Art and writing are common outlets for expressing oneself. However, sometimes artists and writers are hesitant to get their work published or showcased, especially students. This process can often feel intimidating, as most opportunities available are for competitions. Due to these factors, founder and president Yena Nam, 12, created the Literary-Art Magazine Club (Lit-Mag). This club operates as part of Newspaper Club and is dedicated to creating a magazine composed of artworks and writings done by Mavericks.

“What I realized is that students need a platform to showcase their works,” Nam said. “So that’s the reason I created Literary-Art Magazine, in which students can submit their writing, and also artworks, and compile them into one cohesive magazine.”

Beyond helping her fellow students, another driving force behind Lit-Mag’s initial creation was Nam’s personal passion for creating art.

“I love doing art. I’m an art enthusiast,” Nam said. “Ultimately, I really want the magazine to be a force to foster literary and artistic appreciation overall.”

A similar passion is evident in other members of the club, such as the vice president, Ardyn Lessner, 11, and it was a major factor behind her decision to apply for Writing Committee leader that first year.

“I applied for it because I’ve always had a big interest in writing and art,” Lessner said. “I took art classes throughout middle school, and I was really passionate about it. I’ve always loved just expressing myself through different elements of art.”

When Nam first founded the club, she was a sophomore and unsure how to really run a club. However, as Lit-Mag enters its third year, Nam, along with Lessner, have made adjustments and improvements to the club’s previous structure to become more organized.

“We have a Google Drive now that we share that has all our files, … past submissions and stuff,” Lessner said. “We have a Google form that students submit stuff [to] now. Instead of the officers having to go through and copy that onto separate sheets … [for] our committees … it’s automated now, so it separates itself.”

Lit-Mag’s organization has improved beyond only the technological aspects, specifically when considering its three committees. Club members’ work is divided into three committees that focus mainly on art, design and writing to help construct the magazine.

“We were able to consolidate the process and the structure behind the design committee … our design skills improved a lot,” Nam said. “Also … communication between team members really allowed us to present the magazine at the end of the year, making sure we’re meeting all the due dates. We’re taking all the members’ [input into] account [during] the process. Now, I feel like we have those materials to be able to run the club in general from the start to the end.”

Overall, those improvements have allowed Lit-Mag to run as it does now. Currently, the club is open to submissions for this year’s upcoming edition of the magazine, so make sure to submit any works to the club or even consider joining if it sparks an interest!

Nam said, “If you’re a person who’s trying to find a place to improve your skills and communication, and have more exposure to different works in writing and art, Literary-Art Magazine Club is for you.”