Feb 12, 2014 By Samantha Peer 4 min read

Everyone has a voice.

Waynesburg University’s literary magazine, Muse & Stone, offers students the opportunity to let their voice be heard.

Muse & Stone is an annual publication comprised of student submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, service writing and art.

The magazine is published in April, and student submissions are due on Feb. 24.

The main purpose of Muse & Stone is to provide an outlet for student writers and artists.

“Primarily, what we want to do is create a venue for students to showcase their work,” said Dr. Robert Pierce, faculty editor of Muse & Stone and assistant professor of English. “That benefits them because people write because they want people to read it.”

Muse & Stone is a free publication available to the community supplying fun to its readers.

“The primary reason why art exists is because people like paintings, photography, movies and writing,” said Pierce. “People enjoy any kind of art because it is fun. I think that is another good thing about the magazine – people can have fun reading it.”

Muse & Stone provides students with an opportunity to receive the value of having their work published as well.

“It is a personal reward and it is also a resume builder,” said Stacy Weaver, executive editor of Muse & Stone and senior political science and creative writing major. “Being published recognizes the quality in your work, and depending on your future goals, you can use that to your advantage.”

Many believe that only English or Creative Writing majors are able to submit to Muse & Stone. However, students from any major may submit entries to the publication.

“Muse & Stone is a place where anyone can share their work, no matter their discipline,” said Weaver.

Students from other disciplines can often be hesitant about submitting work, but Pierce encourages students to submit despite their apprehension.

“People should feel confident to send in,” said Pierce. “Some of the best writers I’ve had were not creative writing or English majors. Students should really feel like they have something to say, because they do.”

Weaver was once intimidated by submitting to Muse & Stone.

However, she has since overcome her fear and now enjoys the opportunity to share her work.

“My freshman year I actually didn’t submit anything because I was kind of intimidated by it,” said Weaver. “But over the years, I have definitely come to appreciate the challenge it offers and the risk and reward it offers to submit your work, put yourself out there and share with the community.”

Weaver’s favorite piece of work published in Muse & Stone is a collection of pictures from her semester abroad in England.

“It was very cool to be able to share pictures of the different places that I got to explore,” said Weaver.

The mission of Muse and Stone is to encourage the development and recognition of literary and visual arts at Waynesburg University in consonance with the university’s Christian identity and mission. Now more than ever, Muse & Stone is in harmony with the university’s mission, particularly the service component.

For the first time in last year’s publication, students submitted creative nonfiction accounts of mission trips that they attended. Muse & Stone plans to continue this feature.

Dr. Pierce believes the addition of service trip entries is a great way to display the uniqueness of Waynesburg University’s service mission.

“It gives us the chance to show people what makes us unique as a university, and it gives students the chance to show what it means to them to engage in service as an expression of their faith,” said Pierce.

Submissions can be emailed to rpierce@waynesburg.edu along with student’s name, class level, email, phone number and category.

Up to five submissions are accepted per category and a 3,000 word limit is imposed per piece.