New Magazines: An Evaluation

Merlyn’s Pen offers a forum for writers in grades seven to ten, and the quality of its contributions is surprisingly good.

In 40-odd pages, the quarterly includes short stories, poems, plays, essays, drawings, photos, cartoons, and word games—all submitted by students, selected by an editorial panel comprised of teachers and writers, and minimally edited for publication. Merlyn’s Pen’s stated purpose, “to broaden and reward the young authors’ interest in writing, strengthen the self-confidence of beginning writers, and promote among all students a positive attitude toward literature,” is as appealing as the generally high-caliber, always ingenuous, student writing that it supports.

Each student who submits a manuscript is promised a personal response within six to eight weeks; those who are published receive a copy of the issue in which their work appears.