Without question, millions of Americans have grown disillusioned and dissatisfied with the state of our complex society. Sour faces, bitter complaints, dividing debates, and frustrated hopes have become commonplace in the streets, towns, and media outlets across this Nation. But underneath the anger, confusion, and pain, undeterred individuals continue to press on, strive for their dreams, and perform courageous deeds every day. It is in this gleaming center of faith that the The American Review Literary Journal will focus.
The purpose of the journal is to redefine America from the eyes of its extraordinary citizens, to reach into the heart of individuals and expose their self worth. Creator Bryant McGill speaks of Tomorrow's Promise as an opportunity to turn the corner in recovery and change, to help provide future generations a sense of hope, confidence, and fulfillment. (Please visit www.ARLJ.com to review his complete mission statement for the project.)
We all come from different cultures, locations, backgrounds, upbringings, experiences, fears, beliefs, goals, and challenges. We strive to maintain our standard of living, to survive the pressures placed upon us by natural selection and social institutions. Each has faced and overcome many struggles to preserve personal dreams, although some have had to let go in order to survive. But whatever the situation, it is my belief that you have it in you to do your part. Therefore, my challenge is for each of you to take the time to look around and seek out the elements of life that will help make a difference. And then, I ask you to share these experiences with the world.
So how do we do this? It is my mission to gauge the pulse of the Nation, to share honest, sincere, real, and powerful stories of life and passion in America. I'm looking for raw talent at the fundamental level, striking, contagious, and reverberating material that speaks to us all. Allow your creativity, insight, and stirring emotions to shine through, for I'm seeking out individuals who are interested in creating a movement of positive change, those who are willing to foster the cutting edge of American hope.
What format am I looking for? I'm considering many types of submissions including, but not limited to, articles, biographical pieces, editorials, essays, journal entries, letters, poems, and short stories. The Journal will also consider artwork, photography, and other visually stimulating media.
And what kind of topics should you focus on? Generally speaking, I'm looking for the American experience revealed, pieces demonstrating the spirit to overcome, those who are beaten but not lost, those who achieve the wonders of self-discovery or who realized the true nature of freedom. I would like you to think about how you have built a better life, become something more, overcome disabilities, or survived the unimaginable. My goal is to bring hope to the children of our future, honor to our everyday heroes, recognition to undiscovered talent, respect for our seasoned citizens, and a plan for change for the unjust institutions. I want you to get into the root of reality, because without struggle and pain, there can be no solution.
Specifically, I'm looking for the following in no particular order:
1. A showcase for the talent of our youth. Children and teen works depicting their hopes, dreams, and perspectives. Or their interpretation of the changing American aspirations, goals and values.
2. Edgy or controversial pieces with a beam of hope or a positive twist.
3. Biographical pieces on secret heroes, unknown heroes, silent heroes.
4. Stories of people who changed your life (inspirational teachers, mentors, leaders)
5. A focus on ordinary people doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways.
6. Creative essays, stories, or poems depicting a bigger, brighter, and better future. What can we leave to future generations to ensure a greater society?
7. Philosophical pieces on the nature of values, goals, inspiration, passion, fear, and discovery.
8. Stories or poems that demonstrate the power of love or compassion. How was it nurtured, expanded, or extended?
9. Editorials proposing ideas on how to improve community structures, social institutions, or the treatment of human beings.
10. Stories of self-sacrifice for the sake of children, family, or the common good.
11. Foreign contributions that are compatible with the human values that we embrace and wish to promote as Americans.
Despite my wish list, I give you the freedom to take risks, to write from your heart, to go where you need to go to find your American dream. We are in a critical time in this world, and we have the opportunity to help define history. So I ask you, when do you run away and when do you stand tall? What will make us smile? What will help us to change as a whole? Where do we find our confidence, courage, pride? Together, we can reach inside, test ourselves from within, and stretch our limits. I look forward to working with you in creating a revolution of the creative mind.
Happy Writing,
Jeff Kozlowski
Submission Guidelines:
1. Please submit your material to my email address at submissionsarlj@yahoo.com or directly through my email link on my Myspace profile page.
2. You will not be notified unless your entry is published in the journal.
3. You may submit as many pieces (within reason) as you wish. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address on each submission you send in so that we can contact you if we need to.
4. There are no deadlines, but we are hoping for a steady influx of material.
5. We will be accepting material from writers outside the US and are looking for foreign perspectives. There will be an International Perspectives Editor. We will also accept works from foreign contributors when that work is compatible with the human values that we embrace and wish to promote as Americans.
6. On Copyright/First Rights: First rights are not necessary. Copyrights are non-exclusive. We place no restrictions on your work at all. Our non-exclusive rights only allow us use of the material
7. There is no monetary compensation but each published work will receive wide spread exposure.
8. In order to have your work seriously considered, please refine and edit your work before submitting it to The American Review site or its Editors.
