The staff at “Words & Images,” USM’s literary magazine began their year with a vision, a vision of expansion. They had hopes of expanding their circulation from Maine to nationwide.
Formerly accepting submissions from primarily Maine and the New England area, this year the publication has succeeded in attracting writers and artists from Oregon, California and New Mexico. The staff accomplished this by sponsoring a contest and advertising it in the national magazine’s “Poets and Writers” and “The Writers Chronicle.” These actions generated between 300 to 400 national submissions.
This was the first step in the process to expand circulation said Publishing Director Robin Talbot. “We needed to have national submissions first” she said. “Without following these steps you won’t be successful.”
Along with Talbot, Marketing Director Sarah Wentworth and Director of Public Relations Noah Brown make up the core of the “Words & Images” team. These three have collaborated since September. .
Talbot said that once they created a submission interest beyond New England they could than focus on increasing local circulation. The publication, which has always been sold through the USM bookstore, will now be held at Casco Bay Books in the Old Port as well.
The magazine will also be available for purchase online, which was previously not an option. This development allows for those non-Maine residents who have been published to purchase the magazine, as well as others who are interested.
“We’re currently in the process of working with corporations and online purchasing companies,” said Wentworth, Brown and Talbot said that with the completion of their magazine which is now more likely to be of national interest, they are able to approach potential distributors with a concrete product. “We’re no longer laying the groundwork, now we can build up” said Brown.
This past Friday the magazine hosted its annual book release party to promote sales of its publication. This year, the magazine’s unveiling was top secret. Not even Congressman Tom Allen who wrote the forward and attended the party was allowed to view the publication before its much touted coming out.
The staff is excited to have achieved all it has in just one year and will be working hard over the summer to further their means. “We can’t close up shop at the end of the school year we have to keep this rolling” said Brown.