Portraits in Ink: the DSA Literary Magazine

BY ROSA KLIEN
     In an age where self-expression often finds its voice through digital platforms, Portraits in Ink, the school's literary magazine, stands as a steadfast bridge between aspiring writers and the printed page. 

PHOTO CREDIT: ROSA KLIEN
​Created by the Portraits in Ink outreach team, this poster shows the link and QR code to the Lit Mag’s writing (poetry and prose) submissions page.

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     Portraits in Ink has been a crucial part of DSA's talent-showcasing efforts. It publishes art and writing, side by side, in a concise booklet. It is a good opportunity for writers and visual artists at DSA to have their work published, and the magazine is carefully curated and designed by members of the Creative Writing IV class. 
     "I would describe Portraits in Ink as a collaborative effort towards highlighting student work at DSA. What makes it unique is the variety of perspectives and personalities, brought together to jury work and present it artfully," Maddie Freeman, an outreach team member, recounted.
     Every day, students come into their Creative Writing IV class and get ready to review submitted pieces. There are three teams: outreach, which advertises the Lit Mag and reviews the art submissions; poetry, which reviews the poetry submissions; and the prose team, which looks over the prose submissions.
     "As the editor, my job is to organize and anonymize every submission to send to our different teams. On top of that, I am keeping the crew on track for the hopeful publication date and setting up my teams for success by organizing all of our work!" Zoe McDonald, the head editor, described.
     As submissions start flowing in, The Lit Mag staff begin sorting through every entry carefully, deciding which would fit best into the magazine. Each submission is reviewed by multiple team members, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation process.

     "We have people reading submissions, putting our pages together, brainstorming contest and promotion ideas, creating our budget," Ellie Griffin, a team lead, stated. 
     As the editorial team debates submissions, each piece demands careful consideration. The meticulous jurying process weighs creativity against technical skill, deepening the teams’ understanding of literature and enhancing their commitment to showcasing the best pieces.
     "Accepted or not, your work, whether art or writing, is so important to our school's voice, and we are so honored that people let us see their work! Submissions are anonymous to our editors, but every person's voice is so prominent in every piece," added Zoe MacDonald.
     Publishing in DSA’s literary magazine is a great opportunity for students to get their work out there. It provides a platform for recognition and feedback. It can be very helpful for artists and writers who want to strengthen their craft and get accepted by a respected source.
     "For anyone planning to submit, I suggest finding someone to proofread your work… grammar and effective wording can go a long way. Submissions are open to any middle or high school student until January 17th. If you're interested, you can find the link on our Instagram or one of the posters hung around the school!" Griffin concluded.