Do you love to write? Do you aspire to have your work published but feel it’s an unattainable goal?

If so, then you have much in common with the founding members of Fiction Fix, a student-run literary journal at the University of North Florida. A few years ago, Melissa Milburn, Sarah Cotchaleovitch and Thelma Young all shared similar feelings. One evening after a creative writing class, professor Mark Ari extended an invitation to any students interested in potentially having their work published to stay a while and listen to an idea that he wanted to share with them. His idea was to start a literary journal for students at UNF. That evening marked the beginning of the annual publication, Fiction Fix, now in its third year of publication. The first publication, Fiction Fix: First Injection, was released in fall 2002 and has been building its member base ever since. The current publication staff of Fiction Fix includes Young as editor in chief, Shannon McLeish as editor, Jeff Geloneck as president, Cotchaleovitch as secretary and Daniel Bearl on layout.

Milburn, Cotchaleovitch and Young were among the first 10 students to stay late that evening, and they have continued to collaborate ever since. On Thursday, Jan. 27, a publication party celebrating the students’ writing took place in the UNF Gallery. The literary journal’s third volume is a compilation of various pieces of fictional literature on subjects varying from love to life experiences. Authors of this installment include Sarah Clarke-Stuart, April Fisher, Geloneck, Tim Gilmore, Laura Havice, M.J. Howe, David Jordan, Chris Sylvester, Blake McCorkle, Stephanie Oulette and Gavin Lambert. Christopher Murphy adds to this artistic creation with the graphic designs on the front cover.

Photo by Melissa Papy Students who wrote for the newest edition of Fiction Fix read their pieces in front of an audience at the University Gallery.

“One of our goals with Fiction Fix is to make it easier for good authors and artists to have an opportunity to get some of their work published,” Cotchaleovitch said.

The group accomplishes this goal by allowing anyone and everyone to submit their pieces of writing to the editor and other staff members to be reviewed for possible acceptance into the publication. Everyone in the Fiction Fix group seemed to hold same level of admiration and appreciation for each other and their contribution to the project.

“Sarah [Clarke-Stuart] probably won’t tell you this, but she is an amazing writer,” Milburn said of her fellow writer at the party.

Young credits the journal’s success to the work of its founders.

As Young said of her fellow writers: “The groundwork laid by the original members of Fiction Fix made my work as editor so much easier.”

The members also spoke graciously of Ari, whom the students claim has developed quite a following.

The idea of the project has also spilled over into courses at UNF. Students can now take a literature class that uses the Fiction Fix literary journals as subject matter. During these classes, various writers from the project are set to come in as guest speakers and answer any questions that the students may have. Students will also write essays on a particular piece from the journal.

So if you are addicted to fiction, you can satisfy your craving today by taking a class, attending a workshop or picking up a copy of Fiction Fix. Copies of the literary journal can be purchased at the UNF Bookstore for $8.

Those interested in pursuing the opportunity to be published in the journal should to submit their work to Young at tfyoung@unf.edu. The deadline for submission is June 15 for works to be published in their December 2005 issue. More information can be found at www.fictionfix.net.

Contact Jessica Langham at uspinnak@unf.edu.