elementia is a literary arts magazine published by the Johnson County Library to represent and uplift young adults. 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 XXIV Theme: Entropy
What is Entropy?
Entropy (n.) Disorderly. The universe tends toward disorder, molecules scatter, stars collapse, plans unravel.
And yet, within the chaos, we search for meaning.
We build routines, draw lines, make sense of the senseless. Where does the chaos end and the order begin?
Show us what you’ve found, let go of, or created out of the mess; bring your entropy to us.
We are looking for teens to join our design committee for our 24th issue: Entropy. Applicants should be 14-19 and able to make meetings in person at Johnson County Library locations. Committee members receive volunteer hours for all work.
Please ensure to the best of your ability that you are available for the following meeting dates (subject to change with prior notice) :
Kick-Off : September 2nd; 6-7:30pm
Meeting: October 7th; 6-7:30pm
Meeting: November 4th; 6-7:30pm
Meeting: December 2nd; 5-7:30pm
Meeting: February 3rd; 6-7:30pm
Design and Editorial Meeting: Saturday, February 13th, 2027; 1-4pm
Meeting: March 3rd; 6-7:30pm
Design and Editorial Meeting: Saturday, March 13th, 2027; 1-4pm
Meeting: April 7th; 6-7:30pm
Meeting: May 5th; 6-7:30pm
Poetry, Short Story and Essay Submission Guidelines Each piece of writing or art should be submitted as an individual entry. 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. Please send us your most final draft, as our editing stage only allows for minimal adjustments.
A glimpse behind the scenes: Many writing contests limit submissions to 1000 words, and elementia has never published a piece longer than 2000 words. Editorial staff retain the right to publish excerpts in print. Our editors appreciate contributors' curation of submissions to five pieces or fewer.
Poetry, Short Story and Essay Submission Guidelines Each piece of writing or art should be submitted as an individual entry. 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. Please send us your most final draft, as our editing stage only allows for minimal adjustments.
A glimpse behind the scenes: Many writing contests limit submissions to 1000 words, and elementia has never published a piece longer than 2000 words. Editorial staff retain the right to publish excerpts in print. Our editors appreciate contributors' curation of submissions to five pieces or fewer.
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).