Last December 9, 2008 was the release of the first issue of the annual creative writing journal of the UP DECL, & (Ampersand). To my knowledge this is the first UP publication of undergraduate creative writing.
About a year ago a friend from the Ateneo gave (not lent) me a copy of Heights (in full color), and I was at that time wow-ed. I planned to write an article/rant about the absence of such channels for undergraduate students in UP, but due to my procrastination, the publication I’ve been looking for has had ample time to catch up. Hurrah! I can’t offer a decent review at the moment (perhaps never). We’ll see whether I can muster up enough arrogance over the Christmas break. I am halfway through the titles though not in chronological order. I’ve just been randomly choosing which entries to read.
First impressions: FRESH, imaginative, quirky, intelligent, experimental, bold, daring, COOL.
Favorite: Lambert Varias’ Ss.
Before I manage to disinterest and discourage you, here’s the cover illustration grabbed from a group mail sent by the maiden issue’s editor Prof. Conchitina Cruz:
ampersand
Features work by the following authors:
Jessica Balaquit
Melissa Villa-Real Basmayor
Gustav Brandon Trinidad Cruz
Dana Lee F. Delgado
Arlynn Raymundo Despi
Aaron Galzote
Georgiana Diane O. Go
Gayle Krystle A. Grey
Hong Song I
Tracy Ignacio
Justine Kison
Sarah Matias
Cristina Morales
Anna Oposa
Theresa Russel Padillo
Janina Pascual
Pedro Ilustreto B. Publico.
Francis Paolo M. Quina
Eris Heidi L. Ramos
Richard Dean Reposar
John Lester P. Roque
Louise Jashil R. Sonido
E.M. Tobias
Lambert Varias
Prof. Conchitina Cruz wrote about &:
& is an annual publication that collects the best work of the year written by both undergraduate and graduate students in the courses offered by the UP Creative Writing Program. Ensuring diversity in subject, substance, and style, it features the most imaginative work to come out of basic courses in creative writing (CW 10 and CW 100); workshops in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, writing for children/young adults, and comic book writing; special topics courses in creative writing (such as Erotica and Science Fiction); as well as CL genre courses in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Edited each year by a member of the Creative Writing faculty, & aims to challenge young writers to strive for excellence in their craft by serving as a healthily competitive and elegantly produced venue for them to see their work in print.
So what are you waiting for? Pocket a hundred bucks and get to the UP Press (Balay Kalinaw) or the DECL (at FC). Get your ass moving!
