Spring Break
Towerlight revamps design, content
Rachel Moir
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
Ten months ago, the Towerlight's publishing board met and interviewed senior Michael Hamilton. Since that meeting, which clinched Hamilton's position as the literary magazine's editor-in-chief this semester, he has worked to improve the publication's content and design.
"I want the Towerlight to be able to discern what actually approaches art versus what approaches so called poetry and fiction," Hamilton said. "I took three months to consider people whose literary judgment I respect, people who will give the staff a level of diversity. We all pick up on different things."
Staff members say they are excited by the publication's prospects.
"The first night we started talking about the Towerlight, I was up until 5:30 in the morning, because I was really excited about some different ideas. I just threw down a bunch of ideas in a book," said junior Dan Miloch, one of the magazine's designers. "I even picked up a bunch of color cards from the Wal-Mart paint department, and [the designers] have been looking at paper samples."
The design staff has decided to take a different direction than in issues past. Building on head design editor and sophomore Emily Breiner's work on the last Towerlight publication, the team has chosen to differentiate design more between individual pages.
Miloch said the design team will begin choosing specific sketches once they get a more cohesive idea of the magazine's content.
"I think we're probably going to be focusing more on the individual poems, and making it more personalized, making it more organic," Miloch said.
The quality of the magazine relies in part on the participation of the student body. Hamilton said he has seen some unifying aspects in submissions.
"The trend seems to be toward an attempt to reveal a startling or profound truth discovered in an ordinary situation," said Hamilton. "The danger for young writers is becoming cliché. I'd like to see more poetry that uses real language. Beginning poets struggle with a temptation to use archaic language and overused forms that may be correct, but in fact don't speak to readers."
Hamilton said he has high hopes for the publication and its content.
They received over 500 submissions at this point.
"So far the quality of the submissions have given the editors a lot to hope for," said Hamilton. "And heck of a lot to talk about."
The publication is scheduled for release April 11.
"I want the Towerlight to be able to discern what actually approaches art versus what approaches so called poetry and fiction," Hamilton said. "I took three months to consider people whose literary judgment I respect, people who will give the staff a level of diversity. We all pick up on different things."
Staff members say they are excited by the publication's prospects.
"The first night we started talking about the Towerlight, I was up until 5:30 in the morning, because I was really excited about some different ideas. I just threw down a bunch of ideas in a book," said junior Dan Miloch, one of the magazine's designers. "I even picked up a bunch of color cards from the Wal-Mart paint department, and [the designers] have been looking at paper samples."
The design staff has decided to take a different direction than in issues past. Building on head design editor and sophomore Emily Breiner's work on the last Towerlight publication, the team has chosen to differentiate design more between individual pages.
Miloch said the design team will begin choosing specific sketches once they get a more cohesive idea of the magazine's content.
"I think we're probably going to be focusing more on the individual poems, and making it more personalized, making it more organic," Miloch said.
The quality of the magazine relies in part on the participation of the student body. Hamilton said he has seen some unifying aspects in submissions.
"The trend seems to be toward an attempt to reveal a startling or profound truth discovered in an ordinary situation," said Hamilton. "The danger for young writers is becoming cliché. I'd like to see more poetry that uses real language. Beginning poets struggle with a temptation to use archaic language and overused forms that may be correct, but in fact don't speak to readers."
Hamilton said he has high hopes for the publication and its content.
They received over 500 submissions at this point.
"So far the quality of the submissions have given the editors a lot to hope for," said Hamilton. "And heck of a lot to talk about."
The publication is scheduled for release April 11.
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