Voices - MCC's literary/arts journal

Voices Literary/Arts Journal

Voices is published each Spring semester to give you, the contributing students, a chance to see the publication in May before you graduate, transfer, or head off to become rich and famous artists, musicians, and writers!

Voices Submission Guidelines

  • Literary (fiction, creative non-fiction, drama, poetry)

    Submissions: Voices, Attention: Voices Literary Editors

    • Work must be submitted via e-mail to Voices, and all author information (name; address and telephone number; title of work; genre of work) must be included in the body of the email message.
    • Manuscripts must be submitted as .doc, .docx, or .rtf attachments
    • Up to three poems per person will be considered: No word limit for poetry
    • Up to two stories (fiction and creative non-fiction) per person will be considered: 3,000 words maximum per piece submitted
    • Up to two plays (stage and screen) per person will be considered: 15 page maximum per piece submitted
    • All prose manuscripts must be double-spaced
    • All manuscripts should be ready for publication (i.e. proofread and edited)
  • Art (photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, digital media, mixed media, video)

    Submissions: A144, Attention: Voices

      • Students may enter up to two pieces of artwork (across categories) online and then drop the work off in the Art Office (A144). Complete the online entry form before dropping off the artwork.
      • Categories: Photography, Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewelry, Digital Media, Mixed Media, Video
      • Works on paper must be at least temporarily mounted to a rigid backing. Include a cover sheet to protect the surface.
      • No wet paintings are allowed.
      • All digital artwork must be submitted in digital TIFF format at 360 dpi or higher, accompanied by a printout. Please see your instructor for assistance.
      • Multimedia or digital animations can be sent as QuickTime files. Please see your instructor for assistance.

    All art submissions will be entered for a chance to receive the Dan Risch Memorial Scholarship for Visual Arts. The winners of this scholarship will be awarded $250 to be used for art and school supplies during the Spring semester

  • Performance (music, spoken word, short film, video)

    Submissions: B258A, Attention: Voices

    • Performance recordings must be submitted via Dropbox or a link can be emailed to Paige Lush (Attention: VOICES)
    • Up to two songs per person or group will be considered
    • Up to two spoken word pieces per person or group will be considered: 10 minute maximum per spoken word piece submitted
    • Up to two short films per person or group will be considered: 30 minutes maximum per film submitted

    Films and spoken word recordings must be ready for publication (i.e. edited and submitted including credits)

Direct general questions to Voices or (815) 455-8552

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Best of Magazine Winners and Awards

She Owns the Streets

2026 Voices Cover 2026

Lourdes Michaelson
"She Owns the Streets"
Photography (Gelatin Silver)
8.5” x 11”

2025 Best of Show CONGELATION 28.1

2025 Voices Literary/Arts Journal 2025

Patti Stricker
CONGELATION 28.1

Acrylic on canvas
20” X 24”

  • 2025 Awards

    Gold Crown Award, Gold College Print Literary—Art Magazine, Columbia Scholastic Press Association

    Gold Medalist Critique with All-Columbian Honors in each of the three categories (980 out of 1000 overall), Columbia Scholastic Press Association

    Community College Humanities Association’s Literary Magazine Awards

    • Second place, Best Magazine, National Division
    • First place, Best Magazine, Central Region
    • Best Song, Central Division - Won’t Look Back - Kevin Randles
    • First Place, Best Creative Nonfiction, Central Division - 6034 W Melrose Place - Tegan Sobecki
    • First Place, Best Short Stories, Central Division - Corvus - Rachel Maes
    • First  Place, Best Poems, Central Division - Ode to Cicadas - Jan Bosman
Chicken Kabob

2024 Voices Cover 2024

Dale Morton
Chicken Kabob

Stoneware
38” X 8” X 8”

  • 2024 Awards

    Community College Humanities Association’s Literary Magazine Awards

    • Second place, Best Magazine, Central Division
    • First place, Best Short Stories, Central Division - "The Seventh Day" by Paula Lauer
    • First place, Best Poem, Central Division - "Forgiveness" by Layne Jepsen

    Superior, Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Award, National Council of Teachers of English

Growing Pains

2023 Voices Cover 2023

Kelsi Gillespie
Growing Pains
Stoneware
25” X 17” X 5”

  • 2023 Awards
    • First Place, American Scholastic Press Association Scholastic Yearbook and Magazine
    • Superior, Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Award, National Council of Teachers of English
Olive-Earl

2022voices.jpg 2022

Melissa Ragusin
Olive-Earl
Ceramic
17.5” X 10” X 6”

Classroom Fall 2020

2021 Voices Cover 2021

Donna Bieschke
Classroom Fall 2020
Archival Inkjet Print

  • 2021 Awards
    • Gold Crown Award, Columbia Scholastic Press Association