Although The University of Alabama offers several publishing outlets to students, the Dewpoint Literary Journal specializes in poetry, prose and critical writing, for which they have received national recognition.
Dewpoint is run by the Phi Xi chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society. Phi Xi works with the English and creative writing departments with a goal of publishing the creative works on campus and is open to all undergraduate students. This year marks Dewpoint’s third year to publish at the University.
The student journal was awarded the second-place national prize for Most Outstanding Literary Journal for 2011-2012 from Sigma Tau Delta. The publication was not eligible for an award last spring semester, however, because of their award the previous fall. This semester’s publication will be their first chance at a second national award.
Dewpoint publications are divided into three main sections: poetry, prose and critical writing. Some of the previous Dewpoint issues also included space for submitted art – a factor that may be left out of the newest publication. A graphic novel may also be included instead of, or possibly in addition to, art.
Last year’s journal was published through Borgo Publishing, a company current Dewpoint staff hope to continue working with.
Besides aesthetic changes to the physical journal, Dewpoint hopes to expand to universities across the state and the Southeast.
“It is a new big idea to take this project and make it more than UA this year,” Joey Gamble, poetry editor of Dewpoint, said. “That way, we would have a larger submission pool for undergraduates this year. We could possibly include either universities in the Southeast or just in Alabama. The original foundation for Dewpoint was an outlet for publication here at UA, so if we move away from our original position, it will be a lot more work, but it could expand our legitimacy and help our longevity in our projects.”
The extension of Dewpoint would bring more opportunities for aspiring writers and poets to get published and create an avenue for other schools that do not have the same publication opportunities as a major university to have a chance at national recognition.
“We won this award at convention, which adds something special to being a part of it,” Nadia Barksdale, the journal’s design editor, said. “Expanding could bring our work to a higher level.”
Dewpoint staff members agree that incorporating opinions that differ throughout the region into the publication could improve the status of the journal.
“Our main purpose to state to our readers is that this is Alabama, and we hope to redefine what it means to be an Alabama writer today,” Shea Stripling, the journal’s editor-in-chief, said.
Dewpoint accepts staff members and submissions from the entire UA student body.
