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Fall/Winter 2025 Cover art: Narcissus and Echo by Ava Ritterskamp Table of Contents Connect to "TOC Art Title" Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Button Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Title" View Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Small Title Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Small Title Small Title Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Button Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Title" View Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Small Title Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Small Title Small Title Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Button Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Title" View Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Small Title Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Small Title Small Title Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Connect to "TOC ARTIST" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Connect to "TOC 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Fall/Winter 2021 Cover Art: Ephemeral by Jayci Bryant Table of Contents Connect to "TOC Art Title" Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC Art Title" Button Dedication Élan Staff Small Title Small Title Small Title Connect to "TOC Title" Connect to "TOC AUTHOR" Connect to "TOC ARTIST" View

784437cd-4e6f-4020-bff7-08e80d205b06 Tangled in Transformation by Camille Faustino A Tribute to Mitski’s “Class of 2013” by Hollis Ackiss my mother makes separate noodles for me in a big pot of chicken noodle soup because she’s been on a diet ever since she got out of jail, and she still loves me yet she doesn’t know my name and when i wake up at eleven pm to feel the bowl is still warm, sitting in the fridge, labeled with a name i remember she called me by, i realize why my brother and i stayed up so late that one night ambling in the kitchen to see her make spaghetti at one am in her denim and name tag when she only got home from work an hour before, and she never saw any new dishes in the sink. now i stand on my tiptoes to reach the opaque glasses on the top shelf as i pour a drink, every light off in the house except for the fridge, filled with soda again even though now it’s all diet. i know i should sleep soon when i have work tomorrow, and my back hurts but i can only let her hold me as many times as i can allow myself a moment of reprieve; the first night we moved into this house we watched a movie in silence and with my head hovering over her shoulder she says she waited for this moment. Return to Table of Contents

É lan’s 39th Print Edition Launch Party É lan has published a printed version of our magazine annually for the past 40 years. This year, we hosted the exciting launch of our 39th Print Edition! The event was held on September 26th from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) in Jacksonville, Florida. Staff came dressed in their classiest outfits to enjoy the celebration of all their hard work. Various staff members and contributors presented their work to the Jacksonville community. The community showed up, with around 70 guests there to listen to spoken word performances, see the artwork, interact with the incredible youth who run É lan, and, of course, take part in the free food and beverages. We are unbelievably excited to announce that, at the party, we sold out every copy we brought! We are so thankful to MOCA for hosting our launch party and supporting our journey as a youth-led literary magazine. We thank all the staff members and faculty who helped set everything up and organize the event. We especially thank everyone who showed up on behalf of É lan and purchased a copy. Getting to see so many people support our craft is what makes it all worth it. Lavilla School of the Arts Visit On November 5th, Élan staff members took a trip to LaVilla School of the Arts. While there, we led a presentation on what we do at Douglas Anderson and, more specifically, in the Creative Writing Department. Our goal was to get kids excited about creative writing and teach them about all the things they can do at DA that they wouldn’t be able to do at any other school. We mentioned events like Coffee House and Extravaganza, as well as clubs such as Black Art, Literary Arts Honor Society, and Spoken Word. We told them about specific creative writing classes and the various open mics we have around town. After the students asked their questions,we led them in blackout poetry and zine-making activities. Scott Parmelee, our Senior Layout and Design Editor, then led a spoken word activity that focused on writing and speaking towards different audiences. Overall, we saw so much talent in the creative writers at LaVilla and we can’t wait to see them take their skills to the next level at DA. We thank LaVilla School of the Arts for letting us come down there and talk with so many up-and-coming writers! For more information about our events, please check out our Instagram pages: @creativewritingda @elanlitmag @dacoffeehouse Signed, Jay Lechwar, Olivia Sheftall, Scott Parmelee

As art directors on the Élan staff, we work closely with all submissions, voting processes, and final selections of pieces for the Fall/Winter, Spring/Summer, and print editions. We are also closely involved with our school’s visual art department and our National Art Honor Society. These in-school organizations provide additional help with encouraging campus involvement during submission periods. Throughout the year, we like to keep a few things in mind when considering art for Élan.   During each submission period, we keep an eye out for pieces that take a creative approach to storytelling, as well as pieces which focus on the creative elements of production. As artists, we understand the fear or apprehension towards submitting work that could be misinterpreted or overlooked, but on the Élan staff, we adore work that steps outside the box and beyond comfort zones. We see an abundance of paintings and drawings that present these ideas, but we often receive a lack of photography and sculpture. While all pieces will be considered with the same mindset and approached with the same level of respect, we strongly encourage artists to submit their photography, sculpture, and printmaking pieces, as long as they conform with our submission guidelines.    Bino by Tatiana Arroyave As art directors, we understand that art is subjective, especially when it comes to visual art. We deeply value the story told through your art and we try our best to uphold its image as the staff approaches our voting period. We keep all possible approaches and meanings in mind as we reach our final selection process. We pair your art with writing that best supports its meaning.   That being said, don’t stress if your art is too specific or too broad! We are open to accepting all art, be it broad or specific. As we mov into our Spring/Summer submission period, we hope you will consider sharing the work you may not have thought about sharing before.      Signed,   Emerson Flanagan and Marcus Holley, Art Direction Team

Every spring, Élan Literary Magazine hosts a writing contest for middle schoolers in celebration of the National Poetry Month in April. This year, there’s a twist: we will also include art! For the first time in Élan history, our literary magazine will celebrate the art of students between 6th and 8th grade in our annual Middle School Writing and Art Contest.  The winners of this contest are awarded a certificate and publication of their work on the Élan website. Publication can offer professional creditability, academic recognition, a wider audience, and better opportunities for your writing and art.   Art can be submitted in any medium: painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, photography, et cetera. Submissions must be sent to elanlitmagazine@gmail.com  with the name of the student in the subject line. Lurking by Sophia Gapuz Submission emails should include a clear picture of the artwork (in .jpeg or .png file format) and a professional 3rd person biography. We do not accept submissions containing inappropriate or unprofessional content. This includes depiction of any drugs or alcohol, gore, or fanart. Writing guidelines remain the same. If you need a refresher, refer to this link:  https://www.elanlitmag.com/middle-school-writing-submit   As members of the Élan staff, we believe that young writers and artists deserve recognition. We hope young artists of all disciplines understand they have a place in the world. We hope Élan will be your first publication and a defying step into your passion. We believe in you and will always take care and pride when working with your art. “Sometimes, I cling onto / life like death. / I meditate, hands poised on / my lap as tightropes, / floating like Buddha with / the world below me. / I am touching the sky. / Raindrops or bullets.” - Worship/War by Su Thar Nyein Please visit our website at https://www.elanlitmag.com/middle-school-writing-submit  for further information regarding guidelines and when to submit for Élan’s annual Middle School Art and Writing Contest.  Good luck! We look forward to seeing your work.     Signed,  Chloe Backes, Jamie Lohse, Layla Stalford