Embedded Files
Here is the just-completed 2023-24 edition of STYLUS:
STYLUS 2023-24 - full-color version for website.pdfSTYLUS is Bedford High School's literary and art magazine. Whether you are a novice writer/artist or have more experience, we’d like to publish your creative writing and/or artwork. We are now taking submissions!
STYLUS is Bedford High School's literary and art magazine. Whether you are a novice writer/artist or have more experience, we’d like to publish your creative writing and/or artwork. We are now taking submissions!
Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name (no pdf files, please, for formatting reasons). If you would like to submit artwork that is in non-digital form, see Mr. Sheinfeld in A-108 for help with scanning or digitally photographing it. All creative writing (including short stories, poems, dialogues, etc.) are reviewed by the staff anonymously (that is, they read pieces without knowing who the authors are) with the purpose of making constructive observations and/or suggestions.
Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name (no pdf files, please, for formatting reasons). If you would like to submit artwork that is in non-digital form, see Mr. Sheinfeld in A-108 for help with scanning or digitally photographing it. All creative writing (including short stories, poems, dialogues, etc.) are reviewed by the staff anonymously (that is, they read pieces without knowing who the authors are) with the purpose of making constructive observations and/or suggestions.
If you're interested in working on the magazine and becoming a STYLUS member, come to one of our weekly Monday meetings (2:30 - 3:30 in A-108) and/or send an email inquiry to stylus@bedfordps.org We welcome new members throughout the school year!
If you're interested in working on the magazine and becoming a STYLUS member, come to one of our weekly Monday meetings (2:30 - 3:30 in A-108) and/or send an email inquiry to stylus@bedfordps.org We welcome new members throughout the school year!
Here it is: the brand new action-packed (well, only sort of) 2022-23 edition of STYLUS. We hope you enjoy the creative writing and the artwork in this magazine. See below for information about STYLUS and how to be part of the magazine — as a reader, and/or as a member (STLYUS is a club open to any and all interested students), and/or as a contributor (we accept submissions from all members of the BHS community). Below, you'll also find electronic copies of many issues of the magazine from past years.
STYLUS - 2022-23 edition - color version - for website.pdfSTYLUS - 2021-22 edition - full color version - for STYLUS website - final version.pdfHow submitting creative writing to STYLUS works: an overview
To submit poems, stories, or other fairly short creative and imaginative writing to STYLUS, email it to:
You can share writing in the form of a Google Doc. using this email address. You can also (or instead) attach a Word file to the email with your writing.
One thing that does not work very well is to send your writing as/in a pdf file. Formatting (such as line breaks, indents, etc.) gets lost when we try to copy and past text from pdf files into the file formats we need to use to layout and create the magazine.
For more detailed information about the review process for creative writing, see the following shared/linked document:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p4BXORobjvvRoyZalS5-7JeEOYqSqzA6/view?usp=sharing
Click on the image of the cover below to gain access to the pdf file of the actual magazine:
Click on the image of the cover below to gain access to the pdf file of the actual magazine:
Click on the image of the cover below to gain access to the pdf file of the actual magazine:
Here (just below) is a link to a slightly reduced-resolution copy of the 2019-2020 edition of STYLUS. This will open faster on your device than the full resolution file, but may not look quite as nice (though, honestly, we think it's pretty hard to tell the difference unless you zoom way in on the images:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LybX9Hb0IZUPW-V56fIB6E7O7UCNQMP_
STYLUS 2018-19 - web version.pdfBest of STYLUS - 2018-19 - web version.pdfStylus 2017-18 - complete - in color.pdfSTYLUS - 2016-17 edition - screenshot of cover.pdfSTYLUS - 2016-17.pdfSTYLUS - Spring 2015.pdfSTYLUS 2015-16.pdfSTYLUS - 2014-15 end-of-winter edition - screenshot of cover.pdfBest of STYLUS Vol. 2 Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name. (Note: Google Docs format works better than pdf format, but we'll deal with what you send us!) If you would like to submit artwork that is in non-digital form (e.g., it's a painting, or a drawing, or a print, etc.), see Mr. Sheinfeld in A-108 for help with scanning or digitally photographing it.
Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name. (Note: Google Docs format works better than pdf format, but we'll deal with what you send us!) If you would like to submit artwork that is in non-digital form (e.g., it's a painting, or a drawing, or a print, etc.), see Mr. Sheinfeld in A-108 for help with scanning or digitally photographing it.
Here’s how the process works. (Note to upperclassmen: We’ve made some very significant changes, so please read on!)
Here’s how the process works. (Note to upperclassmen: We’ve made some very significant changes, so please read on!)
- You may choose to have your work published anonymously or pseudonymously; we encourage authors and artists to claim credit for their work, if they are comfortable doing so. (But you cannot submit work anonymously, because STYLUS needs to share feedback with you, and therefore needs to find you! The faculty advisor will handle this part, and will keep your identity shielded.
- You may choose to have your work published anonymously or pseudonymously; we encourage authors and artists to claim credit for their work, if they are comfortable doing so. (But you cannot submit work anonymously, because STYLUS needs to share feedback with you, and therefore needs to find you! The faculty advisor will handle this part, and will keep your identity shielded.
- All work will be anonymously reviewed by student members. No student member of STYLUS will know the author of any piece while it is being reviewed. (And no student member of STYLUS will EVER know the identity of any author who chooses to publish anonymously or pseudonymously. See the preceding bullet point.)
- All work will be anonymously reviewed by student members. No student member of STYLUS will know the author of any piece while it is being reviewed. (And no student member of STYLUS will EVER know the identity of any author who chooses to publish anonymously or pseudonymously. See the preceding bullet point.)
- We will send you constructive comments, reactions, observations, and perhaps suggestions following our review of your submission.
- We will send you constructive comments, reactions, observations, and perhaps suggestions following our review of your submission.
- We welcome art submissions in digital form. See Mr. Sheinfeld if you need help digitizing your artwork. Art can usually be published anonymously or pseudonymously, just as with writing.
- We welcome art submissions in digital form. See Mr. Sheinfeld if you need help digitizing your artwork. Art can usually be published anonymously or pseudonymously, just as with writing.
We hope that you will consider submitting your pieces to us! Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name (no pdf files, please, for formatting reasons).
We hope that you will consider submitting your pieces to us! Send all art and creative writing submissions to stylus@bedfordps.org with your name (no pdf files, please, for formatting reasons).
FAQs
FAQs
What forms of creative writing do you publish?
What forms of creative writing do you publish?
We publish stories, poems, prose poems, vignettes, and potentially excerpts (if they stand on their own) from longer pieces, such as novels and plays. (For instance, we could publish a reasonably short chapter from a novel, or a reasonably short scene from a play.)
We publish stories, poems, prose poems, vignettes, and potentially excerpts (if they stand on their own) from longer pieces, such as novels and plays. (For instance, we could publish a reasonably short chapter from a novel, or a reasonably short scene from a play.)
Do you have length limits?
Do you have length limits?
We don't have any hard and fast rules on length, but encourage everyone to try to keep to an upper limit of roughly twelve to fifteen pages. We have NO lower limit on length: we will publish even one-line poems, if you have any!
We don't have any hard and fast rules on length, but encourage everyone to try to keep to an upper limit of roughly twelve to fifteen pages. We have NO lower limit on length: we will publish even one-line poems, if you have any!
How and when will I receive feedback on my creative writing?
How and when will I receive feedback on my creative writing?
We'll do our best to get feedback to you via email within two weeks of when we review your piece(s). Depending upon how many submissions we are receiving, there may be a significant time lag between when you submit a piece and when we are able to review it.
We'll do our best to get feedback to you via email within two weeks of when we review your piece(s). Depending upon how many submissions we are receiving, there may be a significant time lag between when you submit a piece and when we are able to review it.
What will the feedback look like?
What will the feedback look like?
You may get an electronic copy (scan or photo) of your piece showing the comments that a scribe (a staff member of STYLUS) has recorded, based on the group discussion/review of the piece. These comments may range from very general observations (e.g., about what the group most enjoyed in the piece, characters they found engaging, scenes they found compelling, etc.) to suggestions regarding word choice or sentence structure or the sequencing of scenes. The scribed comments will usually also include indications of what the staff thinks may be typos, misspellings, or other issues relating to mechanics and written expression.
You may get an electronic copy (scan or photo) of your piece showing the comments that a scribe (a staff member of STYLUS) has recorded, based on the group discussion/review of the piece. These comments may range from very general observations (e.g., about what the group most enjoyed in the piece, characters they found engaging, scenes they found compelling, etc.) to suggestions regarding word choice or sentence structure or the sequencing of scenes. The scribed comments will usually also include indications of what the staff thinks may be typos, misspellings, or other issues relating to mechanics and written expression.
What do I have to do with the feedback?
What do I have to do with the feedback?
You are invited but not required to revise (a little or perhaps a bit more) your piece in response to the feedback. We DO ask that you correct any clear-cut typos, misspellings, or non-intentional grammatical miscues. This may include fixing issues such as shifting tenses (e.g., in the case of a story that keeps switching back, for no apparent reason, between past and present tense). If you do not correct simple typos (for example, repeating the same word twice in a row by mistake, or misspelling a word for no creative or expressive reason), the staff reserves the right to make those corrections unless you clearly inform us that these apparent mistakes are indeed intentional.
You are invited but not required to revise (a little or perhaps a bit more) your piece in response to the feedback. We DO ask that you correct any clear-cut typos, misspellings, or non-intentional grammatical miscues. This may include fixing issues such as shifting tenses (e.g., in the case of a story that keeps switching back, for no apparent reason, between past and present tense). If you do not correct simple typos (for example, repeating the same word twice in a row by mistake, or misspelling a word for no creative or expressive reason), the staff reserves the right to make those corrections unless you clearly inform us that these apparent mistakes are indeed intentional.
How long do I have to submit revisions?
How long do I have to submit revisions?
Get a revised version of your piece to us within three weeks of the date when we got our feedback on the piece to you. If you do NOT intend to make any changes to a piece that we've reviewed, we'd appreciate hearing back from you within that time as well. Simply email a note to stylus@bedfordps.org to the effect: "Run my piece as is, without changes."
Get a revised version of your piece to us within three weeks of the date when we got our feedback on the piece to you. If you do NOT intend to make any changes to a piece that we've reviewed, we'd appreciate hearing back from you within that time as well. Simply email a note to stylus@bedfordps.org to the effect: "Run my piece as is, without changes."
How and when should I let STYLUS know that I'd like my piece run anonymously or under a pseudonym?
How and when should I let STYLUS know that I'd like my piece run anonymously or under a pseudonym?
Please indicate that you'd like your piece published anonymously (i.e., with no author credited) or pseudonymously (i.e., using a pen-name) when you first submit the piece. If you change your mind (in either direction), please let us know as soon as possible.
Please indicate that you'd like your piece published anonymously (i.e., with no author credited) or pseudonymously (i.e., using a pen-name) when you first submit the piece. If you change your mind (in either direction), please let us know as soon as possible.
How and when will I receive feedback on my creative writing? If I request to have my piece published under a pseudonym, is any pseudonym OK?
How and when will I receive feedback on my creative writing? If I request to have my piece published under a pseudonym, is any pseudonym OK?
We suggest you consider using a pseudonym that you would be comfortable using in the future as well, though this is not required. We also suggest using a pseudonym that you think is appropriate in some way to the piece you've submitted. We will NOT run any piece under a pseudonym that happens to be the name of someone else in the Bedford High School community!
We suggest you consider using a pseudonym that you would be comfortable using in the future as well, though this is not required. We also suggest using a pseudonym that you think is appropriate in some way to the piece you've submitted. We will NOT run any piece under a pseudonym that happens to be the name of someone else in the Bedford High School community!
Must I submit pieces of creative writing, or art, under my own name?
Must I submit pieces of creative writing, or art, under my own name?
ABSOLUTELY! Through its faculty advisor, STYLUS needs to be able to communicate with anyone who submits work for publication, and the faculty advisor must know who is responsible for each piece of work, even though the advisor will not share this information with the staff until after work is reviewed, and will never share this information with the staff in the case of pieces being published anonymously or pseudonymously.
ABSOLUTELY! Through its faculty advisor, STYLUS needs to be able to communicate with anyone who submits work for publication, and the faculty advisor must know who is responsible for each piece of work, even though the advisor will not share this information with the staff until after work is reviewed, and will never share this information with the staff in the case of pieces being published anonymously or pseudonymously.
Might I be informed that a submission cannot be printed, and/or cannot be printed anonymously/pseudonymously?
Might I be informed that a submission cannot be printed, and/or cannot be printed anonymously/pseudonymously?
Yes, though we expect such instances to be rare. If we, in consultation with the administration, feel that a piece is not appropriate for a high school environment, we will not print. it. Further, there may be pieces that we, again in consultation with the administration, feel may be inappropriate to run unless printed with its author's real name. In such cases, the faculty advisor would contact the creator of the work to determine whether that student would rather withdraw the work or is willing to have it published under his/her name. Again, we anticipate (and hope) that such cases will be rare, and perhaps may never arise. Be aware that all this could apply to artwork as well as to writing
Yes, though we expect such instances to be rare. If we, in consultation with the administration, feel that a piece is not appropriate for a high school environment, we will not print. it. Further, there may be pieces that we, again in consultation with the administration, feel may be inappropriate to run unless printed with its author's real name. In such cases, the faculty advisor would contact the creator of the work to determine whether that student would rather withdraw the work or is willing to have it published under his/her name. Again, we anticipate (and hope) that such cases will be rare, and perhaps may never arise. Be aware that all this could apply to artwork as well as to writing
CREATIVE WRITING CHALLENGES FOR 2020-21
This is a year full of challenges. We thought that we might make things more bearable by sharing with you . . . even more challenges. But these are, we hope, the fun kind. Throughout the year, we have been devising and sharing, via BHS Student News and BHS News, a series of creative writing challenges. We plan to keep this space updated with all past and current challenges. You may write in response to any challenge at any time, and you can use any challenge as a starting point and then veer off. And, as always, we encourage submissions of ANY and ALL short form creative writing (e.g., short stories, poems, dialogues, vignettes, etc.: no novels, please, but a self-contained chapter from a novel could be fine!)
Just below are links to all our creative writing challenges up to now:
Challenge #1 - a two-line poem:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XT9A-U_TBJmARMfZpcoe0964MwJJgUJq/view?usp=sharing
Challenge #2 - dream logic:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tQvQOGdyKu5U0t5zeS3A1fGwiN8SeL-J/view?usp=sharing
Challenge #3 - Who do you think you are? Do you know who I am?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eUYA5q3I6QP-KiSHe-jPgSlBm0gniWK7/view?usp=sharing
Challenge #4 - collage as inspiration:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nX2fimU5-FWAyuUfLMUaqNTr8DysxGNQ/view?usp=sharing
Challenge #5 - Lost . . . and found . . . in translation (aka mutation through translation):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kN44wX-ZxHr_YktoUHAcpHYt7ueBR4R/view?usp=sharing
separate file with examples for challenge #5:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DxXbEOCazNWeu5yOae_dh2Mouwg7RiS5/view?usp=sharing
Click on links below for creative writing prompts for 2019-20:
Prompt 1 - single scene story: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hFq2YdNMiNjcVLw7I8hDft9uh63QUkDH/view
Prompt 2 - supernatural: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ED64ObA8RXgeaex8Yravl4PIz0h9IaIJ/view
Prompt 3 - segment poem: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zaAd-WkcL-L8_cbyHzL_DKWkvakCkwBG/view
Prompt 4 - storytelling - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wwypcciL7Du77Usgcu_Q1XVK5UGdYMdt/view
Test link to Weebly website of STYLUS - On-Line Edition - Spring 2020: http://stylus-bedfordhighschool.weebly.com/
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