The deadline approaches. A final spell check, a hurried read-through, and a bit of hope are all needed before hitting “submit.” In a few months’ time, countless hours of hard work will pay off — or not. But at the click of the final submission, now all the author can do is wait.
This is the experience of undergraduate author Henry Chiles, a nonfiction writer published in the 2025 edition of the Marquette Literary Review. This collaborative publication invites anyone in the Marquette community to submit their creative writing for publication in annual issues. Behind the scenes, authors, editors and staff have a lot of work cut out for them — but this labor of love is what makes the MLR come to life.
9 months out: deadlines approach
While submissions to the MLR are accepted from Oct. 1 to March 1, the spark of creativity for an author can happen at any moment. Chiles first began his piece in his Creative Writing: Nonfiction course.
“I usually focus more on writing poetry, but I liked how my course’s first draft came out, so I went through extensive revision for weeks to make my writing as impactful as possible,” Chiles says. “I submitted very close the deadline, and I kept revising after the deadline, just to make it my own favorite version.”
Over several nerve-racking months, editors pore over each submission, ultimately determining what will and won’t appear in the next issue. “Working as an editor is no easy task,” says Raegan Gronseth, the 2024 executive and non-fiction editor.
3 Months Out: the behind-the-scenes build-up
“We receive submissions from anyone within the Marquette community: alumni, professors, staff and students. While there are so many amazing writers, we can only select a small number for each issue,” Gronseth says.
Gronseth describes the collaboration between editors throughout ENGL 4988: Practicum in Literature and Language Arts — the course that guides student editors in producing the MLR — saying, “On top of being the nonfiction editor, I worked on advertising and event management, things I wouldn’t have otherwise done in my courses. There are a lot of tasks that need to be done to prepare for the Launch Party, but between me and the other editors, we always found a way to get them done in time.”
While the student editors handle the bulk of the production, the publication is overseen by Dr. Angela Sorby, poet and professor of English in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. From the highs of running the MLR Launch Party to the lows of sending rejection letters, Sorby supports the students as they immerse themselves in the world of editing and publishing.
Day of: the Launch Party “go-live”
Among all the moving pieces — from writers sending in their final drafts to the student editors putting it all together — the MLR officially “goes live” at the annual Launch Party. The student editors organize the whole event, which features members of the community, readings from published authors, and, of course, good food. For Sorby, it’s always her favorite part.
“I love the launch! It’s a true point of connection for creative people. It’s about good writing, but it’s also about community-building,” she says.
For everyone in attendance, the Launch Party showcases not only the publication, but the MLR’s power to connect students, faculty and alumni.
“The MLR started small, a stapled-together magazine from the English Department. But in recent years — thanks to our committed student editors — we’ve had the joy of expanding,” Sorby says. The Launch Party now brings together contributors from diverse majors, faculty and alumni from all over the world.
After the launch
As the Launch Party wraps up, Sorby, Chiles and Gronseth all walk away with new experiences shaped by this labor of love. Chiles, now an officially published author, hopes to stay in the world of publishing as he continues prioritizing creative writing through his studies. Now a recent graduate, Gronseth holds her MLR experience close and plans to submit again as an alumna, knowing that writing will stay with her throughout her life.
Sorby continues to grow the program and build new opportunities to unite students, faculty and alumni in celebrating Marquette’s writers. Each year, the MLR offers a new cohort the chance to become published authors or experienced editors, ensuring that the next great Marquette writer has the opportunity to understand and excel in their field.
“I think that writing is one of the most important and therapeutic ways for a person to express themselves,” Chiles says. “Being accepted into the MLR definitely helped my confidence to put more of my writing out there.”
Creating the MLR year after year is no easy task. It takes months of hard work and preparation, but from the first submission to the year-end Launch Party, students lead the way, building skills and confidence that carry far beyond the pages of the review.
Read past issues of the Marquette Literary Review or submit your creative work here.
