January 19, 2012
UConn students, it’s that time of the year again. LRR fiction, nonfiction, poetry and translations submissions are due by Monday, January 30. Art submissions are due by Monday, February 6.
We are looking for work from a wide range of UConn students and encourage all to submit, regardless of major.
There are two ways to submit work:
Email submissions to submissions@longriverreview.com or submit hard copies in CLAS 162.
Refer HERE for more info
January 9, 2012
Prevent a Disgrace that is Blue Ivy, Bronx Mowgli, Sage Moonblood, &c. and Pick a Classy Literary Name in the Process
Beyoncé had her baby on Saturday and named her Blue Ivy Carter.
My peers and I are at the age where our siblings, cousins and friends are all having children, and we argue over acceptable names all the time. I guarantee that every girl on campus is walking around with a mental list of names for her own future offspring and many of these names are incredibly ugly. Think Ocean. Nevaeh. These are not acceptable and celebrities are not helping. When they name their children Blue Ivy, Bronx Mowgli, Coco Riley and Sage Moonblood, they’re only encouraging heavy psychiatric bills and my internal cringes. Of course, every parent wants an aesthetically pleasing and unique name for her child, and my response to this is to pick one that’s both classy and literary. Beyoncé, there was no need to name your baby Blue Ivy.
Literary Names for Girls
Auden – Although originally a boy’s name, this is growing in popularity for girls too. Reminiscent of poet W.H. Auden.
Briony – An overly imaginative young writer in Ian McEwan’s Atonement.
Ella – Probably the most enchanting girl’s name, it means “bright light.” And who doesn’t love the classic, Cinderella?
Emma – A novel by Jane Austen highlighting the whims and errors of a vivacious genteel girl.
Esmé – I admit, this is a difficult name to pull off. It’s from J.D. Salinger’s “For Esmé – With Love and Squalor.” She’s a young and innocent girl who helps a soldier cope with the trials of war.
Harper – Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Sarah – Originally from the Hebrew, Sarai, it means “princess.” Of course, the main character in The Little Princess is named Sarah.
Sydney – The first literary character I think of is Charles Dickens’ Sydney Carton, but it’s made the gender change in the last century and is still a great choice for girls.
Wendy – J.M. Barrie created this name for the children’s classic, Peter Pan, and I’m rather fond of it if you can get over the fact that it’s a fast food chain.
When in doubt, do not create a ridiculous name for your child. This includes, but is not limited to, foods, colors, days of the week and words that are not actually words (think “Moonblood”). I will, however, insert a disclaimer: Not all literary names are good names. Do not name your child Lolita. That would be a mistake.
December 3, 2011
Call for Nonfiction Submissions/How You Know You’re a Nonfiction Writer
1. You know you’re a nonfiction writer if there are moments you cannot shake. Granted, we all have them. Mine include the night down by the ferry, when I sat beneath the one blinking stoplight at 11 p.m., feet propped on my dashboard, a.c. running. I listened to the late night fisherman cast their lines and reel their reels until I fell asleep, only waking when the ferryman rapped on the window at dawn; “Are you crossing this morning, Miss?”
They include the day Will and I ran along the river, right before a summer storm. The soft soil gave way under our Nikes, the cornfields undulated in the wind, the stalks roared until Will stopped and shouted, “God. Sounds like Ragnarok.” And I looked up the river half expecting to see the ship of nails because he was right.
2. You know you’re a nonfiction writer if you feel compelled to write these moments down, not only after the fact, but during. You separate yourself from the scene and become a viewer instead of a player. You have had a Tuesday morning tangled in someone else’s comforter. You have replayed in your mind the slight dilation of his pupils, the sharp curves of his shoulder blades, the wisps of hair that drift across his forehead. You have sat, Indian style, and watched him sleep because he is the most beautiful person you have ever seen. But then you’ve pulled yourself away from the sleeping boy, and grabbed a napkin and a pen to write the moment down, because it would be unbearable to forget.
3. You know you’re a nonfiction writer if you need to get these moments just right, and while you come close, the finished product will never quite suffice.
If you’re a nonfiction writer, send me your best characters, your little deaths, your early morning runs, your raw memories. There need not be any concrete exposition, climax or resolution. Send me your honest thoughts, your burnt toast, your sibling rivalries, your Tuesday morning comforters. I’ll read them.
E-mail submissions may be sent to submissions@longriverreview.com. Deadline is January 30, 2012. I expect great things.
Your nonfiction editor,
a.k.p.