By Melissa Kreitner Contributing Writer
Surrounded by manuscripts, Brigid Hughes sat in the basement of Paris Review magazine’s offices for her first month on the job. For the recent graduate, it was heaven.
The Northwestern alum of ’94 graduated from the Writing Program with the intention of eventually going to medical school, but instead worked her way up from contributing to Helicon, NU’s literary magazine, to editing the Paris Review.
On Wednesday, the creator and editor of A Public Space sat in Kresge Centennial Hall and discussed with students her strength and aspirations in producing a literary magazine.
A few years ago, Hughes started a different chapter in her literary career when she created a new literary magazine. Hughes’ goal was to instill a sense of conversation in her magazine. More and more, fiction and poetry were being pushed to the margins, Hughes said.
Once she decided on the basic concept of the magazine, the hardest part was choosing a title. After reading an interview in another publication, Hughes was intrigued with the notion of public space being divided into two categories: private “taxi cab literature” and “public transportation literature,” with more curiosity and variety. The inspiration for the magazine’s name came from reading the interview.
“A public space is a conversation in between pages,” Hughes said.
The Center for the Writing Arts brought Hughes to speak with students on her experiences starting her own literary magazine.
“I wanted to create an occasion for students to meet with alumni,” said Reginald Gibbons, director of the NU Center for the Writing Arts and a professor in English and classics.
A former student of Gibbons, Hughes explained how she built the literary magazine as a non-profit publication because funding options were available and because it coincided with the message of the publication.
“The literary magazine should benefit the public – not yourself – and that just seemed to fit the magazine,” Hughes said.
During her speech, Hughes offered students tips for breaking into the business.
“I thought it was really interesting hearing how to start a literary magazine,” said Alissa Anderson, a Weinberg junior. Anderson is the Helicon graphics designer and a creative non-fiction student in the writing program. “I looked at A Public Space before and I liked their design a lot, but I really like their content too.”
For Hughes, the magazine’s writers are the most important element on the business side. Hughes said the magazine’s first priority is to pay the writers, who come from different backgrounds.
“I wanted young writers next to established writers to see how they bounce off of each other,” Hughes said.
In every issue, the magazine focuses on a different country and translates some of the works of its authors. Previously featured countries include Japan and Russia. Hughes said her eventual goal is to have fiction writers travel to do research, which would “put them in contact with people they wouldn’t (know) otherwise.”
After sharing her insight on literary magazines, Hughes encouraged NU students to share their experiences with the Writing Program and their aspirations for the future.
“I hope to see more Northwestern names in the entry pile and the internship pile,” Hughes said.
Reach Melissa Kreitner at [email protected].