On May 1, 2025, East’s National English Honor Society (NEHS) launched its first volume of its literary magazine. The magazine is set up into three categories: short fiction, poetry and other genres; a total of 18 pieces included.
The idea to create a literary magazine was introduced by senior Yzabelle de Luna, NEHS President. Having been a writer since middle school, she has participated in events such as the “Lit Fest” and creative writing competitions. Part of her idea to create a literary magazine came from the value of the feedback she received during other events and competitions, “The thing I appreciated the most was getting all the feedback on my creative writing,” she said.
Before launching the magazine, NEHS members read and gave feedback to the writers who submitted their work. In return for giving feedback, NEHS members received volunteer hours.
The value of feedback for writers was not the only reason that the magazine was created; it was also made to recognize an otherwise unnoticed group: “I really want to highlight creative writers because [they’re] a demographic at East that really doesn’t get that much attention,” said de Luna. She pointed out that, “Unlike art, where there’s an art show or music, where there’s concerts or sports, where there’s games, writing doesn’t get a spotlight like that.”
NEHS began planning out the literary magazine at the beginning of the second semester. They conducted monthly meetings specific to the magazine. In February, they began to collect submissions that they had received from flyers and from students who had learned about the magazine through their teachers. In March, the NEHS members started reading and giving feedback on the pieces. In April, everything was finalized, and on May 1, the magazine was published online.
This is the first literary magazine that East has created, but there are hopes that it will be continued as an annual or even bi-annual tradition: “The hope is that this keeps continuing with NEHS every single year,” said de Luna. She continued, “Hopefully it can be a bi-annual thing; each semester [NEHS puts] one out, that’s the dream.”
The short fiction category features “Fractured” by Noah Wang, “Operation Defeat Akagawa” by Natalie Rubin, “Sitting On a Bench” by Sophia Rubin (NEHS Secretary), “The Alternate Universe” by Lily Matheny, “The Numb and The Noise” by Zaac de Luna, “The Unfinished Exam” by Alexa Serador and “Vow of a Prophet” by Yzabelle de Luna (NEHS President).
The poetry category features “Bloom” by Dylan, “Fantasies” by Brynn Copp (NEHS Co-Vice President), “Hurt Can Last Forever” by Caleb Deguzman, “The Ballad of Randall C. McCallahan by Nadia Drahcir Rellim and three anonymously written poems, “Ocean Waves,” “The Yellow Crayon” and an untitled piece.
The genres in the “Other” category include a dramatic scene, “All Toothbrushes Go to Heaven,” by Armando Sanches, an untitled personal narrative by Valerie Barret (NEHS Co-Vice President) and two analyses, “The Mirror Universe of Society,” by Ben Butcher and “Hometown Glory,” written anonymously.
The Literary magazine can be found at: https://novelemcollab.my.canva.site/nehs-litmag-website
