Wright State wordsmiths published in literary journal

Published by the Department of English, “The Fogdog Review” showcases some of Wright State’s most creative and articulate literary minds.

“We test the waters of new acquaintanceships with casual mentions of beloved texts and hope for that gasp of recognition. We cling to a cherished text to help us recover from an ego-battering. We doubt who we are, so we plunge back into a world that first showed us ourselves.” —S.F. McGinley

 “She reads every single piece of the news arriving in the mail / as if it were the last pulses of her blood coursing through / her veins. She will hold on to those letters written in black script / as if they were oxygen itself.” —Herbert Woodward Martin, Dayton poet, interviewed by The Fogdog Review

These are but two examples of the many literature-loving sentiments expressed within the crisp pages of The Fogdog Review. Through engaging reviews, literary analyses, and poetry, Wright State students’ love for the written word has manifested itself in the form of campus-based publication.

The Fogdog Review, a collection of student-written essays on culture, media, and predominantly literature, serves as an eloquent literary forum for Wright State.

Published by the Department of English, The Fogdog Review showcases some of Wright State’s most creative and articulate literary minds. In fact, it has been doing so for quite some time; The Fogdog Review just celebrated its 15-year anniversary with its most recent publication.

Dr. Annette Oxindine, an associate professor of English, founded The Fogdog Review with four talented English majors in 1997. Dr. Oxindine, who continues to serve as the journal’s faculty advisor, “wanted to create a journal that would give students an opportunity to publish some of the very best essays they were writing in their literature classes.”

Literally meaning a bright spot sometimes seen at the horizon as a fog dissipates, the term “fogdog” is revered by many aspiring writers who know of The Review.

“As English majors, we spend so much of our time reading and forming opinions about literature,” said Laura Gray, senior editor for the Fogdog. “Although we voice those opinions to our teachers and in our essays, we need an outlet that goes past the classroom.”

Since its humble beginnings in 1997, The Fogdog Review has called upon student writers who have attended Wright State within the past two years and has published more than 250 essays.

“It legitimizes the hard work you do in a classroom. It’s an undergraduate version of a professional literary journal,” said graduate student Meghan Finley, the journal’s former senior editor.

“This is a sort of a preamble for what students are to expect outside of college, if they are interested in pursuing literature,” she said.

From extensive movie reviews to memoirs, essays to interviews, photography to artwork, The Fogdog Review showcases talent that deserves recognition from the Wright State and Dayton communities.

Occasionally, internationally renowned writers and faculty members who have been recently published will sit down with the Fogdog staff for an interview. “The interviews and faculty perspectives we publish are very informative,” said Finley. “You can get to better know faculty members and students that are a part of the English Department.”

Issues of The Fogdog Review can be found in the fourth-floor lounge in Millett Hall, as well as in the Department of English in 470 Millett Hall. For the purpose of promoting the written word and showcasing richly varied interpretations of literature, each copy is free.

Students of any major are encouraged to submit essays about literature, film, or popular culture; literary memoir or nonfiction; and original photography or artwork for the 2013 issue, to be published in May.

“There’s a sense of pride that comes with seeing your name published. Plus it looks good on a résumé,” said Finley.

Submissions for the upcoming issue will be accepted from September 10, 2012, through February 4, 2013. All submissions should be sent to Dr. Annette Oxindine, The Fogdog Review Faculty Advisor, at annette.oxindine@wright.edu as Word attachments. Visit Fogdog’s Web page for more information about the submission process: http://www.wright.edu/cola/Dept/eng/FOGDOG/index.htm.