Since it began in 2018, Shards of Light (SOL), John Brown University’s literary and art journal has been published every spring semester, showcasing work by students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
SOL is currently offered for credit — meeting the English major credit requirement for a “publishing practicum” — but is also considered a club. Students of any major may enroll in the course, where they can gain real-world publishing, editing, and marketing experience and earn course credit.
The Beginning
SOL has come a long way since 2017. Then, it had no name and was merely an idea being pitched to the English department staff by four passionate students.
Claire Carriere, one of the journal’s founders and a former lead editor, explained that it all began in the Caf, when one English major — Samuel Cross-Meredith — approached her.
“It was spring 2017 and I was in the Caf having lunch. Sam came up to me and said, ‘We don’t have a literary journal and we need one,’” said Carriere.
Cross-Meredith, Carriere, and two other students (Alena Duccet and Austin Ellis) met that evening in Walker to discuss Cross-Meredith’s ideas. They did some planning and decided that they would propose their idea to the English department staff.
The initial proposal faced rejection as the faculty raised concerns about sustainability.
“They asked ‘how will you make sure [the journal] is still here when you all graduate,’” said Carriere.
The group was told to continue doing research — learn more about the process of publishing — then, propose the idea again.
Despite facing another rejection from department staff, Cross-Meredith took the bold step of self-publishing four issues of Shards of Light, collecting submissions from friends and funding the project personally.
Evolution and Leadership Transition
Carriere and Ducett took “Publishing Practicum,” under the direction of Professor Patty Kirk. At the time, the practicum was a free period for English majors to work on writing and self-publishing work of their choice. Kirk encouraged Carriere and Ducett to utilize the time to write a formal proposal. The proposal addressed crucial aspects such as sustainability, journal content, finances, and handling rejection letters.
During the journal’s first year in existence, SOL operated as more of a club with a sponsor. Over the subsequent years, leadership transitioned from Carriere to Caroline White and, finally, McKi Dirk. Carriere, reflecting on her time as lead editor, expressed pride in the growth of SOL, “You guys don’t need me, you guys are thriving,” she said.
Shards of Light Current Leadership
Lydia Wood, a current lead editor, having served as associate editor under Kat Shaneck and Will Newton in 2022, received a stack of feedback from the previous year’s staff, prompting a thoughtful consideration of the desires of contributors and staff members.
Over the summer, Wood recruited Ellie Nelson to lead alongside her and the pair decided to center each journal around a theme, a first for SOL.
“I felt like it would be a good idea to have something that the staff could have a say on, on what the journal looked like,” said Wood.
The Future of Shards of Light
As Wood and Nelson continue to lead SOL, they aim to implement further changes, including the publication of two issues per year. This ambitious goal aligns with their vision of expanding the journal’s reach and providing additional opportunities for the university community to contribute their creative works. The focus on themes not only enhances the selection process but also contributes to a more intentional and cohesive design for each edition.
Shards of Light stands as a testament to the collaborative and creative spirit of JBU, showcasing the evolution of a student-led initiative into a prominent literary and artistic platform. As SOL continues to illuminate the creative landscape of John Brown University, it remains a beacon for those who seek to share their voices and artistic expressions within the university community and beyond.