We are looking for teens to join our design committee for our 21st issue (2023-24 school year).  Applicants should be 14-19 and able to make meetings both virtually and in person at Johnson County Library locations. Committee members receive volunteer hours for all work.

Editorial Committee Expectations

Time Commitment: 50 hours of reading and 16 hours of meetings

Selecting what is published in elementia is an important task & truly a team effort. As a selector you have the rare opportunity to read the words of your peers and help the library compile & showcase the voice of your generation. As a selector your goal will be to read & rate all submissions assigned to you. You are expected to attend all editorial meetings and come prepared (having read all assignments and completed any additional tasks assigned by Library staff).

*All submissions are online and can be read at your convenience–anytime & anywhere with an internet connection.

Example Schedule (exact schedule set in August)

• Sat Mid Jan 12-3pm: Orientation Meeting (lunch provided)
• Feb 1: all submissions close to the public
• Sat Mid Feb 1:30-3pm: Check-in meeting
• Late Feb: Writing scores due
• Sat Late Feb 12-3pm: Final Selection Meeting 1
• Sat Late Feb 12-3pm: Final Selection Meeting 2
• Late April: Issue launch party

Design Committee Expectations

 Time Commitment: 50 hours of selection and design work and and 8 hours of meetings 

Designing elementia is an exciting and important project and a team effort. As a designer, you shape the look, feel and design of the magazine, pairing words and images, and working with the Art Director to decide on the format and length of the magazine. 

*Designers are not required to have software of their own. The Library will provide access to Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InCopy and Adobe Illustrator to all designers. You will need to provide your own computer, with the ability to install these applications.

Example Schedule (exact schedule set in August)

• Sat Mid Jan 12-3pm: Orientation Meeting (lunch provided)
• Feb 1: all submissions close to the public
• Late Feb: Art scores due
• Sat Early March 12-3pm: Final Selection Meeting (lunch provided)
• Spring Break Design Work Times
• Sat Late March Copy edit session
• Late April: Issue launch party

elementia is a teen literary zine published to represent and uplift young adults (up to age 19). Submissions must be original work. We welcome simultaneous submissions (things that you're sending elsewhere for consideration) and pieces that have been previously published (as long as you hold the publication rights). 

Issue XXI Theme: The Unspoken

We live in a world fueled by communication and collaboration, yet there are so many thoughts we never share, conversations we struggle to start and ideas that are suppressed.

What are the words you leave unspoken? Is it always truly by choice? Are there barriers that lead to us staying silent? Historically, what has kept people mute? Discover the obstacles in your life that have led you to keep certain things behind sealed lips. Do culture and childhood contribute to taboos? How do the people who surround us mold us into believing we should leave certain things unsaid? Explore how your upbringing has influenced your opinions and how you navigate communication.

What are the random thoughts that inspire you, make you laugh, cry or even cringe? The passing thoughts that spill on to shower walls, down bus aisles or even on the underside of classroom desks. The ideas you can’t clearly get out on paper, and are stuck in your head — growing like wildflowers. What are the song lyrics in your brain you haven’t quite found the rhythms for, or the beats that don’t have words to go with them?

Take a moment to reflect on the unspoken statements and ideas in your life and their effect on yourself and others. Explore the power of the invisible constructs that impact us all. Bring the stories you’ve kept secret to life, unleash your creativity across any medium and speak what you’ve left unspoken.

Submit your art, writing and poetry to elementia through February 1, 2024 and start your own cycle. 

Poetry, Short Story and Essay Submission Guidelines

There aren't any word count limitations, but we encourage submitters to pick their best excerpts from pieces that are too long for publication in a magazine. Each piece of writing or art should be submitted as an individual entry, but there is no limit to the number of pieces you can submit. Please send us your most final draft, as our editing stage only allows for minimal adjustments.

Looking for feedback on your writing?  Use your Johnson County Library card to access the Writing Lab from Brainfuse HelpNow!

 elementia is a teen literary zine published to represent and uplift young adults (up to age 19). Submissions must be original work. We welcome simultaneous submissions (things that you're sending elsewhere for consideration) and pieces that have been previously published (as long as you hold the publication rights). 

Issue XXI Theme: The Unspoken

We live in a world fueled by communication and collaboration, yet there are so many thoughts we never share, conversations we struggle to start and ideas that are suppressed.

What are the words you leave unspoken? Is it always truly by choice? Are there barriers that lead to us staying silent? Historically, what has kept people mute? Discover the obstacles in your life that have led you to keep certain things behind sealed lips. Do culture and childhood contribute to taboos? How do the people who surround us mold us into believing we should leave certain things unsaid? Explore how your upbringing has influenced your opinions and how you navigate communication.

What are the random thoughts that inspire you, make you laugh, cry or even cringe? The passing thoughts that spill on to shower walls, down bus aisles or even on the underside of classroom desks. The ideas you can’t clearly get out on paper, and are stuck in your head — growing like wildflowers. What are the song lyrics in your brain you haven’t quite found the rhythms for, or the beats that don’t have words to go with them?

Take a moment to reflect on the unspoken statements and ideas in your life and their effect on yourself and others. Explore the power of the invisible constructs that impact us all. Bring the stories you’ve kept secret to life, unleash your creativity across any medium and speak what you’ve left unspoken.

Submit your art, writing and poetry to elementia through February 1, 2024 and start your own cycle.

Poetry, Short Story and Essay Submission Guidelines

There aren't any word count limitations, but we encourage submitters to pick their best excerpts from pieces that are too long for publication in a magazine. Each piece of writing or art should be submitted as an individual entry, but there is no limit to the number of pieces you can submit. Please send us your most final draft, as our editing stage only allows for minimal adjustments.

Looking for feedback on your writing?  Use your Johnson County Library card to access the Writing Lab from Brainfuse HelpNow!

elementia is a teen literary zine published to represent and uplift young adults (up to age 19). Submissions must be original work. We welcome simultaneous submissions (things that you're sending elsewhere for consideration) and pieces that have been previously published (as long as you hold the publication rights). 

Issue XXI Theme: The Unspoken

We live in a world fueled by communication and collaboration, yet there are so many thoughts we never share, conversations we struggle to start and ideas that are suppressed.

What are the words you leave unspoken? Is it always truly by choice? Are there barriers that lead to us staying silent? Historically, what has kept people mute? Discover the obstacles in your life that have led you to keep certain things behind sealed lips. Do culture and childhood contribute to taboos? How do the people who surround us mold us into believing we should leave certain things unsaid? Explore how your upbringing has influenced your opinions and how you navigate communication.

What are the random thoughts that inspire you, make you laugh, cry or even cringe? The passing thoughts that spill on to shower walls, down bus aisles or even on the underside of classroom desks. The ideas you can’t clearly get out on paper, and are stuck in your head — growing like wildflowers. What are the song lyrics in your brain you haven’t quite found the rhythms for, or the beats that don’t have words to go with them?

Take a moment to reflect on the unspoken statements and ideas in your life and their effect on yourself and others. Explore the power of the invisible constructs that impact us all. Bring the stories you’ve kept secret to life, unleash your creativity across any medium and speak what you’ve left unspoken.

Submit your art, writing and poetry to elementia through February 1, 2024 and start your own cycle.

Art Guidelines

Please submit the highest resolution image you can, if we accept your piece for publication we will need a 300dpi image for printing purposes. If you don't have the ability to submit a high resolution image, submit what you have and if accepted for publication, we may reach out to you and help scan a higher resolution version. Visual art submissions will be treated as graphics may be subject to alteration (including, but not limited to: cropping, flipping, and other changes).