Course Description

Scribendi is an award-winning publication of art and literature, sponsored by the Western Regional Honors Council and the UNM Honors College. Produced completely by UNM Honors College students, Scribendi publishes creative works by undergraduate honors students from across the country. This first half of the year-long process is designed specifically for students willing to commit themselves to the immensely rewarding and enormously challenging experience of producing our publication. Functioning largely as an educational internship in small publication production, this course provides students with practical, hands-on experience in copyediting, typography, magazine design and layout using Adobe Creative Cloud, fundraising, marketing and distribution, as well as small press management. The Scribendi experience differs from the usual academic class in that it focuses not only on active learning accomplished by intensive discussion, but also on extensive practice and application of specialized skills, with an emphasis on professional behavior. Enrollment is limited to students selected through an application and interview process. Students should understand this is a two-semester commitment, spanning both fall and spring semesters. To apply to staff, follow this instructions at scribendi.unm.edu.

Texts

Students read and review approximately 500 art and literature submissions each fall

Scribendi Staff Readings

Denise Bosler, Mastering Type: The essential guide to typography for print and digital design

Patricia T. O'Conner, Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English

Requirements

Attendance; participation in class discussions and activities; maintenance of weekly office hours; 10 assignments covering design, software, copyediting, and assessment; and a final 10-15-page mock magazine project.

About the Instructor(s): Leslie Donovan

Leslie Donovan taught Scribendi for 14 years and will teach it this year while Professor Ketcham has sabbatical leave. She has worked in publications for most of her adult life. She is currently the editor of the Mythopoeic Press (https://www.mythsoc.org/press.htm), the publishing arm of a nonprofit professional organization. Dr. Donovan completed her BA (graduating also from the honors program) and MA at UNM, before earning her PhD in Medieval English Literature from the University of Washington in Seattle. She also teaches courses about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, creativity, the future, classical and medieval cultures, the Nobel Peace Prize, and nonviolent action. Dr. Donovan has been honored with multiple outstanding teaching awards, including UNM’s Presidential Teaching Award.