On October 15th, Paper Darts, a Minnesota-based publishing house and literary magazine, is holding a launch party for the book Get In If You Want To Live, a book by John Jodzio. That night, Jodzio will be reading from his collection of short stories which include illustrations by artists that were chosen very specifically for the project.

But what is Paper Darts, and why did Fred Armisen say Get In If You Want To Live is “lovely and captivating”? It must be that he was intrigued by the dreamy childhood aesthetic of the images accompanying Jodzio’s short stories (an intentional juxtaposition appealing to most writers that makes this company desirable for other writers looking to publish their work).

Cover of the book Get In If You Want To Live. To be released 10-15-2011

Paper Darts could be the answer to the prayers of anyone who was begging to have in their possession a literary magazine that is not only beautiful but also enlightening and involving. A quick visit to the site right now will immediately show you a direct relationship between the words and the images, at times amusing, but mostly compelling.

A Little Background

Founded in 2009 by Jamie Millard, Regan Smith and Meghan Suszynski, they first printed the magazine at home and sewed the spine together with a sewing machine. They are now publishing full-length short story collections, fiction, poetry and nonfiction alongside unique illustrations that bring together a love for the written word with visual intrigue.

Intelligence In Design Is Integral

As a writer, I’m always looking for a place to call home when it comes to the desire to publish, so I asked the ladies what sets them apart from other publishers. They shared that their work with artists Sandra Deikmann, Ruben Ireland and Jennifer Davis is helping to push Paper Darts towards what they describe as “intelligent design” (not the kind you’re probably thinking of), meaning that the artists are creating deliberate and intelligent images to accompany the writing. They explained that the artists are careful about what they produce and this work is the future of illustration and publishing.

Art by Sandra Diekmann

Why Writers Should Care

The process of self-publishing can feel a bit isolating at times and if you aren’t well-connected to a talented artist, you’ll have a hard time finding someone who can enrich the quality of your publication. The words are entirely valuable, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to add to your literary endeavors with the emotions a beautiful illustration can evoke.

Bookmark Paper Darts Right Now

As soon as you see the site, you’ll want to spend some time there checking out the illustrations created by local and international artists. You might also want to get yourself a copy of the digital download version of their magazine and get involved again in what was quickly becoming a lost tradition.

The real treat is in buying the actual magazine so that you can enjoy the beauty of a product that you will keep for many years. I asked the ladies about their printing process and they shared that “the cover is a heavy weight craft paper (like a paper bag texture) with a peek-a-boo die cut,” so you can expect to own a rather beautiful publication that is nothing like the mass-produced books you’ll find at big chain bookstores.

When the ladies expressed that “…literary magazines can often be exclusive and we’ve always aimed to bring greater accessibility to the literary arts world,” I remembered that many readers here on Hello Giggles are talented and aspiring writers who are still searching for a place where they can develop their talents. Paper Darts welcomes submissions to their literary magazine in the genres of art, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and comics. Visit this link for more information on how to contribute.

 All photos provided by PaperDarts.org

Marianna works in education, writes for business websites, and self publishes her short stories on Amazon and Lulu.com. She tweets at @WritingInBed and updates on her personal Tumblr.  You can also check out her Facebook Fan Page for updates on her work.
See more posts from Marianna