UofL's Online Literary Journal Miracle Monocle is an online journal of innovative literary and visual art.
Published annually in the Spring, the journal features poems, short stories, literary nonfiction, and a range of experimental works. We pride ourselves on serving as a home for flash and micro fictions of all varieties, as well as works with genre indeterminacies, fresh collaborations, and re-invigorations of more traditional forms. The journal was founded in 2009 by Jacob Thomas Berns and Matthew
Crady; was re-established and renewed by Ryan Ridge in 2015. Faculty Editor Sarah Anne Strickley has been at the helm since 2017, navigating a period of growth and recognition for the journal. Miracle Monocle is made possible by funding from the University of Louisville's English Department, and is staffed by a team of graduate and undergraduate editors. Previously unpublished and emerging writers are highly encouraged to submit. Please visit our archives to sample previous issues of the journal.
Miracle Monocle is pleased to announce that we're open for summer submissions. We'll be reading work in five categories (experimental, poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art), as well as entries to our fall competition: The Miracle Monocle Award for Innovative Literature. https://miraclemonocle.submittable.com/submit
Here's a highlight from Issue 22 to get your day started right: Read Sarah Brennan's "Radical Participation: An Introvert Goes to Burning Man" for a fresh take on the cultural phenomenon: https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/issue-22/sarah-brennan
Our new issue is chock full of experimental delights. Enjoy this one from MUKETHE KAWINZI
https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/issue-22/mukethe-kawinzi
We're excited to bring you the final behind-the-scenes chat featuring our three graduate editors.
https://on.soundcloud.com/em6fVNsatZW8uJdy5
Good morning!
I’m writing to invite you to enjoy the latest issue of Miracle Monocle: https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle
Here are some of the highlights you'll encounter in Issue 22:
We’re thrilled to host the winner of the annual Calvino Prize for Fabulist Fiction, Young Rader. Read “A Bit of Green Apple, A Bit of Rotten Meat” for a wild ride.
Also, our Award for Young Black Writers went to fifteen year-old Adina Jeremiah for her poem, “Dark Sparkle Beneath Ivory Waves.” We partnered with Hot Brown Press to create a limited-edition letterpress broadside of the wining piece.
Issue 22 is chock full of all of the experimental and hybrid delights readers of the journal have come to expect, including a series of field songs from Mukethe Kawinzi, drawn from her work as a shepherd, a comic from Eliza Scudder that explores the perils of yoga teacher training, and a tryptic from Mary Senter that will honor the latch-key kids among us.
You’ll find some (slightly b***y) new poems from David Kirby and Candice M. Kelsey in this issue, but we also want to draw attention to Kate Polak’s potent evocation of Appalachia. Laine Derr will stun you with an epistolary turn and his moving evocations of grief.
Discover the risks and rewards of matchmaking in China with Huina Zheng’s short fiction; you’ll want to brace yourself as you enter the storyworld of Stephen Wunderli’s “The Birdwatcher.” Our highlights in the creative nonfiction category include a debut essay from Sarah Brennan about Burning Man and an experimental piece from Nathaniel Lachenmeyer.
I also want to acknowledge that our student editors have contributed seven reviews/interviews of new or forthcoming books, including Amy Lee Lillard’s buzz-worthy Exile from Guyville, and new books by Louisville natives Kristen Gentry and Ellen Birkett Morris.
Speaking of our wonderful student editorial staff, if you happen to know one of these students, please consider offering them your congratulations:
Graduate Editors: Nicky Alexander, Jennings Collins, Jolie Finley
Senior Editors: Anita DeSeno-Tanguay, Keyona Hughes, Corey McQueen
Associate Editors: Caroline Dayon, Zyla Dortch, Sam Ellsworth, Teagan Fowlkes, Khloe Hatton, Natalie Mudd, Ashley Rutland, Collin White
Finally, I want to take a moment to invite you all to partake in a Miracle Monocle event that will lead us off-campus for the first time in a few years. We’ll be hosting a Spring Open Mic event at the Logan Street Market on April 25, at 7 p.m. Visit one of the many awesome vendors on site to grab a bite or a boba and then stroll over to the Art Gallery space to join us. All are welcome to read, though we won’t judge you if you don’t.
As always, thanks for your continued support of the journal!
Warmly,
Sarah
Faculty Editor, Miracle Monocle
The Spring 2024 Issue of Miracle Monocle Launches Today! - https://mailchi.mp/5960dc3d95cd/the-spring-2024-issue-of-miracle-monocle-launches-today
Join our three graduate editors (Jennings, Jolie, and Nicky) as they take us behind the scenes of our selection/editing process, share the key to pulling off a good prank, and share important news about events at UofL—and beyond!
https://on.soundcloud.com/faFAqrjDDPqWPftv7
Join our three graduate editors (Nicky, Jennings, and Jolie) as they take listeners behind the scenes of the selection process for our forthcoming issue, share their experiences as burgeoning scholars at UofL English conferences and residencies, and offer recommendations for your next streaming experience.
https://soundcloud.com/user-181284648/miracle-monocle-behind-the-scenes-with-our-grad-editors?si=66f295b2b5c1402286c5702e306d3783&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
This is a fantastic opportunity for young writers. We hope you’ll consider passing word along to the writers in your cohort. https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/Competitions.html
Tonight!
About a year ago, we started dreaming up a book that we felt we'd like to see in the world—a collection of literary works that dare to look at life's little (and large) failures and hunt for meaning, entertainment, and relief there.
We're now thrilled to bring you the realization of that dream, the fourth installment in the Miracle Monocle micro-anthology series: You Blew It!
Our contributors include both award-winning and emerging writers alike, serving up spectacular defeats, founderings, and frustrations in poetry and prose. Print and digital copies are available and online (links in comments), but we'll also be hand-selling books at our events.
We think "You Blew It" would make for an excellent Valentine's Day Gift, but perhaps only for the right recipient.
Pssssst! Pssst! We're still open for experimental/hybrids, creative nonfiction, and visual art, but act fast:
Miracle Monocle is now open for regular submissions. To learn more about our editorial process and practices, please visit our Editorial Code of Conduct.
Do you happen to know (or be) a fantastic English major?
https://louisville.edu/english/undergraduate/scholarships-contests/undergraduate-scholarships.html
Please join us in welcoming the Spring 2024 editorial staff of Miracle Monocle:
Faculty Editor: Dr. Sarah Anne Strickley
Assistant Editor & Managing Editor of the Miracle Monocle Micro-Anthology Series: Cecilia Durbin
Graduate Editors: Nicky Alexander, Jennings Collins, Jolie Finley
Senior Editors: Anita DeSeno-Tanguay, Keyona Hughes, Corey McQueen
Associate Editors: Caroline Dayon, Zyla Dortch (not pictured), Sam Ellsworth (not pictured), Teagan Fowlkes, Khloe Hatton, Natalie Mudd, Ashley Rutland, Collin White
We're looking forward to reading your work!
That's right, y'all. It's time to announce the deets for our annual Valentine's Day Open Mic in partnership with UofL Writing Center
We hope to see you there!
Submit to our friends!
We have extended our deadline for submissions! The new deadline is January 29th at 11:59 pm.
Pssssst! We’re open across five categories and we don’t charge for submissions!
We couldn't decide on just one cake, so we bought three! Join us today to celebrate the end of a semester of hard work and study. We'll be debuting our playlist for our new issue and also offering a paper craft station for folks who are feeling creative.
Behold! Issue 21 of Miracle Monocle: 🤩
I’m writing to invite you to enjoy the latest issue of Miracle Monocle, which launches today. Here are some of the highlights you'll encounter in Issue 21:
Feeling a little peckish? Why not order up a four-course meal from UofL English? The department will be giving away a swag bag to a student who registers this week and tells UofL English about it on social!
Thanks to all who came out the annual Halloween open mic for a simply spooktacular evening! We’re grateful to our hosts at and to all those who read, dressed up, and created a wonderfully gory exquisite co**se! 🧟♀️
Join us tonight as we partner with UofL Writing Center to give you the spookiest open mic event of the season. Costumes encouraged, though not required. Fortune and tarot readings from our fiends at The White Squirrel during the intermission. Plus, prizes and treats! 🧙♀️ 🎃 👻 😈
We've got just about one hour left in our crowdfunding frenzy, so if you've been waiting to donate, maybe now is the time. Here's how to make it happen:
The link below goes directly to the A&S page. Once on the page, you will find a red "Give Now button," as shown in the attached screenshot. Once you click there, you'll see a designation box that says "Make a selection with College of A&S." If you click there, Miracle Monocle is listed under A&S Scholarships and Special Initiatives. From there, you select Miracle Monocle and complete the rest of the form to make your gift.
Thanks for sharing, donating, tolerating our appeals!
https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofLouisville/raise-some-l/pages/AS
In just a few minutes, Miracle Monocle will begin taking part in UofL's annual fundraising bonanza and we're hoping to raise enough funds to publish our next micro-anthology. At at time when even the most well-respected and prestigious journals are vanishing at a mortifying rate, we hope you'll consider supporting a journal that makes space for innovative and experimental lit.
Unfortunately, the pathway to giving to the journal is more cumbersome than in years past, but we’re going to try to map it succinctly and clearly for you:
The link below goes directly to the A&S page. Once on the page, you will find a red "Give Now button," as shown in the attached screenshot. Once you click there, you'll see a designation box that says "Make a selection with College of A&S." If you click there, Miracle Monocle is listed under A&S Scholarships and Special Initiatives. From there, you select Miracle Monocle and complete the rest of the form to make your gift.
Thanks for sharing, donating, tolerating our appeals!
https://www.givecampus.com/schools/UniversityofLouisville/raise-some-l/pages/AS
Interested in joining the staff of Miracle Monocle? We’ll be hiring graduate and undergraduate editors enrolled at UofL English for our spring 2024 internship soon. Applying is as easy as filling out an interest form linked on our contact page:
https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/contact.html
Boo!
The White Squirrel is honored to be invited by Miracle Monocle to their Halloween Open Mic on Thursday, October 26th, from 5:30-7:30pm in Ekstrom Library 132 (The Writing Center). Come join The White Squirrel and Miracle Monocle to enjoy spooky good storytelling! Whether you want to provide the frights or be frightened, everyone is welcome. Costumes are encouraged!
University Of Louisville English Dept. , Bingham Humanities 315, 2211 South Brook Street
Louisville, KY
40292
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Go back to the year you became a teenager with Tracey's Knapp's "Thirteen" from Issue 10 of the journal: https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/issue_10/tracey-knapp
Issue 20 is here and it is live. Check it out at https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle
The wait is almost over! Tomorrow, we're releasing issue 20 of Miracle Monocle. Get ready for an issue packed with unforgettable stories and poetry.
5 days until Miracle Monocle issue 20 is here! We can’t wait to share this collection of stunning poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction with you. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks! Art sneak peek here by Michael Thompson a Chicago-based artist whose work will be featured in this issue!
The editorial staff of Miracle Monocle is pleased to announce the theme for our next print anthology: YOU BLEW IT! We invite contributors to explore this concept from a comedic perspective, but we’re also interested in hearing tragic, bitter, self-pitying, or slightly twisted takes. You blew it! Now, tell us all about it. Work across genres is welcome: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, hybrid, graphic art, visual art, and everything print-produceable in-between. Please submit up to three short pieces in one file or one longer piece for consideration. BIPOC contributors are especially encouraged to submit. There is no fee for submission and we will remain open until we reach our quota or until 3/13/23.
Issue 19 of Miracle Monocle is live. Check it out: https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle
One. More. Day. Our release is almost here.
Two more days, and look at all the wonderful categories we have to offer.
Are you ready for it? Three days left before we launch the latest issue of MM and all the hard work of our staff and the magic our contributors are sharing with us.
We had fun tabling at the small press and arts festival on campus today! UofL Creative Writing UofL #smallpress
TONIGHT!
Warning: We're putting a spell on you. It's cuz your writing is divine! Join us for our Halloween Open Mic in partnership with UofL Writing Center and share your writing chops with an audience.
The countdown to our spooky Open Mic in partnership with UofL Writing Center begins now!
We’re open, smarties! https://louisville.edu/miraclemonocle/submit.html
Issue 18 of Miracle Monocle is live! We hope you enjoy it!
We're giddy with delight because our beautiful new issue will showcase all of our contributors' and staff's hard work. This sneak peek is one of our favorites, and the art is from SHELBEY LECO, whose work in our issue highlights the power of nature and storytelling. One. More. Day.
Two more days until the release of Issue 18! We are thrilled to share some art by PENG QI as well!
It’s all smiles on our end as we get closer to the launch of this fantastic Issue! A sneak peek of art here as well by the amazing Shelbey Leco!
Four more days until Issue 18! We're also giving you a glimpse of one of our art contributors, John Chang. Plus, you're in for a treat with our other contributions, and we can't wait to show you what we've come up with!
The countdown begins for Miracle Monocle and our Spring Issue 18! It’s incredible to see what hard work and a fantastic editing team can do in a couple of months.
InSpire Black Louisville Magazine
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