After long, tiring hours and relentless efforts from everyone on staff, the Bob Jones literary magazine release has finally arrived.

“We poured our heart and souls into that literary magazine and are very proud of it,” said Rachel Bryan, a layout editor for this year’s Eclectic.

The staff chooses the best pieces of writing, art, comics, photography, and multimedia from that given school year and compiles it into what turns into the literary magazine every spring. Mrs. Panagos, the Eclectic adviser, has been involved with the creation of the literary magazine for around five years and has taught creative writing for eleven. She has high hopes for this year’s edition. “It has a good chance of placing at state with strong pieces from writers like Sabrina Chen, Alyssa Kennedy, Michael Samaras, Megan Zecher, and Melissa McMahon.”

The literary magazine is put together, edited, and published all in the course of a couple months after selecting the final pieces of work. “The process is terribly frustrating, happening much too fast and yet also trudging along and involving a lot of impatient waiting, kind of like the world will collapse upon you all at once,” said a layout editor, Kayla Carden. “But at the same time, it’s also pretty cool.”

Alyssa Kennedy, the Feature Section Editor, explained the fun she finds in the process. “It has been challenging in a fun way. You are handed deadlines from day one and you know that in a few months time you have to create this polished work.”

With all the hard work put into the Eclectic from its general staff and editors, it stands out against competing literary magazines through its innovative aspects. Mrs. Panagos mentioned her “favorite part of the lit mag is our feature section of the printed magazine, and I also really like our web component.” She added that she receives emails from complete strangers complimenting the website or asking for advice, including an email from “an original Eclectic editor who was pleased with how the magazine has thrived.”

For now, the staff and student body wait in anticipation for the literary magazine with excitement to see their own and their peers’ work. “For me, the best part is the anticipation of the lucky few who got into the magazine,” said Alyssa. “It’s great to see them so enthusiastic about having their works professionally published and appreciated.”