepted are honored at a “Furnace” release party after publication and given a chance to speak about their work to an audience. Copies of the journal are given to contributors and guests but can also be purchased online.
The 2023 version of “Furnace” will be available by June.
