What is The Mockingbird?

The Mockingbird is the annual literary arts magazine produced by East Tennessee State University students. Although the English and Art Departments provide advisors for the magazine, students write, edit, illustrate, and design the magazine. The magazine enjoys the sponsorship of the School of Arts and Sciences, and it also enjoys the generosity of the ETSU Honors College.

Is the name of the magazine Mockingbird or The Mockingbird?

A search through the archives indicates that the magazine has almost always borne the name The Mockingbird, with only a couple of instances where the cover reads Mockingbird and one odd instance where it reads Mockingbirds.

Who can submit material to The Mockingbird?

Any currently enrolled ETSU student is welcome to submit material to The Mockingbird, including part-time students, students at our satellite campuses, and students enrolled only in online ETSU courses. Since we accept submissions during the fall semester, even students who graduate in the December of the academic year are eligible to submit during their final semester of enrollment.

What type of material does The Mockingbird accept for publication?

The Mockingbird accepts a wide range of material. Literary submissions include poetry, fiction, nonfiction prose, and, beginning with fall 2007 submissions, short drama. Art submissions now take practically any form; the Art Department makes digital images of all submissions, including sculpture and conceptual digital designs, as well as the more traditional pieces in painting, sketching, and printing.

When does a person submit material to The Mockingbird?

The Mockingbird seeks submissions during the fall semester. Calls for literary submissions usually appear in mid-September, with a deadline of late October. Calls for art submissions usually appear in mid- to late November, to accommodate students' need to complete major projects over the course of the semester.

When does The Mockingbird appear?

The Mockingbird usually appears in mid- to late April; the art staff spends a good part of the early spring semester designing the magazine, and then setting it up for publication requires a great deal of attention, as well. The Mockingbird is printed at the ETSU Press. The Mockingbird holds a premiere party every year, where one can find displays of winning art works and hear readings of winning literary submissions.

Send mail to mockingbird@mail.etsu.edu with questions or comments about this web site.