The University of Iowa, being located in literature-rich Iowa City, has amassed many literary magazines that flourish on its campus. The following list dives into the literary magazines on campus and provides insight into their similarities and differences.

Boundless

The literary magazine of the Translate Iowa Project, Boundless, is annually published during the spring and features creative pieces written in a diverse array of languages. Accepting poetry, prose, drama, and artwork, Boundless encourages cultural inclusivity and creativity by providing open spaces for all languages.

Cave Writing

Cave Writing stands out from other literary magazines on campus by solely accepting standalone chapters from longer fiction works, ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 words. There is no guideline on where the chapter must be located within the longer story, but Cave Writing asks for a brief piece of context for the reader. Previously only published online, Cave Writing is preparing to launch its first print edition in August.

earthwords

The oldest literary magazine on campus, earthwords showcases select artistic and literary pieces produced by undergraduate UI students. earthwords’ publication varies in both style and length but strives to empower the community and highlight a diverse array of published pieces. In addition to being a literary magazine, earthwords also hosts events throughout the year, including workshops and open mics, that provide students with an outlet to express themselves in front of an audience.

Venus Magazine

While some literary magazines accept a multitude of genres, Venus Magazine focuses solely on romance, publishing romantic fiction and poetry in an effort to bring more love into the world. Venus Magazine is published semiannually and accepts and amplifies romance stories from authors of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities.

Ink Lit

Ink Lit aims to educate first-year students in the world of publishing by being the only undergraduate literary magazine on campus that publishes pieces solely from first-year UI students and Iowa Writers’ Workshop Living Learning Community alumni as well as being run entirely by first-year UI students. Published biannually, Ink Lit accepts a variety of creative pieces, including poetry, fiction, and photography.

“The mission of Ink Lit Magazine is to provide experience and support to undergraduate students who are interested in learning about publishing and having their work read by a larger audience,” Jessica Pfeifer, editor in chief for the most recently published 29th edition of Ink Lit, said. “We believe in creativity, in work that advances the possibility of the written word, and we are committed to reading work from all writers, regardless of genre — openly, honestly, and fairly.”

Fools Magazine

Fools Magazine pushes boundaries and encourages submissions to do the same. Without any parameters on genre — structure, format, or style — interested students can submit literary or artistic works of any kind. Fools Magazine stands out for its design work and emphasis on creativity, and publishes its magazine semiannually.

Horizon Magazine

Formed in 2020, Horizon Magazine is an undergraduate literary magazine that accepts a wide variety of genres and creative media. The mission behind Horizon is to explore new horizons in the creative world and the dichotomy of these new concepts — embracing both positive and negative aspects of the journey and change.

Catharsis

Unlike some other literary magazines that accept a variety of genres, Catharsis exclusively highlights a genre often underrepresented in literary magazines: nonfiction. Catharsis publishes nonfiction pieces that explore the human experience, and the catharsis storytelling brings to authors and audiences alike. Catharsis also collects anonymous confessions, promoting an outlet for exploring emotions in their rawest form and highlighting the fact that even the simplest statement of life is important enough to be published.

“Our aim is to showcase nonfiction writing that explores the human experience. We encourage the exploration of nonfiction as a genre of literature and a vessel for interpreting your reality,” Madeline Riske, editor in chief of Catharsis, said. “Anybody can express their honesty through our confessions at any time, and we hope they can find catharsis through this action.”

New Moon

Unlike other literary magazines that publish once or twice a year, New Moon releases a new edition every month that is always exactly one page long. Focusing on flash fiction and short poetry, New Moon offers a regular outlet for publication for undergraduate students and provides accessible literature for the community.

The Broken Clock

The Broken Clock is an undergraduate literary magazine on campus with a focus on time. Whether literally or metaphorically, The Broken Clock accepts a wide array of creative pieces, including poetry, artwork, and fiction, which revolve primarily around the theme of time.

“One writer could have a positive outlook on time and write a story about happy memories and tender moments. Another could take a much darker view and meditate on the inevitability of death and impermanence,” Josh Schrader, fiction editor for The Broken Clock, said. 

“The possibilities are endless, and I always enjoy the opportunity to see what people end up creating,” he said.

Orlando

One of the newer literary magazines on campus, Orlando is the first undergraduate literary magazine dedicated to LGBTQ+ media, providing a safe space on campus for the community. Orlando accepts a wide variety of literary genres and art pieces, as long as either the author, characters, topic, or theme is queer and encourages people of all backgrounds to submit their work.

Zealous

Published online and in print semiannually, Zealous is the only lifestyle and culture magazine on campus. With a focus on fashion, art, photography, and journalism, Zealous promotes making an impact with their publication through themes of cultural experiences and social justice.

Snapshots

Working closely with the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Snapshots is a literary magazine dedicated to children’s literature for children between the ages of 4 and 14. Snapshots aims to provide a lighthearted, educational experience for everyone involved and strives to bring positivity to the local community’s children.

Wilder Things Magazine

Unique to Wilder Things Magazine is the fact that not only are UI students published, but college students from all over the world have had their work featured. Focusing on the genre of speculative fiction, Wilder Things Magazine encourages the uncanny and offers an outlet for unconventional works to combat the elitism often found within the literary world.

The Fount

The Fount, one of the newest literary magazines on campus, is the first all-faith-based literary magazine at UI. Launched by the Geneva Campus Ministry and UI students, The Fount is an annual publication aiming to explore the diverse journeys of faith in everyday lives. While the Geneva Campus Ministry is a Christian group, The Fount is available for all students, regardless of their worldviews or beliefs.