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Life & Arts

Student journal thinks ‘small but in a big way'

by RUTHIE RODRIGUEZ
The Daily Cougar

The first issue of NANO Fiction, a non-profit literary journal run entirely by UH undergraduates that focuses on succinct pieces, will go on sale today. 

NANO Fiction Editor in Chief Kirby Johnson said the journal is meant to appeal to students and readers who have little time to dedicate to leisure reading without conforming to the style of traditional literary publications. 

"It's fiction you can read on the go, something that you can enjoy in a small amount of time," Johnson said. "Leisure reading in mainstream culture is a thing of the past."

Hoping to encourage reading and writing among fellow students, the issue, which costs only $4.50, will include works by UH writers and artists.

"We decided to go with a more edgy design. We wanted for people to be visually attracted to the magazine and not just copy text on the page with a times font," Johnson said. "We also tried to accept as many pieces as we could with a more dynamic form. There are a few stories in Volume 1 that don't necessarily look like your normal narrative."

Aspiring writers are encouraged to submit their work, as long as they keep it at 500 words or less. Other NANO Fiction guidelines can be found online at www.nanofiction.org.

"We remind people to think small, but in a big way," said Johnson. 

Johnson and other students in a fiction class came up with the idea for the journal last spring.

"I don't quite know what my expectations are. I just hope that the people come out to support us," Johnson said. "We got to publish a great body of work for the first issue, and I hope people can enjoy it. ..."

A variety of 1-inch pins featuring the NANO Fiction logo and a few literary luminaries including Walt Whitman and Geoffrey Chaucer will also be for sale. 

Issues will be available for purchase on the NANO Fiction Web site and at Domy Books, 1709 Westheimer Road. 

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